Yesterday we hopped on the MTR, switched lines at Mei Foo, stepped off at Tsim Sha Tsui, walked a couple of blocks, were relieved we hadn't brought any dogs, and entered the Science Museum.
Inside: magnets, electricity, the mandatory large contraption with rolling balls (unmandatorily broken), computers for dissecting your choice of fish or lobster, animatronic people demonstrating occupational hazards, unbreakable codes, 1 tonne of plastic food, a radar gun (and a bus moving at 23km/hr),
flying cats (another occupational hazard),
a model sitting on untouchable water,
and a mildly disturbing pig.Our stomachs growled during the food exhibit, so we left the museum to find a snack. After rejecting a pie and tart place we passed two Korean restaurants, a filthy sandwich shop, and three 7-Elevens before returning for pies and tarts.
Ostrich pie is delicious.
I also sampled my friends' chocolate cookies and milk tart with papaya. Almost as tasty as mine.
Okay, okay...their's were tastier. But only because I prefer sugar to meat.
Ostrich pie is delicious.
I also sampled my friends' chocolate cookies and milk tart with papaya. Almost as tasty as mine.
Okay, okay...their's were tastier. But only because I prefer sugar to meat.
When we returned to the Science Musuem we saw a huge line outside the entrance. The guard told us the exhibit halls were full, so we'd need to wait for enough visitors to leave before we could enter.
Instead, we headed for the Museum of Art.
On the way we saw a beautiful mosque, although maybe you can't tell from this picture because of the obscuring trees.
Instead, we headed for the Museum of Art.
On the way we saw a beautiful mosque, although maybe you can't tell from this picture because of the obscuring trees.We explored to find a closer view, and ended up in a park with:
a sculpture garden,
a sculpture garden,
an elaborately mosaic-ed restroom entrance,
a Rhinoceros Hornbill,
and a countdown to the Beijing Olympics.
Then we returned, grumbling about having classes tomorrow (today).
a Rhinoceros Hornbill,
and a countdown to the Beijing Olympics.Unfortunately, we'd been walking perpendicular to our destination, but we found the art eventually.
The first floor (the floor above the ground floor) has a long hallway with an equally long window. Here is what the view looked like:
The first floor (the floor above the ground floor) has a long hallway with an equally long window. Here is what the view looked like:
But I couldn't take photos of any of the artwork. So just imagine the most beautiful calligraphy in the world and other extraordinariness. We only had time for two of the galleries, but I am most definitely returning.
Failure #1: I led my friends in a circle.
I'd read about a vegetarian restaurant with a nice view of the harbour. We'd found the right building, but I couldn't figure out how get inside. I thought the doors were windows (and misunderstood someone telling me otherwise) so the only possibilities I could see were a set of stairs and an escalator (going in the wrong direction). The sign above the stairs said "Subway" but I figured maybe if we went down the stairs there'd be another escalator that could take us the right way. So down we went. And look--ahead--escalators! Up and--we're back where we started.
When we stepped through the doors-that-looked-convincingly-like-windows our destination was a mere elevator ride away.
Failure #2: Awful vegetarian shrimp.
Of course, if the review had told me this, I would have picked a different location. The view was fantastic, and maybe if we'd had group larger than 3 the waiter would have seated us at the larger table directly next to the window. Then again, maybe not. When I asked a waiter if we could have some napkins (a reasonable request, I think) he said, "No." And continued folding napkins for an adjacent, unoccupied table.
I did not order the vegetarian shrimp, but I tried some of my friend's and if it weren't for the spicy sauce I don't know what she would have done. They were bland, unconvincingly textured, and except for a slight similarity of color bared no resemblance to shrimp. I couldn't fully enjoy my noodles and vegetables knowing I'd brought this culinary atrocity upon my friend...
On the bright side, the restroom contained lovely sinks.
After dinner we began waiting for the fireworks (2 hours early but already crowded).
Here's the clock tower that's historically significant for some reason or other.
It's also where we waited for more friends to join us.
I told you it was crowded.
But after a little while people started walking in different directions, so it wasn't that bad.
Failure #1: I led my friends in a circle.
I'd read about a vegetarian restaurant with a nice view of the harbour. We'd found the right building, but I couldn't figure out how get inside. I thought the doors were windows (and misunderstood someone telling me otherwise) so the only possibilities I could see were a set of stairs and an escalator (going in the wrong direction). The sign above the stairs said "Subway" but I figured maybe if we went down the stairs there'd be another escalator that could take us the right way. So down we went. And look--ahead--escalators! Up and--we're back where we started.
When we stepped through the doors-that-looked-convincingly-like-windows our destination was a mere elevator ride away.
Failure #2: Awful vegetarian shrimp.
Of course, if the review had told me this, I would have picked a different location. The view was fantastic, and maybe if we'd had group larger than 3 the waiter would have seated us at the larger table directly next to the window. Then again, maybe not. When I asked a waiter if we could have some napkins (a reasonable request, I think) he said, "No." And continued folding napkins for an adjacent, unoccupied table.
I did not order the vegetarian shrimp, but I tried some of my friend's and if it weren't for the spicy sauce I don't know what she would have done. They were bland, unconvincingly textured, and except for a slight similarity of color bared no resemblance to shrimp. I couldn't fully enjoy my noodles and vegetables knowing I'd brought this culinary atrocity upon my friend...
On the bright side, the restroom contained lovely sinks.
After dinner we began waiting for the fireworks (2 hours early but already crowded).
Here's the clock tower that's historically significant for some reason or other.It's also where we waited for more friends to join us.
Failure #3: I led my friends to a barrier.
Most people weren't staying where we standing, they were walking farther down the path. So I thought, maybe if we follow them we'll have a better view of the fireworks. Instead, we found awful numbers of people...and a fence.
At this point I officially renounced my leadership.
So, new leader found a place with an unobstructed view of the harbour and people continued crowding in around us. The light show started at its usual time, but it wasn't anything fantastic. This is sad, because it's the largest permanent light show in the world (it's even in the Guiness Book of World Records); but I guess that doesn't mean there can't be a more fanastic, small, temporary one.
Anyway, we came for the fireworks.
Most people weren't staying where we standing, they were walking farther down the path. So I thought, maybe if we follow them we'll have a better view of the fireworks. Instead, we found awful numbers of people...and a fence.
At this point I officially renounced my leadership.
So, new leader found a place with an unobstructed view of the harbour and people continued crowding in around us. The light show started at its usual time, but it wasn't anything fantastic. This is sad, because it's the largest permanent light show in the world (it's even in the Guiness Book of World Records); but I guess that doesn't mean there can't be a more fanastic, small, temporary one.
Anyway, we came for the fireworks.
I told you it was crowded.But after a little while people started walking in different directions, so it wasn't that bad.
Our other friends hadn't eaten dinner yet so we went to a Korean restaurant. I didn't want a second dinner (although my vegetarian-shrimp friend did) but I tried chopstick-fulls of whatever people offered me. Yum!
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