The Peninsula and Real Taste of China

My Dear Great Ones,

The economic diversity of Hong Kong is another reason why I find it so interesting.  It is a place where you can go to the world reknowned hotel called: "The Peninsula," in the Kowloon district of TST, and have "afternoon tea," in an opulent, gold embossed, European classic style restaurant complete with tuxedo clad musicians playing all the classics.  The waiters are all dressed impeccably in white suits, their dainty well manicured hands shielded by white gloves.  They are always hovering close by your table immediately addressing every quibble you might have.  The table is impeccably adorned with silver utensils, impeccable China and a lovely crystal vase with one real rose.  Chairs at your table could be used as thrones.  The impeccably mannered waiters serve tea in silver teapots and the light lunch is an impeccable assortment of tasty, dainty, little sandwiches, pastries, and puddings served in a bowl three times bigger than a thimble.  All this for 600 Hong Kong dollars.  About 80 Canadian. 

About a kilometer and a world apart from The Peninsula is the Kowloon district of Mong Kok.  There one can find, on the crazy cheap, cheap, cheap, ripoff night market of Temple Street, the not so world reknowned restaurant: "Real Taste of China."  Uh huh.   Food is served in a spartan room, or outside on crooked fold up tables, do not bump or food will be on your lap, the "chairs," are tiny plastic footstools, that can be easily moved with your feet, and the waiters are scrawny, dishevelled, unimpeccably dressed men in ragged, stain covered muscle man shirts and baggy shorts in dire need of a wash.   They do not hover, but smile, laugh, and plop the food on your table before dashing off to bring someone else their meal.  Next time you see them is when you want to pay.  Music is provided by a wailing karoke establishment from next door.  Utensils are chopsticks, plates are mismatched plastic, and instead of a rose, in a crystal vase on the middle of the table, there is a roll of toilet paper.  For your hands apparently.  Beer is served in a bottle, tea in plastic cups.  Food is cheap, 2 to 3 dollars Canadian for a serving of prawns, or shrimp, or rice with fish bits, or oyster pancakes, or a multitude of other items from the sea that laps or sometimes crashes onto Hong Kong's shores.  You can stuff yourself on about 75 Hong Kong.  @10 dollars Canadian.  Its a deal and that is a big reason why I frequent this unimpeccable establishment every second Tuesday night before I join my brothers and sisters at the Fok Lam Ministry.

Yet despite the lack of opulence compared to the Peninsula there are moments during the day when the surroundings near the "Real Taste of China,"is lit up naturally and unnaturally by light that gives it a golden touch.  Art is in the eye of the beholder, but this golden touch appeals to me.  Maybe it will do the same for you.

Have a great week.

God bless you.

Love adios and peng on!

Dirk  

In the Tea Room of The Peninsula.   Opulence at its finest.

A Rolls Royce in front of The Peninsula.

High tea at The Peninsula.  Note the rose.

Prosit.  

The famous...

And the not so famous… Real Taste of China

The ambience and opulence of the Real Taste of China is that of a prison cafeteria, but the food is good.

Low tea at the Real Taste of China.  Note used toilet paper napkins.

Gold in the drab of Mong Kok.