Old stomping grounds

We went to visit the places where Dad and Mom used to live back in the 50's and 60's. Dad's family lived on the Kowloon side near Hung Hom. Mom was on HK Island near North Point. At the time, it was rare to travel across to the other side unless it was for a special occassion, so my parents don't know much about the other's respective area.

We took taxis to get to each place and we lucked out as both taxi drivers were incredibly knowledgeable in terms of the changes in HK's geography and history. They gave us a little tour of the area, explaining how much land has been reclaimed, how the government has changed (for the better/worse) after the 1997 handover, what they think of the proposed GST law, etc.

When we arrived at Mom's old apartment building, we managed to get into the lobby where we took the old-fashioned elevator (the kind where you have to draw the brass gate across first) to the 8th floor where they used to live. As luck would have it, the woman who lives there now was just coming out and she invited us to look around the flat. They had completely renovated the inside, and even the walls are not where they used to be, but it was fun to see anyway.

That night we had our friends YK & Tomoe and Andy & David (old family friends from Cornwall who have moved back to HK several years ago) over for a bbq. It was the largest group of people we've hosted for a sit-down dinner so far and despite the shortage of cutlery and wine glasses - we had each couple sharing one knife- it was good fun. It was YK's birthday the day before and so on top of the cake, we took out the kava for everyone to sample. We bought it in the Vanuatu airport where they sell instant packs for souvenirs whereas the stuff we wer e given during our honeymoon was the authentic stuff: fresh and totally potent. Kava is made of tree roots grounded up and mixed with water. After a wee accident in the kitchen while preparing it, everyone had some to try with mixed reviews. You're supposed to drink it in one shot (see pic of David downing the stuff). It tastes extremely woody with a touch of mouldy shoe flavour, and it's supposed to leave you relaxed and in supposed bliss. Considered a drug, it is banned in Canada and probably elsewhere in the world.