Green Tea Latte / Matcha Latte

First time I tried it here in Hong Kong, as I had seen other people have something green and unusual in their cups. First sip tasted like broccoli soup :) Well, something to do with veggie taste anyway! But gradually I became a great fan of green tea latte. I believe this drink has Japanese origin, it is basically normal green tea but grade into powder. It makes it much smoother as a drink and much stronger for caffein content.
It is weird combination of green tea taste and milk. Though I really love it now both hot and cold.
Highly recommending to give it a try! Served in every coffee shop including Starbucks (too sweet for me..) and Pacific Coffee (perfect one!)
I have got some matcha from Japan for making it at home - easy, quick and delicious! I am sure you can find it to buy in Hong Kong as well.

Hong Kong Pacific Coffee

The thing I miss a lot in Hong Kong is a proper coffee shop.. Quiet and cosy with really good coffee and nice atmosphere, delicious cakes and without crying children or crowds of shouting people.
If you know one I am happy to get your advise!
So far I am happy with some Pacific Coffee shops. My favourite is Science Park one, as it is located in the working zone and on working days here are so little people in the actual coffee shop - it is great for working or reading. Weekends might be more crowded and with children as well... But still better than any shopping mall type of coffee place.
Coffee is decent (much better than Starbucks. I call SB coffee brown water.) and they have good brownies here as well!

Hong Kong Supermarkets

There are so many options for eating out - cheap and delicious - that I don't really know if you ever would need my supermarkets advice. Though apart from food there are some other things you need for life, don't you?
So there are many different chains of supermarkets here in Hong Kong. Let's go up starting with the most affordable.

Wellcome

Cheap and efficient, located all over Hong Kong, literally every 500 metres, there are different size of stores, normally all are working till 11pm, delivery option exists. A lot of chinese food and everything you need to cook chinese at home. Fresh fruit and veg for a good price.

Stores locator








Park'n'Shop



More expensive, though has very good cooked meals department (in larger shops only), excellent sushi and delicious bakery (raisins and whole-nut bread - yumms!)

Store locator

Market Place by Jasons

Moving closer to Western tradition you will find organic portion packed salads, nuts and deli department, wide range of western chocolates and milk products (good milk is not that easy to get in Hong Kong...)

Store Locator

City Super

Absolutely Western fancy supermarket full of organic food, great amount of imported goods delivered from all over the world (every nation could find something!), perfect wine and champagne choice. Located mostly on Hong Kong island and Kowloon, Expensive but is definitely worth it when you are looking for something you miss!

Store Locator

Olivers The Deli

I cannot call it a supermarket, it is rather a place to feel nostalgic and of the plot because of the amount and quality (and price!) of goods you love and miss. 90% of things here are imported and you can find anything you want (we had found here Scottish huggis!!!!). Delicious bakery, absolutely in love with Black Rose Carrot Cake (16HKD only, tastes absolutely home made)

There is only one shop in Hong Kong.

World Cup - Final

Hey guys! Are you sleeping? Or are you waiting for a game to start as I do?
In order to watch World Cup game I have to stay up to 5-6am! This is absolutely ridiculous!
Although I am still jet lagged after my recent trip back to Europe and am happy about it - keeps me awake as late as I want!

So who are you supporting???

Hong Kong Octopus Card

I really don't know why did I put this post up that late, but anyway it had to appear on my blog one day.
There are so many things about Octopus card here in Hong Kong. It is like a vital thing you have to get as soon as you get through passport control in the airport.
You can get it at any MTR station. And there are plenty of these, including right in the airport building.
It works sort of similar to London Oyster card, you buy it for 150 HKD (round 12 GBP), 100HKD of these 150 you have on your card as a credit.
Octopus is in use literally everywhere. Transport is the obvious thing - MTR, buses, trams and boats you can pay for with it.
Then you can use it to pay your bill at plenty of shops, all the shops located in MTR zone - and there are so many of shops there with food and loads of other things.
Octopus is accepted for payment in many eating places, but make sure at the till you can do that before ordering.
You can top up Octopus at any MTR station, but be ready to do that with no less than 50HKD and always in cash ( I seriously don't understand why on earth do they now accept cards payment in MTR...).
If you are living in Hong Kong you can link your Octopus to your credit card online and you don;t have to top up it - there always be 250HKD (22 GBP)  a day to use topped up automatically next day (and 250HKD in Hong Kong is really enough money for transport meaning).
If you are in Hong Kong just for a visit, hand you Octopus back in MTR station on departure and receive 90% of its actual cost, so about 45HKD (remember 100HKD out of 150HKD price went into your credit, so the actual price of Octopus is 50HKD).
So that is really convenient and easy thing to get here.
Octopus Card is Hong Kong must have for both tourists and residents.