Lavender Garden

Set against the mountain of Hok Tau (Fanling), occupying an area of 160,000 sq. ft., Lavender Garden is a place where you can relax and enjoy the countryside, escape from the busy city life with all modern conveniences at hand. The best season to see Lavender is in Autumn and Winter, when the weather is dry and cold.

Activities:

1. Barbecue - BBQ areas are fully equipped with tables, chairs and canopy for shade. Food and drinks can be conveniently purchased at the park. And you don't have to worry about setting up the fire, they'll do everything for you, full service.
2. Animals feeding - There are different varieties of turtle, including a 15kg Alligator Snapping Turtle. They also have goats & koi carp fishes that you can feed
3. Make your Own Candle - You can create your very own candles. Choose a glass and fill it with colourful stones, fill it with melted wax.
4. Shopping - There's a mini market selling locally produced snacks and dried foods, organic fresh vegetables, and Chinese tea. They also carry a wide range of flowers and herbs that are perfect for your home.

Lavender Garden
Address: DD76 Lot 655 Hok Tau Road, Fanling, New Territories, Hong Kong. [MAP]
Phone: +(852) 2674 7822
Fax: +(852) 2674 6361
Email: info@lavendergarden.com.hk
Entrance Fee: HK$5/person (under 3 years old free of charge)
Opening Hour: Mon-Fri 10:00-19:00 / Sat, Sun, Holidays 10:00-22:00

Directions: Take MTR train to Fanling station. From there, take the 52B (Hok Tau) minibus, which runs at 20 minute intervals. (The last bus depart at 20:20) Alight the minibus before it turns right at the entry to Hok Tau Village. Walk straight along Hok Tau Road for a couple of minutes and you will see LAVENDER GARDEN on your left.

Remarks: Outside food & drinks are nor allowed in the garden

Fresh Oyster @ Lau Fau Shan

Famed for its oyster farms and seafood restaurants, Lau Fau Shan (流浮山) is recognised as an important part of Hong Kong's heritage. It is where some of the earliest settlers lived.

This small fishing village is located on Deep Bay (Western New Territories), near Tin Shui Wai and facing Shekou in Shenzhen. About 100 tons of oysters were harvested every year, some for consumption in Hong Kong restaurants and some for export to neighboring countries. Little remains of this today due to pollutin. However the village with its excellent seafood restaurants, now become a tourist attraction for local foodies, especially during weekends and holidays. You can have a truly delicious seafood meal here without much fear of being ripped off. The coastline sunset scene is breathtaking. You can also see a 1500-year-old temple founded by the legendary monk Pui To, who is said to have landed on this coast in a wooden tub.

After you alight from the minibus, take a walk through Ching Tai Street (the only street in Lau Fau Shan) to the shore. You'll pass through a a stretch of seafood restaurants and fishmongers' stalls selling dried seafood. Here, you can buy excellent oyster sauce made by fresh oysters, as well as dried scallops, dried oysters, dried prawn, dried shrimp eggs, salty fish, etc. With the same quality, prices are usually cheaper than shops in the city.


How to get there: Take MTR to Tai Po Market station. Walk to the minibus terminal on Tai Fung Street. Take #33 maxicab, the ride takes around 20 mins.
Warnings: traffic congestion during weekends and public holidays.

Free WiFi HotSpots in Hong Kong

Enjoy free surfing at government Wi-Fi locations. This is for the general public, people can surf the web freely for business, study, leisure or accessing government services whenever they visit the designated Government premises. Foreign visitors can enjoy Internet access at the designated tourist spots.

You may go to GovWiFi Locator for more details about the GovWiFi locations.

Causeway Bay
- World Trade Centre (shopping and restaurant area)
- KFC - G/F, 40 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay

Central
- International Finance Centre
- Kosmo Coffee, corner of D'Aguilar and Wellington Streets, Lan Kwai Fong
- Island Shangri-La Hotel (lobby and function rooms), Pacific Place
- Honolulu Coffee Shop, No. 33 Stanley Street
- Central Fortress shop underground (near the entertaiment exit)
- stand outside the Central estalator (near Central Market)

Sheung Wan / Western District
- Shun Tak Centre
- on the street near to Wing On Department Store

Wan Chai
- Zambra Coffee, 239 Jaffe Road
- G/F & 1/F, Wan Chai Computer Centre
- outside M722 bus stop in Lockart Road

Kowloon Tong
- Festival Walk Shopping Center

Tsim Sha Tsui
- Crema Coffee, G36 Peninsula Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui East
- The Kowloon Hotel Hong Kong (all guest rooms, retaurants and bar)
- Kowloon Shangri-La (lobby), Tsim Sha Tsui East
- China Ferry Terminal & Shopping Centre

Discovery Bay
- Discovery Bay Resident Club
- Discovery Bay Office Centre (business centre)
- Club Siena (reading room)
- Discovery Bay Piers (waiting area)
- Discovery Bay Piazza (all outdoor sitting area)

Fitting Model Scam

To all female friends and visitors,

Beaware of scam when walking alone in crowded area in Hong Kong, particularly in Tsim Sha Tsui. A friend of mine was stopped by a woman on Grenville Road, Tsimshatsui one afternoon and asked what size She was and whether She's interested to be a fitting model.

Another friend of mine had similar experience at the same spot. She was walking along Nathan Road when going to the Baptist Chinese Medicine Clinic which is on Humphreys Avenue and passed by Cameron Road. She came across a middle aged woman, who approached her and asked what size her jacket was. The woman started saying "Excuse me" and tried to grasp her arm.

Bar Hopping

Lan Kwai Fong - the most popular place for drinking and dining with a vibrant mixture of different cultures.

LKF (Lan Kwai Fong in short) is not merely a place for pubs and discos. It boasts such a range of cuisine: from Italian to Mediterranean; from Japanese to Thai and of course Chinese. The cobbled streets around LKF burst into life after dark. Prices can comparatively high in this area.

How to get there: Central MTR exit D1, turn right. Turn right on Queens Road Central. Turn left and cross the traffic light on D'Aguilar Street. Walk up hill for 2-5 mins.
Dress Code: Casual Chic.

Live Jazz @ Peel Fresco Music Lounge

The home of excellent live jazz music in the heart of Soho. This new small bar became a hot gathering places for local musicians. Besides hosting the Hong Kong Jazz festival, there's regular jamming session, which really spice up the live music scene in Hong Kong. Indie band now have a place to go! Drinks are at happy hour price throughout the night for club members. You can also get a little snack for bite at the bar if you feel hungry.

Upcoming Events (Dec 1 - Dec 7):
Monday: Chillin' and illin'
Tuesday: Open Mic
Wednesday: Mocarsky Organ Trio
Thursday: Jaso Mascarenhas Latin Jazz
Friday: Holiday Concert Start, Levi, Pao, Lo, Lee, Harris
Saturday: Ho & Taurus Fusion
Sunday: Chill Out Night @ Fresco

Peel Fresco Music Lounge
Address: 49 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong. [MAP]
Phone: +(852) 2540 2046
Email: info@peelfresco.com
Opening Hours: 17:00 till late
Directions: take MTR to Central Station, take exit D. Turn right on Queens Road Central, walk straight, then take the escalator to Hollywood Road. From Hollywood Road, keep walking towards Sheung Wan's direction. After passing a Chinese herbal tea shop, you'll see Peel Street. Turn left onto Peel street, the bar is on your right handside. Opposit to "Joyce is not here".

Nothern China Whole Lamb Feast

A new Shandong Restaurant which specialised in lamb dishes. Claimed to hire 2 top chefs from Shangdong, though the food they offer doesn't look like Shandongnese cuisine at all, but food was good for Hongkongers taste.

Angus Beef Hot Pot Buffet
Mon-Fri HK$88/pax / Sat, Saun & Holiday HK$98/pax
late dinner after 8:30pm: HK$20 cheaper per person


Whole Lamb Feast
HK$1,180/12 persons
HK$630/6 persons

A festival type 13-Course full dinner, lamb / meat lovers cannot miss.

• Jasmine Smoke Vegetarian Goose
• Sesame Celery
• Garlic Cucumber & Tomatoes Salad
• Amber Lamb
• Fried Fish & Lamb with Spring Onion, Shangdong style
• Lamb Soup
• Grilled King Prawn
• Stewed Lamb Hot Pot
• Mushroom with mixed Vegetables
• Steamed Lamb Dumplings (2 styles)
• Dessert: Double Boiled White Fungus & Pear with Rock Sugar
  

Star of Shandong Restaurant
Address: Shop No 23, L9 Megabox, Enterprise Square Five, 38 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong. [MAP]
Phone: +(852) 2359 0188