Well yesterday late afternoon I found Tonno bar on Tonnochy Street and arranged to meet Bill there rather than the stinking cesspit of a hotel I was in. That had nothing to do with happy hour of course.
Whilst waiting, a chap arrived who kept looking at me and so naturally I looked back. According to the description I had been given of Bill (by Will, who clearly should’ve gone to Specsavers) it couldn’t be him - too short, not big enough. But the chap approached and so naturally I thought my memory had failed as I was sure I had never seen this chap in my life.
He was looking for company and his name was Mick and, small world, originally from Brisbane. My family were there for 4 years when I was a kid and so we had something to talk about until Bill did eventually lumber up to the bar. Will - he IS fat! Just as much as I am but he hasn’t concentrated his as I have on the bulbous bow, preferring to spread the load. He reckons he must have held his breath when he saw you last!
So we had a few beers on the BOGOF and all three of us left, Bill and I for dinner, Mick for who knows where. I picked up the drinks bill and considered it rather a lot considering it was happy hour but said nothing. As Bill and I left, Mick shouted after us for me to come back. He had tried to pay for his drinks only to be told I had done so! Very honest of him and in fact he found out his price and paid me slightly more than his came to. Must have been the first bit of luck I had had since Shanghai.
Bill didn’t want Chinese so we went Tex-Mex and split fajitas and a whole rib which looked to be half a cow. I eat enough to keep an overweight sparrow alive but last night I think I ate as much as I did during the entire time in Shanghai. The fajitas were great and the meat simply fell off the ribs, wonderful meal.
The restaurant (Ruby Tuesday) is obviously very popular in Wanchai for birthday parties, for there were no less than three tables celebrating (see pictures). I thoroughly enjoyed Bill’s company, he had booked me into the Novotel tonight and it really WAS my lucky day because he insisted on paying for dinner because I had paid for the drinks earlier. I certainly got the best of the arrangement. After dinner we sat, drank and chatted and I honestly hope he enjoyed the evening as much as I did because it was the best since Shanghai. Many thanks Bill, a true OC and an all-round jolly good egg, sometimes when we travel having a local pilot and friend makes the world of difference. Fabulous night, pity we couldn’t repeat it but of course I don’t want to be named in a divorce action!
Then it was back to Slough sewage works, aka my hotel, where I went for a final wet in the pool/darts bar before bed. There I met “King”, a local, and after chatting for a while we managed to get on a pool table playing doubles - where we reigned supreme over a father and son team. It really WAS my lucky night as King insisted on paying for my drinks when I finally left at 0200.
I was knackered this morning and worse, irrational though it was, wracked by thoughts that I would arrive to collect my passport and be told the visa had been refused. Holiday visa? Fine, you just aren’t going. Visa to get back where your luggage and job are? Not enough money to go anywhere other than the British embassy? Scary.
I checked out and walked to the Novotel (anyone going to Wanchai I highly recommend it) and despite being too early and with no passport they let me into my room. Back to Tonno for a quickish one before the dreaded trip to get my passport with a new visa. The two tonnes which had been resting on my shoulders lifted when I saw I was once again legal to re-enter China.
Back to Tonno for happy hour, a few beers and then go and find a sweet and sour prawn dish for dinner. I stayed five minutes too long and was caught by Mick and later his friends Dan and Michael O’Leary. Ok, I forgot the latter’s name but that’s who he looked like. They were both Mancunians and wow, supported City. Two more beers and I made my excuses despite the fact that for them it was Friday night and the weekend had just started and they wanted to drag me to heaving girlie bars. I was too tired and too poor.
I went in search of sweet and sour prawns, I had a hankering. I failed dismally and ended up in the Novotel. Why the hell would I want dumplings and noodles in Hong Kong when I will be surrounded by them again tomorrow? I toyed with the idea of curry and nan in the room but checked out the restaurants on the 1st floor. First place was a big buffet affair, mostly Chinese but by God were the prawns enormous! I thought I might just pay and sit and gorge on them but when a chap approached me I said I would like to eat. I think he needs his ears tested because I wasn’t drunk, however he ushered me out and into an Italian restaurant. Oh sod it, I went in and sat down. I really just wanted to eat.
Stupidly I had left the 15% discount voucher in my room but I filled up with a rather different lasagne and garlic bread with a sun-dried tomato based sauce. Lovely and far too much for me.
So here I am having had three nights (ok only two proper ones) in Hong Kong and I have eaten absolutely nothing Cantonese! It won’t happen tomorrow either, I will probably try one of the train cheeseburgers before the airport but it has been nice eating stuff I can’t normally get unless I cook it myself.
Aside from the hideous expense I would dearly love to return to this vibrant, cosmopolitan island city for a holiday if I can afford it. Two short days but many lovely memories and I wish I was rich!
Back to Lanzhou tomorrow (and I will even have about $500 left over after buying my train ticket) and I have no idea if I will have internet access when I get there for a while. I hope so.
No comments:
Post a Comment