Western Wholesale Food Market.

We went in search of what is known as the Instagram Pier and instead found the Western Wholesale Food Market. Actually, I should clarify that we found the Instagram Pier, but it is a private cargo pier and there are signs declaring that people with no right to the area could be fined and put in prison for 3 months. With our imminent departure from Hong Kong, we definitely did not want to risk a prison sentence, so instead we took advantage of the pier at the Western Wholesale Food Market. The kids had fun jumping, and I had fun playing around with my camera.  

Peony Season At The Flower Market.

It's that time of year when the flower market is filled with peonies. I told myself that I wouldn't buy any plants for my balcony since we are leaving soon, but it's hard not to be tempted to give fresh life to my kitchen view. Fresh flowers are a lovely alternative to brighten up the inside of our home. 

Spring At The Flower Market.

Spring has sprung here in Hong Kong and the tulips have been imported and are filling the flower market with their beautiful blooms. Tulips always make me think of my father since he was born in Holland.  

Sunday Brunch At The Tong Chung Street Market.

We were in search of bagels and Tim Horton's coffee, but the restaurant was closed on a Sunday, so we decided to make a stop into the Tong Chung Street Market and eat brunch from the food stalls. The staff at the Noodle And Dog stall convinced me to try their shrimp hotdog topped with uni. It was delicious! One of my favorite things about eating in a market setting, is the variety of food choices to eat from! 

Flower Market Love.

The flower market here in Hong Kong has got to be one of my favorite spots in the whole city. It's such a happy place to walk through and to take some things home to add color and life to our apartment. I was excited to read that there is a flower market in Beijing as well! 

In Search Of Island East Market.

Sunday after church, we met up with some friends with the intention of exploring the Island East Market and going for brunch. It was the first time for us to go to Quarry Bay and the weather was predicting nonstop rain. Unknown to us, the Island East Market is on a two month hiatus. There were no stalls of farm produce set up under white tents, but there was a row of restaurants to chose from. We settled on Mr&Mrs Fox from the restaurant reviews that our friend had read online. We ordered pasta off of the vegetarian menu, fish & chips off of the kids menu, and a bramble off of the cocktails menu. Although I was definitely disappointed that the market was not functioning, I definitely want to come back to check it out in a few months. 

More Flower Market Shopping.

The Flower Market will be one of the things I will miss the most about living in Hong Kong. I love to frequent this place on a regular basis. This man is pretty great too. He just goes with the flow and lets me go crazy picking out flowers while he holds them all for me!!! Marriage is a pretty great thing.

Jade Market In Yau Ma Tei.

Beneath an overpass and encompassed one four sides by a wall is the Yau Ma Tei Jade Market. As soon as we walked into the doorway, we were bombarded with shop owners trying to get us to look at their wares. There were some prices marked on items, but most items that we pointed to, we were told to offer a price. One time we were quoted a price way higher than the what the price tag said. We walked from shop to shop and ended up with some Christmas ornaments for our kids and a small Chinese chess set that we know we paid too much for! 

Flower Market Fun.

I love living within walking distance of Hong Kong's Flower Market. It makes it easy to pick up hostess gifts or to keep fresh flowers around our own home! This little girl loves to come with me and pick out flowers for her friends. She loves to show love through giving gifts and for her it doesn't get much better than fresh flowers!!! 

Happy Christmas From Our Family To Yours.

I asked the kids for one good picture for our Christmas cars, but then ended up with this. Those goofy kids... Sometimes they would rather laugh at our friends who were taking the picture than cooperate for their Mama. 

We want to wish everyone a HAPPY CHRISTMAS. 

Right before we took our pictures at the Flower Market, we had a family hot chocolate date at my favorite little cafe in the market. Hay Fever Cafe is tucked in the back of the floral and gift section. There is a lovely area upstairs with tables and chairs for people to eat and drink. I like taking the kids  and my friends here because of the intimacy that the small hidden place provides. 

Temple Street In The Rain.

There is something magical about Hong Kong when the rain pours down and everyone is running for cover with their umbrellas. I had Indian food for dinner with a friend out on Temple Street and when we left the restaurant it was beautiful to see the rain falling through the market stalls.

Christmas Tree Shopping In Hong Kong.

As I mentioned in a previous post, our friends ordered a live tree from Ikea, which is one place to get a tree. There are many places and little pop up shops here in Hong Kong where you can purchase a live tree. Here are just two stalls in the Flower Market that sell live trees. The trees here in Hong Kong, seem to come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate the small space living that so many of us experience. With the weather cooling down, it feels so festive to walk among the trees. Of course it's also beautiful to walk among all the fresh flowers. 

Tutu Tuesdays.

I have a daughter who loves to put on a tutu and since it's Tuesday, we figured we'd join in Tutu Tuesday. We live down the road from the Flower Market in Hong Kong, so we love to walk through it and spend time looking at the pretty fresh cut flowers.

The Flower Market was started back in the 1970's and has gradually grown and expanded over time. The market takes up several blocks of store fronts as opposed to free standing stalls. It is a big tourist attraction here in Hong Kong, and for us, the perfect place to purchase reasonably priced flowers for my dining room table and potted plants for my balconies.

Pottinger Street.

For the first time in eight years I am not making my children's Halloween costumes. No sewing machine, a lack of space in our apartment, and the fact that Halloween is not a cultural tradition in this country means that our kids will not be going trick or treating, all lend to my current lack of creativity in the costume department. We are however, putting together a small Halloween party for some of my kid's friends, and the kids want to wear costumes. 

Enter the Mom's group on Facebook, where I quickly learned that Pottinger Street is the place to go in Hong Kong for decently priced Halloween costumes. We started from the bottom of the street and worked our way up the hill, never making it to the top because everything we needed was in the shops at the base of the open market. 

Transporting Ducks.

Another random single picture for today's blog post... A street scene of a man transporting roasted ducks through an open market in Sham Shui Po. Swarms of people walking within inches of this food that they will be serving to restaurant patrons. Sometimes you need a stomach of steel when you eat out here in Hong Kong.

Mong Kok Flower Market.

I love making a random pit stop to the Flower Market in Prince Edward/Mong Kok. Just walking through all that beauty instantly lifts my spirits and any blues disappear. Something always has to come home with me and brightens up the counter of our apartment. 

Goldfish Market.

We took our kids to the Goldfish Market and came back with two pet turtles. Yup, you read that right... there is a Fish Market here in Hong Kong. In true Hong Kong form, there seems to be a market for everything you can think of. The Goldfish Market is a whole street dedicated to many types of fish and all the accessories you might need if you have a fish.

Apparently in the Chinese culture, goldfish are a sign of good luck and often found in the homes of many locals. Chinese New Year, is a busy time for the Goldfish Market, with many people purchasing fish.

On both sides of the street, you can find shop after shop filled with fish, but every now and then a pet store with rabbits, mice, or puppies will be wedged in between. Although our apartment building does not permit pets, we figured that excludes fish or turtles. Now, my animal loving daughter is in pet heaven with her two tiny turtles.

Kowloon City Wet Market - Public Library.

Hong Kong has an amazing public library system. On the third level of the Kowloon City wet market is the Kowloon City public library. The library is very similar to the libraries in the United States. They have a great section for children, with special reading nooks. My kids love going to the public library and checking out books. I love that the books come in both English and Chinese. 

Kowloon City Wet Market - Restaurants.

On the third floor of the Kowloon City wet market there is a set of restaurants reminiscent to that of a cafeteria set up. There are kitchens on the outskirts of the area and tables in the middle. The tables are told apart by the different chairs. You order your food and then sit at the table that corresponds to the kitchen you just purchased your food from.

We ordered a mango juice from one of the two Thai restaurants and sat down on plastic chairs with no back. The place is cheerful and well maintained. It's clean and a place friends gather to eat. People were clustered around a hot plate drinking local beer and talking after a day at work.