Island Beverly

Since this is such a famous shopping centre already, I wasn't sure if I should still write about Island Beverly. It's not like it's hard to find, either. It's across the street from Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay. (Use Exit D at Causeway Bay MTR Station.)

However, I guess some people might not know about it, so here is my entry. Now, my caveat for Island Beverly is this: you're not going to find bargains here. I've only bought 2 items my entire life from Island Beverly, and the second item I only bought when I visited today.

If anything, visit the place to get a feel for what's being sold right now, check prices and then go to the shopping centres in Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kwai Fong, and other places. The items will usually be cheaper there. If not, then just go back to Island Beverly, right?

Er, I totally forgot to take a picture of the outside of Island Beverly. But anyway, you have to take the escalators to go in.

There are 3 floors full of shops in Island Beverly. You'll find pretty much every style represented here. I probably only took pictures of 30% of the shops. A good reason to visit Island Beverly is to learn some styling tips because some of those kids there have serious steez going on.

Liking these two outfits!

Haha, dig these shoes. They're kind of awesome.

I ended up buying the belt off the mannequin on the left. I'd seen it before in another shop for about HKD400, and it was on sale for just above HKD300 in the shop. Ah, fuck me, I still shouldn't have bought it, but oh well. I'll just have to wear the hell out of it.

I was almost tempted to buy the dress, too, but I'd just come from Retrostone, so fortunately, my guilt stopped me. The girl working here is super helpful and not pushy at all, by the way.

The belt doesn't have to be tied in a bow.

That's her with the long brown hair.

Socks that were just too cute. But I'll be damned if I'm paying HKD59 for a pair of socks.

One of the coolest pair of slouchy black boots I've seen on the bottom right.

You know, I do like peep-toe shoes, but I think this trend is really going to far now. Look at this! Combat boot peep-toes! It's just not right!

Perfect for my post-apocalyptic summer theme...too bad I've sworn not to buy anything more this year.

This dress made me think of DL.

McQueen knockoffs. I really like them a lot, but the style is so distinctive, I'd rather just buy the originals, which I can't afford, so I'm not going to buy them at all then.

The reason I went to Island Beverly was to help the Other Dude look for a pair of wedges. I wasn't sure if I actually found them, but this shop, Coup de Foudre, is one of the better shops at Island Beverly. They do made-to-order shoes and also do custom work (within reason). They have 8 shops all over the city: Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Hung Hom, and Sha Tin. You can call them to find out where the other shops are at 3428 2655.

Really dug these. A bootie version of Alexander Wang's knee-high boots, right?

Now, the other item I bought at Island Beverly 5 years ago (or maybe more) was this denim jacket. It was made by a local designer, Made in the Earth, and you know I have a hard-on for supporting them. The great thing about this jacket is that it's worn upside down.

See?

As you can see, the jacket buttons up almost like a shrug. Yikes, I look pregnant in this picture. Isn't it so 90s, though? A babydoll dress and a cropped denim jacket?

From the back. If you're at Island Beverly or any of the other shopping centres like this, please do support young designers!

源記甜品專家

I have no idea if this place even has an English name. Anyway, it's one of the oldest -- if not THE oldest -- Chinese dessert place on Hong Kong Island. They serve sweet...soup? I guess there's no other way to describe it. In Chinese, it's called 糖水 or sugared water.

I was told that this may be the last generation that will keep the shop open, and after the owner retires, the shop will be closed. I mean, it's sad and all that, and I know I'll sound like an asshole, but other people will step up, and it's not like it's the only place that does these kinds of dessert.

Speaking of conservation, though, Hong Kong has a funny way of doing it. Take the Pawn, for example, an early 20th century building that has been converted into a restaurant that caters mostly to expats. Er...how does that exactly integrate historic buildings into the community? Oh wait, I forgot, it now caters to the most important part of Hong Kong society. Oops, my bad.

Also, I just don't really understand why we're so focussed on conserving colonial buildings. If those fuckers have no use, burn them down! We should be focussing on conserving real local culture! But I guess colonial mentality dictates that local culture isn't worth preserving. The root sources of the loss of traditions are colonization and Western cultural hegemony so you have to counteract that first before you can make any real headway.

My comments will seem kind of unfocussed, that that's because I'm really ambivalent about the conservation movement. I realize I'm not contributing much here, and that's because the middle ground is such a difficult place to find, but it's better than being a mouth-foaming conservationist. Incidentally, you notice that those people are inevitably ones who are really detached from their cultures? Conservationists always seem to be the people who never kind of fit in their own communities, so they go around preserving things in other people's communities. THE IRONY.

Alright, I'm done. I need to get back to my loving-kindness meditation, ignore all this Ai Wei Wei bullshit (nice to see Westerners getting involved in something that is none of their business again, and also nice to see opportunists using this as a chance for self-promotion and kiss ass to Western media) and pop a painkiller or two.

We ordered almond, walnut and sesame soups. I like the walnut one the best. You might remember that I wrote about the walnut stuff in my wedding banquet entry.

We got them plain (HKD20 each), but you can add on egg yolk and other stuff. 源記甜品專家 is on Centre Street in Sai Ying Pun.

雅園餅店 Best Pineapple Bun on Hong Kong Island

Kowloon City has some of the best bakeries producing some of the most delectable pineapple buns. Because I ate them so much when I was living there, my pineapple buns standard is exceedingly high. I have to admit that since moving to Hong Kong Island, I got complacent. I usually inspect every bakery that I come across, but most of the time the pineapple buns looked and smelled so unappetizing that I wouldn't even try them. Either there wasn't enough of that delicious crusty top or the bread looked dry and cracker-like. Blech!

I have two bakeries near my flat that make passable pineapple buns whenever I have the craving, but they don't really do it for me. I've eaten buns at this bakery in North Point before, but I never noticed the pineapple buns until recently.

The egg tarts are actually quite nice, too. And only HKD11 for 4!

I had to stop taking pictures after this last one because the bakery lady was like, "Haven't you been here before? Why are you taking pictures?"

It was the colour of the pineapple bun crust caught my attention. The saturated yellow-orange means that it's rich in butter (or whatever heavenly ingredient they add in the crust), so I was curious enough to try one.

And you know, dudes, it was fucking AMAZING. The bread itself was softer than a unicorn baby's coo, and the crust! My God, the crust! Lots of it, perfectly crunchy, and it was baked onto the bread so well that it barely fell apart as I ate it.

There's another bun under the one I bit into, that's why it looks so weird.

These are so good that even Chabi, who normally doesn't beg for people food, climbed up to the table and demanded that I share with her. She even gave me a pimp slap when I was too slow breaking up the bun.

Chabi: Thank me for smacking you, betch!

Chabi and I could eat a dozen of these for breakfast, I shit you not.

Definitely on par with Kowloon City bakeries, if not even better! 雅園餅店 or Nga Yuen Cake Shop is at 54C Tanner Road, just behind Island Place. Their phone number (although the ladies who work there don't seem to be the type to answer the phone) is 2562 0878.

They open at 6 in the morning and close quite late, about 9, but I don't know if there will be any fresh pineapple buns that late. Each pineapple bun only costs HKD3.

Ladies' Night Market

Hrm...the Ladies' Night Market is such a tourist attraction that I didn't think I ought to write about it since everyone knows about it already. However, the Other Dude had a mission from her mother to buy some handcrafted slippers, so I thought I might as well take some pictures while we were there.

We wandered a bit until we found the slippers stall. Er...I don't exactly know where it is, but just keep walking around, you'll find it.

These slippers are about HKD120 a pair.

Holy crap, we both thought this pair was so cute. Too bad they're not high-heeled shoes. They were around HKD130 or HKD140 a pair, I think.

The Other Dude spotted this pair of flats, as well, and ended up buying them.

Very, very cute. Make them with 4-inch heels, please, thank you.

*UPDATE: Since writing this entry, though, the Other Dude went to DNA Galleria and found the same shoes for only HKD79! What a big tsk!

More pictures from the Ladies' Night Market.

Oh  my God, I thought these little fabric purses were sooo cute. The envelope ones are only HKD18. I'll have to go back and buy some as presents. I think the ones on top were HKD15...but I might be making shit up.

This place sells buttered corn, hot dogs and waffles. I was mesmerized by the drawing of the corn and the chicken holding hands. I like it when food can make friends with each other.

Veggies waiting to be dipped in batter and deep fried. So delicious. Yes, I'll eventually publish an entry on street food. This one says that it's HKD7 for 4 pieces.

Other food awaiting their final destinies in the deep fryer and then in someone's stomach. To get to the Ladies' Night Market, get off at Mong Kok Station, Exit E. The MTR signs tell you to get off at Exit D, BUT THEY ARE LYING.