Temple Street Night Market, evening of July 2, 2011

     The Temple Street Night Market, we were told, is an absolute must-see here on Kowloon Island.  It is a bargain hunter's dream and a place where bartering is encouraged.  Those of you who know me well, know I take phenomenal joy in street markets.  But... you will be surprised to learn that I bought nothing from the market.  Being on the front end of our journey here, we are leary of loading up with too much stuff.  Right now, our suitcases are packed to the brim with one week's worth of clothing and lots of paperstuff related to our teaching coming up in Guiyang.  So, space is limited. 
     So, our journey through the Night Market became a "window shopping" sort of adventure.  Scott tried on various hats, as he forgot to bring one along for the ultra sunny days here.  Hasn't settled on buying one yet, though...

Another fascinating site was the pharmacy, which was focused entirely on traditional Chinese medicine.  The shop is devoted to medicines which are holistic, involved in what a person ingests and realigning balances in the body...

After the Night Market, we wandered over to the nightly Laser Light Show by the harbor, South China Sea.  The place was packed with people holding their cells up in the crowd.  A musical performance by a group of young students had just finished, and then pre-recorded music was piped in.  Not sure if we expected something far more spectacular, but the laser lights came from various directions, shining various colors on the many buildings across the harbor.  The night sky was cloudy and misty, which was beautiful...

     And finally, based on a recommendation from our beloved guide George, we went to MASK restaurant, which is known for its spicy cuisine.  Scott ordered a stir fry chicken dish and I had the traditional Kung Pao chicken, which fired up my lips and the whole inside of my mouth, down to my tummy, I believe.  Scott also enjoyed a Tsing Tao beer on draught and I had some Oriental Specialty drink called Red Silk.  Both were refreshing and appreciated after our long walks in the heat and humidity of the day...  The restaurant was filled with decor related to ancient masks... and there was even a unisex hand-washing area outside of the toilets. 

     Tired feet at the end of the day.... but joyous hearts!  More exploring of Hong Kong tomorrow!

Namaste,

Marianne/    Bail Ling