Chops on Man Wa Lane • 4 comments • Known as Chop Alley to locals, Man Wa Lane is a row of stalls all selling rubber stamps and traditional Chinese "seals". Thinking of a friend of ours who would appreciate one as a gift, we spent some time looking at the overwhelming amount of options. If you want a poorly translated version of your name, there are countless books to help you. On the rainy day that we visited, there wasn't much activity in the alley and the shopkeepers looked tremendously bored. The incredible craftsmanship that goes into making the stone handles by hand is clearly visible. The porcelain ink pads are in stark contrast to the plastic rubber stamps they sell alongside of them. They typically cost around HK$100 (less for a small size and more for a larger one) and apparently, this is the best place to find "chops" in all of Hong Kong. - Mina
Dandan Noodles • 1 comments • I'd never even heard of, or had, Dandan noodles until I moved to San Francisco. There's a Chinese restaurant in the city where it's our favourite menu item, even if we need a gallon of water to get through the meal because of the amount of chili oil in it. I grew up eating exceptionally spicy foods, but somehow my tolerance has subsided over the years. I still have the old mindset though, so when Alex warned me that perhaps medium dandan noodles in Hong Kong might be a bit much, I ignored him. It was one of those "I should have listened" moments and I cursed myself the entire meal for not making my order mild. Traditionally a Chinese Sichuan dish, Dandan noodles are typically a mix of minced meat, preserved vegetables, and a spicy sauce served over noodles. On our first day in Hong Kong, we went to Dandan HK, in Sheung Wan, to get our fix. Owned by a young French-Sichuanese couple, the restaurant’s menu focuses on authentic Dandan noodles with a small but exciting (to us) menu. - Mina
A Visit to a Chinese Medicine Shop • 3 comments • Although Chinese medicine shops can be found all over Hong Kong, the district of Sheung Wan is an epicenter for all things herbed, dried, crushed, ground, and mixed together. While all of this may be considered "alternative" to us, it's very commonplace and co-exists with modern medicine. The language barrier prevented us from learning too much about the ancient practice while there, but the store workers seemed more interested in encouraging us to photograph them anyway. - Alex
Hong Kong Central • 2 comments • Watch this slow motion video that Alex took with his phone because it's the best.
Central Oasis | HK • 1 comments • So much of traveling is a constant stream of movement from one sight to another, while being as present as possible. But, through our travels there have been times when we’ve taken a few minutes to just sit down for breaks, and many of those moments have stuck with me as fond memories (like the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech, the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, and the High Line in NYC). The Central Oasis will be one of those memories. Walking through an unadorned walkway connecting two buildings, we noticed a section containing foliage and benches with paintings by local artists on the walls. I very much appreciate these thoughtful people that create beautiful spaces for others to enjoy. Hong Kong has big plans to revitalize this part of the city. Adding plants and art to, what seemed to be an otherwise gloomy commute for some, is a productive start. - Mina
