Memoirs of a Gweilo

It’s a so-called Canto-Western restaurant , early Hong Kong fusion cooking. Borshtsh and steak or Eisbein (German pork knuckle) with Chinese broccoli. Not bad at all, but the reason for visiting this place is the beautiful sad atmosphere (pictures below) – it hasn’t changed a bit since it opened in 1963, it’s the Hong Kong that doesn’t exist anymore outside of these doors.

That’s why the great director Wong Kar-Wai shot here some scenes of “In the mood for love” and “2046″. I was having dinner in one of those booths where Tony Leung Chiu-Wai and Maggie Cheung were sitting. The friendly staff is fluent in English and will certainly point at a large film still of “In the mood for love” and ask you if you know this movie. My answer (“Yes, it’t the reason why I’m here”) was obviously appreciated.

It’s the Goldfinch Restaurant / Caf???? de Goldfinch, at 13 Lan Fong Road, Causeway Bay. MTR station Causeway Bay, exit Times Square.

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Here is a clip on YouTube with a song (the melody is from the Sound of Music), consisting of the names of most of the subway stations of Hong Kong, followed by some sound samples typical for the MTR (Mass Transit Railway). “Please mind the gap”. “Next stop Admiralty”, etc. Great pictures from the MTR stations too.

On the 31st of March I’ll be going to Hong Kong for the 6th time, for two weeks. The bad news is we have to fly with KLM, the Dutch national carrier, but the good news is the Hong Kong International Film Festival is on when I’m there.

Last time I was in China (september 2006) I was so lucky to see the divine Zhang Ziyi walking over the red carpet during the world premiere of “the Banquet” in Xientiandi, Shanghai. Ten days later in Hong Kong I saw Jackie Chan doing some weird promotional things on Time Square, in Causeway Bay.

I don’t know what will happen this time, but HK will be big fun anyway.