Making Contact with the REAL tai tais (women of leisure)

Another day in Hong Kong 🙂 I had to make a pass for Prince Building (the place where the real tai tais congregate hehe) to check out the latest offerings of the premier designer brands like Chanel, Van Cleef and Arpels (as if I had the money for that haha), Cartier (mega bling!!)…
And then there they were…The REAL tai tais!! Now was my chance to rub elbows with the “real deal”. I’m tired of being a wannabe. Nothing says taitai like these 2 women! Chic tai tai #2 was my target *muwahaha*… Dressed in a Leonard dress with the token gold chain necklaces and the “tai tai”purchase from Chanel *Natch*, this woman is the true embodiment of a woman of leisure. Meanwhile, I looked every inch a coolie, sweaty while hauling a huge box (my DKs’ toy) *muwahaha guilty mom had to buy toys for the kiddies*. Tsk embarrassing. My friends could only wonder what I had in mind when I saw these well- coiffed ladies. *I HAD TO TALK TO THEM!!!*.

The baghag made contact with the higher beings of HK society. I couldn’t think of anything to ask them. I couldn’t possibly have my photo taken with them. HK tai tais are very wary of strangers, especially if strangers looked like me *stalker haha*. I would’ve loved a photo of them but I can’t say I’m from a magazine (hello I looked like a coolie lah..) So I just walked up to them and asked them where the New Star Ferry terminal is located (for those who didn’t know, Star Ferry terminal at Central moved).

So there. Stupid question eh? DUH. Of course they didn’t know where the new terminal was! Real tai tais don’t take public transport! They get whisked away in their Rolls and Bentleys. 🙂 *whacks head* But there. I made contact *muwahaha*. They were real nice though–although I did wish they offered me to ride in their fancy car *snicker. Don’t push your luck, Jackie T!*

I’ve also seen a few other tai tais, and I seem to notice that their brand of choice when it came to bags, is Loewe. Hmm.. should I already get me one of those? That pink one’s kinda growing on me *hehe*. In fairness, it’s quite nice. 🙂

Hmm but I think when I get to the real “Age of Matronics”, then I’d hopefully love to be seen carrying a neutral shade of the Hermes Kelly (and be able to carry it with grace like Queen Silvia of Sweden). I just think a neutral shade of a Kelly or a Birkin would fit perfectly with that “tai tai” woman of luxury image. 😀 *I hope by that time, I’d have plenty moolah for luxury living haha*

So it was off to Pacific Place we went. I love Pacific Place. It reminds me of my dad. Pre- Pacific Place, when we go to HK, we’d always stay at the Regent Hotel at Tsim Sha Tsui by the waterfront. (Regent is now Hotel Intercontinental). In retrospect, I was exposed to Chanel quite young (thank you mom haha tsktsk). I would always accompany DM to the arcade (New World) that adjoins the hotel and Chanel was the first boutique we go into. After we’ve combed through the shops there, we’d cross over to the HK Peninsula Hotel too for more shops. (There was also Sui Hing back then– remember that department store??? Ahhh.. memories!) We’d either have dinner at Lei Zhing Hin (or is that what it’s called? It’s the Chinese restaurant at The Pen… someone refreshen my memory) *the restaurant serves excellent drunken shrimp and abalone hehe…* or at The Steak House at the Regent (that’s where my DM and DB saw Pierce Brosnan *pre-James Bond… He was still Remington Steele* personally while he was filming Noble House! They were seated a table away from him! Luckkkkyyyy!). Anyway, ever since Pacific Place was built, we’d stay at the Island Shangri-la Hotel *muwahaha sadly my own travel budget cannot afford me even an overnight stay at the posh hotel hahaha… pathetic indeed!*. It was perfect because the mall was just right below 🙂 My DD is a creature of habit– we would always eat at Summer Palace (ever since we stayed at Shangri-la). Sadly though, we never went back to the other side (Tsim Sha Tsui) for food… Hmm.. I think on my next trip there, I’ll pay those old haunts a visit. Speaking of old haunts, I also remember eating Chinese congee for breakfast with DD and DM at this little place in the mall beside Regent! I think it’s still there today too! *Bright idea: Must go there next trip* Sigh, it’s so nice to write about the things we’d all do together as a family when we traveled with DDwhile he was still with us…

Ok enough reminiscing, I hope you haven’t fallen asleep yet. Sorry if I get carried away. You should know by now that I enjoy talking about the wonderful times I’ve had with my dad. It keeps my memory of him alive. 🙂 *Sigh… he is sorely missed… :(* Wait, so my friends and I went to Pacific Place. We ended up eating at Le Bistro–at the Great Food Hall of Seibu Department Store.

The three of us ordered Onion Soup (which tasted rather bland– I think the chef diluted the beef stock with too much water)

Prosciutto salad with fruits (which was excellent)
Roast chicken sandwich (which wasn’t too bad)
After our meal,we decided to take a stroll at the supermarket section. I literally salivated while looking at all the packed-and-ready-to-eat sushi.So many kinds! My personal fave would have to be the Sweet shrimp or Amaebi. (The other one with the one big shell is conch or Mirugai; then there were the blanched snails… no thanks haha)Ugh I wanted Amaebi and Sea Urchin or Uni. So I took both.

Freshly sliced sashimi, anyone? *Check out that HUGE fish!*
There was also a real good selection of breads there at their bakery. Again, this baghag was so tempted to buy all to try…But hello, carbs. We don’t need carbs now 🙁 Waistline too thick!! *sob*

Anyway here’s one last look at Pacific Place’s Chanel boutique.All the pretty bags were gone 🙁 there were these totes available (they’re pretty but they’re like, US$3,500++!).

And there is again this chalk colored logo flap bag that I was just soooo tempted to get…Tsk. thank you purse ban. My credit card is not capable of handling such swipe abuse at this time. So I had to back off 😀 Bye bye bag *sob*

Oh, so now that I’m back in Manila, here are two reasons (check out both photos below) why my friends believed me when I said this HK trip was no retail retreat. *I noticed little details!! Meaning I was a “tourist” for once in HK!*

Would you want to have your hair done at Salon Amoeba? 😀 Don’t these Hk peeps know what an Amoeba is? *Hellooo bacteria!!!* It’s a catchy name though– one that you won’t forget easily *hehehe* That’s one more reason why I love Hong Kong 🙂

Here, what about going to Porky Chan for your annual check-up? :)… That’s DOCTOR Porky Chan to you 😀 His name should be included in the Nuri Vitachi list (of the now defunct Asiaweek).

That’s all for now peeps. Have a good weekend !!

xx
Mrs. T