Less than a week in East Asia – Taipei & Hong-Kong

Back in Asia, a quick business visit, Taipei, and then, almost unexpectedly, Hong-Kong.

Never enticed by Taipei, over several visits in the last 25 years. This time though, I find the city clean, less polluted, and certainly less encumbered by traffic – it’s almost Singapore! It seems to me that it is due to the fact that much of the construction that was going on in previous visits has abated – the subway is certainly completed!

Staying at the Sheraton Taipei, chosen by our hosts. Usual good large hotel chain standards. Had stayed before at the Hyatt, closer as I recall to the Trade Center and now the new city landmark – Taipei 101 – a structure of 101 floors, reminiscent of an ancient pagoda. Remember also once staying at the Sherwood hotel – very comfortable.

Took a couple of hours to spend at the National Palace Museum. Probably the largest repository of Chinese artefacts in the world. Built in the 60’s to lodge what the Nationalists had managed to ship outside of the mainland in 1949, probably starting not long after the war was over. The collection from the Forbidden City actually had been “on the road” already for a good 15 years, having been packed away first to avoid the avatars of the civil war and of the Japanese invasion. A long itinerary starting in Beijing, then Shanghai, Nanjing, scattered somewhere further west in Sichuan, Chungqing, reassembled back east in Nanjing, to eventually finds its way to Taiwan. Fascinating collection – by far the most extensive I have ever seen. I go back every time I come to Taipei. Such a trove to discover.

Had lunch at the Silks Palace on the ground of the Museum, not knowing that our hosts was going to take us there for dinner the day after…

Invited a few colleagues for dinner at the Grand Hotel, built in the early 50’s, in the pure grandiose traditional Chinese – majestic lobby, lots of reds and marble. A sight to see; the restaurant, the Golden Dragon, is overseeing the Danshui River, nearby. The food of course is rather mediocre (and the wine selection awfully limited!) Would have dined better at the Din Tai Fung on xiaolungbao! Well, I knew I was not coming for the food…

The Grand Hotel, a Taipei landmark, is built on a hilltop in traditional Chinese palace architecture. With the largest Chinese classical style roof in the world, vermilion pillars, stately archways, and brilliant roof tiles, it is quite spectacular. First built in 1952, it underwent many additions and expansions until its completion in 1973. After a disastrous fire in 1995, the hotel was repaired, and reopened to the public in 1998.
SOURCE: Xiao-Si Huang, courtesy of Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation & Communications , R.O.C.

Above picture of Grand Hotel lobby, taken by Taiwan Junior, reproduced here under a CC license.

Flew to Hong-Kong for more meetings. On Cathay Pacific – always a pleasure to fly on their wings, even if it is a short flight. Staying at a new place, a boutique hotel in Wanchai – The Fleming. Brand new, roomy quarters, rather slick. Would stay again…amidst the “humanity” of Wanchai – such dense crowd. Gentrifying at the west end of the area, off the Admiralty –new high rises, bars and restaurants. Had a glass of wine in the area with Ted.

Remarkable dinner at the 8 1/2 Otto y mezzo restaurant (apparently would have just got its second Michelin Star), at the invitation of Bernard, an old French Canadian friend, there since the late 70’s when I came first in hong-Kong to live(there is a story here!) Joined a party of some 25 of their friends and business contacts to sample the food of “chef invité” Normand Laprise, from the very hip and fashionable Montréal restaurant “Toqué!”, well wine-paired by the local sommelier. Long conversation with chef Laprise…

Coincidence, dinner with old British friends (second tour of duty - mid 90’s - vintage!) at the same venue as we had the last time, a few years back, the LRC (Ladies Recreational Center), on Old Peak Road, across from where I lived some 30 years ago! For the same reason: a wine degustation, from Lebanon this time – Chateau Musar - with the patriarch, Serge, in attendance!