![[Hong Kong] W Hotel](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/R0022110.jpg)
W Hong Kong
Add: 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Station, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3717 2222
Website: www.w-hongkong.com
Love the W signature quirkiness.
![[Hong Kong] Sidewalk](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/R0022289.jpg)
Sidewalk
Add: 4-6 Gough Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2850 7299
Hours: [Mon-Wed] 8am-8pm [Thu-Sat] 8am-10pm [Sun] 8am-6pm
Website: www.sidewalk.hk
Price: ~30 HKD/coffee or tea, 30 HKD/cupcake
Sidewalk is a chic little cafe / shop that I stumbled upon while roaming around in the Noho area on a Sunday morning. I was originally looking for Lan Fong Yuen 蘭芳園’s milk tea and stir-fried instant noodles, but alas it wasn’t open. So how about a cup of coffee and some dainty little cupcakes instead? Why not.
At the waiter’s recommendation, I sampled a red velvet cupcake. Fluffy, with just the right amount of cream cheese frosting, the cupcake was a few delightful bites. Only when I paid did I find out that it costed me 30 HKD! I also later learned that these cupcakes are from Sift, and if you directly buy the cupcakes there, it would be 25 HKD a piece.
![[Hong Kong] Cafe Gray Deluxe](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/R0021909.jpg)
Cafe Gray Deluxe
Add: Level 49, The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3968 1106
Website: www.cafegrayhk.com
Hours: [lunch] 12-2:30pm [tea] 3:30-5:30pm [dinner] 6-10:30pm
Price: [lunch] 295~355 HKD/set [brunch] 350+ HKD/person [tea] 345 HKD/for two [dinner] 675 HKD/set
On my first day in Hong Kong, I had the perfect light lunch at Cafe Gray Deluxe, a modern European restaurant by celebrity chef Gray Kunz up on the 49th floor of Upper House.
View of the Victoria Harbour, I can only imagine how spectacular it must look after dark.
The meal started off with fluffy mixed grain bread accompanied by a plain yogurt dip. Excellent.
![[Antwerp] Half Day Trip](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/R0021007.jpg)
Antwerp really didn’t make an impression on me – perhaps I needed way more than 7 hours to explore the city.
The statue in Grote Markt, with a story behind:
“Antwerp got its name from a legend involving a mythical giant called Antigoon who lived near the river Scheldt. He exacted a toll from those crossing the river, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands and threw it into the river Scheldt. Eventually, the giant was slain by a young hero named Brabo, who cut off the giant’s own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen – akin to Old English hand and wearpan (= to throw), that has changed to today’s warp.“
![[Ghent] Simon Says B&B – The Breakfast](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/9.jpg)
Simon Says B&B
Add: Sluizeken 89000 Gent, Belgium
Tel: +32 9 233 03 43
Website: www.simon-says.be
Price: €100/night for 2 people, discounts for 2 nights or more
Visited: Jul 2011
The bed at Simon Says is ultra comfortable. The only thing that lured me out of it was the enticing aroma of freshly baked croissants and freshly brewed coffee from the downstairs cafe. When breakfast smells this good, sleeping in simply is not an option.
At the cafe, we were greeted by Christopher and Vache the B&B cat. Vache is “cow” in French – just look at his fur and you’ll know why this name is so befitting.
Breakfast at Simon Says is a feast. Freshly squeezed orange juice, amazing croissants (I’d say one of the best I’ve ever had) and other pastries (pain au chocolat was delicious as well), perfectly boiled eggs (so soft so tender), yogurt, organic museli, fresh cherries, and of course, luxurious coffee.
![[Ghent] Simon Says B&B](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/R0020760.jpg)
Simon Says B&B
Add: Sluizeken 89000 Gent, Belgium
Tel: +32 9 233 03 43
Website: www.simon-says.be
Price: €100/night for 2 people, discounts for 2 nights or more
Visited: Aug 2011
Simon Says is a wonderful, wonderful cafe + bed & breakfast located in the heart of Ghent. We arrived late in the evening exhausted from a full day of touring, and our hosts – Simon and Christopher, two lovely Brits who have been living in Ghent for 10+ years – scooped us right off the floor, carried our luggages up two flights of steep stairs, and ushered us into our simple but comfortably furnished room. Light music in the air, evening breeze through the windows, and a pot of freshly steeped Mariage Frères Jasmin Mandarin tea with Belgian chocolates on the table. Ahh, it’s good to be here.
![[Ghent] Mesmerizing After Dark](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/R0020698.jpg)
Ghent is beautiful in the sun and mesmerizing after dark. Do yourself a favor and stay in the city for one evening, just so you can enjoy the enchanting night scene at leisure.
![[Ghent] Beautiful in the Sun](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/R0020796.jpg)
Just take a look at the pictures below and you’ll know exactly why Ghent is not to be missed. I didn’t even visit any of the tourist spots (the Cathedral, the churches, the belfry, the museums) and was already charmed beyond remedy.
![[Waterloo] Hameau du Roy](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/R0018191.jpg)
La Ferme du Hameau de Roy
Add: Ch. de Bruxelles 70, 1472 Vieux-Gemappe, Belgique
Tel: 02 387 15 15
Website: fermeduhameauduroy.be
Price: [beer] €3.00 and up [food] €7.50 and up
Visited: Jul 2011
This rustic farm bakery near the Waterloo battlefield serves amazing quiches and fruit tarts. Perfect spot for breakfast or lunch.
Just looking at these fruit tarts and quiches made me very happy at heart.
![[Waterloo] Random Snippets](https://www.sugarednspiced.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/R0017989.jpg)
The weather in Waterloo (or Belgium in general?) is capricious. One minute it’s heavy rain shower, another minute it’s nothing but fluffy clouds floating in the bright blue sky.
It’s fun to stroll through small town Waterloo’s residential area. Cute houses, flowers in full bloom, pastry shops here and there.
