I can have wonton noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And at tea and supper time, too. I am referring to the Hong Kong-style wonton noodles - egg noodles with shrimp wonton in a clear broth with yellow chives - the type that one would easily find in a Hong Kong noodles shop. Wonton is a kind of small dumplings that shrimp and pork with vegetable wrapped in thin flour starch skin, and cooked in soup with noodles. A bowl of wonton noodles has four to six pieces of wonton, the noodles are slightly tougher than the conventional Chinese noodles. Portions of Wonton noodles are smaller in Hong Kong, compared to Singapore, each serving of wonton noodle soup comes in a petite and dainty rice bowl. Somehow, noodles always taste better in Hong Kong. Maybe it has something to do with the weather or maybe it is in the mind. So what is the main difference between Singapore's and Hong Kong's wonton noodles? Green chili, of course. You can never find green chili in Hong Kong's wonton noodles. I am not trying to bring limelight to green chili; and give credit or disgrace to what makes or breaks a good plate of wonton noodles. But if it is noodles SOUP, it is another different story. I truly think the major difference in Singapore's and Hong Kong's wonton noodle soup lies in the broth. I don't know how Hong Kong does its broth - but the unamiflavor in Hong Kong wonton noodle soup has much more depth compared to the Singapore counterpart. Typically, it is also quite common to see white chives sprinkled as garnish in the Hong Kong version; vs Singapore's scallions/spring onions garnish. The little details do make the difference. I will be heading to Hong Kong again in this May for documentary photojournalism work, which is hands down my favorite city in the world. I’ve visited it well faithfully every year, and sometimes even twice a year. I don’t think there’s a city I’m more passionately familiar with than Hong Kong (there were times when i actually lost my way in my own hometown Singapore despite the “efficient” public transportation system, yet I could guide you around Hong Kong with my eyes closed).
I get asked all the time why I love Hong Kong so much, and I have a hard time explaining it. I don’t know, I realize I’m all over the place, because I can’t actually put into words why I love Hong Kong. And I think that’s actually what makes travel beautiful. If I could put into words what I loved about it so much, then it could be experienced “virtually” and there would be no need to visit. But there’s something about Hong Kong that leaves me feeling energized, that leaves me feeling like I’m missing out on life if I’m not out in the streets. And every time I leave Hong Kong I get that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach like I’m leaving home. So each time i am back from Hong Kong, I try to step back and kind of explain what I enjoy when it comes to travel, and frame that in the context of Hong Kong, through writing and publishing my Hong Kong photo blog posts. Can anyone relate to that general feeling, be it about Hong Kong or another city you love? Which city do you feel most passionately about?
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