PANDA CAFE IN HONG KONG: ASIA CRAZY, WEIRD THEME RESTAURANTS, MONGKOK DINING. SWAROVSKI BEAR NECKLACES.
Hard to believe I’ve now known Seba for over a year. We met last Halloween in Tokyo; remember our SaTaN and Candy Spooky concert video?
Since then, we’ve had a multitude of adventures around the world (with more in the works). Let’s flash-back to Hong Kong, and our visit to the Panda House Cafe in Mongkok.
A panda theme restaurant sounded like a cute spot for lunch. But it ended up… not quite as expected. Read on, for the story. (Bear necklaces gifted from Soho Hearts, who produced our Panda charity necklace.)
Panda makeup means loading on the black eyeshadow. To add depth, I drew on bottom lashes with a liquid eyeliner pen from Japan, and added brown eyeshadow above. Fake eyelashes top off the look.
Black and white punk top, and short skirt: Spider (photos of the Mongkok Gothic Lolita store here)
The cafe had the right idea going: panda bears on the menus, and in every inch of the restaurant. But the execution wasn’t quite on point.
First, the theme restaurant was located in an apartment building for locals (it felt like we were visiting my grandparents’ Mongkok flat). Second, as you can see, the place was a tad dusty and run-down…
The collection of plush panda toys was impressive.
However, the general wear-and-tear was a downer.
I like to see the positive sides of places I review. For example… this drink looked great in photos!
The menu consisted of Chinese-meets-Western cafe fare.
Fusion is always a crapshoot. In this case, the tuna salad didn’t quite work… but we appreciated the careful decoration of sliced processed cheese on top!
I can’t say I’d recommend the Hong Kong panda cafe. However, with the right attitude, anything can be an adventure (even if it doesn’t pan out as expected).
We invite you to check out our Panda Bear necklace with Soho Hearts. Proceeds go to help the Sendai government rebuild the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.
Are you a fan of pandas and purikura, as I am? Ever had a day that turned out all wrong — but still ended up being fun?
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Song of the Day: Kunoichi Panda – Kanaderu Tabi no Tochuu de (Sendai-based Jrock band)
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JAPAN’S BIGGEST COSPLAY FESTIVAL! ROAM TV: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ADVENTURE, AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL TV SHOW.
One of my favorite TV hosting jobs was with Sony Australia / National Geographic Adventure. I was the Tokyo subcultures guide for the Two Tims, who are absolute sweethearts. Their travel show, Roam, is good-humored and action-packed — as you can see from my Japan episode.
In these TV clips, I take the Aussies to Japan’s biggest cosplay festival, underground punk dives in Golden Gai, Tokyo Decadance bar, and shopping in Harajuku (check out the Sweet Lolita and Decora girls). I hope you smile at the video above and on YouTube.
Alright. Now, I’m going to give chocolate cookies and ice cream to everyone who adds my Google+ page!
Simply click. 
My rotund Scottish Fold cat is on Google Plus Pages too. Add him for a cuddle?
The cutest cat in the universe is on Facebook too.
Finally, a press round-up. Thank you to Eyestrane for interviewing me for Asiance Magazine. And to Lee Jay at Modern Tokyo Times, for writing about my work in alternative fashion, subcultures and Gothic style. (You can read more interviews on my Press page.)
Were you awed by the crazy fashion and nightlife in my Australia TV episode? All my hosting clips are in my Bio section.
Song of the Day: Schwefelgelb – Wie Ich Heiss (thanks G-suS!)
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LA CARMINA
