Kowloon: Yau Ma Tei & Mong Kok - Hong Kong: Top Sights, Local Life, Made Easy - page 219

Getting Inked in Hong Kong

In the 1960s, sailors on shore leave in Hong Kong would go to dingy tattoo parlours in Tsim Sha Tsui to get inked
with images of dragons or naked women. For anything else, you had to go abroad - until now.

Nic Tse, aka South China Sea Collective (B1; 6333 5352; [e-mail]; 2nd fl, 234 Sai
Yeung Choi St South, Mong Kok; tattooing per hr $1000), belongs to a new generation of tattoo artists in Hong
Kong that are well versed in tattoo styles of both Asian and Western cultures. Nic is Chinese, but speaks perfect
English, and his repertoire includes realist armscapes to minimalist body art and everything in between. (But if
you want a dragon, he can do that, too.) Interested parties should email Nic as early as possible to discuss details
and book an appointment. Payment is in cash or via PayPal.

19 Sino Centre

MALL

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This shabby mall in the heart of Mong Kok is the go-to place for CDs (new and used),
magazines, comics, action figures, computer games and other kidult bait. There are also
fly-by-night bootleg DVD vendors. (582-592 Nathan Rd, Mong Kok;

Yau Ma Tei, exit A2)

20 Tak Hing Dried Seafood

FOOD

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This reliable corner establishment has glass jars stuffed with dried scallops, crocodile
meat, edible bird's nest made from the salivary excretions of cave swifts, and oysters,
though you might prefer their figs, cashews, candied lotus seeds and ginseng. (1 Woo Sung St,

Yau Ma Tei; 9am-7.30pm; Yau Ma Tei, exit C)

Local Life

Chan Wah Kee Cutlery Store

At Chan Wah Kee Cutlery Store (B5; 2730 4091; 278D Temple St, Yau Ma Tei; 11am-6pm, closed
Wed; Jordan, exit C2) you can watch one of Asia's last remaining master knife- sharpeners in action. Eighty-
year-old Mr Chan uses nine different stones to grind each blade, alternating between water and oil. His clients in-