The Canny Man‘s posters all read “An oasis in WanChai” but I personally like the one I saw on a video today:

“A football-free zone.”

OK, so South Africa just recently hosted a very successful football World Cup but man… a month of football is probably as much football as I can take!  Truth be told, I’ve probably seen enough round-ball “action” to last me till the next World Cup.  Which is probably a good thing, what with the RUGBY WORLD CUP in Zealand looming in 2011.

I am currently teaching a bridging course for new Secondary 1 students in Lok Fu and one of my colleagues is none other than the former Hong Kong rugby captain Semi Iafeta.  Apologies to Semi, but I didn’t recognise him until I did a bit of “research” online today.  However, in my defense Semi, your hair used to be a lot longer!  Like most international rugby boys here in Hong Kong, Semi Iafeta is a semi-professional who makes his living teaching in Hong Kong.

Semi Iafeta with ball in hand, playing for Hong Kong

It seems that the big Number 8 is also quite the video producer, having produced the video about The Canny Man I mentioned earlier:

No Money, No Honey!

No, this post is not about the brisk “trading” that happens in Wan Chai every evening, but about a Monkok stall that sells Hong Kong souvenirs.

I took this picture some time ago:

Can you find these classics:

* Let’s hug it out, Bitch!

* Energy saving testing day. No working, No school, No homework

* Don’t ask for cigarettes

* Beer can give energy

* No Beer, No Dad

One of my favourite hang-outs when I’m in the mood for some big-band jazz and a couple of big beers (not necessarily in that order) can be found in one of Tsim Sha Tsui’s food-districts: Ned Kelly’s Last Stand in Ashley Road.

In December 2011 Ned Kelly’s Last Stand will celebrate it’s 40th Anniversary.  During this time, the entertainment business being what it is here in Hong Kong and indeed anywhere in the world, Ned Kelly’s Last Stand has become a true Hong Kong institution that is known and fondly remembered by patrons all over the world.

The small stage precariously perched on one side of the venue has hosted numerous bands over the years.  These include: Sergio Mendez Band, Jimmy Rogers, Kenny Ball & His Jazzband, Winifred Atwell, Rosemary Clooney, Kay Starr, Matt Monroe, Charlie Barnet, Bob Wilber, The Imelda May Band, Kenny Martyn, The Tom Jones Band and many others.

These days, bandleader Colin Aitchison and the Colin Aitchison & The China Coast Jazzmen is responsible for entertaining the fans and the five or six musicians who do duty every evening do a grand job of entertaining the packed crowds who swarm in every evening around 9pm.

Ned Kelly’s Last Stand is open daily from 11h30 to 2am. and the live Dixieland jazz daily starts from 9:30pm until around 1am.

It serves Australian fare, including juicy pork sausages with mashed potatoes and onion gravy; beef stew; fish and chips; Australian sirloin steak; Irish stew; hamburgers; and cottage pie (baked bowl of minced beef, onions, vegetables, and mashed potatoes).

How they manage to feed and entertain so many hungry and thirsty patrons in such a small venue is beyond me, but who cares?  They do a damn fine job!

Happy Hour is from 11:30am to 9pm, with reduced prices.

(Pictures below: Mike Jansen)

Here’s a taste of Ned Kelly’s Dixieland Jazz band, courtesy of alblurt06 on YouTube:

Additional video clips of Ned Kelly’s Last Stand/The China Coast Jazzmen can be found here

Find Ned Kelly’s Last Stand here:

View Larger Map

(Additional picture of Ned Kelly’s Last Stand/The China Coast Jazzmen courtesy of Colin Aitchison on FaceBook)

From where I am typing this, if I turn my head slightly to the right, I can see the Hong Kong Coliseum.  For those who don’t know what happens over here on the “dark side” (as Hong Kong Islanders apparently refer to Kowloon) the Coliseum is where many of the indoor sports events during the East Asian Games took place.  It also hosts most of the local and international pop concerts.  The Coliseum is situated directly opposite the Hung Hom MTR station.

Whenever I pass the diamond-shaped building, I can always tell when a famous person is about to have a concert or a big event is about to take place.  The groupies hanging about the service entrance or the ritual suckling pig offering before the event is always a dead (pun intended) giveaway.

The Hong Kong Coliseum lit up during the daily Symphony of Light (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Yesterday was no different as the offering ceremony took place just as my bus passed the Coliseum.  The groupies were also in place a suitable distance from the celebs.

The ceremony I witnessed happened to be part of the preparations for the Miss Hong Kong 2010 pageant that took place last night. According to the official Miss Hong Kong 2010 website: “The 15 contestants will compete (for) the winning, first and second-runner up titles as well as the Miss Photogenic and Miss International Goodwill awards.”

So without any wasting any more time, Hong Kongers…. here is your Queen also known as Miss International Goodwill 2010:

Miss Hong Kong 2010 Toby Chan

(The air-conditioning must have been on full-blast inside the Coliseum, because last I checked, it is summer outside.)

Here’s the 1st runner-up, Sammi Cheung (22) who will represent HK at the Miss International 2010 pageant:

And just for balance, 2nd runner-up is Lisa Ch’ng (23)

All hail the Queen…

World Piece I mean Peace!

(Saturday morning 12:20)

One of the most anticipated games of the 2010 World Cup is kicking off in about two and a half hours time.

Brazil vs. Portugal.

Our friends over at Secret Hong Kong (open in FaceBook) just posted this picture from Lan Kwai Fong (one of THE party districts in Hong Kong, for those who don’t know).

For those who haven’t been, Piel De Toro is a Spanish-themed bar/restaurant in Lockhart Road, Central (Lan Kwai Fong).  It is, of course, a popular gathering place for all Spanish folk and often hosts meetings of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

You can read more about Piel de Toro on Open Rice

I wonder what the local Capetonians would make of the name PIEL de toro?!!!!!!

(Die Bul se voel/trill/tollie)?

Mmmmm…

My pal Kevin over at the Canny Man loves his footy.

His establishment, in the basement of the Wharney Guandong Hotel in Wan Chai is also one of the local watering holes that stock our very own Castle Lager Beer.

If you haven’t heard, or if you’ve been locked up by the PLA at their headquarters on Hong Kong Island for the last 2 weeks, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana national team plays France in a crunch-match in Port Elizabeth tonight. (Tuesday June 22, 10pm)

Bafana Bafana (or The Boys) has to win this game convincingly and hope that the other game between Mexico and Uruguay also go their way, in order for them to stay in the tournament.  If not (and it’s a very possible NOT) the South African team will become the first-ever host nation to be eliminated in the first round of a World Cup.

Back to Wan Chai.  The Canny Man is offering a free Castle Lager if you join them for the game (kick-off 10pm).  They will also be giving away bottles of Rooiberg Brut sparkling wine whenever Bafana Bafana scores.  If not they will raffle it.

Contact Kevin or any of the staff at The Canny Man on 2861 1935 to book a table.  Directions to The Canny Man can be found here

Carlsberg @ HK$22 ?!

Two-for-One main course Mondays ?!

Beer-and-Burger @ HK$88 ?!

House Cocktails @ 30 Bucks ?!

What’s going on in WanChai’s The Canny Man these days?

Well, Kevin over at Hong Kong’s “only authentic, traditional Scottish bar” mailed us to say that The Canny Man is going “Cannier!” with this promotion.

I must admit, I’ve never been, but after hearing this, I’m on my way!

Slainte Mhath!

Find The Canny Man online or if you’re on FaceBook, once you’re logged on, just search “Canny Man” and FB will hook you up.

Here’s The Canny Man’s mad promotion:

After a miserable start to the 2009/2010 IRB Sevens World Series, Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu declared that their aim this year is to win the Hong Kong sevens, a feat not yet accomplished by the 2008/2009 IRB Sevens Series Champions.

Howzit-HongKong.com will of course hold our fellow-South Africans to that and in the next 2 months, we will feature the MOTHER of all Sevens tournament, the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens right here on www.Howzit-HongKong.com  

So, mense, if you’re back home and planning to join us here in this part of China, stay close to find out where you can stay, what you can do, where you can dop (“party/drink” for the Englishmen amongst you) and if you’re up to it before and after the rugby… what you can see in and around our wonderful city.

Stay close!

Here’s a teaser from the MOTHER of all party-districts in Hong Kong: Lan Kwai Fong, during Sevens week (practice how to say that name to taxi-drivers, OK?!):