Celestial Pictures, Mega Box, and Lunch at Roka in Pacific Place

Do you remember at the end of National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) when John Candy comes out of Wally World and says: "Sorry folks. Park's closed. The moose out front should have told you"?

Well, that's almost what happened to me today when I got to Celestial Pictures but read on in this photo essay.

First, breakfast at this place in Causeway Bay that proudly had the microwave out in plain view of the patrons. Kind of reminded me of the Snack-n-Shack segment on the old In Living Color TV program -- I half expected Tommy Davidson to be back there with the old men cooking...


On my way...




We need to get into this building...


In the elevator...


Outside the door!


I want this poster!


So, I get in and there's one lady working the front desk in jeans. The rest of the office was empty with just a few construction workers doing repairs on the ceiling. The lady said "Today out day." My first thought on hearing that was: "Maybe I should do a Supermarket Sweep-like run through this place and just grab stuff? But I'm not really going to do that. So I politely asked her if I could take pictures of the posters. Which I did.

I said I came all the way from America to see this office and she wrote down a number to call on Monday to ask about a tour. I think she understood what I was asking.

So I nervously took pictures of the posters in the lobby. There was a lot of glare too so these didn't come out great.

I actually haven't seen this yet...


Is there anything I need to say?


Again, not much that needs to be said here...


More Ti Lung...


Big budget Shaw epic...


Outside the ridiculous Mega Box mall...


So I wandered around the nearby Mega Box mall and was quickly bored and annoyed. I understand that space is at a premium in this area but, if used wisely, it can provide a pleasant shopping experience for a customer rather than feel like work just to get to a single shop or use the escalators. For every annoying experience at Langham Place or Mega Box, I'd rather go to Pacific Place or Elements and not feel like a rat in a maze.

Not only that, but Mega Box is not near the MTR which means that you would have to ride the MTR, catch the free commuter shuttle bus to Mega Box, and then ride a whole lot of escalators or stand in line for the elevator just to go to Ikea and a Thai restaurant?

These are the lines for the elevators. I wouldn't wait in a line like this even to ride an elevator up to Charlene Choi's private apartment. Wait a minute: Yes, I would!


So, I had lunch at Roka Restaurant in Pacific Place. The food was good and, speaking for a moment as an American who doesn't like to spend $40US for a lunch, actually worth the price. It was a nice surprise and a relaxing way to end the afternoon.

The business card for Roka lists the restaurant's three locations and there's something wonderfully absurd about seeing: "London, Hong Kong, Scottsdale" emblazoned together.

Ah, yes, Scottsdale, Arizona, that hotbed of industry!



Sushi and sashimi assortment...


Steak!


I'm not even a big beef eater but this was delicious!


Dessert was some sake and pear concoction and it was delicious!