A Question…

Okay, I need help from you old WESTPAC hands…

Discussion at dinner was about Hong Kong and Jimmy’s American Grill. There was a Tailor in Kowloon that was a “cousin” that Jimmy sent us to for uniforms/clothes…

Problem is NONE of us can remember the name of the damn tailor… And we also had an argument over the beer he served, “I” thought it was Tiger, so does anybody remember that???

Comments

A Question… — 10 Comments

  1. I remember pulling into HK and dropping anchor. And I remember a day or two after we left. The time in between was kind of a drunk blur… and tailors were not part of the experience. Sorry!

  2. Don’t know the name of the tailor, but I remember Pinkeys tattoo parlor.
    And Hong Kong Mary’s bum boats.

  3. Jim – You are hurting my head. Can you smell the wood burning there where you are?

    My Bride-For-Life and I did my 7-day R&R breaks in Hong Kong. We had our “Bridal Suite” at the Hong Kong Hilton. I remember a place we referred to as “Jimmy’s Kitchen” on the Hong Kong side, which was famous for its killer “French Onion Soup” appetizer and to-die-for “Baked Alaska” dessert. I am guessing it could well have been the “Jimmy’s American Grill” to which you refer in a later name change.

    My Bride and I also did the Jimmy’s cousin tailoring thing. During one of our R&Rs, one of the tailors competing for the VeePee R&R business had Jimmy’s cousin beat up. When we saw the poor cousin, he looked like Rocky Graziano after a 15-rounder. We went the whole nine yards, custom suits, dresses, and leather outfits all topped off with a natural Kolinsky Mink coat with matching mink hat for Dolores. Jimmy’s cousin had us “Limo’ed” around daily with an attending family member guide in a Mercedes Sedan to assure he could get us to the daily fittings, and also transport us around to make jewelry…et al purchases from other “cousin” shopkeepers. Dolores traveled “heavy” in those days. She arrived from Hawaii on TWA with a partially packed steamer trunk, and left with one that I could barely latch shut. Great times!

    Alas, none of the clothing has survived in our closets over these 40+ years, or else I could read the labels on the clothes, and tell you the tailor shop’s name. Those were wondrous, heady times. I hope you run this one to ground.

  4. Rev- Thanks!

    Jon- I vaguely remember Pinkys… and those Bum boats were the quick/easy way to get around especially from the Brit Seaman’s Club!

    JDP- Yep, that was it, and they also had Borsht soup too! Thanks for chiming in!

  5. Pretty sure the tailor was Sam’s and I’m certain the beer was Tsingtao.
    Ah. The China Fleet Club. The place to start and end a liberty.
    I remember walking Shore Patrol in Trop Whites as an Ensign; the “beat” was pretty much restricted to Wanchai with the whole “Suzi Wong” atmosphere (and the club of the same name).
    Looking out at “my” Adams-class anchored in the stream made me fell like a real Destroyerman.
    Was just talking about HK to a young colleague who’s going there in a month or two; realizing I hadn’t been since well before the Brits turned it over

  6. Boat Guy- Thanks, and I was wrong on the damn beer too… sigh… THAT’s going to cost me! Last time I was there was 97…