Given the number of times I’ve been to Hong Kong over the past two years to show friends around I’m pretty sure that I could be an official tour guide by now. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy going there but there’s a limit to how many times you want to visit the same places. Here are some more of my favourite Hong Kong moments…
One of my favourite things to do is to take the old tram all the way along Hong Kong island from Shau Kei Wan to Sheung Wan. It’s great because you get to see many of the different districts at a leisurely pace and it only costs $2 HKD.
Most buildings in Hong Kong are densely packed together so there is little natural green space on the ground. While peering out of my hostel room I noticed these small roof gardens on top of the adjacent buildings.
Contrary to popular belief when travelling I usually stay at establishments more on the budget side. This picture was taken from the window of the Yesinn Hostel in Hong Kong. If you’re looking for somewhere clean, cheap and safe this would be a good bet. The only downside is there is quite a lot of noise and light from the street below at night.
Even though their appearance isn’t very attractive often the apartments look nicer on the inside than they do from the outside. It’s amazing to think how many lives are being played out behind these facades. Working as an air conditioning repair man here is a risky business!
Even small grubby restaurants like this can sometimes surprise you with a tasty meal. At this place in Sheung Wan, the milk tea was delicious. Hong Kong-style milk tea is made from evaporated (rather than condensed) milk which gives the tea a richer taste and thicker texture. The smoother or creamier the better.
On our way to Central, we popped into Man Mao temple which was resplendent as ever with prayers attached to slowly burning incense coils filling the air with a cloud of pungent smoke. It’s interesting how different religions indulge the senses to provide a feeling of contemplation or whatever the mood being set.
If you want to escape the skyscrapers of Central it’s worth popping into Hong Kong Park which provides a beautifully landscaped oasis of calm with some interesting colonial-era buildings. In the background are the curiously shaped Lippo Center buildings. Some think the shapes look like koala bears hugging trees. What do you think?
No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a trip to see the view from Victoria Peak. This is what it looks like during the day but I think it’s better at night. You’d have to be very well off to afford an apartment here and even more if it has a view.
Another must-do is dim sum for brunch. There are plenty of places to try it (see my reviews of Maxim’s Palace and the Jumbo) – last time I went to Luk Yu Tea House which is the oldest in the city. While the food and old-world atmosphere was nice, the prices were steep for my liking.
In the restaurant, you order items from the carts which the servers are carrying/pushing and then they stamp your bill in the right place. Above are some tasty egg tarts which you can find in bakeries all over the city and definitely worth a try – if they’ve just come out of the oven be careful not to burn your mouth!
To round off a day in Hong Kong it’s worth bathing in the view of Victoria Harbor from Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon) where you can watch the light show at 8 pm each night. If you’re heading back to the island the Star Ferry runs till 11.30 pm each night and is a nice alternative to the MTR.
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