1. Watch a sunset from Santorini, Greece. It will inspire you.
2. Go to a Sunday "rehab" party at the Hard Rock Las Vegas pool. It will shock you.
3. Spend a week in Hong Kong. It will intrigue you.
Hong Kong?
Really?
I mean for most average Americans, Hong Kong is hardly on their list of places to see.
Trust me... It should be.
Here are just a few simple facts about HK I need to share before I blab about our trip:
* Hong Kong was essentially a British Colony until 1997 when it became a "special administrative region of China"
* The population of HK is about 7 million people
* The official currency in HK is the HK dollar (different from mainland China)
* The official languages are Chinese and English
*Because of its low taxation and free trade market, HK has become one of the most important financial centers in the world
*over 90% of daily travels in HK are on public transportation... this is the highest percentage in the world
Okay, since it was under British rule for so long, everything is basically written in English and the majority of people speak or understand basic English.
Why would anyone care about any of this? To me, this means it is easy to get around and navigate which we all know can be a huge barrier when traveling to a foreign country.
So let me start blabbing bout the trip: (I underlined and capitalized all the blabbling topics for you cuz this is how my brain organizes my thoughts)
I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAINS!
The train system (MTR) in HK is by far the best I have ever seen in the world (so great that I felt compelled to take multiple pics of it). There are literally 3 levels of transportation throughout the entire city.
Level one- this is the ground/ street level. Do I need to explain this level? Taxis, busses, cars, walkways, etc..
Level two- this is just below the street level. This is where you enter the MTR world. This is not a normal "subway" system in which you walk down a flight of stairs, buy a ticket, and jump on a train. No this is so much more. This is where you can walk to a multitude of various trains in various directions. Its basically a mini city underground filled with numerous walkways and substations where you can either go up or down. Oh, did I mention the stairs only go down and the escalators only go up? Yep..makes sense huh?
Level 3- this is where the trains actually are. You navigate everything on level 2 and catch the train on level 3. Each "destination" has a map and "points of interest" highlighted.
All you need to survive in HK is an Octopus card. This card is like a magic key that will get you literally ANYWHERE. They accept it on the ferry boats, all trains, busses, trams, even some tourist attractions!
WHAT THE HECK IS THERE TO SEE IN HK?
Well for a first time visitor you have to see the main tourist hotspots...
* Probably the most popular attraction is called Victoria Peak. It is literally an area 1800 ft above sea level on Hong Kong Island that overlooks Victoria Harbor. The fun part about this attraction is getting there via the Peak Tram!
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| Overlooking Hong Kong from Victoria Peak |
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| Victoria Peak |
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| Tram to the peak (you cant tell how steep the ride is by looking at this pic) |
* Alright, I know a mall is not really a tourist attraction, but in Hong Kong it sort of is. You have to see the massive structures for yourself to believe them! Just like in Shanghai, they are everywhere and from the outside you cannot tell how massive they really are. It is ridiculous.
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| mall entrance |
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| another mall |
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| Here is the outside of yet another huge mall |
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| The Holiday displays outside the mall |
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| Heading up the first of many escalators |
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| the walkway to another set of escalators |
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| walking down by foot |
* The best area for some action is called Lan Kwai Fong. It is an awesome region of HK filled with Bars and restaurants popular among expats. This is where we seemed to enjoy most of our nights in Hong Kong. My picture doesn't do it justice as this area becomes alive at night!
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| Lan Kwai Fong- during the day |
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| can you read the fine print? |
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| inside a cafe in Lan Kwai Fong |
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| Walking through Soho |
*No trip to HK would be complete without seeing The Big Buddha! This is a huge bronze Buddha statue situated on a lotus structure and surrounded by "six Devas". Part of the fun of seeing this site is getting there! You have to take a cable car (30-40 min ride) over to the Buddha on Lantau Island and then climb the 268 steps to reach the statue!
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| cable ride to the Big Buddha |
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| Cable Car Selfie |
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| we upgraded to the clear crystal cabin |
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| The Big Buddha! |
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| 268 steps |
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| There is a mini village here called Ngong Ping |
* Ferry boats are a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Our hotel was on Kowloon Island but we seemed to always want to be on Hong Kong Island. The boat was a great way to get across the harbor with an awesome view of the city!
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| Ferry Boat entrance |
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| inside the ferry |
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| View of Hong Kong Island from Kowloon |
*Here are just a few more pics I took while exploring the city!
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| Times Square |
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| street view of some of the trams/ busses |
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| residential area |
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| waterfront area with view of Hong Kong Island in the background in the morning |
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| riverwalk on the harbor called "avenue of the stars" |
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| View from our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui |
EVERYONE ASKS ABOUT THE FOOD
Seriously... Everyone asks me about the food situation.
Here is what I noticed:
* There is really no difference between Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Fried Rice for breakfast or noodles all hours of the day is completely common.
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| typical noodle breakfast |
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| Congee- rice porridge for breakfast |
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| shrimp dim sum |
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| spicy skewers |
*There was a decent amount of western food offered all over the city, particularly in specific areas where the expats tend to congregate, so if you get sick of the rice... you can always find a decent pizza or pasta place
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| bacon and egg pizza |
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| bacon chips? |
SO LET'S RECAP
Alright so you can see there is plenty to do and see in Hong Kong. But why do I think it should be on your bucket list?
Perhaps it is the fact that Americans do not need a visa to get there.
Perhaps it is one of the safest foreign cities I have ever been.
Perhaps it is because you will spend lots of time laughing at the signs
I don't really know
Perhaps it is just something you will just have to experience for yourself!
OMG. I have not even mentioned Macau! Dont worry, my next post is all about Macau- so stay tuned!!
Tu-Da-Lu for now
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