Hong Kong

3 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

5/5

Review type

Destination

Location

Date of travel

February, 2018

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

On your own

Reasons for trip

Seeing a cat dressed as a dragon was an unexpected experience on a four-day visit to Hong Kong.

The luxurious Gold Coast Hotel was my base. The18th floor bedroom overlooked Castle Peak Bay and a marina sporting boats of all shapes and sizes. Hong Kong’s only resort hotel, it is in the New Territories.

After a ride in a free shuttle to Tsim Sha Tsui I joined the rabble to cross the misty Victoria Harbour to bustling Hong Kong island on the charming Star Ferry. The boats have been faithfully carrying passengers from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon and back since 1888. The passengers were very animated, and it was a bit of a rugby scrum. I stood my ground and got on board. Approaching the island the shoreline was a wedge of modern high rise buildings of all shapes and sizes, crammed tightly together, guarding the harbour’s edge. The main shopping and business district was full of vast high-end glass-fronted designer shops, such as Mulberry and Chanel, which appeared to have no customers. I did wonder who could afford to shop there. The side streets offered a colourful array of street markets selling a weird and wonderful selection of wares.

Among them is the central–mid-levels escalator and walkway. The longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world, it travels over 2,600 ft and rises 443 ft from bottom to top.

A peaceful retreat from the busy streets and high rise buildings, at mid-levels on the northern slope of Victoria Peak, is the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (one of the oldest zoos in the world). I crossed here on my way to The Victoria Peak tram where I had hoped to admire the views. I eventually found the entrance, but a two-hour queue wasn’t for me.

The high rise buildings were bewildering – I couldn’t imagine living in a tiny flat so high in the sky but it is the norm in Hong Kong due to a lack of space. Back to the mainland on the Metro I had trouble finding the shuttle bus. I got hopelessly lost in the pier shopping centre which was dedicated to selling children’s clothes. Popping into a supermarket for a bottle of wine I was impressed. It excelled Harrods food hall with live fish swimming in a tank alongside the counter ready to meet their fate.
Lantau Island is definitely worth a visit. Travelling by MTR, and then bus, I reached the fishing village of Tai O. Its speciality market, boasting a powerful ‘scent’, sells all sorts of colourful dried fish and unusual delicacies including chicken’s feet. I couldn’t pluck up the courage to sample them but gave some fish balls a go. The bus ticket included a boat trip through the stilted houses, the waterside homes of the Tanka people giving an insight into their culture. I spotted a restaurant overlooking the water and was determined to visit for lunch. I made my way through the maze of rickety wooden decks between the wooden houses and eventually found it. The hostess was very welcoming and the fish cakes were delicious. Then back on the bus to the glass-bottomed cable car with its panoramic views. We floated over the airport and up the hillside to the remote Po Lin Monastery. The impressive giant Tian Tan Buddha towers over Po Lin. The brightly coloured and elaborately painted monastery, one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist sanctums, was temple-like with an impressive selection of gold buddhas. Shops selling incense and souvenirs were frequented more by cows than humans. Visitors, young and old, lit incense and took part in a ceremony worshipping the Buddhas.
Public transport is cheap and easy to use in the region. An Octopus card covers MTR, buses, minibuses, ferries and trams. But a quicker way to travel to the famous Stanley Market was by taxi. I was joined by a friend, a teacher at an international school in Hong Kong. We enjoyed a traditional meal at a beachside restaurant and then hit the market. I couldn’t resist buying a mandarin-style silk dress for around £20 – a bargain. My friend splashed out on fancy coats for her four cats. She later admitted they were quite a challenge to get on them. They didn’t look too impressed on Facebook! Luckily for my dog there were no coats big enough.
Back in the city we explored the Taoist temples. My memory of Hong Kong is it is a place of contrasts. Chinese heritage sits alongside European colonial history looked down on by ultra-modern skyscrapers. Neighbourhoods are like cities within cities with their own cultures and personalities. I enjoyed the extravagance of the temples with their highly-decorated Buddhas; watching senior citizens work out on the exercise classes on the pavements; admiring the illuminated flowers lit up along the riverside in the evenings and, of course, the cheap street food and noodle bars.
I said a fond farewell to Hong Kong as I departed on the Airport Express. The trip was a great way to make the most of a flight changeover on the way to Australia.

Debbiepug

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.