Hong Kong – what a place.
I have a few words to describe this city: Efficient, busy, fast-paced, and hot.
That last one can probably just be attributed to the time of year we were there (September), but I’m thinking that if you’re from a cooler country, that term is going to apply all year round for you.
Another word I’d also like to tack on as an add-on to the above list is ‘delicious’.
My partner, Dan, is a massive foodie, and I’m quite fond of delicious life sustenance too, so whenever we travel food is a huge part of our trip.
In fact our first port of call in Hong Kong was to seek out a Michelin-starred restaurant, as we knew there were a couple of them about that were regarded highly, and yet were still cheap enough for the average person to dine at.
And dine we did.
We headed to Din Tai Fung, where we stuffed ourselves silly on dim sum.
It was wonderful – and a first for both of us.
I’ve got to say, dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant does add an extra thrill to the food experience!
The sights of Victoria Peak really can’t be beaten if you want a view of the whole city from above.
Best of all, it’s easy to get to (provided you don’t mind waiting in line).
Jump on the MTR and head to Central Station then make your way to the J2 exit and walk up to the ground level.
Turn right, through Chater Garden, cross Queen’s Road Central, and make your way up Garden Road.
You’ll arrive at the Peak Tram’s Lower Terminus, where you can buy tickets to get up to Victoria Peak.
Here’s where you have an option: You can either pay the cheaper fee, and wait for god knows how long in line, in the heat (we waited an hour and a half) OR you can play into their carefully-formulated plan to get more money out of tourists and purchase the “express ticket” which includes an entry fee to Madam Tussauds, and will get you up to the Peak quicker (but will cost you a substantial bit more).
We decided we’d wait with the locals, who weren’t stupid enough to buy into the scam, and guess what – the end result was the same: We got to the Peak and it’s stunning views! Winning.
If you’re feeling peckish at the top of the Peak, there are some options available, but be warned – in such prime real estate they come with associated prices.
However, we couldn’t pass up the novelty of eating some fries and drinking a beer at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, because c’mon! Why not?
One night we headed to the Temple Street Markets, where we bought some souvenirs for family back home, and then tested out some of Hong Kong’s street food offerings.
I tried some Stinky Tofu, which I was on the fence about (checkout my blog for footage of this culinary delight) before settling for some fried noodles and vegetable, while Dan was in his element – trying everything he could.
If you’re a foodie, you MUST head to Temple Street by night. Grab a table, a beer and a bite to eat – but be warned: You will be moved on quickly – no sitting and chatting post-meal – those tables are prime real estate.
Trust me, head down to Victoria Harbour at night (both the Kowloon and Hong Kong Island sides) to check out the fantastic views of the city all lit up.
I’ve heard on various travel forums that there is also a light show at 8pm, but I did not see it myself.
I did however see a fantastic “light garden” art display near Hong Kong’s cultural centre as we headed to the waterfront to be wowed by the city lights.
Now one of Hong Kong’s best attractions (in my humble opinion) is the Star Ferry.
For a grand total of $2.50HKD, you can take the ferry across Victoria Harbour and admire the stunning nighttime views.
For best results, I’d recommend you take the ferry from the Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon side to Hong Kong Island.
That way you get to see the fantastic view of skyscrapers in Central and Wan Chai.
