Landed at HKIA (Hong Kong International Airport), which is the only International Airport in Hong Kong. This is built on a reclaimed Island ‘Chek Lap Kok’. Visa matters were easily handled at HKIA. We were given 30 days visa on arrival. If you are lucky enough to get a window seat on the left side of the aircraft when you travel from the west, you would be lucky enough to see the Hong Kong Island fully. Otherwise, you see the Lantau Island on the left. Lantau Island’s mountain views from the sky were breathtaking, and the Buddha Statue on the peak could be clearly seen. My viewfinder had already been put to work. Carefully drawn seven days of itinerary should be sufficient to see all the main attractions of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is made of three territories, and those territories are governed accordingly. They are Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New territory.

We got into the Airport Express Shuttle Train. It is a world-class, modern, efficient, high speed and spotlessly clean rail that took us to our intended destination within 25minutes. It was not just the transport that took us to the hotel, but the journey itself was sightseeing. This is the cheapest fastest and the best way to get transported to the city within no time. From Hong Kong station we walked to the Central station and took the MRT to Tin Hau station where our hotel located. With 3 conservative days HK$220 Octopus card per head we managed to travel a single trip to our station and unlimited travel on many transport services on the MTR, Busses, Trams, Ferries for the next three days. Also, it came with the added bonus of seeing Hong Kong with a different view. The pass was valid for 72Hours from the first journey started.

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The Hong Kong Island
The Accomodation

Due to high property values, our biggest expense in Hong Kong was our accommodation. Though, without compromising with any, we booked ourself into 4 starred the Empire Hotel, which is nicely situated in Causeway Bay between two main MRT stations Tin Hau and Fortress hill, which allowed us to easily manoeuvre amongst many destinations.

Causeway Bay is the third ideal place to stay after Kawloon or Central. It is a heavily built-up area. Skyscrapers next to each other with few feet gaps in between. How they managed to lay the foundations without damaging the neighboring buildings were a wonder. Though congested never accidentally touched any. Automobiles are snailing up on the main road all the time, 24 hours. If you possess the hateness for congestions be apart of this place, else be happily become part for it.

After refreshing upon arriving from the airport, we walked along King’s Road up to Times square passing Victoria Park on our right looking for a 100% Hong Kong Restaurant, not Chinese though. Managed to find many and a reasonably priced restaurant served us a greater portion of food to four hungry mouths only for just £35. Slightly disappointed with the oil contents in the food that we ate and with carrying our blown intestines walked further away and returned to the hotel to retire for more adventure tomorrow.

Times Square



Causeway Bay Market



Tram (Ding Ding) Ride
[ Video 1 ] [ Video 2 ]



Victoria Peak
[ Map ] [ Video ]



Hiking in Dragon's Back
[Map] [ Video ]



Shek O Beach
[Map]



Aberdeen Promenade, Aberdeen Fishing Village and Aberdeen Market
[Map]
Aberdeen Fishing Village

Took a taxi to Aberdeen Promenade for a very heavier fare. It diidn't bother us because we woke up late today and we had no more spare time to travel leisurly. Solo travellers must better find an alternative cheaper transportation probably a bus ride. Walking along the river bed for a mile itself a good treat. Along the way on the promenade, there are good toilets and amenities and the end of the walk on the promenade there is a dried fish market. At the entrance, there were ferries and a few floating restaurants. There are many boats which could be taken for a ride, but they are in my opinion were excessively priced for unsuspecting newcomers.

Found many rows of old-fashioned, self-contained floating houseboats where the owner still lives there as it is their homes. This area is unexpectedly old and new mixed up surrounded by high rising modern buildings.

This whole area is a treat for amateur photographers where modernity and old way of life meet. It was so busy, the boats are manoeuvring uncontrollably though without touching each other.

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Kawloon Peninsula
Star Ferry to Kawloon Peninsula - Day and Night
[Map]



Main Bus Stop



Temple Street Night Market
[Map]

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Lantau Island



Mui Wo Village
[Map]



Tai O Fishing Village
[Map]



The Big Buddha
[Map]

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Lamma Island
[ Video ]

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Departing Hong Kong - The Final Thought

Hong Kong is the New York City for the East. A great city that is Western and Eastern, modern and traditional, dead and alive, fast and slow and moreover chaos and organised. That is what we learned in the seven days we spent here in Hong Kong. English is widely spoken. The British had definitely left their footprints in this land when they left in 1997. With all these, no wonder why this land is a magnet for so many expatriates.

Hong Kong is hilly. Not surprisingly cycling is not an option for any. Green spaces and polluted concrete towns mingled together. Apart from lodging, everything else is affordable.

Though our itinerary was full of events and covered all, still many places could have been visited if we had time.

Sadly, we must leave. I may come again to Hong Kong many times in the future.

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Bamboo Scaffolding

Bamboo for scaffolding is widely used here in Hong Kong. I was lucky to have a look from my hotel room.

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Dining in Hong Kong

It looked like Hong Kong is the single food city in this planet. It has the cheapest MacDonald in the world if I am not wrong. It is only £2.00. Food is everywhere. Food stores, fresh food markets, and good restaurants serving to the people on the queue snaking up well onto the streets. People of Hong Kong eat on the move ready to spend a lot on their favourite dish. Mostly all crazy busy all the time. Queueing up for food is their culture. In many restaurants waiting on the queue is worth. We did too.

We ordered whatever being offered without asking too much about it. Even asked, not there much to be understood. So busy, it blew our minds. Although there weren't many street foods sold in carts, there were many family run takeaway kiosk, hole-in-the-wall kind of, are waiting for the discovery. Cheap, clean and in good shape. Selling roasted pigeons, ducks, chicken, king squid, many other seafood varieties and hot soups etc. We bought many times without worrying too much about getting bugs with that. Never fall sick.

I many times wondered how could South East Asians be so slim without being affected by eating lots of meaty stuff. The secret is that they eat little many times during day giving enough gap in between for digestion. Also, warm soups in their menu break oil contents in the food and boost up digestion. We, South Asians, from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and SriLanka, in contrast, eat a full plate of rice and curry three times a day make our intestines blow.

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Getting Around in Hong Kong

MTR Metro restricts for eating or drinking. If found $2000 fine.

Taxis are clean, cheap and in abundance. It is very unique about Hong Kong taxis. They are color coded depending on the region they serve. Red Taxis for Hong Kong Island, Blue taxis are limited within Lantau Island and the Airport. Green taxis are for new territories.

Buses are in good shape and in abundance. The Automatic Vehicle Location(AVL) with its Automated Announcements System(AAS), both in English and Chinese, made everything easy for us to locate our destinations. The narrow roads shared with tramps and other automobiles made it so congested and slow. Its fumes contributed pollution to another over a polluted city in Asia.

Trams, also known as Ding Dong for the alert noise it makes, are thin and double decked. Runs west to east only in the Hong Kong Island. It takes 90 degree turns through many already congested area. Traveling on the top deck front seat gives a good view of the city. It is a must for any who wants a different view of the city.

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