Visit Hong Kong
HONG KONG is very much 'abroad'. Now that the near
continent is easily accessible, countries such as France, Spain,
Italy seem to merge styles and culture to become one generic
Euro-Country. In contrast Hong Kong feels like a foreign
country. It also has reminders of a colonial past, so your trip
there as well as being a trip to a foreign country is also a
trip into the past.
Hong Kong is also a brash mixture of Western and Eastern
cultures, a meld of designer clothing, electronic consumables
and Chinese superstitions. Modern apartment tower blocks, very
Western in style and decor, do not have floor numbers ending in
'4' as the number 4 in Cantonese is very close to the Cantonese
word for 'death'.
You will also stand out as a tourist amongst the Chinese rather
than being able to blend in with other Europeans as you would
nearer to home. And unless you're an exceptional linguist there
won't be any attempts to converse in Cantonese with the locals.
But don't despair, thanks to its history and a large ex-pat
community most Chinese, at least in restaurants and shops, will
be able to speak English. Most of the street names and signs are
in English as well as Cantonese.
The first thing you will notice about this lively place is its
modern, efficient mass transit systems. Arriving at the new
airport, Chek Lap Kok, you essentially walk in a straight line
from gate through baggage & customs onto a (usually) waiting
train that takes you right into the heart of Kowloon, a popular
hotel and tourist district. For exploring further the subway
system (MTR - Mass Transit Railway) is very cheap and clean with
air-conditioned trains and stations.
Taxis are also plentiful and very cheap, thanks to the fact that
most people do not run their own cars and rely instead upon
buses, taxis and the MTR.
It is a good idea to get the name of your hotel printed onto a
card in Cantonese so that you can make yourself understood to
the taxi driver when you want to get back to your hotel.
You will also notice the fact that you are in the tropics. The
climate is hot and humid, even at night. But air-conditioning is
abundant, in fact on some streets you will probably be dripped
on by water from the air-conditioning condensers attached to
most every window of the buildings towering above the streets.
As a gweilo ('ghost people', the Cantonese term for pale-faced
Westerners) you will be targeted on busy Nathan Road by the many
street salesmen : "Copy watch, sir?", "Custom suit?", "Free
drink?", "Jade rings?". Unless you are happy to part with your
money for fakes, or buy clothing with a higher price tag than
its quality merits, learn to ignore these people. Even saying
'No' is seen as a sales opening.
Hong Kong has much to offer everyone from sightseeing to
shopping to eating to simply absorbing the atmosphere and mix of
cultures this world-class city has to offer. Here are some must
see places on your visit :
The Peak Tram is perhaps the most popular tourist
attraction and definitely a must on any visit to Hong Kong. A
furnicular railway takes you up The Peak for some breathtaking
views of the Kowloon Penisular, Victoria Harbour and surrounding
islands.
You can reach the Peak Tram station using the No 15C Shuttle Bus
from the Star Ferry Terminal in Central or the No 12S bus from
Admiralty MTR station. The Peak Tram runs every 15 minutes from
7am to midnight - views at night are equally breathtaking to see
Hong Kong's sparkling panorama.
At the summit there are shops, restaurants and other attractions
besides the 360 degree panoramic view.
The Star Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced Chim Sow
Choi) for a few pennies plys back and forth across busy Victoria
Harbour linking the Kowloon peninsular with Central and Wan Chai
on Hong Kong Island.
You can take the MTR from Kowloon to Central, but a trip on the
ferry is a must for the experience and views of Victoria
Harbour.
The Mid Levels Escalator, at 800m is the longest covered
outdoor escalator system in the world. It carries commuters
between the prestigious Mid Levels residential area and the
heart of Central Hong Kong.
Travel along it is free but beware it operates in one direction
(down) during the morning rush hour then is switched to up
thereafter.
Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei on the Kowloon peninsular is home
to street hawkers eager to sell tourists anything from
custom-made suits to copy Rolex watches.
At Yau Ma Tei, the Jade Market has plenty of the cool
green stone carved into a myriad of shapes.
Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. Spirals
of insense burn to fill the temple with scented smoke that
clings to your skin and clothes long after you have left.
Nearby is the famous Chop Alley (Man Wa Lane) which is lined
with small green-painted huts where chop makers sell chops. A
chop is a Chinese seal typically carved from jade, soapstone,
bone or ivory. You can get the carvers to translate your name
into Chinese for a custom-made seal. For a soapstone custom-made
chop expect to pay around