Beautiful Hong Kong

Hong Kong is made up of four main areas: Hong Kong Island; Kowloon, a peninsula of the Chinese mainland; Lantau Island; and The New Territories. Lantau Island is actually part of the fourth area, but seems important enough to stand on its own.

Once, Hong Kong was hardly more than a handful of fishing villages. As a result of the Opium Wars, Hong Kong Island became a British possession. Eventually Kowloon, Lantau Island, and the New Territories became one British colony under a 99 year lease. When that lease expired in 1997, Hong Kong was officially returned to China, but Hong Kong operates in a uniquely different way from other areas of The Peoples Republic of China, and is allowed to retain its free trade and capitalist systems.

No longer a quiet fishing village, today's Hong Kong--globally ranked as the fifth largest banking center--is a major financial capital for Asia, and indeed, the world. Hong Kong, long considered "The Gateway to Mainland China" is now an international tourist destination on its own merit,

It's safe to say that the vast majority of those arriving in Hong Kong will arrive by air (and if, like me, you've arrived from the U.S., it will have been a very long flight!) Fortunately for me, I was met at the airport by my special someone, who has spent much time in Hong Kong and knows where to go and how to get there.

For those not blessed with their own personal tour guides, I can offer this advice: From the airport, take the Airport Express Train. It's not that expensive, and if you're staying in Kowloon, or Hong Kong Island, you'll be there in 20 to 25 minutes. A taxi will actually cost you more and take longer. There are buses, and they do cost less, but they take longer, too. Besides, the Express Train is just more fun!

An Interesting Note About The Airport--

Visitors to Hong Kong today may not be aware of their good fortune in arriving at the new Hong Kong International Airport. Also known as Chek Lap Kok, the airport opened in 1998. Prior to that, travelers bound for Hong Kong had the hair-raising experience of landing at the old Kai Tak airport in downtown Kowloon. Jumbo jets were forced to make sharp turns and then literally glide between buildings to reach the airport's single runway.

Certain intrepid flyers remember the old Kai Tak Airport with nostalgia, even recalling some of their more precarious landings with fondness! (I'm very well acquainted with one of them.)

I'm not a believer in the adage "any landing you can walk away from is a good one". As a white-knuckle flyer on even the smoothest of flights, I'm thankful that I never had to land at Kai Tak!

Let's say you've arrived in Hong Kong, checked in to your hotel, and you're starving. If you're not too jet-lagged, it's the perfect time to look for a place to eat and get a little taste of the city at the same time! (and if you really are jet lagged and travel weary, there's always the option of crashing in your hotel room and ordering from room service. Then you'll be ready to try some of these things tomorrow!)
*Image at right by Martyna Szmytkowska*

If you're in the mood for fine dining, you'll find gourmet restaurants featuring every type of cuisine from French to Indian, Italian, Thai and, of course, Chinese! But be prepared--if you're American, the Chinese food we've always thought of as authentic....isn't. In China, Chinese restaurants offer entrees like Boiled Sea Slug, Fish Head Curry, Chicken Feet, Jellyfish in Sauce, and Marinated Pig's Ears. And oh yes, Steamed Frog! Take heart though--in most restaurants, the other side of the menu will feature the "Chinese Food" we know and love. General Tso's Chicken, anyone? Another surprise--in many Chinese restaurants, you'll notice something's missing--forks. Instead you'll find a lovely set of chopsticks, so better brush up on your skills! (but forks are almost always available upon request)

Don't be afraid to try the more modest looking restaurants--we did, and we were never disappointed. In one little hole-in-the-wall called Maharani's Mess (with four tables!) we discovered the best Indian food this side of heaven! Street Food is plentiful, cheap, and considered safe--although most travel guides recommend avoiding the small pushcarts. If you're less adventurous, don't like exotic food, or if a Big Mac just happens to be what you really want, the well known golden arches and other western fast food restaurants aren't too hard to find. Depending on where you go, restaurant pricing can range from modest to mind-blowing. If you can, try to check out prices beforehand.

Once the basic need for food has been met, what's next? Countless attractions abound! There's Victoria Peak, Ocean Park, The Star Ferry, The Giant Buddha, and Stanley Market. Hong Kong has beautiful beaches, museums to explore, gardens to stroll, and famous colonial landmarks to see, including the Grande Dame of them all--the iconic Peninsula Hotel! If you brought the kids, or if you're just young at heart yourself, there's always Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island.

If you were born to shop, world class shops with exclusive names, malls with more familiar stores, and plentiful local street markets offer shopping to fit every budget. When you're worn out and ready to sit down and watch the rest of the world go by, there's no better place for "people watching" than Hong Kong!

If you like the night life, you'll find it in Hong Kong! When darkness falls, the neon lights come on and they don't go off!. Clubs here offer as much variety in music and ambience as you'd find in the West. Some of the big hotels have discos. You'll even find Karaoke bars here and there, and then there are the neighborhood pubs and small bars--many of them with music and dancing.

For a more family-oriented night, try a night cruise of Victoria Harbour, or do some window shopping--stores stay open after all the neon lights come on, and it's fun just to walk around and look. You could hop on the MTR and go to Times Square--yes, there's one here, too, with great shopping and dining, and a crowded open square. There's an MTR stop right under it. This is a lively, active place pretty much all of the time. It's a little quieter over at the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade, also in Kowloon. It's a couple of blocks from the MTR stop, but well worth the walk. The waterfront promenade is beautiful day or night, and it offers stunning views of the Hong Kong skyline across Victoria Harbour. It also has one of the most famous photo spots in Hong Kong-where tourists (and locals, too) can pose against the lovely backdrop of Hong Kong at night. You don't need photographic skills, or even a camera. Plenty of photo entrepreneurs are happy to take great looking pics of you, at a reasonable price. You can even have your photo taken with Bruce Lee! Well, sort of.... If none of those activities is your cup of tea, Hong Kong is home to more than a hundred movie theaters!

At Repulse Bay, we saw an unusual sight--a luxury condo, with a large hole in the middle. No freak accident, or violent act of nature--this was part of the building's design. The practice of Feng Shui is held in high esteem in China, and many construction projects adhere to its principles. It's said that even Chek Lap Kok Airport was designed and built in compliance with Feng Shui. This building, The Repulse Bay,is an example of good Feng Shui design. Because it was built with a mountain very close behind it, the hole was an integral part of its design. It allows the energy, or spirit of the mountain to flow through, instead of being trapped behind a solid building. The next photo shows the building from a different angle, and allows a partial view of the mountain behind it.

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