I just got back from my first trip to Hong Kong (only my second time travelling outside the Philippines) after spending a week there. I had a wonderful time and I will definitely be going back.
I found that it wasn’t quite as aesthetically stunning as Singapore but it was definitely beautiful in its own way, and much more exciting. The food, the shops and the people were all part of this first-time visitor’s exhilarating experience.
The city is always bustling with activity. You hardly see anyone loitering around and everybody always seems to be in a deliberate hurry to go somewhere – very different from the laid-back vibe of my own country. The subways and sidewalks are always full of people, even after midnight. It’s a very tourist-friendly place; every time I got a bit lost I would just go down to the subway and look at a map. every street has clearly marked signs, as well as directions to the nearest MTR station. Their public transportation system is amazingly simple and convenient. Many of the streets are small but impeccably clean and lined with interesting shops.
The night market in Mongkok was one of the most fun parts of the trip. Numerous stalls hawk their wares: bags, shoes, clothes, gadgets, accessories and an assortment of other items. The salespeople there are very tough and can put up a hell of a fight. If you ever go, be prepared to have a Chinese woman get very angry with you for haggling too low or literally chase you after you’ve given up and left the stall. With the right tactics, however, you could walk away with some great stuff at a very reasonable price.
The little clothing stores along Carnarvon Road in Tsim Sha Tsui were selling some really beautiful things. Albeit more expensive than in Mongkok, they definitely stock much more stunning merchandise. There are also a couple of stores that sell overruns (slashed but still readable labels) from designer brands like Roberto Cavalli and Vivienne Westwood at a tenth of the original price.
You can find authentic Chinese dimsum places anywhere and most, if not all, of them serve delicious food. Everything I tried: the dumplings, noodles, fried rice, Haianese chicken rice, roasted duck, etc, were all superb (and I didn’t even eat any pork or beef – it’s been 4 months of no red meat for me). Best of all, you can eat at these little places at a very affordable price, between HKD30 to HKD60 (about PHP180 to PHP350). So far the best ones I tried were Tsui Wah Restaurant on Carnarvon Road, Tsim Sha Tsui and Dumpling Yuan on Wellington Street, Central. Also, I know it’s horrible but I really suggest trying the McDonald’s in Hong Kong. Their BBQ McWings are simply scrumptious! The food courts in the malls also have a range of affordable and gastronomically-pleasing Asian cuisine.
The night life in Hong Kong is mostly situated at Lan Kwai Fong in Central. Party-goers of all ages and races bar-hop around the area, often just standing on the street with a drink in hand. They are generally reserved and mostly in the young urban professional crowd, but you do get your rowdy tourists and overly-friendly (note: fresh) expats and locals here and there. Coming from a country where beer usually costs less than one US dollar, it was a shock to me to have drinks ranging from HKD60 and up (not counting the little stalls that offered fruity shots at HKD20).
The only tourist spot that I visited was Ngong Ping. To get there, you need to take the MTR to Tung Chung (Lantau Island), which is connected to the Ngong Ping 360 cable car platform. You can enjoy breathtaking views of the different islands of Hong Kong on the cable car ride. Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by the sight of the enormous Tian Tan Buddha which sits on top of a tall hill in the distance. Ngong Ping Village has an array of shops and restaurants leading up to the Buddha statue. If you ever decide to go, do remember to bring comfortable shoes as there are 268 steps to climb before reaching the Buddha platform. The statue was built in 1993, near the Po Lin Monastery (built in 1906 by Chinese monks) and has since become an iconic landmark of Hong Kong, in addition to it being a major center for the Buddhist religion.
The people of Hong Kong are generally friendly and accommodating, at least from my experience. They are extremely efficient and go out of their way to help you when you ask for it. I noticed that while they have somewhat gained a reputation for being cold, I think that that’s just them not wanting to waste any time. While shopping for stocks for my online store, I encountered so many nice shop owners whom I chatted, joked and exchanged fashion ideas with. I also enjoyed seeing Hong Kong street fashion! The women there are always well-dressed, with funky accessories and outfits that were really tastefully put together.
All in all, it was a successful and enjoyable trip. You will definitely see me there again…hopefully soon!
