Easter Sunday somewhere in the Sai Ying Pun neighborhood
I have been to Hong Kong 5 different times in my life, and after everything, I still find myself wanting to see more. Every trip has felt different, with my latest sojourn being the one wherein, I feel, I managed to explore and take in a whole lot- but not nearly enough.
One of my goals for my recent trip was to try and experience Hong Kong more from the perspective of a local. This M.O. lead to me choosing a hotel in one of the island's older neighborhoods- Sai Ying Pun- to be my base of operations. I had a first timer with me on this trip, hence, I ended up going back to some "touristy" joints instead of exploring Sai Ying Pun more, but hey, just having the archaic buildings and weathered alleyways around me- the same ones seen by generations of locals- was enough for me to see this year's Hong Kong journey in a slightly different light.
There was our tryst to Ngong Ping 360. Now, I am by no means a guy who relishes heights, and this place can be classified as "touristy", but, the sights seen up in the mountains were enough to cleanse us of any cornball oil that tourist traps tend to bring forth.
In short, the place was quite beautiful.
Yes, the sky was overcast for most of the day, but still, being amongst the clouds was quite breathtaking.
Striking a pose amidst thick fog- and very, very, cold wind.
Every visit to Hong Kong is different, and yet, each instance is littered with familiar tidbits which make the place feel like home.
Must do's in Hong Kong are:
Riding the iconic Star Ferry. At 2-3 HKD, you get to tread the waters of Hong Kong harbor on a true classic.
Visiting Victoria Peak and the areas adjacent to it. To avoid the tourist rush, I recommend that you walk around arterial roads such as Findlay Path and Old Peak Road instead of paying extra to enter the Peak view deck. You get the same/similar views plus a good work out via option A.
What's a trip to Hong Kong without going on a dimsum run, right? Taken here is my final lunch in Hong Kong. Scrumptuous eats from the Hau Fook Group Restaurant in Mongkok.
Find time to eschew the hustle and bustle of Central and Tsim Tsa Tsui and take in Hong Kong's older districts. Taken here is part of Queen's Road West, on the afternoon of Easter Sunday. This photo is telling of the impending invasion of the "new" in more traditional, old school, neighborhood life. Dimsum and noodle stands now exist side-by-side with sports apparel stores and branches of Mannings and a bevy of electronic retail brands. This may be seen as a boon or a bane- depending on the perspective taken.
Make sure you have time to take in a cultural show. My answer to the incessant beckoning of the proverbial cultural muse brought me to the Hong Kong Cultural Center for a concert by the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra. Previous to watching this program, I had only watched symphony concerts online and on television. This was a great treat. :)
The Hong Kong International Film Festival was also on when I was in town. Unfortunately, no time could be spared from my hectic itinerary to catch a flick or two (this is something I regret a wee bit right now).
I could mention shopping here too, but hey, that would make my piece a bit too cliche.
5 times over, and I still find myself wanting to see, and experience, more. There are always smells from another food stall, new malls and museums to explore, new trails and districts to run through (New Territories, I have seen parts of you, but not you naked enough), new people to meet, and new images to tattoo onto one's consciousness. Hong Kong is such a dynamic city that the more discerning visitor will never run out of new dreams to grasp.
I always find myself itching to hop back on a plane to somewhere as soon as I get off of a plane that's seemingly gone everywhere.
In the case of my love affair with Hong Kong, and with the orient in general, I'd have both hands up for a repeat. As of this piece's writing, I can confidently say that I'd go back to Hong Kong at the drop of a hat, simply because the rhythm and the rhyme of the place, speak to me. When something begins to touch the very heart of you, for one reason or the other, you know that something right is going on.
Find Hong Kong on the map and break loose. No ifs and buts. No yawning, no ennui. May constant movement and indescribable energy, guide you.
Absolutely no regrets. Thank you for visiting.
MC
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