DESTINATION ASIA:
HONG
KONG
HAPPENINGS!
Unless
you hail from New York or another busy metropolis, Hong Kong comes at
you with
all barrels blazing. It’s fast-paced, crowded, noisy, bustling…and
absolutely
fascinating! Fortunately, after just a couple of hours you get used to
the
rush, taking it all in at your own pace. And there is certainly a lot
to
absorb.
In
this archipelago, Kowloon and New Territories form the peninsula attached to mainland China. Lantau, the largest island, is home to the
world’s
busiest airport, the Giant Buddha and Disneyland. Hong Kong Island, the country’s hub, is separated from Kowloon by Victoria Harbor and connected via ferries, tunnels and
highway
bridges to the rest of the network.
Temples
and pagodas dot the landscape in the midst of
modern skyscrapers, the British noonday gun fires its daily round,
afternoon
tea and cucumber sandwiches are served in The Peninsula Hotel lobby,
and
fashionable business types hurry to work…but still take time to rub the
paw of
massive reclining lions that guard the entrance to Hong Kong Bank,
assuring
good luck for the day.
Sites
and Sights.
Street
markets, street food, the flower market, tailor
shops, a famous floating restaurant, Ocean Park amusements, the bird
market,
horse
racing, a teapot museum, dim sum, Stanley Market, a wetlands tour, and
well-stocked malls. That’s a quick overview of Hong Kong’s shopping and entertainment diversity. And
we haven’t even touched on
the festivals taking place almost monthly…the Bun Festival, Shopping
Fest,
Chinese New Year, to name a few.
Probably
the most visited site is Victoria’s Peak, reached by a very steep tram that
boards
right in the middle of the business district. Along with an exciting
ride, the
oddity of scaling a mini-mountain in the heart of a city is unique.
After a
complete modernization in 2005, the Peak building is now topped with a
huge
half moon rocking on its base. This new design considerably expands the
observation deck, eight stories up on the rooftop, while making
room
for
more shops and eateries below. Last August '08, a park tram
that operated for 49 years was permanently anchored at Peak Plaza,
serving as a Visitor's Center for the Hong Kong Tourist Board. The
paved nature path thankfully remains
in
tact, and talk about views! As you circle a short paved mile around the
mountaintop,
leafy trees occasionally part, allowing a downward look at the city and
harbor
spread out before you.
Mid-Levels
Escalator, off Queens Road Central, is the
world’s longest outdoor covered escalator (with adjoining steps just in
case).
This convenient installation takes workers down to the office in the
morning
and shoppers up the hill from 10:00am
to midnight. It’s a painless way to reach Hollywood Road’s famous antique shops plus the splendid
restaurants,
cafes, bars and nightlife in SoHo (south of Hollywood)...and it's free. Just get on and off at
your
selected street.
For
serious shopping, always look for the Golden Q,
displayed by merchants accredited for delivering Quality Tourism
Services.
Bargains abound in the many alley markets, some so crowded with
merchandise,
you can hardly pass by. Behind the street goods, actual shops do exist.
In
some, you can be measured for custom shoes, ready in a day
or so;
or have entire outfits tailor made for a lot less than in the big
shops. But
remember ‘buyer beware’ and examine the materials carefully for flaws
before
parting with your money.
Shopping
isn’t the only diversion in the Hollywood Road area. Modest ManMo Temple is a photogenic tribute to the gods of
literature and
war, with unusual bric-a-brac hanging from the ceiling. Nearby, I
wandered into
a tea tasting shop, set up just like wine tasting. The master blender
sat
behind the bar, brewing and explaining subtleties—such as ‘never drink
the
first cup poured.’ Dozens of exotic blends are for sale, along with tea
brewing
accessories.
Cultural
travel is a hot current trend, and Hong Kong answers the call with its Cultural
Kaleidoscope program,
delving into Hong Kong lifestyles. Choices include a sail around
Victoria
Harbor in an authentic junk; admission to five museums, including the
‘must
see’ Heritage Museum; and a Meet the People program where local experts
offer
insights into ancient traditions such as the tea ceremony, tai chi and
feng
shui.
Among
all the fabulous things to see and do in Hong Kong, the most dazzling is the nightly “Symphony
of Lights,”
now in the Guinness Book of Records. Each evening at 8:00pm, some 33 buildings on both the Hong Kong and Kowloon sides of Victoria Harbor create a half-hour display of fiber optics,
laser
beams and searchlights synchronized to music and narration as they
flash and
leap from floor to floor, up and down the edges, around rooftop spires
and
domes. Several boats take you for a tour of the harbor during the
half-hour show
time for a splendid view of a super extravaganza.
This
is Hong Kong at its best. Live it! Love it!
For
further information,
visit www.discoverhongkong.com
|
