TRAVEL TOPIC Feb 2010
Hong Kong by Barbara O Neill @ Travelscene Samford
I was lucky enough to have recently had a short break in Hong Kong and totally enjoyed the diversity of this great city.
It was so easy to get around using local transport. The MTR is a great way of getting around cheaply. It can take you out to Disneyland, from island to island and pretty much anywhere you want to go.
If you are going to do a lot of travel by public transport then an Octopus card is a must. It is credit card size and can be used for travel on all public transport, at Vending machines, supermarkets and even MacDonalds. It can be purchased and recharged at MTR stations.
If you are looking for things to do for free in Hong Kong then the tourist board visitor information service centers (which are located throughout the city), can help organize heaps of free activities.
They have a list of tours and activities called “Cultural Kaleidoscope” that you can partake in at no charge, like Chinese tea appreciation, Chinese medicine classes, tai chi classes and even a Kung Fu corner activity. It’s a free and easy way to experience something new.
What I enjoyed about Hong Kong was that most of the attractions are nearby.
I particularly enjoyed the cable car ride to see the Giant Bronze Buddha at Ngong Ping. The ride takes about 30 minutes and you get great views and photo opportunities from the cable car. Once you get to Ngong Ping you can brave the steps to get up close to the Buddha itself or for the less energetic you can still have a great experience from the bottom.
Other great things to do during the day are to take a tram to Victoria Peak and get great views over the city.
Ocean Park is worth a visit with kids but the rides and shows are fairly spread out and if visiting with young kids I would recommend you bring a stroller.
Hong Kong really came to life for me at night. There are heaps of great restaurants to choose from but if you are looking for something different head to Lamma Island for the great seafood meals.
I did a little evening tour to Lamma Island which included the boat ride, meal, some little touristy activities when you get to the island like fishing for your own fish for dinner, fish feeding and other things. It would be a great evening for families as the parents get a good meal and the kids enjoy the meal and activities.
You also have the opportunity to see the spectacular Symphony of Lights show on the return boat ride. This is a spectacular light show which has been named “the world’s largest permanent light and sound show” by Guinness book of records.
I was only in Hong Kong for five days but did get to stay at Hong Kong Disney for two of the nights which was great. It is a great alternative to the US parks and although it is not as big it is also not so busy. Getting there from the airport is super easy and if you had one full day there you would see most things in the park.
For families travelling to Europe it is a great option to stop off in Hong Kong for two nights, visit Disney and continue onto Europe. It is a great alternate to the usual city stops en route to Europe.
If you are going to do a lot of travel by public transport then an Octopus card is a must. It is credit card size and can be used for travel on all public transport, at Vending machines, supermarkets and even MacDonalds. It can be purchased and recharged at MTR stations.
If you are looking for things to do for free in Hong Kong then the tourist board visitor information service centers (which are located throughout the city), can help organize heaps of free activities.
They have a list of tours and activities called “Cultural Kaleidoscope” that you can partake in at no charge, like Chinese tea appreciation, Chinese medicine classes, tai chi classes and even a Kung Fu corner activity. It’s a free and easy way to experience something new.
What I enjoyed about Hong Kong was that most of the attractions are nearby.
I particularly enjoyed the cable car ride to see the Giant Bronze Buddha at Ngong Ping. The ride takes about 30 minutes and you get great views and photo opportunities from the cable car. Once you get to Ngong Ping you can brave the steps to get up close to the Buddha itself or for the less energetic you can still have a great experience from the bottom.
Other great things to do during the day are to take a tram to Victoria Peak and get great views over the city.
Ocean Park is worth a visit with kids but the rides and shows are fairly spread out and if visiting with young kids I would recommend you bring a stroller.
Hong Kong really came to life for me at night. There are heaps of great restaurants to choose from but if you are looking for something different head to Lamma Island for the great seafood meals.
I did a little evening tour to Lamma Island which included the boat ride, meal, some little touristy activities when you get to the island like fishing for your own fish for dinner, fish feeding and other things. It would be a great evening for families as the parents get a good meal and the kids enjoy the meal and activities.
You also have the opportunity to see the spectacular Symphony of Lights show on the return boat ride. This is a spectacular light show which has been named “the world’s largest permanent light and sound show” by Guinness book of records.
I was only in Hong Kong for five days but did get to stay at Hong Kong Disney for two of the nights which was great. It is a great alternative to the US parks and although it is not as big it is also not so busy. Getting there from the airport is super easy and if you had one full day there you would see most things in the park.
For families travelling to Europe it is a great option to stop off in Hong Kong for two nights, visit Disney and continue onto Europe. It is a great alternate to the usual city stops en route to Europe.
