While observing the city from above I couldn’t help imagin-ing the busy life bustling there in the streets and alleys of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. My imagination generously supplied me with various pictures from various sources from Ian Fleming’s novels to a Deus Ex video game. So I was aching to dive into the whirlwind of the city’s colours, sounds, flavours and smells.
I must admit, I was lucky enough to get my first experience after sunset. Hong Kong at night is by far more alluring when the sun goes down and the neon lights flare up.
Arguably, daytime is worth spending outside of the streets, be it out or above the city (or at least visiting the city museums parks). Hong Kong at night is just amazing, with taxis honking and zooming, people chatting, hieroglyphs glowing and skyscrapers towering all over the place.
Bangkok residents will definitely feel at home in this weird non-stop disco of modern Asian life.
The Symphony of Lights at The Avenue of Stars is a must see experience for those visiting Hong Kong for the first time. Conducted every day at 9pm on both banks of Victoria Harbour, this light and laser show is a real calling card of the city.
Of course, no fee is charged. Just remember to go in advance so you can get a decent view – The Avenue of Stars is quite crowded at the time of the show.
Hong Kong dining is another experience that allows you to feel the spirit of the city. Being a seafood lover, I simply couldn’t resist the restaurants in the fishing villages of Lei Yue Mun: fish, crabs, prawns, clams and much more, all delivered fresh and cooked to perfection by local chefs. If small Chinese-style eateries don’t scare you, this place is a must.
Haute cuisine is another side of Hong Kong dining. The 2015 Michelin guide to Hong Kong and Macau, lists 64 local restaurants with one, two or three stars, including the iconic Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant ever (there’s actually three restaurants already each boasting one star rating).
A choice of dim sum and some congee rice porridge make for a perfect breakfast option, while Beijing duck and Hong-Kong style roasted goose or pork (so called siu mei) are ideal for dinner.
Meat lovers will definitely appreciate the latter one.
Stay tuned for the final part of Anton’s trip, to be published next week.