I had but a short and sweet time in Hong Kong, as is reflected in this week’s vlog (a Hong Kong mashup), which is equally short and sweet.
The reason for my trip?
Macau. (Which is kind of a different country…sort of….in the same way Hong Kong is a different country from China….sort of).
The short version of my reason for being in Hong Kong was that I spoke at a travel industry conference in Macau, which is a short ferry ride away. With an expiring Indonesian visa and a cheap direct flight, it was a prime opportunity to check out this place I’d never visited but heard amazing things about.
And now…I get it. I get why everybody I know who has visited Hong Kong loves it. I don’t particularly like cities (and I’m not a huge fan of China)….and I still thought it was pretty damn cool.
This post was originally published in 2017, and has since been updated for accuracy of links and content.
I’ll be pontificating more about my experience of and thoughts on Hong Kong in another article (this one).
Suffice it to say I had a pretty amazing week….despite the horrendous cost (and state) of accommodation.
- I ate ridiculous amounts of dim sum.
- I walked and walked (and walked).
- I gawked and gawked (and gawked).
- I marvelled at the juxtaposition of old and new.
- I ate some more.
- I drank tea.
- And then I ate a little more.
The only thing I didn’t do (I expect everybody who loves Hong Kong will take a collective gasp at this), is hike, or otherwise visit nature. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the place, a mere 25% of it is developed – the rest is countryside; 40% of Hong Kong is made up of official parks and nature reserves. Little did I know, otherwise I’d have brought my hiking shoes.
Instead, I brought my city slickers, and considering I only had a week, I made a pretty good show of checking out the city.
Hong Kong Mashup, Vlog Ep. 23
Check out my week in Hong Kong mashup below….a mashup of footage taken whilst gawking at the city, marvelling at the temples, checking out the markets, and of course, eating the food.
Click here to watch the video on YouTube
Hi Nora,
Way cool. Seems like you had a fun time.
I had no idea the place was only 25% developed. You hear stories of people literally living in cages that are alleged apartments, and figure so much of the place is crazy urban. But it is not so.
Good deal that you enjoyed the fare too. I like exploring when it comes to cities and land and the like but no way do I explore when it comes to food. More sensitive stomach in these parts.
If I can find tasty, healthy and yep, fare served in hygienic settings I am good to go. And also dissolve a big anxiety of mine.
Thanks for sharing Nora.
Ryan
Hey Ryan,
OMG the food is one of the big reasons I travel! Hopefully you’re able to sample different types of cuisine and foods; I adhere to a basic hygiene requirement and I’m very careful about what I eat when I’m in countries where the water is questionable. But different foods and seasonings? Bring it on.
As for the undeveloped land, that was a shocker for me too. I’ll be expanding on this on a bigger post next week. But the urban parts are indeed as you describe – people are literally on top of one another. So yeah…it’s an odd contrast.
I love HK every time, have been 12 times at least.
Wow – 12 times is a lot! Then again, living in Asia for a while, it stands to reason, and Hong Kong is a great hub to travel to/through. I hope to return someday. 🙂
Define skyrise. HK buildings are crazy TALL! I laughed when I saw the HSBC building again. LOL
I loved that story about the HSBC building! (https://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/hong-kong-good-bad/)
Did you see the canons in the video shot?
Nora~~~Too bad you didn’t drop by Guangzhou while in China and go to the Canton Trade Fair end of October. Address: No. 380, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou, China
I go to Hong Kong often and from there take the 30 minute Ferryboat ride to Shekou port in Shenzhen, Riding the Metro is Free if age 65+ and the High speed Rail all over China stops at North Station. At Grand Theatre Station is KK100 mall which has everything in a 5 story shopping mall with even a 1200 foot tall office tower and separate apartment tower where I stay for $25/night, Kitchen/Bath, sitting area Queen Bed even a laundry and balcony. There are cheap flights all over Asia from Shenzhen airport also served by Metro. The high speed rail also goes to the largest underground station in the world (23 football fields in size) just before Hong Kong and will go to HK once the people in Hong Kong agree on where the station will be.
Hi Phillip,
Thanks for the intel. Unfortunately popping over to China isn’t that simple for us westerners, who need to get a special visa. I was in Guangzhou once before, the first time I was in China many (many!) years ago.