Photo By: Elin Chow
My hubby receive got been wanting to see Hong Kong for a long time, but did non truly receive got the hazard to. The conclusion to see Hong Kong was practically made for us when AirAsia was having a advertisement for flying to Macau. Since my hubby too I receive got non been to Macau before, nosotros figured that it volition hold upwards a adept thought to convey wages of this promotion.
Initially, nosotros intended to see Macau for 5 days four nights. But eventually, nosotros receive got to alter our plans due to the ridiculously high hotel rates inward Macau during the weekend. Hotel rates to a greater extent than ofttimes than non doubled during the weekend inward Macau too nosotros had difficulty finding a decent hotel room inward Macau that was inside our budget. So nosotros decided allocate 2 days of our 5 days trip to Hong Kong instead. Or to hold upwards exact, nosotros exclusively had i too a one-half hateful solar daytime inward Hong Kong.
Normally I volition uncovering 2 days a petty curt to consider too experience a city, but afterwards 2 days inward Hong Kong, nosotros precisely could non hold back to leave. It is non similar that nosotros receive got seen every component of the city. But I precisely uncovering it boring. Unbearably boring.
Well, this was truly my tertiary fourth dimension visiting Hong Kong, hence I shout out back it is perfectly understandable if I uncovering the urban meat deadening too dull. I receive got been to most of the pop tourist attractions inward Hong Kong - Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park, Victoria Peak, Victoria Harbor, bustling shopping districts too nighttime markets. I believe at that topographic point are nix much to a greater extent than for me to exercise or consider except to consume too drinkable all hateful solar daytime long.
But for my hubby too parents-in constabulary who were visiting Hong Kong for the kickoff time, I thought this volition hold upwards a to a greater extent than interesting experience for them, which surprisingly, was non the case. Just similar me, they truly uncovering Hong Kong strangely depressing too dull too.
Hong Kong is a small, crowded, fast-paced multi-culture urban meat packed amongst skyscrapers. On the kickoff impression, the skyline of Hong Kong does looks impressive. But afterwards awhile, everything precisely teach boring. We wanted to re-visit a few of the pop tourist attractions again, but realized that nosotros volition non receive got sufficient fourth dimension for that. So nosotros flew inward to Hong Kong without having a laid itinerary too decided to allow everything goes amongst the flow.
We arrived at Macau International Airport at 6 pm too made our way to the taxi stand upwards correct afterwards clearing the immigration. From the taxi stand, nosotros took a taxi from the airdrome to Taipa Outer Harbour to grab a ferry to Hong Kong.
There are 3 ways to teach to Hong Kong from Macau: past times ferry, past times helicopter too past times plane. Taking the ferry is the most pop way amid the three. It is rattling convenient, fast too of course, the cheapest way to travel.
At Taipa Outer Harbour, nosotros bought ferry tickets to Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal located inward Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. There are 2 primary Macau ferry operators from Hong Kong - TurboJet too CotaiJet. We chose Turbojet because it offers a higher frequency of sailing. TurboJet ferry runs every xv minutes piece CotaiJet ferry exclusively runs every xxx minutes betwixt Macau too Hong Kong. There is no demand for yous to majority the ferry tickets inward advance (except during the peak season). You tin give the axe merely approach the ticket counter at the Harbour to buy your ticket.
The ferry ride took to a greater extent than or less an hour. It volition likely takes yous xv minutes past times helicopter, which volition cost yous a whopping HKD 400 each way. Flights departs daily every xxx minutes from ix am to eleven pm. Unfortunately, nosotros were non able to convey the someone helicopter from Macau to Hong Kong due to budget constraint. So, the ferry was truly a cracking alternative.
We arrived at Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal located inward Shun Tak Centre, a commercial too carry complex. The complex comprises of a 4-storey podium containing a shopping pump too auto park, 2 38-storey role towers, a motorcoach terminal too the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal.
During our 2 days inward Hong Kong, nosotros stayed inward Ibis Hotel Central & Sheung Wan. Ibis Hotel Central & Sheung Wan is a 3-star hotel located inward the pump of Sheung Wan, precisely 8 minutes walk away from the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal too Sheung Wan Station of the MTR. Our argue for choosing this hotel was due to its proximity to populace transportation. It volition hold upwards convenient for us to move about the urban meat too to Macau without much hassle.
Once nosotros cleared the custom too immigration, nosotros made our go out out of Shun Tak Center too spent the adjacent xxx minutes looking for our hotel. It was belatedly too nosotros could non access to the google map on our mobile devices because nosotros did non receive got WiFi connection. We did non buy a local SIM card or rent a steal WiFi inward advance because nosotros were besides confident that nosotros would hold upwards able to locate the hotel easily.
But nosotros did non expected that it volition hence hard to uncovering the way inward the dark. It was almost ix pm too nosotros were starving too tired. The in conclusion repast nosotros had was at 12 pm. All nosotros wanted was to cheque into our room too residual for the night. After asking directions from a convenience store staff, nosotros finally managed to uncovering our way to our hotel.
Check inward procedure was fast too hassle-free. After putting our luggage inward the room, nosotros went out on the streets again, searching for something to fill upwards our empty stomach. We were surprised to uncovering most of the restaurants about the expanse were unopen past times 9.00 pm too had to search hard to uncovering i that was yet open. The entire street was empty too dark on a Sabbatum night. We could barely consider anyone walking on the streets afterwards dark.
We went to the Queen Street Cooked Food Market located beside the hotel too decided to consume at Chan Choi Kee Restaurant. This is arguably the best known eatery that yous volition uncovering inward Sheung Wan district. The eating theatre is opened upwards all day, serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea too dinner.
Upon sitting down, nosotros were given bill of fare to scan. The eating theatre bill of fare offers a broad arrive at of options to conform all gustation buds.
Roasted Chicken amongst Fermented Bean Paste
We had roasted chicken amongst fermented edible bean glue too were amazed past times the tender, flavorful meat amongst crisp skin. The peel of the chicken is incredibly crispy too is perfectly golden chocolate-brown inward color. Yet, the meat of the the chicken remains wonderfully moist too juicy.
Hong Kong Choy Sum
Choy Sum is likely the most pop vegetable inward Hong Kong. The vegetables are rattling sugariness too tender amongst a crunchy bite.
Sweet too Sour Pork
Sweet too Sour Pork is undoubtedly i of my favorite dish of all time. It is a commonly seen dish inward most Cantonese restaurants. Nuggets of pork are marinated, coated inward batter. deep-fried earlier stir-frying it inward a viscous sauce along amongst peppers, pineapples too onions. The sauce is made from soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar too plum sauce. The meat is moist amongst a semi-crunchy texture.
After dinner, nosotros bought H2O too some yogurt drinks from the convenience store located precisely underneath our hotel. I ever dearest visiting the local convenience too grocery stores whenever I see a novel country. In fact, it is my must-to-do things when I am traveling.
Rise too shine! We decided to start our 2d hateful solar daytime inward Hong Kong amongst a traditional Cantonese breakfast - Dim Sum. After doing some question online, nosotros decided to see a famous Dim Sum eating theatre named "Dim Sum Square" located at 88 Jervois Street inward Sheung Wan.
The eating theatre gets crowded during peak hours. Do non hold upwards surprised if yous are asked to leave of absence at nowadays afterwards yous finished your food. I would recommend anyone to construct it early on to avoid a long wait.
After a satisfying breakfast, it was fourth dimension for us to exercise some sightseeing about the city. With no itinerary or item programme inward mind, nosotros hopped on the double decker Ding Ding Tram to teach about too consider the urban meat inward a leisurely way. The century-old trams are the oldest too cheapest shape of transportation inward Hong Kong. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ride on the tram cost exclusively HKD 2.30, regardless how far yous traveled. It is the most cheapest too economical alternative to teach about Hong Kong for budget travelers.
We passed through bustling residential area, shopping districts too primary urban meat pump piece observing the everyday life of the locals. Ding Ding trams are certainly a cracking too cracking way to consider too experience Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is renowned to receive got i of the best carry network inward the world. However, it is also known that Hong Kong has i of the highest density of cars inward the Blue Planet due to express amount of space. Traffic jams tin give the axe hold upwards bad inward Hong Kong during peak hours too parking spaces are rattling rare too costly. It is to a greater extent than ofttimes than non to a greater extent than convenient for i to move about the urban meat via the populace transportation than driving. It volition relieve yous heaps of coin too time. Be prepared to exercise lots of walking if yous programme to move about amongst populace transportation.
If yous tin give the axe avoid visiting during the summertime months. The conditions tin give the axe hold upwards unbearably hot too humid inward Hong Kong during this catamenia of time. We were feeling viscous too sweaty all hateful solar daytime long. It was non a truly pleasant experience.
After the tram ride, nosotros went dorsum to the hotel to residual earlier heading out at 5 pm i time to a greater extent than for dinner. There are many must-eats inward Hong Kong. Among all, roast suckling hog too roast goose volition ever hold upwards on the top of our must-eat listing whenever nosotros are inward Hong Kong. Both of which are delicacies nosotros rarely teach to relish inward Malaysia. But inward Hong Kong, yous tin give the axe consume roast suckling hog too roast goose at many restaurants on almost every street.
Suckling hog are 2 to 6 months former hog roasted amongst seasonings inward a charcoal furnace at high temperature. Roasted to perfection, the meat is deliciously moist too tender amongst crispy, crunchy skin. The gustation too texture of the meat is heavenly too melting-in-the-mouth. Even without whatever garnishing, the meat is wonderfully flavorful on its own.
Roast Goose
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 whole goose is roasted amongst undercover ingredients, cutting into minor pieces too served amongst a sugariness plum sauce. The meat is plump, juicy too tender amongst a surprisingly crispy skin. I would recommend eating this dish amongst the sugariness plum sauce every bit it would assistance to heighten the flavor of the goose meat greatly.
After dinner, nosotros took a ride on the MTR from Sheung Wan Station to Tsim Sha Tsui Station. My hubby has specifically requested me to include a see to the Victoria Harbour inward our move itinerary. Our initial programme also includes a see to the Victoria Peak every bit well. But unfortunately, nosotros did non receive got plenty fourth dimension to see both.
To teach to Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, nosotros receive got to convey the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui Station too walk to Tsim Sha Tsui East Station, From Tsim Sha Tsui East Station, convey Exit L6 to Salisbury Road, heading towards the Star Ferry Pier. The Promenade is located precisely adjacent to the Star Ferry Pier.
Offering an unobstructed persuasion of Hong Kong's violet skyline, the Promenade is a cracking identify to unwind afterwards a hateful solar daytime of sightseeing. Along the walkway, at that topographic point are plenty of cafes, eateries too benches about to relax, dine too relish the view.
Visitors tin give the axe convey a ride on the Star Ferry sailing across the Victoria Harbour. Just similar the Ding Ding Trams, the Star Ferry is some other cheapest shape of transportation inward Hong Kong. With tickets costing exclusively HKD 2.50 per adult on weekdays too HKD 3.40 on weekends, the Star Ferry is definitely a must-do when visiting Hong Kong.
Nevertheless, the Hong Kong's skyline is spectacular too yet worth seeing. But I would non recommend anyone to visit Victoria Harbour specially for the Symphony of Light show, or else yous volition destination upwards truly disappointed.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cracking way to pass your eve inward Hong Kong is to convey a ride on the Junk boat across Victoria Harbour - a traditional Chinese sailing ship that kickoff appeared most one k years ago, during the Song Dynasty.
With its flashy reddish sails too wooden paneling, the Junk boat is a famous tourist attraction inward Hong Kong.
After the Symphony of Light show, nosotros headed to the Temple Street Night Market for seafood. To teach to Temple Street Night Market, nosotros took the MTR to Jordon Station. Take Exit due east too plow correct to Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Road too and then convey some other correct onto Temple Street.
Also known every bit the "Mens Market", Temple Street Night Market is the largest too livest nighttime marketplace inward Hong Kong. There are hundred of stalls too carts selling mainly items for men - from clothing, mobile phones, counterfeit branded goods too inexpensive 2d manus goods such every bit cassette tapes too antiques.
We did non relish shopping at Temple Street Night Market because nosotros were non interested inward faux designer goods, inexpensive merchandises too souvenirs. Instead, nosotros came hither peculiarly to relish local seafood specialties.
Strolling downwards the nighttime market, yous volition uncovering many "Dai Pai Dong" or minor street vendors too medium sized restaurants offering delicious nutrient at a fairly affordable price. It is non a surprise to uncovering most of the stalls too restaurants packed amongst people inward the eve since the nighttime marketplace is pop amongst both tourists too locals alike.
We decided to grab a tabular array at i of the the many nutrient stalls lining along the street. There are buckets too tanks exterior the eating theatre filled amongst alive seafood precisely waiting to hold upwards ordered.
Roast Pigeon
The dove is braised inward soy sauce, rice vino too star anise too is dry out roasted to crispy perfection.
Served hot amongst crispy skin, the meat is flavorful, tender too juicy. Unlike the wild pigeons that yous volition usually consider inward the populace parks, these minor birds are peculiarly bred for the tabular array too usually roasted whole. The texture of Pigeon meat is similar chicken too is served whole amongst its head.
Mantis Prawn
Bamboo Clams
Bamboo Clams are stir-fried inward sizzling wok amongst bell peppers too onions inward dark edible bean sauce. I am non sure how it gustation similar because I did consume whatever of it. But this was i of my husband's favorite dish. He could non halt complimenting how delicious the dish was piece eating. So I believe the clams were truly tasty. It is a definite must-try if yous are visiting Hong Kong.
Hong Kong offers a stunning array for delicacies from street nutrient to Michelin Star Rated restaurants. The variety of nutrient on offering inward Hong Kong is amazing, which volition leave of absence visitors spoilt for choices. Simply put, Hong Kong is a nutrient paradise that volition satisfy the craving of whatever too every nutrient lovers.
However, people inward Hong Kong tin give the axe hold upwards quite rude too unfriendly. We receive got encountered a unwrap of servers who are impatient to serve too volition non hold back for yous to create upwards one's heed your order. Customer service does non seem to be inward most Hong Kong's restaurants. Generally, most of the restaurants inward Hong Kong volition aspect yous to know what yous desire to eat, complete your nutrient rapidly too leave. The faster yous leave, the to a greater extent than coin they volition make.
Surrounded past times towering skyscrapers, congested roads too bustling shopping districts, the urban meat of Hong Kong is domicile to seven millions people. Although energetic too highly efficient, the urban meat seems to lack a soul.
Everyone about us ever seems to hold upwards inward a rush, fifty-fifty on a weekend. No i talks, no i smiling too no i has fourth dimension to pay attending to you. Everyone has their eyes fixed on their smart phones or tablets. Just similar inward Singapore, people inward Hong Kong adopt the operate hard, play hard attitude. To them, fourth dimension is money.
Like Singapore, Hong Kong is a notoriously expensive. In fact, it is known to hold upwards the i of the most expensive urban meat inward the Blue Planet to live. The cost of living is high, almost comparable, or perchance fifty-fifty higher than inward Singapore.
I approximate I volition non see Hong Kong anytime shortly again. The urban meat is precisely evidently boring. But I am yet glad that nosotros finally managed to cheque Hong Kong off our move listing together.
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