I have to admit, there’s more to that in Hong Kong.
On the first day, I’ve ventured into Causeway Bay.
It’s the shopping district of Hong Kong, where you can find the familiar brands like Louis Vutton and SOGO. The great thing about Hong Kong is that it has such a nicely linked underground tunnel that connects the malls such that one does not have to go outside of the malls into the hot sun to enjoy a good shopping experience. But if you do, you’ll be in for a surprise – right beside some of the fanciful looking malls, the old buildings that looked as though they were built many years ago squeezed in between conspicuously. These were mainly accompanied by scaffolding and leaking air-conditioners. This juxtaposition only shows how rapidly the city has developed, yet co-existing with some of the earlier cultures. Peer into the shops located on the lower floors of the buildings and you will find retirees in their quaint suits and newspapers, sipping a cup of Chinese tea, pretty much the kind of lifestyle you will see in the Hong Kong dramas.
The next morning, I stepped into a dim sum restaurant, recommended by the doorman of the Hotel. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was a popular spot for the locals – I did not see a single tourist there. It was a busy and packed restaurant, with waitresses streaming around with their dim sum trolleys and customers helping themselves and refilling their teapots on their own. The food was exquisite and yet affordable. It was noisy with people trying to catch the attention of the waitresses. It was heartwarming to see that despite the hustle and bustle of the city, the people spent a good two hours on breakfast with their loved ones exchanging their thoughts and feelings over a meal.
Disneyland hasn’t lost its touch.
A word of advice, however, will be to visit this hot spot during the off peak such that the queues for rides will be reasonable shorter. It was a shame that the Tarzan Treehouse was closed for renovation when I visited, but my family had fun in Fantasy Land. The fireworks were also pretty awesome for both adults and kids. The rides closed at 7pm, and to be frank, I don’t think that there was enough time to explore the entire Disneyland.
Since my father is a Buddhist, we made a trip to the Great Buddha. I’d recommend the Ngong Ping 360 cable car ride up.
Make a trip down to the wet market. If you’ve never seen a live chicken or fish, this is your chance! I’m sure most of you are familiar with the headless and featherless chickens in the super markets, but Hong Kong wet markets redefines the concept of “fresh”. Just don’t buy anything unless you’re prepared to kill them!
Don’t miss women’s street where the night markets are. You’ll find cheap clothes, bags and accessories imported from China. Always remember to bargain at these places, if possible, in Cantonese. It’s a good place to pick up some souvenirs as well.
Many people recommended Lan Kwai Fong as a popular night spot. I was disappointed to find it popular only for the tourists. I met people from other parts of the world settling for a nice pint of beer there, but was frustrated to see that it was not a popular place amongst the locals.
Hong Kong has marketed itself to be a great spot for shopping and eating good food, but I would have to say that the “eating” part of the equation is better discovered at the older eateries. Don’t miss the egg tarts and roast ducks. You can’t claim to have visited this marvelous place without trying these.
In a nutshell, if you want to appreciate the culture of Hong Kong, leave the fanciful heels at home, put on your most comfortable sneakers, and take the path the locals do. Perhaps, just perhaps, Hong Kong will no longer be “just another city” for you too!
