I will not be lying or exaggerating if I say that Hong Kong is probably my most favorite place in the whole world. After all it was home for me for so many years. I still remember how much I had cried the day we were moving out of HK.
I still remember so vividly, the day I first arrived in HK.The first thing to impress me about the city was the HK International Airport.The structure is grand and it is difficult to believe that it stands on a man-made island. It is really no surprise that it gets voted ’’the best airport in the world’’ over and over again.
There are two ways of getting to the HK island from the airport...the roadway which goes through the world’s longest suspension bridge ’’the Tsing-Ma Bridge’’ and the Airport Express Train.I’m glad we chose the latter because this 23-25 minute journey was an experience in itself.
Since we had to go our Robinson Road flat in Mid levels, we got down at Central.When I came out of the Airport Express Station, I found myself just admiring the high-rise buildings in Central. Each one taller than the other, but each so unique so far as exterior architectural designing goes. And because it was a weekday, the place was just buzzing with activity. Most offices are located in Central.Whoever was the first person to call Hong Kong ’’THE CITY OF LIFE’’ couldn’t have found a more appropriate title for the place!!
We then went to our flat in Mid levels, the entrance lobby of building could put any three-star hotel to shame!!The flat was small ( 1100 sq.feet ) but very well furnished. We had a great view of the HK Harbour from all the windows of our 11th floor flat. The Tsing-Ma Bridge could also be seen at a distance on clear days and nights.
The Victoria Peak soon became my most favorite spot in whole of HK.We took everyone who came to visit us, to the Peak.Taking the Tram to the Peak was exciting and little scary at the same time.And a taxi-ride simply was just mind blowing. Believe me when I say that HK looks so different every time you see it from the Peak....it is simply gorgeous during the day and breathtakingly beautiful at night.....this is mainly because of the attention given to the exterior lighting of each high-rise. Each one is so exquisitely done!!One can just stand there for hours (I know I can!!) and be spell bound by the beauty of the HK skyline. The Peak has several other attractions....Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the Motion Simulator, fine restaurants, ice cream parlours.
One one hand HK has a number of Malls that house all the best and the leading brands in Fashion, Cosmetics and stuff ; and on the other hand there are numerous night markets’, ladies markets, flea markets where one can great deals if one has the art of bargaining.
There are a number of beaches, some of them are very clean and well maintained while the same can’t be said about the rest. You should consider yourself lucky if you get a place to spread you beach-mat on Saturdays, Sundays and other public holidays.Some of the beach restaurants rent out barbeque-pits, too.
The public transport system in HK can be considered among the best in the world. The bus, tram, ferry, taxi services are very very efficient. It is also counted as one of the safest places in the world. There have always been odd pick-pocketing cases but nothing alarming.
A visit to the Lantau Island, the Discovery Bay, Llama Island is a good getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.The ferry trip to these places is also an experience in itself. The amusement park ’’The Ocean Park’’is also a great place to spend the day, especially if you have kids.
The Happy Valley Race Course is a must visit kind of place even if you don’t like horse racing and gambling. The atmosphere there is such that you instantaneously start cheering for the horses even if you haven’t bet on any one of them!!
There are so many restaurants there...you name the cuisine and you have it.Eating out, especially on weekends is pretty common here too.
Oh!!how could I forget to mention The Escalator??!! This has to be one of the most interesting possessions of the city.This escalator runs between Central and the Mid levels.In the morning until 10 a.m.it goes down(from the Mid levels to Central) and after that it travels upwards (from Central to the Mid levels).One can’t imagine how many people make use of this free and interesting mode of transport.
A lot has been said about the general attitude of the HK people...they are rude, egoistic, money minded etc.etc. My experience has been slightly different...I found them extremely hard working and honest.They are very very proud of their culture. Most of them like to keep to themselves.Not that I didn’t come across any rude and ill mannered Hong Kong-er but then you find similar kind of people in all parts of the world!!
I love this place so much that I’m scared that my review has ended up looking like of a brochure of the Hong Kong Tourism Board.