I have been to Hong Kong twice. The first time was for two days when it was under British rule. The second time I was here was last year as part of our Anniversary Gift from our Son. We were here for four days and it now was part of China, (since 2000).
WHAT WE SAW:
1)We took a tour of the Harbor. On the tour we went past the famous Floating Garden Restaurant and past a lot of ’junks’, (most of them are homes). Our tour ended by floating past the spectacular Hong Kong Sky Line, (there are so many high rise buildings here now). 3) We took a half-day tour of the City.
Our first stop was at the Victoria Peak and I had to push my Husband onto the tram that takes you to the top, (he is afraid of things that are handing by a ‘string’). At the top we had a 360-degree view of Hong Kong.
We drove past the former GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE is not occupied. There is a beautiful garden with weeping willow trees. Our Tour began to follow the coast to visit the Aberdeen to see a Chinese fishing Village, then on to Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay and the tour ended at Stanley Market. We walked through the Market but it must be the most expensive one in Hong Kong, (many rich people live in this area), as I did not see one thing that was cheaper than were in the small Shops near our Hotel.
We visited the HERITAGE MUSEUM was once a 5 floor Palace. The exhibitions are ’family-friendly’ and show an animated history in life-size re-creations of Fishing Boats, Shops, Temples and Villages. There is only one computer terminal where the Children were standing in line waiting to play a PC Game.
Shopping in the Stores is very expensive now so we only shopped at the Markets. There are eleven Markets in Hong Kong but I only like two of them. I loved the Lady’s Market, (it is open during the day and has items for Children and Men as well as Women). We bought cotton shorts for our young Grandson for 50 cents a pair, (at home they are over $6.00 CAD), and some great cotton cut off pants for me.
My Husband and Son each bought 2 white cotton shirts with no collars, (these are very hard to find in Canada), for $5.00 USD each. At the Night Market we found pure silk housecoats for our Daughters and a few silk Shirts for our oldest Grandson. DVD’s are sold by the bundle here. The cost is $5.00 USD for 5 DVD’s and we each bought a bundle.
Even though you can cross from one side to the other on the freeway/tunnels built under the water you should take a least one ride on the Star Ferry. It’s a tradition.
he Waterfront Promenade was a few blocks from our Hotel, (and near the Star Ferry Terminal). We walked through it and saw that MISS SAIGON was playing at the Theater there.
.We were lucky enough to get 3 last minute tickets, ($100.00 USD each), to see this show. I thought it was ironic that we were watching a play about a Child that had been left behind when his Father went back to the United States, (there are so many of these Children abandoned all over Asia). My Husband was amazed that the people in the Audience did not clap when we did. I had been to China so I was able to tell him that the Chinese people only clap when they think something is ’perfect’.
When we walked out of the Theater we found out that we were in the first stage of a Typhoon. We waded back to our Hotel.
WHERE WE ATE:
I must tell you that the only fair price Restaurants are Chinese, (there are over 5000 of them). The others are very expensive.
We went to the Peking Duck Restaurant to have Peking Duck. Every piece of the duck is used. The bones are made into duck soup and the meat is served with small pancakes and plume sauce.
One night we went back to the area where the ’junks’ were moored. Every night they grill fresh fish and seafood. You pay by the pound and the food is served steaming hot and is delicious.
We went back to the Peninsula Hotel to eat at Felix’s. Around this Restaurant are a few small bars. One wall makes you feel like you have waves coming at you. We all had steak here.
One Brunch we went to Nathan’s Deli. Our Son was craving ’food from home’. My Husband and Son had hot coned beef sandwiches and I had hot pastrami one.
There was an Irish Pub near our Hotel. We went there for lunch one day and enjoyed Irish Stew, (for me) and Shepard’s Pie for them.
Our last night we decided to celebrate our Son’s Birthday, (a few months early because we wouldn’t be with him then). We went to Cafe des Artiste for the most expensive meal I have ever paid for. The owner was French and kept sending over drinks, (I thought they were complimentary). The Cafe was filled with ex pat’s and I should have known there and then the meal would be expensive. Although our 3 course set price meal was delicious I think that $200.00 USD is a bit too much to pay. I didn’t notice the price until the next day because I was very ’drunk’ from all the drinks, (that were added to our bill).
MY THOUGHTS:
Please ignore the 2 days I spent here because there was no 4 day choice and I had to use that one to file this review. I did enjoy Hong Kong but I found it very expensive. If you have not been there it is a ’must see’ place to visit.
©LL2002