HONG KONG
I lived in Hong Kong from October 2014 through February 2015. It was an exciting time to be in the city. When I arrived democracy protests were in full swing and crowds were camped out in the street. I left right after Chinese New Year when a much happier group of crowds congregated at Flower Markets to celebrate the Year of the Sheep. In between I explored all areas from the outer islands to deep into the heart of the New Territories. At each metro station I seemed to unearth a new and interesting discovery.
DINING "THEMES"
Hong Kong is renowned for it's sheer volume of dining establishments and the quality of those restaurants. The variety ranges from a $20HKD macaroni noodle breakfast to Avant-Garde, Michelin Three Star restaurants that only the super wealthy can afford to patronize. When deciding where to eat, I'd consider what Hong Kong does differently than focus on that cuisine type.
COOKED FOOD CENTRES
This parking garage like buildings house Hong Kong's traditional street food stalls and are a quintessential dining experience. LOCAL DINING
Hong Kong restaurants offer the complete range of regional Chinese cuisines including dim sum, noodles, and congee, seasonal dishes, such as claypot rice, and local dishes, like Typhoon Shelter Crab. |
OTHER "THEMES"
HONG KONG TRAVEL BASICS
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Ridiculously high end hotels to budget hostels and guesthouses. I was able to find a hostel in Causeway Bay for under $20/night otherwise I would have stayed in Chungking Mansions - a dodgy but landmark location in Kowloon.
FOOD
Ridiculously high end to a few dollars for a meal. I tried a few Dim Sum places but otherwise focused on finding Western style food to satisfy future cravings. I was successful with Pizza but still need to do some work on Hamburgers.
SITES, ATTRACTIONS, ADVENTURES
Saving most of this for the period when I return to Hong Kong and find a job. I’ll update accordingly.
IN "COUNTRY" TRAVEL
Metro and Bus cover the island very well. The hostel or hotel can provide instructions and route numbers to go wherever you need. Considering how expensive the city is taxi’s were cheap. You can take a bus or Metro from the airport to city center.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Ridiculously high end hotels to budget hostels and guesthouses. I was able to find a hostel in Causeway Bay for under $20/night otherwise I would have stayed in Chungking Mansions - a dodgy but landmark location in Kowloon.
FOOD
Ridiculously high end to a few dollars for a meal. I tried a few Dim Sum places but otherwise focused on finding Western style food to satisfy future cravings. I was successful with Pizza but still need to do some work on Hamburgers.
SITES, ATTRACTIONS, ADVENTURES
Saving most of this for the period when I return to Hong Kong and find a job. I’ll update accordingly.
- Peak Tram - a necessary tourist trap
- Star Ferry - the best way to see Hong Kong’s skyline
- Happy Valley - the best city based sporting venue
IN "COUNTRY" TRAVEL
Metro and Bus cover the island very well. The hostel or hotel can provide instructions and route numbers to go wherever you need. Considering how expensive the city is taxi’s were cheap. You can take a bus or Metro from the airport to city center.
One more: Why I Moved to Hong Kong