A holiday in Hong Kong needn’t only be about teeming street life, ranks of apartment towers and shopping for designer knock-offs in bustling markets, but it’s a great place to start. There is so much more to Hong Kong than immediately meets the eye, or is mentioned in the tourist brochures.
Hong Kong offers one of the most diverse holiday experiences in the world. Two favourite Hong Kong pursuits are shopping and dining, and happily there are thousands of exciting opportunities to do as the locals do. Did you know that more than 75% of Hong Kong is rural, and there are hundreds of walking trails to experience a side of Hong Kong that many brochures ignore? It makes a pleasant change from the spectacular shopping malls and vast food halls.
Highlights of a Hong Kong vacation include riding the Tram up Victoria Peak for fantastic cityscape views, commuting between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon by Star ferry and sipping cocktails at night anywhere that overlooks the memorable harbour. What about a ride up the world’s longest escalator to the mid-levels, where thousands of affluent locals and ex-pats live on the side of the Peak? How about a cocktail in Lan Kwai Fong, the tiny mid-Central precinct that’s a magnet for the party people? Haggling for the latest in electronics in the markets and stores of Mong Kok is always a buzz, and horseracing in Happy Valley is fun too. Dozens of markets show Cantonese food shopping in all its gory glory – a marked contrast to the sophisticated shopping malls, but a daily activity for the millions who call Hong Kong home.
Hong Kong is not really a beach holiday destination. Repulse and South Bay make up the two best beaches. Hong Kong Island is separated from the Kowloon Peninsula mainland by a natural harbour. There are 235 other islands scattered around, and many are worth a day trip to experience another side of Hong Kong life.
Hong Kong fun facts
Hong Kong translates from Cantonese to “Fragrant Harbour”
The most Rolls Royces per capita can be found in Hong Kong; the Peninsula Hotel alone boasts a fleet of 14 Rolls Royce Phantoms
Tsing Ma Bridge, linking Lantau Island to mainland Hong Kong, is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world
It has a spectacular range of wildlife, flora and fauna that never fails to amaze.
Penang with the family
Monday 5th October 2009
Travel Counsellor: Mark Hind
Selamat Datang,
7 days in Penang with my wife, and 2 children aged 6yrs and 11mths. This is the first real overseas holiday we have done with children so were very aware that the 'norm' was not going to be the case this trip.
I have to say though, because we had an infant in our midst, I found the level of service and attention that we received very much increased, especially with the airline (Malaysian Airlines).
We chose Penang for a few reasons. 1: Malaysian Airlines had the best fare offer for South East Asia at the time. 2. We had been to Penang before and wanted somewhere that was familiar for our first kiddy experience. 3. Penang had the best resorts to offer for children, as opposed to Langkawi, Sabah or Sarawak.
We all had a great time. The thing that I really like about Penang is the relaxed atomsphere. You get all of the benefits of Asia but its not in your face, its like the country town with the city facilities. In Penang you can still buy a meal for 4... view full story
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