I have just visited Hong Kong with my mother and my six-year-old daughter. Thanks to my daughter Morgan's questions I saw a whole new side to this big, busy city. I stood enthralled as she had a chat with a shopkeeper about the few words of Cantonese she knows from friends here.
The adventure started with Virgin Atlantic, who fly from Sydney to London via Hong Kong daily. They offer the seat-back televisions, with a kid-friendly selection of cartoons, movies and games.
The airport in Hong Kong is fabulous. We caught the Airport Express train, 23 minutes from the airport to Kowloon in air-conditioned comfort. At the other end there was a free shuttle bus to take us to our hotel. Very easy!
We chose to stay at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile, located on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon). The hotel is surrounded by a myriad of tailors, jewellers, electronics shops, 7-eleven’s and restaurants. It also has an entrance to the MTR (underground railway) at the doorstep. There is a rooftop swimming pool to cool off after a hard day’s sightseeing; this was definitely a plus for my daughter... and I liked that it had a pool-side bar. We also took advantage of the breakfast buffet in the hotel each morning, the staff who were all extremely friendly and efficient, and were very good with my daughter.
Our first expedition took us down the road to the Space Museum. This fascinating museum gives insight into space exploration and the science behind it. They also show IMAX documentary style movies. As it had started raining while we were in there we headed for Ocean Terminal to look around the shops, most of the time devoted to the massive Toys'R'Us. We also stood and watched an ocean liner (Star Cruises) berth at Ocean Terminal, the speed, precision and efficiency of the process was amazing.
Then we headed for The Peak. This called for the shiny and efficient MTR underground train to take us two stations and under the harbour. We then walked about a kilometre to the Peak Tram, a famous Hong Kong attraction. The journey is not fast but the views are spectacular. The top terminal is full of souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. It is also home to Madame Tussauds, the world famous wax figures of today's most recognised faces. The highlight is definitely the rooftop observation deck, which affords panoramic views over Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon.
From The Peak we took a bus to Stanley, home of Stanley Markets and now also home to the Maritime Museum. There are heaps of exhibits including models ships from various ages, paintings and interactive games for both kids and adults. In the narrow streets of the markets there are plenty of toys, clothes, Chinese ceramics and so on. I picked up a pair of silk pyjamas for my wife for about AU$6.
Ocean Park is a great day out, with a mix of rides and animal displays located on a headland overlooking the South China Sea. A 1.6km cable car ride takes you from one side of the park, over the headland to the rest of the park. Our first stop was the Seals and Sea Lions where we paid about AU$5 for my daughter to hand feed the Sea Lions. We then followed the pathway to the underwater viewing area to see the speed, strength and grace of these magnificent creatures. Next we visited the Reef Aquarium, which is a massive tank holding hundreds of fish, as well as a few stingrays and sharks. Again you start above the surface then proceed down below the waterline. Next stop was the Shark tank, home to about 50 sharks of various sizes. Last stop was the Sea Lions & Dolphin show, which was more entertainment than education, but my daughter was laughing the whole way through.
Getting around Hong Kong is a breeze. Everywhere you look there are air-conditioned double-decker buses, red taxis and the MTR that offers frequent fast services. The bus out to Stanley takes you past some famous sights, such as Repulse Bay and the towering apartment buildings. With large windows, the buses are a great way to sightsee.
On Hong Kong Island you will find the historic wooden trams, which are a wonderful novelty, and on the harbour there is the famous Star Ferries. Star Ferries offer a great way to see the city skyline from a different vantage point.