A HONG KONG SIDE TRIP
If you’re lucky enough to have an opportunity to fly to Asia, take a couple of days and enjoy the wonderful bustling city of Hong Kong. The energy, the people and the exotic atmosphere will keep your senses on overdrive. I’ve had the opportunity to visit Hong Kong a few times. On this trip, my sister and I stayed near the Soho area of Hong Kong.
Day 1
- Arrive and check into the hotel midmorning.
- Board a bus to Stanley Market. Part of the experience is the drive, so sit on the top level and enjoy the scenery – and the winding roads!
- Shop the bargains in the market and then walk along the waterfront and have a light lunch.
- Return by bus and switch to the MTR for a ride to Kowloon.
- Enjoy cocktails and dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel. Snag a table overlooking the water and Hong Kong skyline. Enjoy the boats going by and the light show (starts every day after sunset) over your favorite beverage.
- Return to the hotel via the Star Ferry or MTR and relax for the evening.
Day 2
- Get up early and hike a portion of Dragon’s Back (about 2 miles of the 5-mile trek). Great workout, fabulous views. Even the bus ride (#9) to the starting point is entertaining!
- Before getting back on the MTR, walk through the local street market. Fascinating to see the farmers’, butchers’ and fishmongers’ products.
- Return to the hotel to shower/change.
- Take the escalators down to Iyara for a relaxing manicure and pedicure! Sip fragrant herbal tea as the team there buffs and polishes like you’ve never experienced in the States. Iyara has several locations. We’ve been to a few of them with equally great results.
- Walk through the mid-levels area. Lots of great shopping, eating and people-watching.
- Visit Theresa Coleman Fine Art. Absolutely gorgeous antiques. The silk flags, robes and rugs are just beautiful. Theresa’s brother was minding the shop when we arrived and he took us to the upstairs gallery to show us additional treasures. Consider it a mini-museum visit!
- Stop for dinner at one of the many restaurants along the escalator and people watch for a while before heading back to your hotel. We chose Caramba! on Elgin and had a frozen margarita – yum!
Day 3
- Take the MTR to the Diamond Hill station. Look for directional signs to the Chi Lin Nunnery. It’s a short walk.
- The affiliated gardens — Nan Lian Gardens – are stunning. Perfectly manicured trees, lovely walkways and water features all add up to a fantastic walk that can be completed in about 1.5 hours.
- Follow the bridge across to the Chi Lin Nunnery and be quietly respectful as you review all the different altars on the perimeter.
- From the nunnery, take a taxi to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. A recent exhibit spotlighted the story of Bruce Lee. A comprehensive and fun exhibit, it told his life story and featured photos, lunchboxes, action figures, board games and more.
- Hop on a bus and go to the Ladies Market. Be sure to have a variety of bills on hand for the bargains — and very aggressive bargaining.
- Take the MTR to Kowloon and splurge on tea at the Peninsula Hotel. There’s usually a line for the non-guest section, but the wait is well worth it. Gorgeous hotel with a gracious afternoon tradition.
Day 4
- When the sun is shining and the skies are clear, board a bus to Victoria Peak or the tram station.
- Relax and enjoy the views and the ride down in the historic tram.
- Head over to the Causeway Bay area, shop and then have lunch at Din Tai Fung. Order several dishes and share! The menu is extensive and the food is delish!
- Take the time to have a foot massage. It’s extremely relaxing and the perfect touch for tired tourist feet!
- Find a cute restaurant for dinner along the mid levels before heading back to the hotel.
- Pack and prepare for the long flight home – or to your next destination!
- Sign your children up for frequent flier programs…even if they don’t fly enough to earn a ticket, you can use their balances to add to yours. It can really help if you’re shy a few miles.
- Send yourselves a daily postcard. Your hotel will likely sell stamps and mail them for you! When you arrive home, enjoy reliving the experiences all over again.
- Be flexible. If your daily itinerary is weather-dependent, don’t hesitate to switch activities and make the most of a sunny day.
- If you’re traveling over a weekend in Europe, do a little research and make sure activities/places on your itinerary are open on Sundays.
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