Last weekend I went down to Hong Kong to visit Danni. If you don't know who she is than check out about a half a dozen of my previous posts. Literally hours before my departure I was told I had to write a travel review for Hong Kong. Well here it is, check it out.
The first impression that most visitors to Hong Kong have is just how Western the city is. With the enormous towers that accent the skyline and designer shops that line its core avenues it is no wonder that people are unable to see past this veneer and recognize how incredibly diverse the city actually is. With just a little bit of time it is possible to garner an understanding of the traditional beliefs that shape life within the city but it could take a lifetime to truly understand the subtleties of Hong Kong’s unique culture. The first step toward this understanding comes from discovering the beauty and diversity that exists beyond the city’s image as a Western metropolis rooted in Eastern beliefs.
Choosing to take that first step is often the hardest for those reluctant to leave the comfort of Hong Kong’s tourist areas. However, with the slightest bit of effort you can find yourself enroute to one of the city’s many popular markets or shopping districts. MongKok, which literally translates to “The Crowded Corner”, offers visitors a glimpse of the absolute mayhem and chaos that Hong Kong is renowned for. It is in these areas that a number of outdoor markets specializing in knock-off brand name goods and cheap souvenirs exist. If shopping for inexpensive merchandise is not your thing than head over to the bars and restaurants of Lan Kwai Fong and neighbouring Rat Alley in Central Hong Kong. Lan Kwai Fong is well known amongst both travelers and the locals for its sheer number of bars as well as the general sense of disorder and anarchy that goes along with it. Even on the slowest of nights the streets of Lan Kwai Fong are packed with people eager to participate in mayhem that is reminiscent of the best St. Patrick’s Day party you have ever been to.
After a while the crowds and commotion of downtown Hong Kong are bound to take a toll on even the most cosmopolitan individual. When this happens than perhaps it is time to check out sleepy Lamma Island, a place where cars are non-existent, the beaches are numerous and the locals are exceptionally easy going. When you first step off the ferry you will be bombarded by the smell of warm sea air and an unbelievable sense of tranquility that one would not expect to find within Hong Kong. The quaint shops and café’s that line the island’s main thoroughfare can become quite busy on weekends but nonetheless convey the sense that things are easier on Lamma and that life is supposed to be taken that way.
If one piece of advice was to be given to prospective travelers it would be this, don’t be afraid to explore a little and look past the glossy, West meets East veneer that is projected to tourists. Find your own way and experience firsthand the cultural subtleties that define life in Hong Kong for those that make it such an incredibly unique place.
The first impression that most visitors to Hong Kong have is just how Western the city is. With the enormous towers that accent the skyline and designer shops that line its core avenues it is no wonder that people are unable to see past this veneer and recognize how incredibly diverse the city actually is. With just a little bit of time it is possible to garner an understanding of the traditional beliefs that shape life within the city but it could take a lifetime to truly understand the subtleties of Hong Kong’s unique culture. The first step toward this understanding comes from discovering the beauty and diversity that exists beyond the city’s image as a Western metropolis rooted in Eastern beliefs.
Choosing to take that first step is often the hardest for those reluctant to leave the comfort of Hong Kong’s tourist areas. However, with the slightest bit of effort you can find yourself enroute to one of the city’s many popular markets or shopping districts. MongKok, which literally translates to “The Crowded Corner”, offers visitors a glimpse of the absolute mayhem and chaos that Hong Kong is renowned for. It is in these areas that a number of outdoor markets specializing in knock-off brand name goods and cheap souvenirs exist. If shopping for inexpensive merchandise is not your thing than head over to the bars and restaurants of Lan Kwai Fong and neighbouring Rat Alley in Central Hong Kong. Lan Kwai Fong is well known amongst both travelers and the locals for its sheer number of bars as well as the general sense of disorder and anarchy that goes along with it. Even on the slowest of nights the streets of Lan Kwai Fong are packed with people eager to participate in mayhem that is reminiscent of the best St. Patrick’s Day party you have ever been to.
After a while the crowds and commotion of downtown Hong Kong are bound to take a toll on even the most cosmopolitan individual. When this happens than perhaps it is time to check out sleepy Lamma Island, a place where cars are non-existent, the beaches are numerous and the locals are exceptionally easy going. When you first step off the ferry you will be bombarded by the smell of warm sea air and an unbelievable sense of tranquility that one would not expect to find within Hong Kong. The quaint shops and café’s that line the island’s main thoroughfare can become quite busy on weekends but nonetheless convey the sense that things are easier on Lamma and that life is supposed to be taken that way.
If one piece of advice was to be given to prospective travelers it would be this, don’t be afraid to explore a little and look past the glossy, West meets East veneer that is projected to tourists. Find your own way and experience firsthand the cultural subtleties that define life in Hong Kong for those that make it such an incredibly unique place.
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