My first visit to Hong Kong was in February. It was cold and snow…. Zagreb-Frankfurt-Hong Kong…, we started our trip during afternoon. After a night flight from Frankfurt, we landed about noon local’s time and what we found… was more comfortable spring climate. After the airport’s crowds, we took the bus to come to the Lantau Island. Buses drives very often and you could pay the ticket in cash or by Octopus card (you could buy it in 7eleven shop and additionally fill it with some extra money, in case of need). Octopus card you could also use for paying Metro or buying in some shops. Looking around, I was fascinating with infrastructure, big buildings and significant groups of people all around. It’s obviously that Hong Kong is city that never sleeps.
Lantau Island is actually different area from the typical Hong Kong. It has a lot of green areas, landscaped trails and playgrounds. In this area, lives mostly foreigners from around the world, which come here for work.
The main square – Plaza is always seasonally decorated and this time was all about Valentine’s Day. From here, you could reach the center very easy, by Ferry. It rides almost every 20 minutes and about same time is duration of the boat ride.
I’d like to recommend visiting the next sights:
The Peak
This attraction includes ride by the very steep funicular to reach the location above the town where you could enjoy the view to the city – impressive tall buildings seems to be on the palm of your hand. Also, I’d like to recommend to try delicious meal in the Bubba Gump restaurant.
The Big Buddha
It’s about some longer ride by the cable car above the see to reach the nearby hill, where is located extra big and impressive Buddha statue.
For the really special experience, you should choose ride in a „crystal cabin“. It’s a little bit expensive, but you’ll ride in a cabin with glass bottom alone (with your friend or family), without any other passenger. I’d like to emphasize, that this ride is not for someone afraid of height, since view in depth through glass bottom. On the other hand, the view is spectacular and additional advantage of this „crystal package“ is that you will get your bracelet that enables you priority right at bordering. This is very useful, especially during returning, when the most of visitors wait for the last moment and they are waiting in some longer lines.
Except the view on the Buddha (after additional stairs…), here, you could also find more restaurants, some souvenirs shops and temple, that you could also visit…
The horse racing – „Happy Valley“
This event is being held every Wednesday and everyone is there… crowd, excitement and liters of bear… you could also find some food… It’s absolutely „must visit“ and try to bet for at least one race. I need to mention, that I had a beginner’s luck and earned the more than spent:)
Clubs and bars
The city lives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hong Kong is city that never sleeps. The party time starts in the late afternoon, since after-work parties. Here the most of people work hardly during the day and stops for a drink in a way to their homes. So, I visited Amazonia and some other bars. You could enjoy live music and other performance. Or you could just explore many interesting streets and areas.
Lady’s market
Here you could buy really everything… from clothes, different kind of bags, jewelry… to accessories for cell phones, tablets and different gadgets. So, girls, the name of the market speaks for itself:). But just for the record, this is not the only one market in Hong Kong. There are additional markets in the city.
Disneyland Resort Hong Kong
As the name says – this attraction is the best present that parents could give to their children. I recommend to plan visit during working day, because additional crowd for the weekends. So, I suggest starting early in the morning, since there is a lot to see for the whole day. In the park area, you have a more different restaurants and fast foods. So, you could have a lunch there. Additionally, there is a lot of Disney stores with themed cloths and toys from famous cartoons.
On the other hand, it is „must“ to wait for the park’s closing time to enjoy in spectacular fireworks – above the famous castle, the same as you can see at the beginning of each Disney cartoon. It happens every day in the same time (it was 8 p.m.).
Shenzhen, China
From the Hong Kong, you could come very easy to the Chinese border, by train. You could do some great shopping, just cross the border. Here, you could buy whatever you want, from cloth, shoes, glasses, bags, suitcases, jewelry and a lot of different things by very acceptable prices.
Additional to all already mentioned, I recommend enjoying the Hong Kong – city that never sleeps…., its liveliness, street’s exploration and tasting of street’s foods like waffles, skewers…. and for some brevier, you have an local restaurant with snake’s menu. I tried cobra’s soup and fried cobra.
When you are in Hong Kong, it is „must“ to visit Macao, which is state for itself really close to Hong Kong. By speedboat, you are in Macao for less than one hour. More about Macao, you could read in my next column.
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