Hong Kong consists primarily of four regions: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, and Lantau Island. HK Island is the international hub of Hong Kong because it is the financial center and business district where most of the bankers and expats live and work. Walking around Lan Gwai Fong, an area notorious for its bar and restaurant scene, being Chinese makes you a minority. Check out the IFC - International Finance Center, the tallest building in HK located in Central during lunch time on a weekday, as I mistakenly did while meeting a friend for lunch, and you'll get trampled on by the herd of well dressed corporate drones. I have never seen a city so crowded before! You must also take a tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak (right pic) where you can overlook the entire island. But make sure you do it on a clear day as the pollution coming from China has drastically increased the visible smog hovering over the island.
Kowloon is more "Chinese" and has a more authentic feel of Hong Kong, but not without its fair share of tourist traps. Tsim Sha Tsui (left pic is Nathan Rd) has a ton of shopping and restaurants and bars. I also like Mong Kok where you can get really cheap and fun knick knacks at Ladies Market. Check out what they sell there in the picture on the right. (Yes that is what you think it is.) I've visited the Museum of History (free admission on Wednesdays) and the spectacular Peninsula Hotel. The night view looking across the harbor at HK Island is breathtaking, making my bus ride extra enjoyable!
New Territories is a little more suburban and you can do activities like biking around the less polluted and more scenic area. I spent last weekend there as my aunt, uncle, and cousin live in Sha Tin, but we didn't do much other than shop and eat which seems to be the common thread amongst all four regions. We also checked out Snoopy Town (left pic). I've never been to Lantau Island so can't tell you anything about it. 
It is very easy to get from one region to another as you can go by boat, metro, train, or bus. Yesterday I met up with four new friends (introduced by Thomas) and we shopped and ate all day in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok. Today I'm going to Sha Tin to pick up my glasses - turns out I've been using my left eye this whole time instead of both eyes, so my right eye has deteriorated dramatically and now I need glasses to train myself to see out of both eyes. I now look like Chinese Millhouse.
1 comment:
can i repeat myself and tell you how jealous i am that you're traipsing around hong kong?? and i will contribute this - lantau island is home of the "big buddha statue". that's pretty much all that's out there (as far as i know), but it's worth it to go at least once. =)
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