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Where: Hong Kong Who: Mr, Mrs & Little Miss Wanderlust, When: Aug 2015 What: Exploring more of HK with the fam Located at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, on the coast of southern China, the geographical location of Hong Kong being the gateway between the East and the West over the centuries made it an attractive center for international trade. The result making it a busy yet beautiful place, truly one of the world's thriving and cosmopolitan cities. The history of the 1100 square km land of Hong Kong predates the British occupation centuries ago as early as 700 B.C. aboriginal fishing communities establish their own floating communities which was then absorbed by Qing Dynasty of China in 50 B.C. The language English is still widely used and understood as a result of British colonization a century ago. Cantonese is a Chinese dialect in which majority of people (88%*accdng to HKTB) speak, while Mandarin and Hakka, Taishanese and Teochiu are also widely understood.
Multiple (15+) daily 2 hour flights are available from different commercial airlines. See this link for more info on the available flight times
Depending on your itinerary there are many nice hotels and resorts to stay in . A couple of times we have been to Hong Kong we have tried a few different accommodations such as Disneyland Resort, Park Hotel and the dreaded guest house in Chun King Mansions (never again! - maybe we could make an article about that). Since a huge part of itinerary will be roaming around the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui for shopping, we would prefer a family friendly hotel, and we found a nice little luxurious gem right in the middle of the said area. Mr & Mrs Wanderlust's Review Lux Manor Botique Hotel + Location is perfect if going around Tsim Sha Tsui area and also near the MTR station + Staff are all very helpful and nice + The hotel really looks nice with its design, room is also great + Love the welcome fresh fruit berries in an edible chocolate container. + Rate is really reasonable for the quality of stay for a family group with children + Has free buffet breakfast and we loved it. (Other hotel in its price range don't offer free breakfast.) + Has a gym but we have never tried it +The mini bar and fridge items are FREE and refilled everyday! (Coke, Perrier, 4 bottles beer, OJ, Evian). + Room has FREE WIFI as advertised, no problems connecting and SPEED is awesome (~10mbps). + Bathroom / Toilet is nice, clean and with all amenities for most of your needs and toiletries are complete. + Free shuttle bus to airport, and more. + They even feature a "Nordic room" which is cold walls & floors but thicker and furrier + They have a "TOUCH phone" on each rooms which has wireless internet access / can calls all over HK. - The only minor annoyance is the small double size of the bed for a family of 3 in the room. ***Rating: Price: $$$ 5-6,000PHP per night for 3 pax Service: 5 star - Service & staff were very helpful and nice. Facilities & Amenities: 5 star - Nice designed rooms, complete in room amenities, free mini bar & drinks Restaurant (foods): 5 star - Free buffet breakfast is nice and has different variety of food. Bar: 4.9 - There are 2 posh bars in the hotel's building, also just outside is a bar popular among locals. ________________________________ Overall: 4.95 /5 star
1. See Victoria Peak - If you would like a sight that would capture Hong Kong, we would definitely suggest going up to The Peak. You will be looking down at the city from this view point and be able to see one of the best and advanced harbors in the world. Normally, as an urban and a lowland dweller, high rise buildings have always looked like gigantic structures to us. On the way to the peak, you can observe the giant high-rise buildings suddenly become dwarfed upon reaching near the top of the peak. It somehow reminds us of how powerful nature is. Beyond the mountains to the north is China. You can reach the peak via the Peak Tram, the 120-year-old funicular railway that departs from its terminus on Garden Road (nearest MTR: Central). It is best to arrive a half-hour before sunset and watch as the city lights come on in their multi- colored brilliance. 2. Walk along Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade - In the busy Tsim Sha Tsui area, you can catch a break by taking a stroll here near the coastline with the view of Hong Kong island and see the many attractions nearby such as Space Museum, Art Center, and walk of stars. It is best to go here either early morning to see locals exercising and the sun not yet that hot and few tourists, and also at night where there is a light show, but sometimes too much tourists at this time. But according to a few sources, construction has already started on some areas to develop the site further. 3. Go to theme parks for the child in all of us - Whether if you are bringing kids with you, or not, especially if it is your first time here. It will be a good time to go to the popular theme parks. HK Disneyland is definitely a magical place to see kids relieve their dreams to be dressed like a princess walking around the park. There are also many shows, and rides for the kids, and a few more for the adults. It is really easy to plan a trip to this particular park as it is directly connected to the subway train, you just have to know the stations you need to go to. Ocean park is another theme park for bigger kids and teens as they also have bigger and higher rides. There are also zoo and other animals to see in this theme park for the kids. *PROTIP: Avoid going to these theme parks on a weekend and local holidays as there will be too many people and lines will definitely be too long. Try going on a weekday, and if possible a fast pass (one time use per ride at extra cost) 4. Shopping - Whether you love or hate shopping, Hong Kong shopping scene will drive you nuts. Hong Kong can definitely be considered as a fashion capital in Asia. It is one of the best shopping experiences in Asia and probably the world. That being said, you can find the most luxurious and popular fashion and other retail items if you look at the right place. Shopping areas like Admiralty, Central, And SoHo are like whole streets of branded to luxury goods. Countless malls, and our personal favorite, the street markets where you can find countless souvenirs, from street of cheap electronics, cool sneakers, and other fashion apparels. Notes: If you want specific and a more comprehensive guide for HK, do visit Official Guide for Hong Kong You Might Also Like:
1 Comment
PinoysaHK
1/12/2016 01:29:41
Really good article about HK, but you missed a few spots like Giant Buddha, and beaches. Make sure you also visit them next time you go Leave a Reply. |
