HONG KONG is very much 'abroad'. Now that
near continent is easily accessible, countries such as France, Spain, Italy seem to merge styles and culture to become one generic Euro-Country. In contrast Hong Kong feels like a foreign country. It also has reminders of a colonial past, so your trip there as well as being a trip to a foreign country is also a trip into past. Hong Kong is also a brash mixture of Western and Eastern cultures, a meld of designer clothing, electronic consumables and Chinese superstitions. Modern apartment tower blocks, very Western in style and decor, do not have floor numbers ending in '4' as number 4 in Cantonese is very close to Cantonese word for 'death'.
You will also stand out as a tourist amongst Chinese rather than being able to blend in with other Europeans as you would nearer to home. And unless you're an exceptional linguist there won't be any attempts to converse in Cantonese with locals. But don't despair, thanks to its history and a large ex-pat community most Chinese, at least in restaurants and shops, will be able to speak English. Most of street names and signs are in English as well as Cantonese.
The first thing you will notice about this lively place is its modern, efficient mass transit systems. Arriving at new airport, Chek Lap Kok, you essentially walk in a straight line from gate through baggage & customs onto a (usually) waiting train that takes you right into heart of Kowloon, a popular hotel and tourist district. For exploring further subway system (MTR - Mass Transit Railway) is very cheap and clean with air-conditioned trains and stations.
Taxis are also plentiful and very cheap, thanks to fact that most people do not run their own cars and rely instead upon buses, taxis and MTR.
It is a good idea to get name of your hotel printed onto a card in Cantonese so that you can make yourself understood to taxi driver when you want to get back to your hotel.
You will also notice fact that you are in tropics. The climate is hot and humid, even at night. But air-conditioning is abundant, in fact on some streets you will probably be dripped on by water from air-conditioning condensers attached to most every window of buildings towering above streets.
As a gweilo ('ghost people', Cantonese term for pale-faced Westerners) you will be targeted on busy Nathan Road by many street salesmen : "Copy watch, sir?", "Custom suit?", "Free drink?", "Jade rings?". Unless you are happy to part with your money for fakes, or buy clothing with a higher price tag than its quality merits, learn to ignore these people. Even saying 'No' is seen as a sales opening.
Hong Kong has much to offer everyone from sightseeing to shopping to eating to simply absorbing atmosphere and mix of cultures this world-class city has to offer. Here are some must see places on your visit :
The Peak Tram is perhaps most popular tourist attraction and definitely a must on any visit to Hong Kong. A furnicular railway takes you up The Peak for some breathtaking views of Kowloon Penisular, Victoria Harbour and surrounding islands.
You can reach Peak Tram station using No 15C Shuttle Bus from Star Ferry Terminal in Central or No 12S bus from Admiralty MTR station. The Peak Tram runs every 15 minutes from 7am to midnight - views at night are equally breathtaking to see Hong Kong's sparkling panorama.
At summit there are shops, restaurants and other attractions besides 360 degree panoramic view.
The Star Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced Chim Sow Choi) for a few pennies plys back and forth across busy Victoria Harbour linking Kowloon peninsular with Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island.
You can take MTR from Kowloon to Central, but a trip on ferry is a must for experience and views of Victoria Harbour.
