New experience is one of the many perks of travel. It may also be the main reason why I like exploring, so my senses may be awakened by the unfamiliar. And my short trip to Hong Kong with Kayo was surprisingly full of that.
Here goes the second installment to my two-part feature of our recent trip to Hong Kong. (In case you haven’t, read Part 1 HERE.)
HK EATS
How do I even begin? This trip made me realize why I had not been a big fan of Chinese food all this time. It’s because I hadn’t tasted the real stuff until this trip.
Wonton noodle soups are fully loaded with wonton!
Another big discovery: They make radish cakes packed with pork and shrimp here, making it a thousands times better!
And oh the dimsum lunch we had at Maxim’s Palace in City Hall was a life changing experience, I kid you not! You will just have to take my word for it or better yet, go and try it yourself. So much texture and nuance in a simple serving of pork siomai! Most definitely worth going back to Hong Kong for.
Little Bao at Staunton St, Central was fantastic too! We had short-rib panfried dumplings, pork belly bao and fish tempura bao. Flavorful and surprisingly filling!
FLOWER MARKET
My mother-in-law recommended that I go check out the huge spring flower market at Victoria Park. I went early in the morning just as the stalls were opening. It was a beautiful and overwhelming sight! All the lush greens and colorful blooms — orchids, cherry blossoms, dandelions, some potted and others arranged in gorgeous bouquets.
There was an abundance of small mandarin fruits and trees too, which is a symbol of good fortune and long life.
This Lunar New Year flower fair happens annually in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay and is a popular chinese tradition where you can purchase gifts to loved ones and decoration for your home in anticipation of the new year. It’s also one of the best ways to get into the spirit of the festivities.
STAR FERRY
Getting around, we took the bus, the train and the tram. We got ourselves Octopus Cards to make transit more convenient.
That also included Star Ferry rides which I really enjoyed. You simply don’t go on a trip to Hong Kong without taking the ferry at least once. Better if done at night time too, so you get to see the city all lit up and pretty.
STANLEY
My first experience of Hong Kong (more than 20 years ago!) was all in the city and in shopping districts. So this time around, I was completely delighted to have been able to take a quick trip to the bay area and hang out in Stanley — away from the crowds and busy city streets.
Kayo has many wonderful childhood memories in this place and it was nice to join him as he reminisced those days.
We spent sundown sitting on the rocks, enjoying the cool breeze and admiring the sky change hues as the waves crash just below us. It was wonderful and it might have been my favorite moment in our trip.
I wish I was there for more than three days. There’s just so much more I’d like to see and do! But Hong Kong appears to be a place you can keep going back to and will enjoy all over again. This city is full of character and has so many interesting facets. So I’m crossing my fingers! I hope to visit again some time soon. For now, I’m relishing these new memories and soul-enriching discoveries.
In case you missed it, read part 1 of our Hong Kong blog feature…
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