Kayo went on a work trip to Singapore and Hong Kong early this month. Because I’m a shamelessly clingy wife and always get FOMO when it comes to him, I decided to save up for it and catch the tail end of his trip in HK. I’m glad I did — and he was too — because it turned out to be a really wonderful mini-vacay!
I only had three days so I made sure to squeeze in all of Hong Kong that I could in my schedule but also have time to just wander aimlessly — something I rarely get to do as a work-at-home Mom of three in Manila.
It turned out to be a perfect time because everyone was gearing up for the Chinese New Year, meaning everything looked extra festive and stuff were on discount! The weather was pretty cold at about 14° during the daytime and 12° at night, but was absolutely something we made sure to prepare for and dress appropriately for.
So without further ado, let me share the highlights of this trip in photos as well as recommended places to visit in case you’re also planning a trip to Hong Kong…
STREETS
Top of my list was a walk around Old Town Central where history and culture is rich amongst a mash-up of century-old buildings, contemporary art, east meets west dining and traditional Chinese temples.
From Hollywood Road to Gough Street to Aberdeen then Peel Street, and so on and so forth — there’s something interesting to discover at every turn.
I visited the area with Kayo on my first day then back again by myself the second day, when I let myself wander and get lost, thus encountering many pleasant surprises along the way.
It involved a whole lot of walking but I enjoyed every minute of freedom I had — freedom from a schedule, an agenda, Google maps and constant internet access! I had to carefully read street signs, ask for directions and trust my gut. But to be honest, It’s difficult to get lost there, specially if you’re Filipino. You bump into a kabayan everywhere and, more often than not, they are willing to help give directions. Plus, the public transportation system is so efficient that it makes it easy to find your way around.
ART
Graffiti and street art can be found everywhere in Hong Kong and it was definitely a thrill to spot pieces painted by some of our favorite and admired artists such as Tristan Eaton, Anthony Lister, Rukkit, Invader and Kenji Chai.
Another place I made sure to visit was PMQ, a former housing facility for married police turned into a hub for various creative industries. It’s a place where young people can establish themselves as artists and designers.
It was interesting! They’ve got workshops, galleries, craft stores, upcycled articles, cafes, local lifestyle brands, photo exhibits and more! The vision for PMQ is amazing and I do hope they continue to support and grow it.
We also chanced upon a pretty awesome Chinese calligraphy exhibit at City Hall. It’s admirable how they give the utmost importance to their handwriting and that they take so much pride in it.
COFFEE HOP
It’s always part of the agenda. Trips abroad mean new coffee discoveries and Hong Kong has some fantastic coffee shops to offer!
Kayo had actually already been to many of them by the time I got there so he took me to the ones he liked best.
Big breakfast at Coffee Roaster Lab by 18Grams
Omotesando Koffee
Also part of the coffee crawling experience is taking notice of the cafe interiors, design styles and different shop set ups. NOC has got their clean, minimalist style down pat but I do love how cozy and warm Urban Coffee Roasters feels specially with all the greenery.
This ends Part 1 but I’m only scratching the surface… This just might have been the most eventful three days of my life, ha! Part two coming up with more photos, stuff we ate, the flower market, ferry rides and sunset at Stanley bay.
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