I travelled to Hong Kong in May 2019. This was my first visit to mainland China, so I had no idea what to expect. Everyone I speak to who has been to Hong Kong all say the same thing - it is very busy. I flew into the Hong Kong International Airport on a direct Qantas Flight from Brisbane, which was very convenient and easy. Once at the airport, I caught the MTR Airport Express train into the city. That's where the fun really started.
Hong Kong is unlike any country I have ever visited before. It consists of multiple islands. For my first few nights I stayed in the Holiday Inn Express Soho, which is on the Hong Kong Island. This seemed like the more business/corporate part of Hong Kong. I greatly enjoyed walking through the International Finance Centre - This is split into two buildings, known as IFC One and IFC Two. At the base of these two buildings is a fantastic shopping mall (just known as the IFC Mall). This mall holds all the typical high end designer stores, but that is not what drew me in. It is so clean and mesmerizing. I enjoyed having Starbucks in the IFC Mall and looking out the window at the busy street below (I know going to an Asian country and eating Western food sounds silly, but I do love my Starbucks). Now, there's a hidden secret in IFC that not many people know about. I had to do quite a bit of research to find it, but it turns out there is a secret viewing platform on the 55th floor of IFC Two. You have to sign in as a visitor at security, where they give you an access pass up. The views up there are superb, and there is also a little exhibition gallery on the history of Hong Kong currency to look at while you're up there.
(View From The 55th floor of IFC Two)
Getting around Hong Kong is very easy, if you don't mind pushing your way through millions of people. The underground MTR train system is excellent, but the true value of the Hong Kong public transport system is the Star Ferry. This makes getting between the islands very enjoyable. The Star Ferry is SO cheap (I think it worked out under $2 AUD per trip) but that's not the best part. The views that you get of the Victoria Harbour are fantastic. Just keep in mind these views aren't always guaranteed, as the city does suffer from quite a bit of haze/smog pollution. There is also the Star Ferry Harbour Cruise, which takes you between all the islands and points out the main landmarks of Hong Kong. This is a few dollars more, but you do get cookies and a drink on the journey, which is an added bonus. I requested a coffee and was handed a cold coffee in a can. Huh? Side note - Coffee in Hong Kong is awful. I suppose it comes down to the fact that there are no cows anywhere nearby, so as a result there is hardly any fresh milk available anywhere. 'Coffee' is made with creamer - yuck. Regardless, I still give the Harbour Cruise a 15/10. Couldn't recommend it enough.
(Myself on the Star Ferry Harbour Cruise)
Another place in Hong Kong with spectacular views is Victoria Peak. I went up here on a day trip but be warned - it can be a trek to get there. The day that I went up the usual 'Peak Tram' was not operational, so there was a public bus allocated to taking you up. The only downside is that the bus stop was quite a fair way up the mountain already, so that by the time I reached the bus stop I was already quite sweaty (Hong Kong is quite a humid place and I was there in late Spring). I must note that on my walk to the bus stop I got to walk through the Botanic Gardens, which was absolutely lovely. When you make it to the top you'll discover a cute little village type set-up, with cute little shops and cafes. The cafe I ate at had a panoramic view of the Victoria Harbour, which was very magical. A trip up Victoria Peak is a must-do on your trip to Hong Kong.
(Myself at the top of Victoria Peak)
A few days into my trip I moved hotels to the Holiday Inn Express Mongkok, so that I could experience what it was like to stay on the other side of the Harbour. This is definitely the more rowdy/party side of Hong Kong, and where I adopted the nickname 'Honkers'. Because Honkers is Bonkers. The lights at night are spectacular - I did a lot of walking around at night, and actually preferred it to exploring during the day. The highlight of Monkok for me was the Ladies Market - this is a huge street market set up in the heart of Mongkok, where you can find heaps of little trinkets. While you're at it, a walk around Kowloon is well worth it as well. I also went to a wet seafood market to experience it but this I DON'T recommend. It's seriously smelly, and there are definitely elements of animal cruelty in there. Just don't. It's so easy to become totally absorbed in the hustle and bustle of Mongkok, so be sure to take a moment every now and then to pause and appreciate your surroundings.
(Victoria Harbour at Night)
Next on the list was Disneyland! I wanted to add Disneyland Hong Kong onto my list of Disneyland's that I have visited, as I have almost done them all. Getting to Disneyland is very easy; just catch the train out to Lantau Island, and swap to the special Disney Line. The train windows are Mickey Mouse shaped, and there are lots of Disney figurines and props inside which I thought was very cute. But of course, this train line is also more expensive than the other lines. This was definitely the smallest Disneyland yet, but at the same time it was considerably less crowded than the others so it was well worth it. I put this down to it being off-peak season, so tourism number's were right down when I visited. It had most of the well-known rides, but I did notice a few of my favourite's weren't there - such as The Haunted Mansion ride. The Lion King show and the Jungle Cruise are a must though.
(The entrance to Disneyland Hong Kong)
Overall, Hong Kong is a fantastic place to visit. There really isn't any language barrier, as the country still holds a lot of British influence - most noticeably on Hong Kong Island. Everyone seems to speak English, and quite well at that. I also have to mention the creativity of McDonald's over there - on the McCafe menu there is a drink called the 'Cheese Mango'. I don't know what is in this drink but it is highly addictive. There seemed to be a layer of liquid cheese on the top of the drink which gave it a salty but sweet taste. I just had to mention it. Will I be returning to Hong Kong? Yes I will.
(Emerging out of the clouds en route for Brisbane)
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