Page 29 - Explore Magazine Autumn 2017

Here are the must-do’s I discovered in 27
Hong Kong...
THE PEAK
Purchase a ticket up Victoria Peak on the red tram to
Sky Terrace 428, the highest viewing platform in Hong
Kong at 428 metres above sea level. The skyline truly
does take your breath away.
CUISINE
Sampling the local cuisine is an important part
of immersing yourself in local culture. Dim sum
(countless dumplings and steamed buns) are the
place to start and xiao long bao (dumplings filled
with a soup-like mixture of meat and aspic) are a
must-try. Opting to try something different we had a
feast of roast pigeon, jellyfish salad and what felt like
20 different types of mushrooms! Yes, that’s right,
pigeon – it tastes just like duck! And while I’m on the
subject of duck, make sure you order Peking Duck at
least once during your trip! Delicious. For an extra bit
of fun, visit the Hello Kitty restaurant where all your
dumplings and steam buns look like… Hello Kitty!
LIGHT SHOWS AND FIREWORKS
If you are by the waterfront one evening make sure you
find yourself a nice possie to enjoy the Symphony of
Lights show. This starts at 8pm every night (arrive at
least 30 minutes early to beat the crowds) and more
than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour take
part. Another option is to book a cruise on a junk and
sail the waters to get the best views from both sides of
the harbour.
We were lucky enough to spend New Year’s Eve in
Hong Kong and after a lot of research we bought
tickets for a New Year’s Eve party at the Ozone bar
on level 118 of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. It’s the highest
bar in the world and in fact we looked down on the
spectacular fireworks display.
MAN MO TEMPLE
SOHO
Dating back to 1847, this temple on Hollywood Road
(and one of several Man Mo Temples in Hong Kong) is This is a fun and trendy area to visit in
located in the middle of a busy street. The moment Hong Kong Island where you will find
you step inside you can sense this is a special place. a wide range of international cuisines,
There are active worshipers in the temple, which adds cocktail bars and clubs. Missing
to the authenticity. Take your time to walk around and your favourite NZ wine? I bet you will
soak it all in. be able to find it in one of the chic
bars here. During the day, visit local
RELAXING galleries, antique shops and local
Foot reflexology is huge in Hong Kong and can be seen boutiques. Here you will also find the
everywhere you look. With a quick Google you can longest escalator in the world.
find a great massage spot close to you. After a few MACAU
busy days of sightseeing we were soon booked in for
a well-deserved hot stone massage. Sixty minutes for Just a 60-minute ferry ride from Hong
just NZ$40! Kong, with regular departures throughout
the day, Macau is known as the Las Vegas
STANLEY of Asia and is home to eight out of the 10
This is the part of Hong Kong that surprised me the most! largest casinos in the world. We spent a
This area is located on a peninsula just out of the city, few hours just walking through a few of
and is very popular. You will find beachfront cafés and the casinos and from a gondola ride down
restaurants, short cruises and fun markets – a lovely, a Venetian waterway to larger-than-life
leisurely way to spend a day in Hong Kong. You can even aqua displays to Portuguese-themed
take a junk boat back to Central Hong Kong from here. architecture there is a lot of flashing lights
and razzle-dazzle to take in! Hong Kong
dollars are widely accepted in Macau,
even on the casino tables.

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