| HONG KONG is very much 'abroad'. Now that the | | | | fakes, or buy clothing with a higher price tag than |
| near continent is easily accessible, countries such | | | | its quality merits, learn to ignore these people. |
| as France, Spain, Italy seem to merge styles and | | | | Even saying 'No' is seen as a sales opening.Hong |
| culture to become one generic Euro-Country. In | | | | Kong has much to offer everyone from |
| contrast Hong Kong feels like a foreign country. It | | | | sightseeing to shopping to eating to simply |
| also has reminders of a colonial past, so your trip | | | | absorbing the atmosphere and mix of cultures this |
| there as well as being a trip to a foreign country | | | | world-class city has to offer. Here are some must |
| is also a trip into the past.Hong Kong is also a | | | | see places on your visit :The Peak Tram is |
| brash mixture of Western and Eastern cultures, a | | | | perhaps the most popular tourist attraction and |
| meld of designer clothing, electronic consumables | | | | definitely a must on any visit to Hong Kong. A |
| and Chinese superstitions. Modern apartment | | | | furnicular railway takes you up The Peak for |
| tower blocks, very Western in style and decor, | | | | some breathtaking views of the Kowloon |
| do not have floor numbers ending in '4' as the | | | | Penisular, Victoria Harbour and surrounding |
| number 4 in Cantonese is very close to the | | | | islands.You can reach the Peak Tram station using |
| Cantonese word for 'death'.You will also stand out | | | | the No 15C Shuttle Bus from the Star Ferry |
| as a tourist amongst the Chinese rather than | | | | Terminal in Central or the No 12S bus from |
| being able to blend in with other Europeans as you | | | | Admiralty MTR station. The Peak Tram runs |
| would nearer to home. And unless you're an | | | | every 15 minutes from 7am to midnight - views |
| exceptional linguist there won't be any attempts | | | | at night are equally breathtaking to see Hong |
| to converse in Cantonese with the locals. But | | | | Kong's sparkling panorama.At the summit there |
| don't despair, thanks to its history and a large | | | | are shops, restaurants and other attractions |
| ex-pat community most Chinese, at least in | | | | besides the 360 degree panoramic view.The Star |
| restaurants and shops, will be able to speak | | | | Ferry at Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced Chim Sow |
| English. Most of the street names and signs are in | | | | Choi) for a few pennies plys back and forth |
| English as well as Cantonese.The first thing you will | | | | across busy Victoria Harbour linking the Kowloon |
| notice about this lively place is its modern, efficient | | | | peninsular with Central and Wan Chai on Hong |
| mass transit systems. Arriving at the new airport, | | | | Kong Island.You can take the MTR from Kowloon |
| Chek Lap Kok, you essentially walk in a straight | | | | to Central, but a trip on the ferry is a must for |
| line from gate through baggage & customs onto | | | | the experience and views of Victoria Harbour.The |
| a (usually) waiting train that takes you right into | | | | Mid Levels Escalator, at 800m is the longest |
| the heart of Kowloon, a popular hotel and tourist | | | | covered outdoor escalator system in the world. It |
| district. For exploring further the subway system | | | | carries commuters between the prestigious Mid |
| (MTR - Mass Transit Railway) is very cheap and | | | | Levels residential area and the heart of Central |
| clean with air-conditioned trains and stations.Taxis | | | | Hong Kong.Travel along it is free but beware it |
| are also plentiful and very cheap, thanks to the | | | | operates in one direction (down) during the |
| fact that most people do not run their own cars | | | | morning rush hour then is switched to up |
| and rely instead upon buses, taxis and the MTR.It | | | | thereafter.Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei on the |
| is a good idea to get the name of your hotel | | | | Kowloon peninsular is home to street hawkers |
| printed onto a card in Cantonese so that you can | | | | eager to sell tourists anything from custom-made |
| make yourself understood to the taxi driver | | | | suits to copy Rolex watches.At Yau Ma Tei, the |
| when you want to get back to your hotel.You will | | | | Jade Market has plenty of the cool green stone |
| also notice the fact that you are in the tropics. | | | | carved into a myriad of shapes.Man Mo Temple in |
| The climate is hot and humid, even at night. But | | | | Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. Spirals of |
| air-conditioning is abundant, in fact on some | | | | insense burn to fill the temple with scented smoke |
| streets you will probably be dripped on by water | | | | that clings to your skin and clothes long after you |
| from the air-conditioning condensers attached to | | | | have left.Nearby is the famous Chop Alley (Man |
| most every window of the buildings towering | | | | Wa Lane) which is lined with small green-painted |
| above the streets.As a gweilo ('ghost people', the | | | | huts where chop makers sell chops. A chop is a |
| Cantonese term for pale-faced Westerners) you | | | | Chinese seal typically carved from jade, |
| will be targeted on busy Nathan Road by the | | | | soapstone, bone or ivory. You can get the |
| many street salesmen : "Copy watch, sir?", | | | | carvers to translate your name into Chinese for a |
| "Custom suit?", "Free drink?", "Jade rings?". Unless | | | | custom-made seal. |
| you are happy to part with your money for | | | | |