Celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is such a diverse city with so many "best things to do" it is difficult to narrow down our most memorable moments. Since other activities will be included as journal entries and the purpose of this trip was to celebrate Chinese New Year, our most memorable moments were related to celebration activities.

Everyone loves a parade. Jovial crowds shouting greeting of "Kung Hei Fat Choy" (Wishing You a Happy New Year) line the streets. Floats are gaudy and amateur, but this parade is not about floats. It is more of a performance than a parade. Over several hours, dragon and lion dancers, acrobats, marching bands, and performers of all ages from around the world stop in front of the VIP seats to entertain the audience. Tip: VIP seats are a must for unobstructed views and comfort.

On our final night, the fireworks show over Victoria Harbour was the perfect ending for our trip. For almost 90 minutes, the entire sky over the harbour was filled with a kaleidoscope of exploding color. It was an extravaganza far beyond an ordinary fireworks display. As each round led seamlessly into the next, the entire show was a continuous grand finale.

As we boarded our flight home, we realized we were optimistic to think a few days in Hong Kong would be enough. It will take many more trips to fully appreciate this vibrant city and outlying areas. No doubt each visit will hold new surprises.

Quick Tips:

To celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, it is best to take advantage of group pricing with a packaged tour. Six to eight day package tours for Chinese New Year include roundtrip air from U.S. gateways, accommodations, buffet breakfasts, a city tour, sampan ride, VIP seats for the grand parade, a special fireworks observation point, and shopping discounts. Prices range from to per person depending on hotel selected. Two of my favorites in this range are the Marco Polo Hong Kong and the New World Renaissance, both on the Kowloon side of the harbour. The Marco Polo Hong Kong is located just steps from the Star Ferry, inside the Harbour City Shopping Center. New World Renaissance is located harbor-front with incredible views of the Hong Kong Island lighted skyscrapers.

For the best information about Hong Kong and the 2005 Chinese Years Festival, visit www.discoverhongkong.com.There are several excellent tour packages from well-known tour agencies such as Pleasant Holidays, United Vacations, NWA Vacations, and numerous other reliable agencies endorsed by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Best Way To Get Around:

There are many good ways to get around Hong Kong and surrounding areas. Our favorite was the Star Ferry which chugs back and forth between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. We often took the Star Ferry over to Hong Kong Island and back, simply for the beauty of the ride across the harbour.

The green and white ferries have been operating for over 100 years between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. It’s not a fancy boat and the ride is short, only about seven minutes. But, it is a magical experience. Go first-class for the best views; the cost is a whopping thirty-five cents U.S.

Take a round-trip during the day to enjoy harbor views and scenery on the water as you chug along among sampans, junks, and other ferries. At night, the lights of Hong Kong work their magic creating another perfect travel moment.

In addition to the Star Ferry, Public transportation via bus and subway train is efficient, relatively inexpensive and user-friendly. The system covers extension areas of Hong Kong with signs in English and Chinese. Taxis are abundant, but drivers are traditionally rude and many speak limited English.

We decided to splurge on our first dinner in Hong Kong at Felix in The Peninsula. On the 28th floor of The Peninsula Hong Kong (Kowloon side), we savored a champagne toast and watched sunset paint the sky and harbour hues of red and gold. As night deepened, the sweeping views of the lights on Hong Kong Island were spectacular.

The ambience at Felix is cool and sophisticated. The service was excellent and the seared ahi tuna…ahhh, perfection.

There are moments on every trip when we want to freeze time. This was one of those breathless travel moments. Felix now ranks as my favorite restaurant in the world…yes, it was that good!

And I guess it’s okay to share a very personal touch with you. The men’s restroom is world famous. The urinals line a floor-to-ceiling glass wall viewing the harbour and Hong Kong Island. Locals say a visit to the restroom "showers" Hong Kong. (Must admit the women in our group had to sneak a peek between visits by the men!)

Our city tour, escorted by a Pleasant Holidays guide, began on the Hong Kong Island with a trip to Victoria Peak for breathtaking views of the harbour and Kowloon peninsula. Boarding the 100-year-old peak tram, we began a slow, but steady ascent to the top. Trepiditious travelers may have reservations about the steep incline and ancient tram running on a single cable. Actually, it has a flawless safety record and the views on the way up and at the peak are worth the wait for the ride.

Next, we headed to Aberdeen Fishing Village for a sampan ride and the unique opportunity to see the lifestyle of people who spend their entire life living and working aboard the small sampans. On the other extreme, we cruised close to the gargantuan, gaudy floating restaurants that attract hundreds of tourists for "authentic" Chinese meals afloat each night.

A visit to Stanley Market offered our first shopping experience. It is a maze of hundreds market stalls hawking everything imaginable. Be prepared to bargain aggressively. Many shoppers consider Stanley Market a shopping utopia. We found it chaotic, crowded and claustrophobic. We later discovered more pleasurable shopping venues.

Back to Kowloon, we got a good overview of that area’s attractions and felt prepared to strike out on our own.

A visit to Hong Kong markets is a cultural experience with something for everyone. Here is a sampling of the most well-known markets.

A visit to Stanley Market offered our first shopping experience. It is a maze of hundreds market stalls hawking everything imaginable. Be prepared to bargain aggressively. Many shoppers consider Stanley Market a shopping utopia. We found it chaotic, crowded and claustrophobic. We later discovered more pleasurable shopping venues.

Our second day was devoted totally to shopping. Starting out early and shopping into the night. First,we headed to the Jade Market.The Jade Market lived up to our expectations. With around 400 stalls under an open air tent, there is a wide range of jade and jadeite jewelry, carvings, and ornaments. There are also pearl stalls. Don’t miss the opportunity to have a lustrous tile pearl necklace hand strung as you watch. I selected black and iridescent pearls for an 18 inch strand. Of course, everyone needs a jade pendant or ring to ward off health problems and ensure long life. Sellers profess all their jade is "real," but unless you know jade don’t expect to buy the best. Bargaining is lively. Cut the initial asking price in half, smile, and be firm with your counter-offers.

The Ladies Market sells more than women’s attire. Don’t expect designer labels unless it’s fake. Prices are inexpensive and there are treasures and trinkets galore. Be prepared to buy clothing in much larger sizes than you normally wear. (I wear a size 8 and all the ready-made items I purchased were at least XX-large.)

Then, there were visits to the Bird Market, Goldfish Market, and Flower Market. All three markets swirl with activity, color and energy. Especially during the Chinese New Year Festival, the Flower Market overflows with exotic floral displays. Don’t forget your camera!

After a full day on our feet shopping ‘til we literally dropped, we treated ourselves to a foot reflexology treatment. The therapist’s vice-like grips bordered on painful at times. We were told pain indicates problems with the organs of the body that corresponded with that area of the foot and needed "adjustment." Following an hour treatment ($20.00 U.S.), we were as good as new and ready to resume our shopping adventures at the Temple Street Night Market.

After an inexpensive, but elaborate, dim sum dinner, we tackled the Temple Street Night Market. Noisy and crowded, this is Hong Kong’s most popular local market. Clothing prices (and quality) are cheap. There are counterfeit "knock-offs" for everything from sunglasses to suitcases and watches to widgets. We couldn’t resist retro Mao Tse Tung alarm clocks. If you are brave, continue past the stalls to the candlelit rows of fortune-tellers and have your future read. Tip: Negotiate and don’t pay until you are sure the fortune teller speaks more than the few initial words of English he uses to "sell" you.

Come back to other journal entries to find out about other shopping venues!

By our third day, we are overdosed on shopping. (Never thought I would say that.)

Feeling adventurous, we collected several fellow travelers and set out to pay homage to the Big Buddha and visit the Po Lin Monastery on the outlying island of Lantau.

To reach Lantau, we took the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, a high speed ferry from the ferry terminal there to Lantau, and finally a bus from the ferry terminal on Lantau to Buddha. The trip took about two hours total and was in itself a fun travel experience.

The first sight of the Big Buddha is astounding. Standing, or rather sitting, 72 feet high, the magnificent bronze statue is perched atop 260 steps straight up. The experience and view are worth the exercise.

At the top, Buddha is surrounded by Bodhisattvas, statues of Buddhist saints. Legend has it if you toss a coin into a Bodhisattva's upraised hand you will have good luck for all your days. After numerous tries, we succeeded and our luck has been great!

The climb worked up an appetite to join the monks at the Po Lin Monastery for a vegetarian lunch. Not exactly a gourmet feast, but it added another unique cultural note to our sojourn.

Helpful hint: Start early and plan your visit so that you arrive back at the Star Ferry terminal before afternoon rush hour!

Forget what you’ve heard about the $99.00, 24-hour suit. These bargain deals are for unlined suits and inferior fabrics. We quickly discovered the real bargains in beautifully tailored suits are at least $200 and require three-days with two fittings.

There are hundreds of tailors lining Nathan Road and side streets around it. We recommend Raja Fashions at 34-C Cameron Road. Hank’s suit with extra pants, two shirts, and a pair of handmade loafers were around $364.00.

All customer sizes and preferences are filed, including a special cobbler's last for handmade shoes. We were so pleased with price and quality that we have taken advantage of ordering additional items since our visit.

We live in a wonderfully diverse world and one of the greatest benefits of travel is the opportunity to experience different cultures and lifestyles. No one likes to be stereotyped as a "Tacky Tourist" or an "Ugly American." Yet, travelers who are polite, patient, and pleasant at home sometimes behave and dress in ways that are inappropriate and offensive in other cultures.

1. While you research where to stay, eat, and sightsee at your destination, include research on customs and cultural sensitivities.

2. Embrace the concept that because something is different, it is not funny or wrong. On a recent trip to Hong Kong, at breakfast, a member of a tour group complained loudly about being tired of the "funny money, funny food, and funny accents." Sadly, she didn’t consider how rude her comments were to Asian diners, restaurant staff, and fellow travelers.

3. Think before you speak. If tempted to criticize or make jokes, bite your tongue. Humor is frequently misunderstood or misinterpreted. Follow Grandmother’s advice, "If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything."

4. Learn a few words in the language of your destination. Even if your pronunciation is not perfect, words like good morning, please, and thank you are appreciated. Get a copy of the Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book by Eric Dondero, a great small guide to basic words and phases in over 40 languages. (Traveling to Europe, another of my must-have travel items is a pocket-sized six language electronic translator. It's great for basic words and phrases and includes a Euro converter, data bank, and alarm. Available at ABC Distributing for only $5.80.)

5. Dress appropriately. Tourists are turned away daily at The Vatican because they are clad in shorts and tank tops. Unless you are at a resort or on a cruise ship, shorts mark you as a tourist and restrict admission to many shrines, temples, museums, restaurants and theatres. Yes, we are proud to be Americans, but this is not the time or international climate to broadcast our identity with brand name sportswear or distinctively U.S. attire. When in doubt, err on the side of a conservative appearance.

6. Actions do speak louder than words. Gestures and non-verbal communication differ from culture to culture. A positive gesture in the U.S. may be offensive in another culture. For instance, making a circle with thumb and index finger to say okay symbolizes something is worthless or obscene in some countries. In many cultures pointing or beckoning with the index finger is insulting. The Internet puts customs of world at your fingertips or read The Simple Guide to Customs & Etiquette, published for many countries worldwide.

7. Hold the cigar. Park the chewing gum. Silence cell phones. Good etiquette at home and abroad. Be a considerate smoker. Choose a smoking location that doesn’t impact others. In some countries, common items such as chewing gum or magazines such as Playboy and Cosmopolitan are illegal…so is littering. Violators incur heavy fines. Learn the rules and obey them.

8. Practice good photo etiquette. Travelers snap rolls of film from speeding tour buses, at performances, and of men, women and children on the street. Flash photography and video are restricted at performances and museums. Photography of some private corporate or government locations may violate the law. Photographing people without asking their permission violates personal rights. Ask before you aim that camera.

9. The Golden Rule says, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Golden Rule assumes others want to be treated just as you do. When it comes to travel etiquette, the Platinum Rule says, "Do unto others as they would like to be treated" Treating others by their standards has dramatic and lasting effects.

10. Be receptive to new experiences. Try exotic foods. Seek classes or exhibits that teach new skills and appreciation. The more you experience your destination, the more you gain from your travel experience.

Guess you can tell this subject is near and dear to my traveler's heart!