Chungking Express

With 'Chungking Express,' film director Wong Kar-Wai definitely encouraged my fixation to travel all the way to Hong Kong from Boston. I wasn't disappointed in the least. On my way to see the largest buddha in the world at Po Lin Monestary, I spent some of my happiest travel moments ever, speeding through a bright and windy island road on a local bus, the only caucasian passenger. Hong Kong is a visually stimulating city, with so many strange contrasts: impressive modern architecture, neon signs with Chinese characters and English words, ancient temples, an industrious harbor and towering mountains.

Quick Tips:

The trip from the US is rather long, stay at least two weeks!!

Best Way To Get Around:

It's probably the quintessential HK tourist attraction, but it's really quite amazing. Take the tram up to the top. (The shops and souvenir places are a little disconcerting at first, but you'll forget about them once you see the view.) The angles of the mountains plunging toward the upreaching skyscrapers were covered in a bit of mist and fog, making the whole scene dramatic and surreal. The path along the edge of the peak is really lovely, and lush with vegetation... it's tranquil, with a view of the metropolis below.