Chinese New Year in Hong Kong

Tsim Chai Kee Noodle Shop is a great local place to visit. The menu is quite basic, with a choice of noodles in broth and either chicken, beef, or fish balls. You can also order the vegetable of the day on the side. The price is less than HK$10. The hot sauce on the table has a nice kick and is worth adding to your dish.

The atmosphere is crowded. Ordering is done at the counter, and then the food is brought to you. Chopsticks are in a cup on the tables. You will likely need to share a table with some locals. It seems to mostly be a lunch spot. Lines may form, so be prepared to wait a bit if you go at a peak time.

Having tea at the Mandarin Oriental is a pleasant experience. The atmosphere is relaxing, with comfortable couches and large chairs for seating. We were able to linger there and relax while still receiving excellent service.

It is a traditional English tea. If you haven't had this experience before, you can expect the variety of food to include small tea sandwiches (cucumber, salmon, tuna, etc.), scones with devonshire cream and jam, and a variety of small pastries. You will also need to select a loose tea. They have a fairly complete selection. Feel free to ask the waiter to describe the flavor of the tea if you are not familiar with it. Each person can select a different tea, which will allow you to try more than one kind. They will keep bringing you more pots of hot water so that you can steep more tea. You just need to flip up the lid on the hot water pot to signal that you would like more.

It's a great place to stop in for a break after walking around downtown.

After tea, take some time to walk through the hotel. There are a few nice stores and beautiful architecture to appreciate.

A local friend took me to Che's Cantonese Restaurant. It was an authentic experience. Each of the dishes was excellent, but I especially enjoyed the shrimp and egg dish. The decor is nice, with white tablecloths, but casual attire is fine.

It's best to go here with a group of people so that you can sample more dishes. Many of the tables are large, to accommodate groups.

Save room for dessert. The almond soup is delicious and a true Cantonese experience.

The Giant Buddha is definitely worth the trip. It's a great escape from the urban pace of Hong Kong Island. It's preferable to go on a clear day so that you can see the Giant Buddha from the bottom of the steps. The walk up is more than 200 steps, but it is quite easy for someone in reasonable shape.

Since I was there during the Chinese New Year, many families from mainland China were also visiting there. They were burning incense and praying. The incense was quite large and in every area, and the smell could be overwhelming for some.

Although there is also a monastery there, there wasn't much to see. The focus of the trip was really around experiencing the culture and religious expression.

The Chinese New Year parade was not what I expected. I anticipated a parade that was mostly focused on Chinese culture. However, it is very much an international parade. There were bands and other attractions from across the world. I even saw the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders. It is not that different from parades in the U.S. There were local participants as well, but mostly from businesses.

Of course, it is very crowded. Allow plenty of time to leave the parade if you've made plans afterwards, since many streets are closed and you may need to walk a bit to reach public transportation.