Hong Kong Cloudy Adventures

On one April day, when the sun’s blazing heat was scorching some parts of Asia (including my point of origin, the Philippines), we touched down on the cloudy runway of Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok airport. It was one thing to be welcomed by the magnificent modern architecture of Hong Kong’s international airport. But it was another to be greeted by the cold breeze of the air that was remnant of winter. The Hong Kong observatory recorded the temperature at about 18°C, something I failed to check the day before we left the Philippines. With a subtropical climate, summer in Hong Kong would range from 25°C to 32°C while in winter, it would fall at 14°C to 19°C. I never expected that it would still be winter on April in Hong Kong. More than a year has passed since I last visited Hong Kong. At that time, winter breeze was already settling in. Now, in the month of April, I still experienced the same coldness. Apart from the Crocs slippers I was wearing, I had only another pair of rubber slippers in my luggage. No shoes or socks. I wasn’t prepared to have my feet frozen of cold. While slippers and flops were the craze in tropical Philippines, rubber shoes and boots were still the fashion in Hong Kong. A lot has changed since my November 2005 visit. Back then, I came via ferry from Macau with friends. But this time, on my second trip, I flew in by plane and went with my sister. The airport was magnificent. Mountainous Lantau island was covered with fog and the Giant Buddha literally took residence in the clouds. Ngong Ping 360° is now fully operational and the brand new renovated Victoria Peak is open.

Quick Tips:

It always pays to check the weather prior to packing your clothes. I had to learn that the wrong way. And I’ve learned that even when I’m going for a less than two-hour flight to another country, I shouldn’t assume that the weather would be the same from my origin to my destination. There are various websites that post a regular update of the weather in different countries across the globe. Also check the calendar of activities and the exchange rate. Although the Hong Kong Film Festival was celebrated during the time we were there, we missed the grand opening of the occasion. As for the exchange rate, it would be better to take with you US dollars for emergency purposes. Check if it would be cheaper to purchase Hong Kong dollars in your country or in Hong Kong. If you are in a short visit to Hong Kong and would entail a lot of transportation around the region, get an Octopus Card.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get from one point in Hong Kong to another is through the MTR. Be sure to be alert in watching out for the interchange stations. These are a lot cheaper and fast. Buses may also come cheap but you have to wait for the right number that will pass by your route and have to contend with traffic and various stops. Taxis abound in Hong Kong, but similar to the buses, you have to be patient with the traffic congestion and it is much, much more expensive than the other modes of transportation. But if you would just go around the commercial and business centers, it is good to walk especially in Central where there is the mid-levels escalator.

I checked out travelers' reviews of Dorsett Seaview in the net and most of them complained of the small, cramped spaces of the rooms. True enough, the rooms were very small but since we’re just staying during night, we never really minded. Dorsett doesn’t have a coffee shop but it was a good thing that there was a McDonald’s store nearby. The hotel lobby is small and there are not much seats available for those who need to wait for their companions.

Still, many tourists check in at Dorsett Seaview because it is cheaper than other hotels given its prime location and accessibility to many major places in Kowloon. It is near the MTR stations, the Tin Hau Temple, the night markets, and the Kowloon Park and Nathan Road. There are about 268 guest rooms and suites in Dorsett Seaview and many foreigners stay in Dorsett because it offers free hotel transfer from and to the airport, which is a great convenience for any traveler.

Just a peek from our window and we would see various stalls being set up late in the afternoon. We can stroll to nearby shops and various eateries. It is even much easier to do last minute shopping with the hotel just a short distance away. Even when our flight was due late at night, we can check out at lunch and leave our stuff at the concierge of the hotel lobby.

The Avenue of Stars is one of the great attractions in Hong Kong. It gives one a magnificent view of the Victoria Bay and the skyscrapers of Hong Kong’s Central district during the day and most especially at night. The Symphony of Lights can be seen at the Avenue of Stars every 8pm at night. In honor of the film industry of Hong Kong, the Avenue of Stars pay tribute to actors, directors, and people behind its movie industry. There where the Avenue of Stars stand is the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade built by the New World Group in 1982. But in 2003, a grand project was undertaken that costs $40 million and delighted millions of locals and tourists. The Avenue features the nine milestones of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry, from the silent era to the '90s.

More than 80 hand prints are laid down along the Avenue which includes famous stars like Jacky Chan, Jet Li, and movie director John Woo. Apart from the hand prints, we also saw movie-related sculptures like that of Bruce Lee, a scene about film shooting, a movie camera, and a movie reel. At that time, celebrities Leslie Cheung, and Tony Leung were featured at the Avenue. Various entertainments are also provided in front of the sculpture of the Hong Kong Film Awards. There are also souvenir shops and kiosks found along the avenue.

It’s a brand new view at Victoria Peak with the newly renovated peak. During my last visit, the structure was still being renovated and was still covered with bamboo scaffolding. Now, it glows beautifully and offers a 360° view of Hong Kong island. Victoria Peak, which stands as the highest peak in the Hong Kong island at 552 meters, was originally built for the wealthy and affluent. Its history shows that then Governor Sir Richard MacDonnell had his summer home built at the peak at the latter half of the 19th century. Yet, the tram came after several homes were built there through a certain Alexander Findlay Smith, a former worker of Scotland’s Highland Railway. He was able to petition for the operation of the tram route in 1881.

Now, tourists can get to Victoria Peak via bus or the quickest, through the Peak Tram at the lower peak tram terminal at the Garden Road near the Central MTR. The tram operates from 7am in the morning till midnight and travels every 10 to 15 minutes. Adults can purchase tickets at HK$22 for a single trip, and HK$33 for the return. With an Octopus card, you can easily ride the tram at HK$33 two-way fee. At the new Victoria Peak, one can find various restaurants and shops including the Madam Tussaud's. On its roof top is the Sky Gallery that features the beautiful works of renowned Hong Kong artists. The roof deck can also be rented for special occasions.

The Hong Kong Museum of History is an interesting place to visit. Our visit was unplanned. We were looking for the Rosary Church and were there hours before the scheduled time for the English mass. So, to kill time, we thought of walking around and viola, right across was the Hong Kong Museum of History. It usually has a special exhibition and during the time of our visit, they were featuring the Ancient Chinese Civilization which zeroed in on the Treasures of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties from Henan Province. The said special exhibition is running from February 14 to May 14, 2007 at the Special Exhibition Gallery. We paid HK$10 as entrance to the gallery. At the special exhibit, they displayed pottery and bronze wares, jade articles, and ancient music instruments. But a must see is the permanent exhibition which is The Hong Kong Story with just a HK$10 entrance. Since 2001, the Hong Kong Story never fail to amaze visitors through its eight galleries housed in two floors with a total of 7,000 square meter area. It has 4,000 exhibits that has 750 graphic panels.

It started with the Natural Environment 400 million years ago to the Prehistoric Hong Kong. Then it took us to the various dynasties, the folk culture of Hong Kong to the Opium Wars, and the Cession of the Hong Kong. The latter part was the Japanese occupation, the modern Hong Kong and the reunification of Hong Kong with China in 1997. The exhibits have life-size wax figures of human beings and animals. In most periods, there are small theaters that show a short documentary pertaining to that era. You can view the galleries in the Hong Kong Story exhibit in about two hours. It opens at 7am from Wednesdays to Mondays. It closes at 6pm except on Sundays and public holidays wherein it extends till 7pm. The museum is closed on first two days of the Chinese New year and on Tuesdays except on public holidays.

Contact details: Tel. No. 27249042 Fax No. 27249090

Email: hkmh@lcsd.gov.hk  Website: http://hk.history.museum

Tung Chung is a small district in the Lantau Island and a few-minute drive from the Chek Lap Kok airport. Tung Chung got its name from Tung Sai Chung, which was originally called during the time when Hong Kong was just a large group of fishing villages. Now, Tung Chung, being the gateway to Ngong Ping 360° and the Giant Buddha, it has become more commercial with the malls and condominium units.

From the Tung Chung MTR Station we easily got to the Citygate mall which is connected to the station. There were five floors of clothing and food outlets as well a glass and steel bridge way that connects to another building. Vehicles going to the airport pass through under this mall bridge. A money changer at the basement can be found. The main attraction of Citygate in Tung Chung is a square between the mall and the MTR station which has a musical fountain that attracts kids and families. Tung Chung is also where the bus station to other parts of Lantau is located.