Hong Kong’s skyline isone of the most ad-mired in the world. Butwhat catches my eye is thepretty Orchid Bauhinia flower,blooming all over. Back home,I find them every morning, mypath strewn with their pinkpetals. My guide Fred Changtells me that Bauhinia is theirnational flower, shows someHK coins, where the flower sitspretty. Soon I find my long lostfriend, the house sparrow; flit-ting like a blithe spirit (they arebecoming almost extinct inIndia). I check into LuxeManor, one of the best bou-tique hotels in Hong Kong withsplendid European architecture,located in the heart of Tsim ShaTsui, a premier shopping andentertainment centre inKowloon with direct access tomajor restaurants and bars.Well, I am in the right place fora fabulous holiday!
I spend a quiet time at theChi Lin Nunnery, a templecomplex of elegant wooden ar-chitecture, treasured Buddhistrelics and soul soothing lotusponds. I go around a series oftemple halls some of whichcontain gold clay and woodenstatues representing divinitiessuch as Sakhyamuni Buddhaand Bodhisatvas. In the NanLian garden, there are perma-nent exhibitions of Chinesetimber architecture, rocks andpotted plants, and I experiencethe Tea appreciation at SongCha Xie Tea House.
Po Toi O is a nearby fishing village, with beautiful hiking trails and beaches where I spend half a day exploring and peeping into fishermen’s house- holds. I see fresh seafood swim- ming in the glass cases (restaurant display), minutes be- fore it’s on the table. I find it rather too fresh and scary and settle for salted peanuts and fried rice while my guide feasts on a fabulous spread of sea food.
Hong Kong has many titles: A world city because of its highly cosmopolitan nature, the most vertical city because of its much admired skyline, the trendiest city because of its fashion scene etc. It is the place where “East meets West” and offers the best. Call it by any name, one can’t help but fall in love with Hong Kong !
Ngong Ping 360 is a dy- namic tourist experience that combines a stunning cable car journey with an impressive cul- turally themed village and easy access to the Big Buddha, the world’s largest seated outdoor bronze Buddha statue. One of the island’s main attractions, climbing the 230 stone steps re- ward one with a beautiful bird’s eye view of Lantau Island and the South China Sea. We attend Po Lin Monastery public prayers that are held in intervals and enjoy a vegetarian meal later.
Ocean Park, a major tourist attraction, is a marine-life theme park featuring animal ex- hibits, thrill rides and shows. The Waterfront and the Sum- mit areas are connected by the Cable Car and Ocean Express Funicular and travelling in these is simply wonderful. At the Neptune Restaurant, the dining experience is unique, with an unobstructed view of the Grand Aquarium’s main tank. We enjoy the meal as the rarest fish swim along, almost next to us.
I take a step back in time to have a fun ride aboard the city’s historic trams – century old dou- ble- decker streetcars. Trams run daily from early morning until midnight, each tram ride costing a flat fare of $2.30 irre- spective of the distance.
One of the most popular at- tractions is the Peak, the highest point on H K Island with a stunning view, a most exclusive neighbourhood since colonial times, where some Hollywood films were shot. The “Peak Tram” ride is a visual treat with HK’s skyscrapers sliding past the window at interesting an- gles, as we ascend in the city’s historic, funicular railway which is 120 years old.
A very interesting place inHK is SOHO, the area south ofHollywood Road, that showsthe multicultural wine, dine andswanky nightlife side of Cen-tral. The up market bars and ex-otic restaurants of SOHO’shistoric and narrow streets arechic. Attractive fashion bou-tiques, art galleries and antiqueshops abound here. Just a fewminutes away from SOHO dis-trict is NOHO, its more stylishyounger cousin. It is an enclaveof independent boutiques andcontemporary art galleries,chi chi cafes and old schooldai pai dong or cooked foodstalls. I take a Star Ferry ridefrom Hong Kong Island toKowloon. While the two sidesof Victoria Harbour ( one ofthe world’s most pho-tographed harbours ) are nowconnected by a world-classinfrastructure system of roadand rail tunnels, the charmingStar Ferry vessels, even after acentury, are still the most reli-able and efficient form of trans-port.
With best international brands, latest fashion and de- signs, HK is reputed to be one of the trendiest cities in Asia. I find shopping absolutely irre- sistible and come back home loaded with goodies and an empty wallet. In Hong Kong, even sky is not the limit!
Keywords : Chef Kelana, Indonesian cuisine, Balinese cuisine, Smart Cooking with Chef Kelana
Vijaya Pratap is a freelance journalist and a documentary filmmaker, based in Hyderabad. She specialises in the study of art, culture, history and wildlife.
Meet the Author – Vijayapratap
