This is now the second time that I have been to the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. I subscribe to…read moretheir e-mail info and they send out all the great news about upcoming exhibitions, installations, events, workshops, cultural movies, etc. that they have going on at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. Located across the road from the Conrad hotel and around the bend from the British Consulate (or at least I think that is what that is), this is a great place to check out. The front desk staff has been super welcoming and friendly on my two visits and I was impressed with the art exhibitions we were able to see both times (Yoshitomo Nara and Bat Cave). The exhibition space is not large, so don't have the expectation that it is large like a multi-level museum. It is more like a one wing, one floor of a museum in size. Both exhibitions were also reasonably priced. The Bat Cave I saw today was $30HKD. This place not only showcases art, but has events, has a restaurant, has a history being a fortress of amunition back in the day, is an architecturally cool building to wander around, has feature films from time-to-time and also has a little gift shop. This is kind of a happening place!

Asia Society Center is definitely one of the rare successful cases in building conservation in Hong…read moreKong, a secluded sanctuary. Formerly being Victoria Barracks and Explosives Magazine that dates back to 1843, it is a Grade 1 Heritage site (highest) and was revitalized by the renowned Tod Williams & Billie Tsien Architects from New York. Exterior of the old military structures are mostly recovered, with minor alternations to improve weather tightness and allow air-conditioning. They are given a new use inside, housing exhibition spaces, lecture /theatre hall, etc. All new additions are less than three floors (you don't need to climb stairs that exhaust you), keeping the original horizontality of the place. You can see rail tracks in brown brass colour inscribed into the outdoor ground, which are the remains from the old magazine, for ease of transportation of the ammunitions by carts over rails. The green and grey tones of the stone used for the new building exudes a calming, almost meditative quality to the space. Connectivity between the scattered barracks and storage huts is enhanced by covered walkways echoing the 'heritage rail tracks', and especially by the newly added double-deck walkway, tying in the whole complex, the low and high block, the new and the old. Strolling through the building is like meandering through a series of routes with both permanent and temporarily installed artworks strategically placed along the way, reminding me of the experience of passing through a Suzhou Garden. I wonder if it is part of the inspiration for the designer? I particularly love the treatment of the upper deck of the walkway, where there is a lowered strip of bench seating along the edge. This allows you to stop anywhere along the way, and have a seat to savor in the view down at admiralty and even out to the sea over some of the rooftops. For the Center you can enter mostly for free except for some periodic special exhibitions (though I mostly go there for walks to enjoy the building itself instead), and if you feel like a drink, there is Ammo, a small yet refined bistro in the new block. (A stunner in interior design! For which I would have a separate review.) ( A little side note: Tod Williams & Billie Tsien Architects is the firm who designed the American Folk Art Museum in New York City right next to MOMA which, sadly, is to be demolished and make way for an extension of the MOMA, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) who's the designer behind the vibrant Highline Park in NYC. The decision is such a pity, even though I have much respect for DS+R as well... )

I have heard so much about Lam Tei before - The Steak House... The famous Red Seasons Aroma…read moreRestaurant where people have to line up for hours if reservation is not made before... And I am glad to have come here because one of my private tutee lives here. Basically I come here at least once a week and I would say that it is a rather nice and comfy neighborhood. Taking the Light Rail, I would say for first timer, the direction to Lam Tei Village is very difficult to navigate. You can either go over the foot bridge or cross the main road. Anyhow, once you see the narrow road that leads straight to Lam Tei, you just enter this village. And get ready to be wow by this place. At first it looks like one of those countryside streets where people on both sides are selling different products, you may find barber shop, bakery, grocery shops, wine shop for rich guys who live here as well. But then you will soon realize lots of tourists coming here for the restaurants here like the Steak House that denies your access if you do not make reservation before - kind of pricey - around HKD300 to HKD400 for a plate; or the Chinese restaurant, etc. Walk further in and you are surrounded with village houses, three storey or so. You can also see a Lam Tei temple. I guess the traditional side of this place is still well preserved. For outsiders, please be warned about stray dogs. I am so scared of dogs so whenever I finish my class at night, I have to take out my flashlight to make sure I am safe...

My second review in Hong Kong happens to be another establishment concerning history through the…read moreeyes of artists, this time with an emphasis on music, film, and literature. If you are familiar with any of Hong Kong's offerings over the years, a visit to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is a must. To get there, ride the MTR to Che Kung Temple station and take Exit A. It was a rainy weekday in mid-May when I visited. Clear signages showed the path towards the museum, a large, somewhat imposing orange and red-bricked building. The exhibit I wanted to check out first was "Timeless Diva - Anita Mui" which showcased a collection of records from the famed songstress, a number of which were autographed. Other items on display included a selection of her concert outfits, magazine covers, and a rotation of video clips showing her singing prowess, quick-witted banter, and diverse acting chops. At one point, an announcement was made for the opportunity to watch a documentary on Sam Hui. It turned out to be a delightful, self-narrated autobiography of the man's childhood days playing around Diamond Hill, the Hui brother's comedic endeavors, and the inner workings of his mind when composing songs. Did you know the opening of "半斤八兩" was inspired by Eagles' "One of These Nights"? After the movie, the large exhibition of music and film was next door. One recorded conversation on display worth mentioning was a talk regarding the current state of Hong Kong pop compared to that of K-pop, our current generation's obsession. As for the other parts of the museum, the "Jin Yong Gallery" consisted of all the wuxia author's literary works readily available to pick up and read as well as beautiful illustrations of the characters. Naturally, Bruce Lee's exhibit was magnetic and powerful, which included personal photographs throughout his life as well as his teachings. There was also an emphasis on 3D models of his likeness for an immersive experience. Didn't really impress me too much, but I did appreciate the intent. There was a lot to explore and plenty I probably missed by lingering too long on select areas. I spent a whole afternoon here and would gladly do it again.

If you're into pop culture, this is the museum to visit!! Honestly HK has so many museums, each…read morewith its own flavor, but this museum features topics/themes that people are more familiar with such as HK's entertainment industry history, Bruce Lee, Jin Yong's popular martial art stories, Cantonese opera, and others. As a museum nerd, I was drawn by a visiting exhibition on ancient Chinese women and their daily life (as most history records focus on men). Although tucked in the northern New Territories in Sha Tin area, this museum is actually accessible by 3 different MTR stations and other minibus/buses. It was actually so much bigger than I thought! Loved how everything had great descriptions (in both Chinese and English). Tickets are pretty cheap and definitely worth it because I could easily spend 2-3 hours here!

Sheung wan civil center is definitely one of the more modest looking theaters for shows and…read moreperformances to take place; located right next to the sheung wan wet market, this multiple story complex offers also badminton courts, gym rooms and rehearsal room to the neighborhood. The most vivid memory that i can recall for this place is the experience of lining up for tickets for Inter-varsity dance competition (IVDC) when i was still a executive committee member of the dance society in uni; due to some stupid policy each and every dance society has to go to urbtix to buy tickets for their respective uni. Since I live on the island side, i have to wait here overnight until the box office is open. Aside of that, the rehearsal room on the 10th floor is also a place i visit often. With the mirror and barre installed, it is quite perfect for dance rehearsals to take place. However, since the location is rather convenient and the price is insanely low when compared to studios of similar sort, you have to book in advance and compete against other applicants in speed in order to place your booking. Seriously, can't they just use other rooms for non dancing related activities? Says the selfish me

Highlight of my first Solo travel is my visit at the west of central Hong Kong. Start the walking…read moretour at the Western Market. Medicinal Stores and specialty shops are found at the Stretch of Wing Lok road. More of the quaint stores, art galleries, curious cafe and hip restaurants are located at Upper Lascar Row, Gough Street, and Hollywood road. Interesting street art are everywhere, free for public consumption.

This was a fun outing for us today. We live in Sheung Wan and decided to take the subway to the…read moreother side of Hong Kong island, putz around in Shau Kei Wan and go to Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and then take the Tram/Ding Ding all the way back to get a great sight seeing tour of the city. The Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence is a short walk from the subway or the ding ding and easily posted on the pink directional signs on the street. Maybe 10-15 minute walk from either one. This area was once a stronghold fort and battery built by the British over a hundred years ago. It was a battlefield of a Japanese invasion in 1941 where many soldiers lost their lives. It is nice that it was preserved as a historical location to Hong Kong. When you arrive, you check in to an administrative building, pay the $10HKD entrance fee and take an elevator up eight floors where you are dumped then outside into the hill where the fort is actually located. Hang a right and explore all that and then when you leave, in lue of taking the elevator down, you can walk the entire length of the hill and see a whole lot more of the history of the fort. The museum and complex is a great place to roam and stroll outside and walk around and explore. The fort itself is preserved and is the actual museum building where historical installations and information is displayed. There is a lot of historical informaion to read If you have kids who need to run around, this is a great outside space for some running around. They also have like a kids corner/activity area inside up on the top floor that was packed with kids and families doing an activity of some sort. We enjoyed the wandering element to all that is outside and in the open. Trees, green, beautiful views, quiet, historical relics, fresh air. There a small cafe if you wanted to grab a snack or drink. Lots of outdoor benches and photo ops. Lots of military equipment, tanks, cannons on display. We enjoyed our day here. We enjoyed the grounds. The museum quality is OK, but the experience was great. They do have a gift shop, but it is really sub par.

This place is real far! After getting off the Shau Kei Wan stop on the Island line, it is about a…read more10-15 walk to the museum. The best exhibit here is the torpedo room but the other exhibits are informative. It is cool to see the original rooms/areas where all the history took place.

One of the must see places in Hong Kong is the Tian Tan Buddha in Lantau. An exceptionally popular…read moreplace for tourists and locals, it quickly gets crowded throughout the day. The Tian Tan Buddha is totally worth seeing and visiting (I'll review that another day) but what is lesser known is that in the area surrounding the Buddha there are many hiking trails. There are short day hikes, to long multi-day hikes that you can do. The mountains and forest are incredibly beautiful and if I had the time I probably would've taken the opportunity to hike all over them. Unfortunately I only had time to do one hike, which lead me to the "Wisdom Path." There are numerous wooden columns propped up along the hillside with verses from the sutra "Prajna-paramita Heart Sutra." I've uploaded a pic of the placard found next to this site. It's a beautiful place to visit and if you're there early enough, there are no people around to disturb the silence of the mountains. Looking out across the forest and hills, I can clearly understand why Hong Kong was settled so long ago and why people still flock to it's shores. My thoughts are interrupted by the song of a bird, and I smile, the wisdom path is a place worth visiting. Technical information: It's about a 10 minute walk from the monastery and there is almost no elevation. The path is semi-well maintained and wide enough for 4 people to walk abreast.

A short hike from the Big Buddha down the Ngong Ping fun walk will lead you to the wisdom path…read morewhich were passages from Heart Sutra inscribed on tall stone planks arranged in an infinity symbol. Kind of like a twisted version of Stonehenge. There was a path that takes you alongside the planks. Some parts were steep, but manageable with sneakers. The whole structure can also be viewed from a viewing platform a bit further down the trail. Here there were some signs describing the significance of the wisdom path and indicating which characters appeared on each plank. The fun walk took us past some abandoned buildings, but it seemed safe enough as the path was heavily used. It was interesting and definitely had a spiritual sense to the area, but can be skipped if short on time.

Hong Kong Arts Center (HKAC), non-profit, performing arts, independent films…read more HKAC is one of my favorite arts organization in Hong Kong. This arts Center provides different kinds of arts performances, like sculpture and photography exhibition, visual arts, and performing arts. Tou can see all these arts performance or exhibition in those presentation spaces and venues. I also watch lots of independent films here, like some documentary and young directors' first work. I am impressed by the seats in agnès b. CINEMA. This cinema is not that big, but the interesting thing is you can see lots of names on the back of the seats. It is because, it is a funding scheme called "Name a Chair", seeking support for the renovation and equipment update of the cinema.It is a 5-year chair naming scheme.If you have money and want to give some support, then you can consider to join this project. It will be big deal! haha

I am not sure whether you have heard of this but not long ago, Hong Kong was once criticized as a…read morecultural desert. Though some still believe it is as teenagers are encouraged to study Business and are discouraged if they pursue Arts related studies. Regardless, Hong Kong does provide quite a few opportunities for those who are passionate about arts and culture. (It is the mentality of the mass that is difficult to change). The Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) is located at Wanchai which promotes contemporary arts, visual arts, or arts education. Because of the convenient location, there are quite a lot of students coming here after school to learn musical instruments or read some books here. Once you walk in, you may see quite a lot of artworks on display at the Jockey Club Atrium. Apart from that, below the ground floor you may also find studios (The McAulay Studio for example), theatres (agnès b. Cinema) and offices owned by international or local art organizations. The tower is consisted of fifteen floors and there are galleries, restaurats, a language centre or even a cinema. The best part of this place is the Pao Galleries where it hosts year-round art exhibitions. Over the years, it has held quite a number of programmes including the Art Walk every year. With the opening of Art Basel earlier this year, I can guarantee you that Hong Kong soon will not be called as a desert for arts and culture. If you would like to know more about this place, the arts on display or even the programmes, you may also join the guided tour (both English and Chinese), the tour lasts around an hour and it is completely free of charge. This is definitely a better choice than spending your time in a café. So next time if you are nearby, how about indulging yourself with art and fine dining here?

What's better than finding a museum to visit on a rainy day? Finding a FREE museum to visit!…read more The Hong Kong Museum of Art was the perfect place to escape the rain, with multiple floors of both permanent and rotating art exhibits. The museum contains a wide variety of styles, from modern art installations to 17th century Cantonese porcelain. Our favorite exhibit was the calligraphy display. Every room and floor had multiple staff members for security and to answer any questions. Once we had had our fill of the incredible pieces, we enjoyed the harbor views at the back of the building. Definitely worth your time when you're in HK!

The HK Museum of Art is one of the best museums to visit. It has a good size collection of classic…read moreand modern art. We especially loved the representation from local artist, amazing pieces capturing the history and richness of Hong Kong's past. The exhibits were well laid out and not overwhelming and offered a distinct and engaging experience. We also found out that the museums in HK are totally free thanks to an endowment. We would have paid for admissions tickets but it's really nice that they make art free for all. The next time you're in HK in the TST area, I highly recommend paying a stop at the Museum of Art.