The Peak (aka Victoria Peak) is a popular tourist attraction and one of the best way to see the…read morestunning Hong Kong skyline. There are several ways to get there. If you like outdoors and able to tolerate the humidity, I suggest walking up (takes about an hour) and take the tram down. Taxi/car is another option. If you're lazy like me, we took the tram up and down. We also didn't buy tickets in advance or Edge Observation Deck since my schedule was ever changing. It does get crowded on the weekend and during sunset hours. The tram ride is about 10 minute or so. It was quick. There are a bunch of shops, and restaurants. We were happy to see another Bakehouse up there and grab some pastries. We walked around, took lots of pictures and spent about 30-60 min here. Highly recommended.

Only had 3 full days in HK and this was one of the items on my to do list. A wee bit confusing…read moregetting from my accommodations to the Peak Tram but eventually made it. Definitely a great way to get to The Peak. Lucked out with the weather and it only started to rain after I had descended. Great views from the Lions pavilion. Walked a bit around Lugard road then started the walk down. There are very steep sections on the Old Peak Road and was probably not the best idea to do this descent in sandals...but I made it. It was a very positive experience.

A nice relaxing place away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Considering that there is no…read moreadmission fee there is a great variety of wild life here. My son really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone with kids.

Let me start with by saying this cool little monkey park is FREE!…read more I was buzzing around Hong Kong showing a visiting friend Hong Kong the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception around the corner on Caine Road when I said we were going to walk through the Zoological Park because it was right here. Little did I know exactly what this was and I am so glad we walked through. Like the beautiful open spaces of Hong Kong Park, this area houses the what I am calling the "monkey park" and great green open spaces. Yes, I know the caged animals can be upsetting to many who want them to be free, but if I was a monkey and my fate was to live in Hong Kong, this place would be an ideal set up. Cages, food and public areas all seemed cleaned and well cared for. This is a place to browse, learn, explore, sit, bring kids and the family. The monkeys and other squirrel, raccoon, etc. species were awesome! Nothing smelled bad as was noted in other reviews and the entire area is blanketed in trees and brush with a jungle like feel, this place was cool. Maybe things smell bad in the summer when it is really humid and hot. Bring a kid, they would love this! A lot of different monkey variatals from monkeys to orangutans. Swinging, sleeping, playing, yelling....it is a true monkey zoo! Lots of baby monkeys too...super cute! It then is connected via a subway to cross the busy Albany Road to the botanical piece of the park, including open spaces, big fountains and more trees. The place is hilly, full of stairs and not near the MTR, so make note if you or someone you are with cannot navigate this kind of terrain. Entering the park from the Caine Road side is the best way to enter the side of the park that houses all the monkeys. If you walk up the hill from the Peak Tram area, you enter the park on the botanical side first and is more uphill and more steps/stairs to get to the monkey side of the park. Starting at the Caine Road side and moving West to East makes your journey more downhill than uphill if you cross through the entire park (clearly the opposite if you go the other direction). If you long for lingering time in the outdoors and open spaces, this the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens will not disappoint. And did I mention FREE!

Strolling around Tsim Sha Tsui ("Tsimsy" as it is referred to by expatriates) is a great way to…read moreabsorb the beat of Kowloon - it moves QUICKLY and is full of sounds, sights and cooking aromas everywhere. The pulse is ADDICTIVE. The energy is BOUNDLESS. Kowloon is one of my favourite places in the world.

There are excellent views of Hong Kong island from all angles and pockets of Kowloon, but the…read moreuninterrupted panoramic view from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is certainly among the best. Subpar weather aside, the day and night time views here are a photographer's dream, making this easily one of Hong Kong's most visited destinations. On a great weather day, this is my preferred spot for walks along the harbor, people watching, random photography, and generally contemplating the meaning of life. There is no fee / admission to roam near the waters to admire the mighty skyline, making it an ideal spot to get away from the bustle of HK life. There are seasonal exhibitions / performances / productions happening all throughout the promenade as well. Everything from Lunar New Year to the Holiday season celebrations are happening along the waterfront, which makes this space an attractive one for organizations throughout Hong Kong. It's generally a family fun affair, which means tourists and locals alike will be here on any given night. Pro-Tip: Taking night shots without the proper equipment can prove to be difficult. Shoot for early morning or mid-day and beware of the selfie sticks. They're almost everywhere.

Temple Street Market is a must-visit in Hong Kong. The vendors are incredibly friendly and clearly…read morelove to bargain, which makes the experience fun and engaging. There's an endless variety of merchandise to browse, along with plenty of food stalls offering tempting local eats. The area felt safe, lively, and was very easy to get to with a quick Grab ride. A great spot to soak in the energy of the city.

Temple Street Night Market / Kowloon (Hong Kong) -- By the time Jamie W and I made it here on our…read morevacation, we visited two legendary night markets in relatively quick succession, Raohe Street in Taipei (review: https://yelp.to/iQFcRkmz6h) and Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur (review: https://yelp.to/5ShCfX6Vhg). Both were bustling cultural microcosms full of a wide and diverse variety of culinary delights. My expectations were set high. This is my roundabout way of saying I found this market to be on the meh side. Even though Temple Street might be the most organized of night markets, it came down to a lack of enthusiastic energy on the part of the thirty-plus hawkers and purveyors here. They didn't help motivate us as much to try anything that looked appetizing beyond one grilled octopus skewer (photo: https://yelp.to/ZmGraLPefh). It was pretty good for what it was. The food stalls took up just the first block of Temple Street. The rest of the market consisted of tents and stalls where they sold gadgets, toys, electronics, cheap souvenirs, and T-shirts of which Jamie bought a couple from an enterprising senior (photo: https://yelp.to/caewEJ9-pR). I've read that lingering COVID restrictions may have caused a change in the dynamics of the market. If true, the impact apparently snuffed out much of the unique character it might have had. RELATED - Exploring Hong Kong? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AGgadg

Whenever I am on the Tuen Mun Highway, there is a scenic part I like very much. As the highway is…read morebuilt along the ocean, it is beautiful enough already; and the fact that since 1997 the Tsing Ma bridge has finally opened for public use, the view is even more spectacular. Normally I would only drive through it but last year I was at the Standard Chartered Marathon (and one more thing to add on my can't-do-list), I finally got to run, or maybe walk is more accurate, on it. It is said to be the 9th longest span suspension bridge in the world that links Tsing Yi and Ma Wan together. Thanks to this bridge, it is definitely an advantage for people who live in Tuen Mun to go to Hong Kong Island and the airport much faster. It was a nightmare back then without this and took ages to get there... I strongly recommend tourists not to take the airport railway (yes it is much faster but you are missing out), the bus route goes on this bridge where you can have unobstructed view of the ocean on the west side and skyscrapers on the east side; and during the evening, there are colour-changing lights that are bound to blow your mind. There are also visitor centres located on the Tsing Yi side that lists out the construction and the history of Tsing Ma bridge, however as I am not an architecture fanatic I guess I will pass. Anyways, it is really hard to take pictures here as it does not open to public unless it is marathon season. I suggest to do so when you are on the bus; if you are lucky, you might just get a nice shot of it. Now I still recall the night when it first opened for public, it had firework on both sides of the bridge. So memorable. That's the sight I will never forget.

What a happy little beach tucked away on Hong Kong island. Easily accessible by taxi or bus, the…read morenumber 6X from Central Exchange takes you almost to its door. Follow the road down and wind your way down to the beach on a variety of steps and slopes. Repeat the other way for the return journey. Also hidden down there is an immense playground (if you have kiddies) and a bunch of BBQ pits if you're that way inclined. If you're like me however, grab your towel, floatie, buddies and throw together a picnic. The sand is gorgeously soft, however the sea hides sunken reefs. Signs are up to show where they are, but a floatie or strong swimmers would be best in the event you pop your foot down and hit some rocks. Caution is advised. The bay features a floating pontoon, life guards and clean waters. It's totally peaceful ... unless you go on a public holiday when you're treated to a live Filipino band (not a patch on Dusk till Dawn). Note: the shop that used to be on the beach has now closed, so make sure you bring everything you need. Don't be a tool like me and forget the water. Yes, I did spend a whole day sipping Sprite and beers... I was rather parched when I realised on my way home to rehydrate (I only spotted the drinking fountains on the way out).

After our shore excursion group's photo stop enjoyment at Victoria Peak, our skilled driver whipped…read moredownhill towards Repulse Bay. Our guide kept mentioning the high cost of properties at The Peak but then said it's even more expensive to purchase or live in Repulse Bay. Repulse Bay is home or vacation home to many rich and famous Asians and non-Asians. Although I can see the beauty, less hectic atmosphere, and exclusivity of living in this bay area where residents can escape the frenetic city life, the name "Repulse Bay" annoyed me. So, I asked our guide about its history. He told the group that there are several unsubstantiated stories about the origin of the bay's name. But he's sticking to saying, "This bay was used as a base by pirates and caused serious concern to foreign merchant ships trading with China. The Royal Navy subsequently repulsed the pirates, hence the name." Anyway, we were allotted an hour to either wander along the beach sand (IMHO, the sand was coarse and not like the finer sand we have in Hawai'i) while dipping our toes into the cool water, roam through their shopping mall, or follow the guide to the Taoist Kwun Yam (Guanyin) Shrine at the southeastern side of the beach. We followed the group to the Kwun Yam Shrine to view the gigantic statues of Guanyin (Chinese Goddess of Mercy) and Tiānhòu (Empress of Heaven or Goddess of the Sea and Patron Deity of fishermen, sailors, and any occupations related to the sea). According to our guide, the Kwun Yam Shrine isn't "active"; the shrine-like exterior is just a façade for a small convenience store, although several people offered prayers with joss sticks or incense to the statues. The guide encouraged everyone to cross "The Bridge of Longevity" at least seven times because of the belief in extending your life an additional ten years with each crossing. Woohoo! My husband and I quickly jumped on board with that belief and traversed that bridge! We felt relieved and comforted by walking along the beachfront yet slightly unsettled by the densely built-up apartment buildings and estates behind us as the development reminded us about Hawai'i's Waikīkī, Kaka'ako, and Ala Moana neighborhoods. But, thankfully, our island isn't as densely populated as Hong Kong.

Repulse Bay 淺水灣 is in en route towards Stanley and I have only visited once during a day tour…read moreguide. It was a nice experience to escape the metropolitan atmosphere. Located at the southern end of Hong Kong yet fully accessible via public transportation and a common site for the privileged or advantage to settle.

The first time I visited Hong Kong I had never heard of this place, despite all of the Hong Kong…read morefilms that I had watched. However, after watching an awful lot of youtube I ended up discovering this notorious place. However, it no longer exists, and it has been turned into a park. Despite that, there are a number exhibits, including a model, on the former slum. It is quite a nice a peaceful park though.

The park is really nice to stroll through, but the main attraction is the history of the Kowloon…read moreWalled City. You'll reach a section where it talks about the Kowloon Walled City, interesting facts, and a small statue of how dense the apartments were. As you walk further in, there will be people giving away vouchers (free) to walk inside the Cinematic Journey (movie set). You get free entry and for 15 minutes, you can view the movie set, get a sense of how the apartments used to look, and read more history. It was very interesting and worth checking out if you have the time. Tip(s): - Visit the Cinematic Journey for free (someone will be handing out vouchers)