Marina Dive is a new dive shop and course provider in Sheung Wan, that is pleasingly punching above…read moreits weight. Started by some of the more experienced divers in HK, who already had a wealth of experience from other dive operators, they (in my opinion) are a welcome addition to the diving fraternity. I don't know a great deal about their courses, and would probably stick to the better known companies in HK. As far as I know they run "freelance" style courses, and buy places onto boats, rather than have their own boats. However, what i like the most is the shop. Despite the shop being smaller than their bigger counterparts in Wan Chai, they are far tidier than the shops in TST. Marina Dive have a managed to stock it well, yet still display the products to their best, making it a comfortable experience for shoppers, so you don't have to literally climb over cardboard boxes of stock to get to the display racks. The shop staff are all divers, so know their mask straps from their line cutters, and are happy to give plenty of advice. They can get busy, so if you do need help, it may be a long wait as the Mainlander in front of your tries on every pink item in the shop so they match. If you need something specific, or advice, you can always take a diving buddy along with you to help. Always remember to ask for a discount, as the prices displayed are rarely the actual prices. You'll usually be able to get 10-15% off.

This spot has to be one of the best oasis in Hong Kong...I had planned to go to Tai Long Wan with a…read morefriend who was visiting me but we made a last minute change of plans and decided to go to the pool. We still needed to pack food and water and wake up early anyway. We started our trip in Wan Chai and took the MTR to Tung Chung and then bus 11 to Tai O. That was all pretty smooth and as we got to Tai O village, we strolled around for a few minutes and got on our way quickly after buying some water. The hike to the pool is moderate difficulty wise but the humidity made it a little harder than expected (and the view of the infinite...flight of stairs) but it's enjoyable: the views are pretty amazing and it's peaceful. When the level of sweatness was reaching its peak (or an hour into our hike) we could hear the waterfall...! And finally, the pool! We spent a good four hours there, swimming, chatting, meeting new people, climbing. We also had our lunch sitting on the rocks and overlooking the landscape. It couldn't get any better! Be warned that there's no food or water available once you leave Tai O, so make sure you bring enough of those. As we were leaving, the sun, who had left us for a few minutes, came back! So we had yet another bath. This was around 5pm and although some people had already left, the pool was still busy. A note on that: the earlier you get there, the better, as the ground is all made of rocks and it's uneven and you may want to find a nice spot to eat and rest. It's a really cool place to go on a sunny day. Easy to reach but far away enough so that it's not overcrowded. I hope it stays that way. Now next stop Tai Long Wan!

I think I was the last one in Hong Kong to hear about this infinity pool. I'd hear tourist talking…read moreabout an infinity pool in Tai O on the Mui Wo ferry and I'd think, you've got it wrong, the Four Seasons is in Central! I got it wrong. I may be a little harsh with my rating of the pool mainly because I've seen some awesome waterfalls around the world (not trying to boast). For Hong Kong this place is amazing, were it not for the huge influx of visitors it'd be the first place on my list to bring friends visiting HK. The hike to the pool is not so bad. It would be better were it not for the fact I got lost and added another 30 minutes to it. 30 additional minutes of dodging spiders the size of my face is not fun, trust me. Be sure to google the directions first! The only challenging part being the stairs. It's great though (think positive!) because after feeling exhausted and on the brink of heat stroke there's a cold, freshwater pool waiting for you to collapse into. The pool itself is a decent size with enough rocks nearby to have a little picnic, soak up the sun and dangle your legs in the water. It also has a gorgeous view overlooking mountains and the sea. Behind the pool is a mini rock-pools under a giant waterfall, which is just as much an attraction as the infinity pool in my opinion. I spent much of my time getting a free massage from the cascading water. The hike back was much easier, and being later in the afternoon most of the spiders were gone. All in all I would highly recommend the place to any one. If you can avoid going on a weekend then do so and save it for a weekday. I went on a Monday and it was too full for my liking so I can't imagine what it would be like on a day off!

I visited Lantau Island last year with my hb…read more Lantau Island is famous for the Tian Tan Buddha, the Po Lin Monastery, the Hong Kong Disneyland, Ngong Ping 360 cable car. And lessor known areas that our driver pointed out to us in a distance, Shek Pik Prison, a prison for mid to long term sentences and for life imprisonments. And other corrections facilities that we didn't see, but on the island. On Lantau Island, you feel the remoteness away from the hustle and bustle of the Hong Kong metropolis. It used to be completely farm country until it became touristy with the erecting of the Buddha and Disneyland. On our drive, we saw some water buffaloes (similar to the carabao in the Philippines, maybe same species) on the winding roadways that I thought were statues because they were just so still. Sitting or standing. But our driver told me that years ago when the government wanted to develop part of the land, a lot of farmers (landowners) let their water buffaloes roam free and become wild instead of killing them, so today, they inhabit the island. I absolutely love it and wouldn't mind coming back to explore again when pandemic is over.

Great day trip to Lantau Island. We taxi (MTR was closed) so…read morecant give you advice on that. Ngong Ping gondola ride is a must. Purchase the crystal (glass) one if you're not afraid of heights---you can see below to the green trees and ocean. BUy your ticket off Klook for a discounted price. Walk up the 298 steps the to Tian Tan---big Buddha! Walk around Lo Pin Monastery. Take a short 10 min bus ride to Tai O Village and Market to see the houses on stilts and try their famous shrimp paste flavored food!

It seems like every time I come back and visit Hong Kong, this place is a must on my list. The new…read moreaddition this time, was of course the baby panda twins. Even with a timed ticket, there was a wait and crowds of people. Ocean Park is a whole day adventure. I absolutely love riding the cable cars from one end in Aqua city to the other end in Marine World. The waiting line can get very long for the cable cars, and we were fortunate enough to have our own. What I love most about this park is how it feels like a mini Disney World, a mix of looking at animals and also having theme park rides like roller coasters and the raft ride (which you will very possibly get wet!). While my motion sickness limits me from riding theme park rides, I enjoyed the ocean park tower overlooking most of the area, offering spectacular views from the top and the different fun animal exhibits with penguins, meerkats, aquatic creatures like mini jelly fish and sea dragons. Old Hong Kong was a nice walkthrough displaying the 50s to the 70s. The antique shop fronts were beautiful to look at. Usually I would ride the cable cars back to the entrance to leave but this time I rode the Ocean Express which felt like an underwater submarine.

Ocean Park is a classic to Hong Kong. I have heard a lot about it growing up and I always have the…read morementality that everyone should visit at least once when they are in Hong Kong. I am glad we brought our young daughters, 6.5 and 5 years old, on a Thursday in November. The weather was in the mid 60s (approximately 18 degrees Celsius), so we thought it was very comfortable. We went on the carousel and some simple rides. The park was not crowded at all so there were no waits. We also checked off several exhibits: panda, red panda, sea otters, walruses, sharks, and penguins. The panda exhibit was probably the most popular and we had to wait in line for approximately 10 minutes. For food, we really enjoyed what they had to offer at the Old Hong Kong. We shared soy sauce stir-fried noodles, fried fish ball siu mai, fried chicken leg quarter, egg waffles, and iced milk tea. They are very standard, classic Hong Kong street food. I was a bit disappointed that two of the food kiosks were closed because I wanted a bowl of cold tofu pudding. We would consider revisiting when the girls are older because there are several roller coaster rides for older kids by the North and South Pole sections. A few other positive notes: The bathrooms are clean and well maintained. The MTR is super convenient.

I spontaneously decided to go to Lamma Island for hiking on a Saturday morning. That meant I got…read morethere in the afternoon, not the greatest time for that as it was pretty hot and humid. However, I did enjoy the day, the landscape, the villages and the beaches over there; they make you feel like you've left Hong Kong for a while or at least the Hong Kong many of us think about most of the time. I took a ferry from Central to Sok Kwu Wan that took around 40 minute. At arrival, you are welcome by a row of small seafood restaurants. I had packed some emergency food and decided to carry on the route to the closest beach, Lo So Shing. It was a little crowded and after a quick break, I decided to carry on. I wasn't aware most of the path is not shaded and I wasn't wearing a cup. In fact, the nature there is wild but most of the bushes are very low so you're completely exposed (to the sun, in my case). So caps and sunscreen are advisable. Obviously, I got burnt. On my way there I met a guy who was coming back and going to Lo So Shing because he was a little disappointed with Hung Shing Yeh, the beach I was heading to. Nevertheless, I carried on, arrived there, sat down and drank a ton of water. The beach isn't big, but it was less crowded and it is, in my opinion, a much nicer one. Yeah, you see the power station from there but I've you've been hiking, you've seen it along the way, so you know it's still going to be there when you walk down to the shore. It's not a great view (so I cropped all my pictures afterwards!) but it's part of the landscape. I met an expat who had been living in Lamma for a few years. She found it a lot quieter, more peaceful and she wanted to stay long...live there is definitely another story. At the end of the afternoon I walked to Yung Shue Wan to take the ferry from there (this time, only 30 minutes). While waiting for the ferry I sat down at a bench close to the pier and admire such beautiful view, I couldn't get enough!

Experience fishing villages, temples, beaches, cafes and bars on a Lamma Island hike. Day trips to…read moreLamma is good with family, friends & dogs. The Island is small so you can walk from one side to the other. If you do plan to spend the day then I suggest getting to Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island: Take a ferry from Central Pier No. 4 to Yung Shue Wan. It takes about 30 minutes. Then leaving from Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island: Take a ferry from Sok Kwu Wan to Central or Aberdeen. Stop 1: Yung Shue Wan the main residential area on Lamma Island, with shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. Stop 2: Hung Shing Yeh Beach (Around a 20-minute walk from Yung Shue Wan Pier) white sandy beach, you can enjoy the sun, sand and water. Stop 3: Tin Hau Temple Stop 4: Sok Kwu Wan This tiny village is still very much focused on fishing. The seafood restaurants along the bay are great!

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).

Most people goes to Sai Kung for seafood but did you know there are a lot of boats by the pier…read moreoffering half-day to day trips to the geopark? It's a good activity for schools and companies groups alike - very healthy and suitable for all ages. (They cater to smaller groups as well so you can go with your friends or even by yourself if you want.) We stopped at Leung Shuen Wan (糧船灣) for a seafood lunch - some of my friends raved about the freshness of the seafood here but I thought it was only ok. There was a small beach at Leung Shuen Wan where you can go swimming (no lifeguard).

Who would have thought, volcanic rock islands in Hong Kong? Not me, even after visiting Sai Kung I…read morehad no idea these eight mini islands existed. It was not until a friend of mine invited me on an excursion did I witness them. It took more than a bit of persuading to get me up and out of bed early enough to enjoy a day out in Sai Kung but I hadn't been out of my cave in a while. We arrived in Sai Kung just after eleven in the morning, stuffed ourselves with a quick Subway sandwich then hurried along to the pier. Luckily for me my friend is a local Hong Konger meaning we didn't get ripped off! Now, from here there are a couple options. You can just as easily organize a group outing on a catered boat as rent a private little sampan, of course its more expensive the fewer wallets you have around but at the time it was just the two of us. We negotiated a reasonably fair price (I think) and hopped onto the rickety boat. The captain took as around the eight islands slowly enough for us to marvel at the volcanic rock structures, which were quite amazing even for a non-nerd. The coolest of the islands were off limits for humans but we managed to land on a smaller one and explore the beach and rocks from a closer perspective. Nothing to write home about. I think the captain took us there because it was closest to the pier, the other seven islands were about a hundred times more interesting. On the way back we found out that the Geo Park was not just the islands but included the coast opposite them, too. With enough time and motivation I'd go back and test some of the hiking trails in the area as I know there are a few hidden beaches lying around. Anyway, volcanic rocks - fun, beaches - fun, landing on the wrong island - not so fun.

The pier provides ferry rides to lei Yu mun fishing village, which is a popular place to go for…read moreseafood. The ferry comes at 30 minute intervals and is really inexpensive (less than 10 hkd). It's a good experience to ride on the ferry and is one of the most cost effective ways to see Hong Kong on the Victoria Harbour. I suggest riding both during the day and evening. The view of the Hong Kong skyline is a completely different experience during the day and during the evening.