I almost never book tour guides when I travel, but I was looking for things to do while in Hong…read moreKong and stumbled across Mandy and Apple in Trip Advisor and every client raved about them. I met Mandy just outside of the station on Nathan Road. Immediately I felt very comfortable with her as if I were meeting an old friend. She is extremely personable, friendly and genuine. She has an enthusiasm about Hong Kong that I hadn't gotten from others and was eager to take me to some of the places that other tourists don't see. I won't go into detail about all the places we visited or food we ate, but let me give you a few good tips. You'll want to try an egg tart at Tai Cheong Bakery. Also try the Dim Sum at Chung's Cuisine. She will help you order some really tasty treats. The best thing about Hong Kong Getaway with Mandy and Apple is that they will create a custom tour for you based on what you prefer such as a food tour, a cultural tour or even if you just want to see the main sites, they will know the best times to avoid the crowds as well as the best way to get around. Even after my day with Mandy, she knew I was going to be in Hong Kong for a few more days so she kept emailing me other ideas on where to go and what to check out. If you are visiting Hong Kong, I highly recommend you use Hong Kong Getaway as your personal tour guide.

This was my second tour with Hong Kong Getaway!…read more This is by far the best tour of Hong Kong (shoot, maybe of any place). First, Mandy customizes the tour to your interests. She is uncanny in her ability, in a few questions, to know exactly what to recommend. And she's quick to pick up on when it's time to change the agenda. Second, her knowledge of Hong Kong, both history, culture, and layout, are extensive. But don't expect a history lecture. She'll tell you what you want to know, in a way that enhances the visit. Want detailed historical info? She can do it! Want a 2-minute overview encapsulating the background? Done, with all the important info included. Third, Mandy makes each tour like a visit with a good friend. Her warm, friendly personality is absolutely the best! For this tour, Mandy knew I like seeing and doing things locals do. She arranged a visit to the New Territories, a boat ride and visit to a fishing village, and many more stops. Chatting with her made the time fly! I recommend this tour!

I'm not actually too sure I'm being correct in writing about the Marina Restaurant here- but here…read moregoes. The Shelter Cove Marina (otherwise known as Hong Kong Marina), is one of a handful of places in Hong Kong where you are park/ moore your dinghy or yatch in Hong Kong. I say a handful because this is afterall still quite a fancy and expensive past time here, despite being surrounded by the sea on 3 sides. Coming to the marina itself is a bit of an out-of-town experience, leaving the Sai Kung highway you will find yourself twisting through country lanes and village houses, before suddenly heading down a hill and discovering that you are literally right on the side of the cove. The view is magnificent but you have to be careful if you were driving here in the evening. At the end of the path you will find a wide opening and you have arrived at the Hong Kong Marina. You park on the side of the marina and several jetties jut out to the different yatchs and speedboats which have been parked here. Behind you will find the pinkish/ brown looking club house which has a restaurant called "The Terrace". It has both inside and outside seating and depending on the weather I think sitting outside is a must. The menu isn't exactly a huge one but the choices are quite wide- on one hand you will have paellas but on the other you will have local offerings like baked pork chop rice. I am happy to report that the food here is extremely good and fitting for the wondering setting you find yourself in. I haven't tried the wine as I was driving was told it was ok. Bring CASH- they don't take cards and you will not find an ATM machine anywhere here.

The Plover Cover Reservoir is one of Hong Kong's biggest body of freshwater- apart from serving as…read morea source of water; this reservoir is now a major attraction in itself. On the main sea wall separating the lake from Tolo Harbour, a road stretches over from Tai Mei Tuk right to the other side of the reservoir. On weekends you will see entire families enjoy a range of activities such as cycling, kite flying and just a simple stroll along the bank. This is a particularly scenic location as you have two bodies of water at this location, one being the reservoir and the other being the harbor, whereby the harbor usually has more activities such as sailing boats, ships and even wake boarders - the reservoir bans all such activities and its just a calm lake with a backdrop of the hills behind it. With Hongkongers increasingly embracing the outdoors and looking for different locations to enjoy activities, this is a location that truly caters to the entire family. Apart from the main bank, there is also the numerous spots for BBQ along the side of the reservoir. These become quite busy as well with families coming to enjoy the great outdoors and parking becomes non- existent.

Splash is a PADI 5 star dive centre based in Sai Kung, very near to the public pier…read more Splash provides diving courses, from beginner through to professional levels, a wide range of diving equipment, and Emergency First Response training to schools and businesses. The Splash Club also runs dive trips from the beaches around Clear Water Bay, or boats from Sai Kung, for those wanting to try fun diving in HK waters. What really puts Splash a cut above the rest is the expert tuition in English, as well as a number of other languages. Many of the dive schools in HK rely on Chinese instructors teaching in English. At Splash their staff instructors are primarily ex-pat native English speakers, which makes them the ideal place for those needing to learn in English. Splash are also incredibly flexible with tuition schedules and are able to accommodate most student needs, whether it is weekdays, weekends, evenings. The facilities are first rate, with pool sessions taking place in what most consider the best diving pool in Hong Kong, or at least the best hot showers in HK! Open water sessions are either conducted from a shared boat (with other dive schools), or from a private Splash boat on club days. Try and get on a boat on a club day as it is much less crowded (and the instructors always have a stash of post dive beers on board). When booking with Splash, best ask for Darren, the owner and course director. Darren is an expert diver with years and years of experience in the industry. Darren also hand picks and teaches his own instructors, so you know you will be getting the very best in tuition from all of his staff. You should also have a chat to Darren about equipment too, as he is often able to discount name brands, especially if you are already a student with Splash. Diving can be scary enough without having to wrestle your way through language issues, a million of other students or more experienced divers jostling for space in classroom or on a boat. Do yourself a favour and go to Splash for small class sizes, flexible schedules, and stress free diving fun.

Enjoy the sunshine on a HK traditional fishing raft is one of the alternatives if one doesn't like…read moregoing on a junk boat yet loving to wakeboarding and having some other fun with your family and friends in summer. Not a sports type?! You can do fishing, karaoke, jumbo jenga, mahjong, barbeque, etc...

Don't just visit Hong Kong. Live like a local for a day, or two!…read more So lucky that we booked private tours with This is Asia Tours for two amazing days in Hong Kong and Lantau Island. Our first tour was going so well that we booked a second one for two days later midway through our first day. Guided by Jacky and Liz, our group really experienced the best the city had to offer alongside a local guide. So much fun "Hong Kong hopping" as we explored so many different neighborhoods, markets, historic sites and local hangouts. Loved seeing the real Hong Kong off the typical tourist path. Definitely two of the best tours that we have ever booked. After being picked up at the cruise terminal, our history and culture lesson started as we headed up to Victoria Peak. Along the way we learned about how and why the British came in 1842 and started to understand the complexities of the housing issues in Hong Kong. Visited St. John's Cathedral which is the only freehold land in Hong Kong and the oldest Anglican Church in the Far East. Then it was off to the bank. The story of HSBC really explains the story of Hong Kong. From simple beginnings to World Wars through turmoil and progress, it was so interesting to see and hear the history that Jacky shared. Really fascinating. Man Mo Temple. Nan Lian Garden. Chi Lin Nunnery. So many beautiful temples and gardens in Hong Kong. How do you choose? Loved being able to really enjoy the peace and tranquility of these sacred spaces against the frenetic hustle and bustle of the city. The gardens were so perfectly manicured. The temple and nunnery fed your soul. So many markets. Sneaker Street. Ladies Street. Goldfish. Bird. Flower. Wan Chai. Temple Street. Aberdeen fishing village. Each so different and unique. Fresh fish at the Wan Chai wet market. Loved the hawker stalls and fresh fruits along Fa Yuen Street. So many orchids and bonsai at the Flower Market. The puppies, bunnies and colorful fish were so cute at the Goldfish Market. Hungry? Loved the introduction to Hong Kong bakeries, steamed buns, roasted goose and dumplings by Jacky from This Is Asia tours. We had the most delicious treats (including Michelin) along the way. Loved trying mochi, vegetarian dumplings, banana cake, pineapple buns with and without cold butter, hot and cold Hong Kong Milk tea, French toast filled with peanut butter, egg tarts, turtle bread, rice and chicken, chicken tarts and much more in Kowloon and the Wan Chai District. Pineapple Buns. Egg Tarts. Cocktail Buns. Pineapple buns have no pineapple. Instead, these pillowy soft buns are topped with a beautifully cracked crust that resembles a pineapple. Eat them on their own or stuffed with a slab of cold butter. In the late 1940s, Hong Kong-style cafés called cha chaan tengs were both popular and competitive for customers. A baker was inspired to turn a savory dough into a sweet treat. He mixed flour, sugar, and ammonia to form a dough and baked it on top of bread. The resulting product, the pineapple bun, was born. This fragrant, crunchy and sweet treat is a Hong Kong staple to this day. The Cantonese cousin of English custard tarts, egg tarts come in many delicious variations. These yellow gems originated in Guangzhou in the early 20th century, when Chinese interaction with Britain grew. Egg tarts are a combination of steamed egg pudding and puff pastry. They graced Hong Kong in the 1940s, but initially were only served at high-end restaurants. Their popularity spread and egg tarts are now part of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage. Love the Hong Kong cocktail buns. These soft, buttery brioches are stuffed with a sweet coconut filling and sprinkled with sesame seeds. It's suggested that the sweet filling was inspired by leftovers. In the 1950s, a cha chaan teng owner didn't want to waste food so he crushed up some leftover bread together with sugar to make a filling. Since the mixture consisted of many different types of bread, it reminded people of a "cocktail." Today, the filling includes shredded coconut and butter, definitely a Hong Kong favorite. So delicious. Try them all. A sweet taste of Hong Kong's history. On the way to the airport two days later, our group met Liz for a tour of Lantua Island. What a treasure! Loved exploring the Tai O Fishing Village. Stilt houses. Bridges. Kwan Tai Temple. Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Pomelos for a Happy New Year. A boat ride to see the pink dolphins unique to Hong Kong. Liz said that we were so lucky to see so many on our boat tour. Since This Is Asia Tours have permits to drive on Lantau Island, we saved so much time. Nice to be able to drive directly to the gates leading to the Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. Climbed up and down 280 steps to get to the Buddha. So beautiful and the views are stunning. Took the Ngong Ping 360 Crystal Cable Car back down the mountain and then had a 15-minute drive to the airport. Two amazing five-star days with Jacky and Liz.

Want to see Hong Kong like a local?? Then book a private tour with Jacky or Liz from This Is Asia…read moreTours. Our party of five was treated to two incredible days. We visited local markets,temples, and even a bank in Hong Kong. The view from Victoria Peak was gorgeous as were the gardens at Nan Lian. Sampled so many tasty treats. Both Jacky and Liz followed the dietary restrictions for two members as we ate so many sweet and savory delicious bites. The stop at the Hong Lin Restaurant was a great place for hot Hong Kong milk tea, French toast and pineapple buns with butter. Tai O Fishing Village with Liz was an unexpected pleasant surprise in Lantau Island. Even saw dolphins. Visiting the Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, and cable car was a highlight of our tour that day. Book a tour with This Is Asia Tours with Jacky or Liz for the best day in Hong Kong.

When I first heard about Dialogue in the Dark, I was both curious and a little put off at the same…read moretime. It seems kind of privileged to go and experience being blind for 75 minutes, then pop back to your full-sighted life. Obviously not something the visually impaired can do. But at the same time, putting yourself in someone's shoes is one of the best ways to understand all the difficulties they experience firsthand. We signed up for an afternoon tour, and were put into a group of six total. Before the tour you're given a walking stick, then you venture into the darkness. Our guide Susan led us through different simulated real-world scenarios (crossing a river bridge, taking a boat, crossing the street, exploring a market, and buying food at a cafe) and encouraged us to use our other four senses to their fullest. You literally won't be able to see a thing, so prepare to bump into your fellow group mates. It's not dangerous though; your guide is right there the whole time and there are CCTVs in place. At the end, Susan told us that all the guides, including herself, are blind or visually impaired. It ended up being more educational/informative rather than a novelty. For all that we assume about being visually impaired, there's still a world of difference trying to live with it firsthand versus simply envisioning it. This company has multiple locations all around the world, and I'd highly recommend seeking it out so you can experience life from another perspective, even if just for an hour or so. We could all learn and be more open-minded if programs like this existed for different marginalized groups.

Have you ever wondered how would you feel if you are placed in a pitch dark environment? Scared?…read moreConfused? Excited? Dialogue in the Dark is a place where you will be led by blind guides in small groups through different surroundings without being to make use of one of the most important scenes - sight. The first time I came across with something similar was because of a movie called "About Time" where the two protagonists meet each other at a diner that is in absolute darkness. How do you pick up the fork and knife? How do you even eat when you can only rely on feelings? The progress in the movie seems rather entertaining so knowing a similar place exists in Hong Kong got me very intrigued. Located in Cheung Sha Wan, it is actually easier to access by getting off from Mei Foo MTR station. My friend and I were very excited to see what was about to happen. It was a slow day so it did not take much before it was our turn. Led by a guide, we were rather freaked out once we walked into the dark room. With blindfold and a crotch, we were left kind of scared. There were several 'tasks' that we had to accomplish in complete darkness. After the tour, we got to talk about our experiences with our blind guide. To be honest, this is definitely an eye-opener, (no pun intended) for those who are fortunate to be acquiring all those senses. It definitely makes us cherish more what we have today.