HONGKONG - Look East !!!

HK – Asia’s World City :

Hong Kong is an exceptionally  spectacular and fascinating city and state as well, where 7 million tourists on average per year from all over the world folk around to be it for 1 thousand odd reasons including high end night life.

Skyscraper @ Sea Beach

With a colourful history behind its towering skyline, HK has always much to offer to a traveler towards multidimensional experiences.

Star Cruise @ Victoria Harbour

There are quite a few hotels and night clubs , where the international “Who’s who” tourists of the level of David Beckham, Naomi Campbell and Shakira  are found to unwind and shake a leg amongst the crowd   during Chinese New Year or Christmas.

Travellers’ Paradise:

Any traveler would be pampered for four levels of an inverted pyramid as under :

•  All round holiday 
• Innumerable types of international cuisine 
• Endless shopping options (from shoe string budget to the garment of Stella Macartney)
• Family fun touching upon 8yrs. to 80 yrs

Some vital info :

It was joined with China in 2005 after subject to British rule for so many decades …. as a strategic mechanism in the world trade and commerce to focus on “East & South East Asia” .

HK Skyline by Eve. 

In 2007, Hong Kong became the 3^rd biggest World’s “Financial Centre” after New York and London. It’s a matured “Financial Hub” now. 

There are hundreds of Regional Head Offices (in South Asia) of world’s top brands (like HSBC,SBI, Standard Chartered Bank, ABN Amro Bank, Bank of Korea,  Samsung, Nikon, Canon, China Mobile, Intel, Microsoft, Armani, Lui Vuitton, Canali Armani and so many)  found existing within hands shaking distance from each other for doing business.

This is HK - a jewel in the crown !!!

 …………….. Truly it is Asia’s “World City” – as claimed by official portal of HK Tourism Board - www.discoverhongkong.com

It is  vibrant as well as   international with world class quality of life , 2 international theme parks (Disneyland and Ocean Park) , oozing aroma of  British legacy and funtastic night life,  where all paradoxical spirits with so many colors and creed do mingle in order to prove the supremacy of one on the earth – M A N K I N D

Extra mile for family holidays in HK :

This is the place, remained a cherishing dream to me since childhood ….. my small boat used to sail across the rivers and oceans towards HK , the one and only place , which the  British Govt. got along with it as a part after the entire country China had been freed 92 years ago.

Victoria Harbour In The Evening 

So, once a chance had emerged in 2014, my childhood dream sparked with electrifying speed in giving shape to it  by meticulous plan and strong execution as a “Project Manager” ,  :-

§  March  – Booked 3 Return Tickets from Kolkata to HK & back for a 8 days tour from 4^th Oct. to 12nd Oct.

§  April   -   Bought a Travel Guide for HK trip for a complete “Tour plan”

§  April   -   Hotel Booking done 

§  June   -   Made Draft Day wise Tour Plan for gainful engagement

§  Aug.    -   Arrangement of Foreign Exchange

§  Sept.   -   Plan revisited for finalization

§  Oct.  -  Tour accomplished / Highly satisfied with 600 pictures and aroma of  HK around

Gorilla @ HK Zoo

My Top Ten Observations :

1. It is an integrated collection of several  islands  and deltas - connected by most modern surface transport, trains and road transport

2. Exemplary city infrastructure and administration to make you inspired - Why and where   your city happens to lack in terms of modernization and quality of city life. Only you need two strong and well toned legs to walk on

3. What an advanced  symbiotic relationship  and notch ability !!!  as an outcome out of  the  combination of east and west as weĺl as capitalism and communism etc. to showcase a global success story

4. Octopus Card is a marvel yielding daily relief to all citizens, commuters and tourists !!!

5. A unprecedented  leader in ideal port administration of global level  - both , sea ports and airports , while others are there to follow

HK Skyline 

6. A glory of Asia in opulence, European influence, cultural affluence and commerce and industries

7. Its tube railway named MTR is impeccable - a treat to watch and enjoy during journey and beyond

8. HK is a cosmopolitan  work destination of millions of expatriates (Phillipinos, Indians, Pakistanis, Taiwanese, Koreans, Africans, Bangladeshis , Europeans, Americans) apart from Chinese from mainland China

9. An immaculate goblet having all diverse tourist attractions , from an ancient Confucian "Man Mo Temple" to "Mechanized Escalator for pedestrians" to "Asia's biggest Giant Wheel" to "Global level Theme Parks" to  British touch of Victoria Harbor to "Peak Tram" to the endless tourist spots to shopping  exotica to sea beaches ..... the list is hard to complete

10. Hk gives us a Las Vegas of Asia also at Macau..... an additional value for money apart from fresh supply of seafood

Crowded Park on Sunday

Top Ten Tourist Hotspots :

 Panorama from the Victoria Peak after the use of Peak Tram – Ride of Peak Tram is amazing and bird’s eye view from The Peak Tower is mind blowing

Man Mo Temple

2.     Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ride – For visit to Tian Tan or Big Buddha on the top a hill (Lama Island)

3.     Night Market on Temple Street – For budget shoppers ‘ a “Must See”

4.     Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour – For the best view of HK Skyline

5.  Man Mo Temple – Ancient Confucian temple dedicated to the goddess of knowledge and war

6.     Night life at LKF (Lan Kwai Fong) – Buzzing with people, energy, dance and music , LKF is always full of youth and vibrant through the whole night

7.     Ocean Park – Asia’s most popular amusement park and aquarium (A separate page follows)

Ocean Park : A Place of Dolphins, Sharks & Jelly Fish

Ngong Pin : Tian Tan Buddha
 at the background 

8.     Jumbo Kingdom – Luxury 4 storey boat with floating restaurants

9.     Disneyland – Wise replicated (A separate page follows on this blog)

10.  Maritime Museum – Chinese sea faring history is long and appealing

Veg. Lunch (prepared by Monks) @ Po Lin Monestery

Statue of Bruce Lee

Rate of exchange – Per 1 HK $ - Rs. 7.75p to Rs. 8.00p

HK City Police 

Ready Reckoner :

¦  When to go : October to March. Time Zone – 2 and half hours ahead from Kolkata

¦  How to get there :   Self managed Tours are better than Package Tours. Dragon Air is the best choice as airliner. If air booking is done 6 months earlier , return journey fare per head will be @ Rs.26000/- 

¦  Where to stay : Hotels are in hundreds – from 5 Star to YMCA Dormitories. For details, you can collect a very relevant guidebook “Hong Kong For the Indian Traveller” from Lonely Planet series

Disneyland Gate 

                                                     
Must “Dos”:

·         Remember HK $ 1 here is INR 1 Rupee. Not INR Rs.8 as per rate of exchange

·         Taste Egg Tarts available in the afternoon / so fresh, hot, tasty and yummy

·         Look for McDonald or KFC outlets around , if you are not ok with beef and pork

·         Take a “Map” from the hotel and follow the same – you rarely need local help on road

·         Look at the walls and indicators for your need – so mechanized and organized

·         Don’t cross the road midway…….. use “Escalators” for pedestrian’s pathway in the city

Take fresh fruit juice @ HK $ 8/9 for energy

Lamma Island - Smile of  Flowers