QH SENSATIONS
Where East A traditional Chinese junk sails the blue waters of Victoria Harbour
the brand, it smells W, sounds W, acts W. We were greeted by happy and helpful staff and escorted through a labyrinth of Alice In Wonderland-style corridors – really, that’s the design! In fact, look up and you’ll see a ceiling decorated with hats from the Mad Hatter’s tea party.
The red gate of Hong Kong's Temple Street Night Market
Words and selected images by Lynsey Riach
Home to the world’s largest permanent light and sound festival, the longest outdoor covered escalator system, the biggest bronze Buddha and, recently, the most expensive handbag sale…of… all…time. These amazing feats sum up the sheer randomness of this non-stop neon city – Hong Kong is at its’ record-breaking best…
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here else can you enjoy an endless view of skyscrapers onboard a traditional Hong Kong sailboat that sets you back in time? Or shop ‘til you drop at designer stores and then stumble down a cobbled street of market-sellers haggling over the price of live chickens? Hong Kong is big; in fact it’s sprawling…so as a tourist you’ll want to stay in the heart of it –but just so you know, HK has more than one heartbeat. Split
between two main islands, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, you’ll have to shuttle between the two either under the water by train or over the water onboard the kitsch Star Ferry with a one-way ticket costing only QR 5! Pull up a pew and never tire of that towering view that waits on either side. Hong Kong's skyline is considered one of the best (and most photographed) in the world, with the surrounding mountains and Victoria Harbour complementing those iconic skyscrapers. Book a ticket in advance and take the super-steep tram up to Victoria Peak for a photo opportunity that may leave you slightly dizzy, but definitely amazed. Once you’re back to sea level, swing by the largest temple in town – Man Mo where you can pause for a moment’s respite under its giant hanging incense coils.
The city beckoned us at night so we left our jet-lag behind and hit the famous street markets. A sight to behold – hundreds of stalls selling just about anything line the street, traders try their best to entice you while you gawp at the Cantonese menus on display at the long line of restaurants either side of the market. If you speak English, forget it. You’ll need to enjoy some photos of the food to make your selection. We opted for noodles as they seemed safe and, thankfully, turned out to be. In fact, as our trip progressed we got more adventurous with our palate, at one point my husband chowed down on a rubbery piece of something that sure wasn’t octopus. He survived. That being said, if risking your health for street food isn’t your idea of fun then not to worry because HK is littered with hundreds of restaurant choices but you will try the Peking duck, you will.
We stayed at the far-too-trendy W Hotel on the Kowloon side with a room gazing over to Hong Kong Island. We zipped in from the airport in under 30 minutes with a super efficient train system that dropped us off at the flash Elements Mall. Pass by some fashionistas and you find yourself at the entrance to the W Hotel. Like the other properties in
One top spot for recommending is the ever-sofashionable Aqua Tokyo perched at the top of the Dior building on Canton Road where ladies line up for Louis Vuitton, (the real stuff) on the Kowloon side. As wasabi stung our nostrils we watched David Beckham gaze at us from a giant advert while the skyscraper lasers jumped from bank building to electronic empire.
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Meets West Indulge your adventurous palate at any one of Hong Kong's iconic street-food stalls
Hong Kong Disneyland
This is Asia, this is the future. Once the buzz of HK takes full effect, you may find yourself seeking a little solace outside its crushing confines. Located 30 minutes from Kowloon you can travel to Ngong Ping, Lantau Island (stopping at Disneyland on the way if you’re into that kinda thing), where standing 34-metres tall is Tian Tan Buddha. He’s a real beauty set to a backdrop of Asian temples and trees sprawling as far as the eye can see. The only thing is you’ll need to brave an overwater cablecar ride (with a glass bottom) so perhaps wear some red or yellow for good luck as the Chinese do. Where East meets West and tradition meets the full on futuristic, Hong Kong will leave you drenched in culture, drained from shopping and a full Buddhabelly of dim sum and fortune cookies. It’s the perfect stopover or getaway that welcomes you to Asia. n
Cable cars in Ngong Ping are dwarfed by the 34-metre tall Tian Tan Buddha
From temples to teahouses throughout the city, dragon statues are meant to bring luck and protection
Qatar Airways flies direct from Doha to Hong Kong twice daily. For more information on Hong Kong visit www.discoverhongkong.com.
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