With less than 48 hours to enjoy as much as possible in Hong Kong, we got straight to exploring after quickly refreshing at our hotel, New World Millennium in East Tsim Sha Tsui. We were quite hungry, so we set about with the plan to find some authentic food as we got lost in the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui. It is quite easy to find local places to eat in Hong Kong; most street-side restaurants have a menu displayed by the entrance. Ordering is also easy. We found Hong Kong as a whole to be quite fluent in English, and places that have a larger language barrier often have pictures and numbers associated with menu items which makes ordering food even easier.
Star Ferry: Cheap, Fun, and Practical
After refueling with some Hong Kong prawn noodles we continued toward the Star Ferry. By this time it was dusk with a cool breeze on the harbour, a great time to take the ferry. The Star Ferry is a great introduction to Hong Kong and the magnificent views of the city. Plus it is dirt cheap, only about HK$2.50, which is less than $1USD. We chose to ride the lower deck across the harbour to Hong Kong Island then switch to the upper deck to come back to Kowloon. It’s a simple and fun ride with spectacular scenery, but don’t forget that it is also quite practical, too! If you’re wanting to cross the harbour and find yourself near the ferry, it is most likely the quickest route, even more so than the MTR. Many local residents still use the Star Ferry as a means of transportation. To me, this is a must-do when in Hong Kong, if not more than once.
A Symphony of Lights in Victoria Harbour
The light show in Victoria Harbour is commonly referred to as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show and is presented every night at 8PM. The Tsim Sha Tsui promenade is a great place to catch the show. But arrive early, as you’ll soon realize there is nothing quite like the Hong Kong skyline at night, and many fellow tourists will arrive to watch the display of lights. We personally found the 15 minute show a little underwhelming; however, you’ll certainly want to see the harbour at night during a trip to Hong Kong, so you might as well include the show into your plans. Some might opt to watch the show from one of Hong Kong’s famous junk boats in the harbour. We thought this sounded like a really fun option but had a hard time finding a place to walk up and book the ride. So if this sounds appealing to you, I’d recommend booking in advance.
Temple Street Night Market: Get Ready to Bargain
After the light show and still going strong without sleep despite the time change, we decided to take the MTR up to Mong Kok to check out the Temple Street Night Market. There are several MTR stops that will drop you off just blocks away from the market, so getting there isn’t a challenge. Mong Kok is North of Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon and, to me, represents what I think of when I envision Hong Kong: markets with haggling vendors, busy streets, neon lights, shops and restaurants galore, tall and overcrowded living quarters, and a smell that you have to experience to truly appreciate. The Temple Street market is known not just for booths selling everything from knock-off clothing and handbags to electronics but also for its dai pai dongs. These open-air food stalls are THE place to go if you’re excited to try new dishes in a culturally-immersed atmosphere. For instance, we ate fried green beans, Hong Kong BBQ pork, fried oysters, and fried frog. Even if you aren’t one for crazy foods, I’d still recommend stopping by a dai pai dong and enjoying the local flare of Mong Kok.
After exploring the market and eating a unique meal, we were done for the day. The long flight and time change finally caught up with us. We took the MTR back to Hung Hom, walked to our hotel and called it a night.