Summer travels: Hong Kong

Not my first time in Hong Kong, but that didn't get in the way of the city absolutely amazing me with all it has to offer. I met up with a friend who lives there and was kind enough to let me stay with her during my time there. Always think it's best when a local shows you around, someone who knows the ins and outs of their city and can give you an experience beyond the standard tourist places and activities can show you what life is really like there. And that's exactly what I got :) 

Before demolishing a building graffiti artists were brought in to make a temporary display of works in the parking areas.

We did hit tourist attractions like the Ladies market, The Peak and took the Peak Tram down. After that, the experiences started to vary. We hit the arcade to escape the rain and take part in a popular HK activity, visited the nunnery and it's beautiful gardens which create a peaceful haven in the middle of the bustling city. On one of the days we also visited the Charlie brown cafe when my love for Snoopy became apparent :P (best mint hot cocoa ever!) On another day we escaped the city and took a ferry to an island which is famous for this bun festival where there is a race to climb a bun tower, something probably worth seeing. We, however, saw some dragon boat races and went down a pirate cave :D

In the evenings, we made the most out of Hong Kongs nightlife by visiting Lan Kwai Fong with my host's friends and the next day attending, slightly randomly, a house party where we met a guy from Zimbabwe and got a little lesson on the situation there. Met a whole lot of interesting people on this trip, very international, well travelled and so enthusiastic about hearing people's stories and sharing their own. Felt so inspired, a great way to start my journey.

During my stay I tried so many different dining options starting with Yam Cha, Chinese morning or afternoon tea with Dim Sum and other interesting dishes (was brave enough to try chicken feet and thousand year egg, so achievement! :D) to Hong Kong street food (deep-fried ice-cream, fish, and shaved green tea flavoured ice), Korean hot pot and even Japanese with Sake, another new experience (way over my budget, but hey, sacrifices must be made in some cases)

On my last day, I ventured out on my own to visit another popular tourist attraction - the big Buddha and met a couple of really interesting people with which I spent the rest of the day, had lunch and visited the fishing village apparently named the Venice of Hong Kong (clever...). One of them had been in the Peace Core and is now working in the same country she did it in so funny how life turns out. After this experience, I'm not as put off about travelling on my own because there are always people to be meet :)

Yup, that's Venice alright...

P.S.: Des, if you're reading this: ICC, IFC, Bank of China, Central Plaza ;)