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| Hong Kong |
Five days in Hong Kong didn't seem nearly enough, once you finally get your bearings (and believe me even for a surprisingly small island this is more difficult that you realise) and once you checked out most of the main tourist attractions; the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront, Victoria Peak, the pretty and aromatic flower market in Kowloon and the bird market (although slightly nervously as we travelled there only a year after the bird flu outbreak!) you are still left wanting more.
Although Hong Kong is a very different Asia to what I have been used to, having travelled less developed Asian countries, this was definitely Asia but with a much less harder edge. As you would probably expect, evidence of the British occupation is everywhere, all of the information signs are written in both English and Cantonese and even aside from the main ex-pat congregation area of SoHo there is still an increasing amount of westernised restaurants and shops. Marks and Spencer's anyone? All of this makes the island seem somehow familiar and of course much easier to travel around.
The shopping and food choices were extraordinary, I don't think I've ever seen a place so happily obsessed with consumerism. You cannot fail to be impressed by the vast amount of designer shops and even if that's not what you are into there are plenty of dinky boutique malls most with original designs from Asian fashion students (although unfortunately being an above average height westerner I didn't stand a chance in hell of ever getting into any of the clothes, still was nice to look).
The smog and the crowds aside (almost 7 million people call 1100 square km home) this place still unbelievably has large areas of natural beauty and on a trip to Repulse Bay and Lamma Island we saw the alternative Hong Kong, the one that attracts many nature lovers, walkers and climbers each year. In my opinion Hong Kong is an exciting and intriguing travelling destination and would deliver no matter what you are into. It would also be a perfect way to begin exploring Asia
Hong Kong - The Best Way to Start Exploring Asia?