Photo Friday: Hong Kong

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After Vietnam, we sailed to Hong Kong, where many of the students took a ferry directly across the bay to do a little Macau gambling at the likes of the Venetian, MGM Grand and the Wynn. While I had just done the Macau thing two years ago, SVV and I opted to kill some time in Hong Kong instead. After all, the ship’s locale could not have been more perfect: We occupied a dock at the Ocean Terminal, right beside the Star Ferry and the hydrofoils to Macau and directly across from Hong Kong Island.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaMany of the students didn’t even get out of the mall attached to the terminal before plopping down with their computers and logging onto Skype, as it was the first place since leaving Canada in August that Internet was abundant and—most importantly—free. Hong Kong has added 390 free public hotspots around the city, which is an extreme convenience for the connected traveler.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaWe’ve been chasing summer around the world, and even though it’s Thanksgiving in a week, it still feels like it should be July. So seeing Christmas decorations all over Hong Kong was a bit disorienting. Still, given that Toy Story is one of my all-time favorite movies—and also that we’ll be home in less than a month with barely enough time to get into full-on Christmas mode—I was pleased to see Woody, Buzz, Hamm and all their friends donning Santa hats and decorating the Victoria Harbour waterfront.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaThe weather was absolutely perfect while we were in Hong Kong—a balmy 75 during the day and not much cooler at night—a nice change from the extreme heat of India and Vietnam.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaBecause the ship only docked in Hong Kong for two full days and one night, we stayed behind and made our own way to Shanghai versus taking the weekend to sail up there on the M/V Explorer and losing valuable sightseeing time in a new city. But do you know how ridiculously pricey hotels are in Hong Kong? Even on Hotels.com, we couldn’t find anything for under $600 the night we would need accommodation in Hong Kong, no matter what part of the city we searched in. (Note: Apparently November is high season there, and weekends are even worse.) I was freaking out thinking we might be sleeping on the benches at the airport overnight, but in the end, I was able to cash in some loyalty points from the Gold Passport Program to stay at the Hyatt Regency in Tsim Sha Tsui, a money area for being in the middle of all the action. And the views from our 15th story room weren’t shabby either.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaWe had planned on making it to both the bird and goldfish markets that afternoon, but one full day in Hong Kong (as we had spent the previous day on Lantau Island) is not nearly enough time—it took us just that long to all the shopping we wanted to accomplish on Hong Kong Island alone—and the markets close relatively early. So after checking in at the Hyatt just after dark, we took the metro up to Mong Kok and perused the Ladies’ Market, which runs all night, instead.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaWhile the city is pretty intense during the day, it’s even more alive with people and lights once the sun sets.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaWe spent a couple hours picking through the stalls at the market and eating a dinner that consisted of street food before returning to the Hyatt and geeking out on the Internet until late into the night. (When your Internet is extremely limited at “home”—i.e. on ship—you go a little crazy with lures of unlimited bandwidth and high-speed Wi-Fi connections when on land.)

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaBefore flying to Shanghai the next day, we stopped over at Luk Yu Tea House for some early morning dim sum in celebration of Josh’s birthday. His partner Kurt was in town from Sydney for the occasion, and while I had originally thought I wouldn’t like such heavy Chinese fare at 9am—I’m more of an eggs Benedict or gingerbread pancakes-for-breakfast kind of girl—every last thing we tried was delicious.

Hong Kong, Semester at SeaIn retrospect, I wish SVV and I had decided to stay in Hong Kong a bit longer—it’s such a fascinating, vibrant city, and two days and change is barely enough time to see much of the urban sprawl at all—but I’m glad we took advantage of every last minute of our brief time there (per the norm).

Hong Kong, Semester at Sea

COMMENTS
  • November 18, 2011

    Jealousy. I has it. With a capital J. HK has been on my Dream List for years and years!

    xox

    • November 18, 2011
      Kristin

      Hmmm, I wouldn’t have guessed that! But yes, it is a really fun city and definitely worth a visit.

  • November 18, 2011

    And man, the sunrise view from the international terminal of the HK airport is stunning. 🙂 That’s the extent of my HK experience!

    • November 18, 2011
      Kristin

      The airport at HK is pretty spectacular, and I love the super efficient airport train that gets you there in 28 minutes from the city.

  • November 18, 2011

    What spectacular pictures! We only had one day in Hong Kong when we went too and it’s on my “go back oneday soon” list. I totally wanted to see the ladies market.

    • November 19, 2011
      Kristin

      Funny, I went to the Ladies’ Market when I was there two years ago and didn’t find a single thing to buy (it’s one of those places where nearly everything is the same as the last booth). But this time, I went with Scott and we totally scored. Guess it’s all in your shopping partner, huh? =)

  • November 18, 2011

    I love HK, love the fact that I can eat dim sum 24/7!

    • November 19, 2011
      Kristin

      Andi, embarrassing confession: I never ate dim sum once in the four years I lived in the Bay Area! (I know, I know.)

  • November 19, 2011

    Love the black and white photo of the harbour – the clouds look amazing!

    • November 19, 2011
      Kristin

      Thanks, Lisa! The cloud coverage that day was spectacular for taking photos (which makes me wonder why I didn’t take more! I was too concerned with shopping, I think).

  • November 19, 2011

    I’m just catching up on your travels (LIFE, man) and I love these posts. Per usual. 🙂

    • November 19, 2011
      Kristin

      I also need to catch up on your LIFE (yours and all my other favorite blog girls). Unfortunately, the ship’s Internet only allows me to do that about 5% of the time (and even then, it can take 10 minutes to load a blog, more if image-heavy like yours or mine!). I’m going to have a LOT of reading to do come mid-December =)

  • November 19, 2011

    Ah, internet, sweet sweet internet.

    Honk Kong looks amazing. So alive!

    • November 19, 2011
      Kristin

      The number one reason I’m looking forward to getting back in less than a month: free, unlimited and unrestricted Internet! I never realized what a hot commodity that was until these past four months =)

  • November 20, 2011

    You got some amazing pictures there!!! 🙂

  • November 20, 2011

    What a cool city! HK has never been high on my list, but now it is!! I love the pics!

  • November 21, 2011

    What is the Ladies’ Market?

    • November 22, 2011
      Kristin

      It’s a night market in Mong Kok with about a bazillion stalls (most of the stuff is the same), but it’s really fun and there are some gems to be found.

  • November 21, 2011

    the airport in Hong Kong is incredible, great photos

    • November 22, 2011
      Kristin

      Yes, one of my favorites for sure. Unfortunately, I can’t afford a thing in that airport as it’s all Fendi, Gucci, etc.!

  • November 21, 2011

    Love the photo of everyone on their laptop within the gridlines – there is something ominous about it all.

    • November 22, 2011
      Kristin

      It’s sad how much time at port many of us (staff included) have spent catching up on our Internetting! I’d say we’re definitely a technology-addicted society =)

  • November 21, 2011

    Love the clouds in the black and white photo!

  • November 21, 2011
    haidang

    your pictures are always SO BEAUTIFUL and my point and shoot canon cannot compete! 😉 bow down 2 the queen

  • November 21, 2011

    I LOVE Hong Kong.. looks like you had a great time too!

  • November 22, 2011

    I teared up seeing this post, because you were just miles away from my brother, whom I miss so much! That b&w photo is superb — magazine worthy!!!

    • November 22, 2011
      Kristin

      I actually thought about your brother while we were there! If we’d had more than two days, I totally would have tracked him down and taken him out for a drink! But he comes home REALLY soon, right??

      • November 22, 2011
        Andi

        Oh gosh I would have looooooved for you two to have met! He comes home in 2 weeks and I’m literally counting the seconds!!! Sorry if this reply is strange — I’m replying from my phone.

  • November 24, 2011

    Great post! Thanks for sharing your time in HK, it brings back happy memories of my own short (long weekend) time there in 2005!

  • November 24, 2011

    Wow. Can I have your life, please? I would looooove to go to Hong Kong.

  • December 15, 2011

    nice place…………Hong Kong nice pics………you can make your vacations to visit in Hong Kong……

  • October 1, 2012
    Ong

    Hong Kong is such an amazing city. I vacationed there with my family a few years back, staying at Fraser Suites Hong Kong’s serviced apartments for 4 nights, and even then it wasn’t enough for us. I can’t wait to go back there after seeing your great pictures (especially the one of the port, and the busy street at the Ladies’ Market)! Thanks so much for sharing!

  • December 4, 2012

    Hong Kong is a nice place for shopping as well, Lots of good stuff for affordable price.

  • December 6, 2012

    My auntie lives in Hong Kong and she told me that you can buy dresses and trendy pieces at cheaper price on the night market. She also mention that Hong Kong dishes are delicious too!

  • July 20, 2013

    I also found Hong Kong ridiculously expensive when I went there, but certainly not $600 a night expensive. Wow! Maybe the hostel/guesthouse thing would have worked better (Chungking Mansions for the stout of heart, or hotels on Kowloon side for more economical accommodations).

    But thank you very much for sharing, especially the lovely photos. I’m very envious of the view you had from your hotel room! I’m pretty sure mine faced a brick wall when I stayed there. 😛 Hope you get a chance to go back to Hong Kong someday (or have already). It’s a great city full of some very cool people.

  • April 27, 2017

    Hi, I know it’s an old post, but I used to live in Hong Kong, and reading your post and seeing your photos has made me long to go back!

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