Love Travelling Blog

Travel diaries providing inspiration for planning the perfect trip

Hong Kong

  • View from Grandstand at Happy Valley Racecourse, Hong Kong

    Day 7. Happy Valley Race Course, Hong Kong

    After a very short rest we left the hotel at 5.15 pm and took a tram to Happy Valley in order to spend the evening at the Hong Kong Jockey Club ‘Happy Wednesday’ race meeting.  We spent a memorable evening here on our last visit to Hong Kong and were eager to return. Ground entrance costs…

  • Cheung Chau

    Day 8. A ferry from Central to Cheung Chau

    After breakfast we hopped on the MTR to Central so that we could take a ride on the Hong Kong Observation Wheel which stands 60 metres high and has 42 cabins.  The wheel has been open less than two years so we hadn’t been on it before.  Tickets cost HK$100 each and there was no…

  • Ruins of St Pauls, Macau

    Day 9. A Day in Macau from Hong Kong

    From North Point station we took the MTR to Sheung Wan as we wished to take the Turbojet ferry to Macau.  Ferries depart at 15 minute intervals on hydrofoil boats, the journey taking only one hour.  A single fare is HK$164 and there is no discount offered if you buy a return.  We just purchased…

  • Golden pavilion and bridge, Nan Lian Gardens, Hong Kong

    Day 10. Nan Lian Gardens, Hong Kong

    After a leisurely hotel breakfast we took the MTR to Diamond Hill, Kowloon so that we could visit the Nan Lian Gardens, a haven of tranquility set amidst a myriad of towering apartment blocks. The gardens which only opened to the public in 2006 are designed in the Tang style and cover 3.5 hectares.  The idea…

  • Deep Water Bay, Hong Kong

    Day 11. Visiting Stanley in Hong Kong and Emirates to Dubai

    Our final day in Hong Kong – how quickly the time has passed by!  A leisurely hotel breakfast followed by quickly packing our suitcases before checking out.  It has been an enjoyable second stay for us at the Ibis North Point, a convenient location, good value and rooms with superb views, we’d certainly consider it…

  • Gate B2 at Dubai airport

    Day 12. Emirates Dubai to Manchester

    Our Emirates flight touched down in Dubai 50 minutes ahead of schedule so we had a walk through the terminal before settling down with drinks and snacks in one of the cafes.  The terminal seemed much quieter than when we had passed through on our outward journey.  Two years ago we had a nine hour…

  • Day 1. Manchester to Hong Kong with Emirates

    A seven night holiday to Hong Kong, flying from Manchester via Dubai. We took the train from our home station to Manchester Airport and checked in for our flight to Hong Kong via Dubai.  After cappuccinos in the Giraffe Cafe, it was soon time to board the huge A380 airliner.  It was our first time on…

  • Day 2. Tsim Sha Tsui and The Star Ferry, Hong Kong

    North Point metro station was our first stop, and literally about 2 minutes walk from our hotel.   We bought two Octopus Cards (similar to the UK’s Oyster  Card) as we find it much more convenient and cheaper to use travel cards than have to purchase individual tickets. These cost HK$150 each including an HK$50 refundable…

  • Day 3. The Peak Tram, Hong Kong

    We were up early on this, our first full day in Hong Kong.  We had breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant then walked the few steps to North Point Station for the metro to Central.  It was then only a short walk from there to the Peak Tram station. We bought single tickets which cost HK$28…

  • Day 3. Riding the Mid-Level Escalators and visiting the Botanical Gardens

     Feeling refreshed after lunch and a short rest, it was back out on the MRT again to Central from where we walked across to the Mid Levels Escalators.  These are a series of connected, outdoor escalators that take 25 minutes to reach the top.  During the mornings, the escalators run downwards and then reverse in…

  • Day 4. NGong Ping 360 Cable Car and Tai O Village

    We were up early to try and avoid queues at the cable car station.  We had breakfast near to the hotel at a small cafe called ‘Family Kitchen’.  It was mostly frequented by locals but also served western breakfasts.  Our omelettes, toast and coffee cost a mere HK$22 each.  Then it was onto the metro…

  • Day 5. A Day in Macau

    We set our alarm for 6.30 am, had breakfast on Java Road after leaving the hotel and still managed to buy tickets and board the 7.30 am TurboJet Ferry to Macau.  Two tickets cost HK$318.  The journey took an hour but we then had to join a lengthy queue at immigration.   It was an extremely…

  • Day 6 Kowloon Walled City Park and a visit to Stanley

    Our first activity of the day was to take the ferry from North Point across to Kowloon, from where we caught a bus to Kowloon Walled City Park.  This small, historic park was the site of the former Kowloon Walled City, a Chinese garrison in the 19th century that remained part of China throughout the British…

  • Day 6. An Evening at Happy Valley Racecourse

    Its Wednesday evening, and each Wednesday (with the exception of  July and August) it’s known as ‘Happy Wednesday’ at Happy Valley.  So we decided to go along and see for ourselves.  We took a tram to Happy Valley Racecourse, arriving just on the opening time of 6.00 pm.  Ground tickets cost HK$10 each and then a…

  • Day 7. A Ferry to Cheung Chau

    After  breakfast we took the MRT to Central then caught a ferry to the small island of Cheung Chau.  The fast ferry cost HK$10.5 each and the journey took 45 minutes.    This small island is situated 10km south of Hong Kong.  Streets are so narrow that only small sized motorised trucks are used on the…

  • Day 7. Mong Kok and an evening trip up The Peak, Hong Kong

    Another ride on the iconic Star Ferry over to Kowloon then the metro to Mong Kong to explore the markets.  Mong Kong is full of atmosphere and is a chaotic mix of stalls selling fake designer labels alongside cheap local products. Bartering over the price seems to be the norm, so expect to pay at least…

  • Day 8 Aberdeen, IFC Mall and Wan Chai, Hong Kong

    This morning we caught a rush hour train to Central, then a bus across to Aberdeen via the toll tunnel.   Aberdeen is located on the south of the island and was one of the first locations that British armed forces landed in 1841 and was named after the 4th Earl of Aberdeen.   Our first stop…

  • Day 9. Stanley and the Star Ferry, Hong Kong

    After breakfast it was time to pack.  Even though we had bought several bags of clothes, a remote controlled helicopter and various other bits and pieces, it wasn’t too difficult as Emirates provide a generous 30kg baggage allowance and we had plenty of room in our large suitcases. We checked out of the Ibis Hotel, North Point…

Advertisements