#3daysHK

[bites-kms]

Hong Kong Day 1

HK Itinerary for a Long Weekend ::: Day #1 out of 3

I arrived to the airport and everything went as smooth as possible. My friend Ria told me to get the a special pass for the train that allows me a round trip to the airport on this amazing, first class train, and unlimited MTR rides for three days. That was perfect! The exact amount I needed. So I went off the arrivals lounge and the ticket counter was expecting me. Voila!

I exchanged some more money just in case and I went to the station. Everything was smooth and perfect. The train and the seats are better than some business class airlines options I unfortunately flew on ( I dont wanna give out names but it starts with S and finishing with Audia). My first impressions were already superb. Some old buildings merging with the clear water bay, fishing and cargo ships, blue sunny sky - not that common in a polluted city that gets the smog from Mainland China more often than usual-. I arrived to Hong Kong station after 25 minutes on the express train and connected to Central Station. After my experience in STHLM, I’m glad that in another countries they call out different names for different stations, even if its a different part of the station (Yes, I’m talking about you freaking T-Centralen and Central Station!). So, from HK to Central, I took the blue line straight to my wonderful apartment in Sai Ying Pun. I did no research about the area, but as always, ended up with more luck than most of people and this was a lovely neighborhood. My host Yin was also fantastic: she drafted a whole word doc explaining how to get to her place from Central Station so it was quite easy to find without GPS nor phone, as I usually like to travel. I recognize the usefulness of it though, it's convenient, since it makes it easier to find places and you never get lost, but I also found myself looking down on the phone, instead of actually looking around, loving my surroundings and living the city that I came to see instead of paying attentions to the screen. So yes.. here I am writing about it, hopefully for you to check it on your phone, but I also suggest you to take your time, read it before and/or after but when you are here, put it down -it’s hard since Internet is so easily to find!- and get lost. Literally, it’s the best way to find hidden gems and, what’s most important, to find yourself.

The location is great, just a few stops away from Central, - you can actually walk there, I did it once by night, it’s far but super doable!- and very residential, with nice bars and restaurants around. The bad part, intense and I mean INTENSE hills around, not suitable for backpackers nor lazy fellows. After leaving my stuff, I went back to Central and left through one of the multiple exit options I found. I really don’t remember which one, sounds like D, but I might be wrong, one of the gentle metro assistant recommended me a street - which I’m not sure If I found or not- to eat and I just went for it. 

I started strolling around Hong Kong. On the first traffic light, I was on a very popular corner, by Queen’s St. and D’Aguilar (not very Honk Kong naming jejeje) and when the lights turned green and the people started crossing like ants in every direction, I smiled and remember why I freaking love Asia with all my heart and how it’s gonna be so hard to leave. That was when I realized the hills near my place had no comparison with the ones downtown: man, it was hard. I turned onto some weird alleys, looking for food. People were all dressed up, during their work lunch break, talking on the phone, avoiding bumping into other people, checking their phones, tourists taking pictures, it was insane.

I turned and on a corner I saw this huge flamingo, and I told to myself, “ohhh yeah baby”. I went in, and it was a juice parlor. Yes, Daniela got a beautiful flamingo jasmine tea with honey peach juice and aloe pieces to calm her thirst and open even more her appetite. Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introducing to Flamingo Bloom! I kept turning, now with a pink gorgeous air flamingo that discovered Hong Kong  with me throughout the day until I ended up in a crowded alley. It was full of tables and street parlors. Some restaurants. People, people everywhere (insert Buzzlightyear Meme here XD) 

I went into one restaurant and took a seat. The food wasn’t as charming and the place wasn’t as crowded as one I just saw. As a golden rule, in Asia go where people queue, it’s usually worth it. So I went. I started queuing. It wasnt a proper restaurant, but instead just few stalls around two big round tables in the street. It was noodles with whatever. Just glorious. It was a family establishment. The oldest one, probably the cool uncle, was wearing an loosen Hawaiian shirt, with a hat put backwards, with glasses and shouting the menu. Priceless.

I got my noodles. I ordered them with wan tongs and meat. They were yummy and I made two new friends; one at the queue where he explained how good the pork and cow’s internal organs went with the noodle soup and another lady who I constantly annoyed with my elbow, hitting her chopsticks. I had a glorious custard egg tar on the famous Tai Cheong Bakery.  It had all the elements a simple good egg tart should have: warmth, buttery crumbly crust with a silky smooth eggy filling. It was delicious.

I was with no phone still and decided to start walking to what I thought was a cool street. Indeed it was. Hollywood walk or Antique St is a long street full with old warehouses with crafts and antiques from the British era, and yes, as nice and expensive as this sounds. I followed some street signs and ended up in one of the most famous temples in HK. The incense scent was intense and penetrating. Man Mo Temple is magnetic. There was no way to avoid it and to get immerse into it. Almost as a Bites&Kms tradition, I went on and turned three on, making a wish. It was what I thought was my last wish in Asia, (but of course, knowing me I went twice in Singapore afterwards). 

I kept discovering on what they claim to be the “longest stairs” but I tend to disagree. It’s a long corridor with many stairs, but since the staris are cut, I do not consider them as the longest. Maybe the longest complex of electric stairs in the world. That I can buy :). Anyways, they call it Middle and High levels because they are the easiest way to deal with the hills and there are a lot of bars and shophouses around them. After a very, VERY long day, flying at 5 am in the morning and walking non-stop like a crazy person, my legs started to shake and shiver due to the tiredness. I really needed to stop. So I did what any western would do: get a long, relaxing foot massage here! It was soooo good that I felt asleep! And between you and me, I hate sleeping during the massages, it’s the biggest FOMO syndrome of the history of times but I just feel that I do not enjoy it or appreciate it as I should If I passed out so I tend to avoid it. But this time, it was sooo good and I was so exhausted that I couldnt fight it. So, it wasnt just a foot massage, let me rephrase that, it was the best foot massage I got in my life! Maybe was because I was super tired, but seriously speaking, the therapist was really good, she did know where to press and the exact perfect amount of pressure on each place, merging the perfect amount of relaxation, acupuncture, Chinese wisdom, physical therapy and love. 

I kept walking around Central and had some happy hours drink around Lan Kwai Fong but decided to explore the port area a little bit more. Later on I realized you actually gotta cross over Victoria’s Harbour in order to have the great view but anyways, was pretty cool to be actually immerse between the buildings. I wondered around the city, enjoying its lights and shapes. I went home early, around 9ish 10ish coz I really wanted to rest to enjoy tomorrow. But this looks like a promising three-intense- days ahead!! What I great choice I made, I’m so happy to be here!

Thank you Hong Kong!