Hong Kong – who’s paying the electricity bill?!

The HK skyline across the harbor

This smallish country is a sensory overload of exciting measures! From stepping off the plane our first impressions of the country is that it is very clean and so well organised, from buying our tickets for the train, to the free shuttle bus to your hotel – it’s fantastic!

Designer shopping heaven!

The city buzzes during the day with packed canteens, bustling shoppers and hawkers on every street corner trying to sell you tailored suits. This place is a shopping mecca!

Designer shops galore, replacing the humble corner shop with a Cartier store instead!! Public walkways including their underground subway system is designed as such that you walk though shopping malls to reach your destination. Even our hotel was attached to a mall that had its own entrance to.

Busy streets with busy shoppers

Yes siree, this place is the pinnacle of consumerism with anything within the shopper’s reach..



Aesthetically pleasing landscapes



Gourmet restaurants, pampering spa’s, bedtime bliss with beautiful hotels, suprising sights, stylish bars and cultural encounters including art , opera, history, space and science museums – there is something for everyone.



Our bedroom was stylish



And bathroom had a luxury power shower!

Our hotel was gorgeous and room and bathroom were very modern, although they were tiny reflecting Sam and J's budget in HK!! LOL

The skyline at night was even more dramatic

At night the impressive skyline, also reflected in the water of Victoria harbor has you captivated and reeled in further by the ‘Symphony of Lights’ show.

During the light show

At 8pm sharp the sky scrapers light up in accordance to a classical piece of music that is played over loudspeaker, with laser lights being shot off the top of the tallest buildings. 

Hong Kong at night.

The neon city!



Jason and I definitely enjoyed exploring this city whether it was by subway, MTR (metro), open top buses, sky ferries or just plain old fashioned walking!

The Star Ferry pier

The Star Ferry

The tram on Hong Kong Island

The subway that leads onto
and through various shopping malls

The nightlife was equivalent to a typical London night (including the prices!!) The first night we were there we had a few drinks in a bar before entering the M1 club, very modern interior and featured live music. Both artists that preformed were good, singing and dancing their socks off!

He danced his socks and one glove off for us!!

Live music in most clubbing
venues we visited

On the tables the locals play a game with 5 dice in which you have to bluff your companion, J totally got involved in but had some problems due to his companion not speaking any English.

The second night we jumped onboard a star ferry and headed to Hong Kong Island central where there is a cluster of bars and clubs in Lan Kwai Fong and bar hopped before finally landing up in a club with a really good live band. Through socialising in this manner, you were able to see the diverse groups of foreigners that were residents to HK, people that have come there for business as well as pleasure.

We took in some history when we visited the museum that told the ‘Hong Kong story’ It was fascinating to learn how The British Empire gained control of the country through a condition of the Nanking Treaty after the first Opium War.

It was also interesting to learn off the various ruling dynasties and the originating 4 groups of natives. We also learnt about reclamation of land, which surprised us to find out that HK was developing this technique back in the 1800’s, when we thought Dubai with its ‘Palm Island’ and the ‘World’ was pioneers of this field.

More landscaped beauty

As a last destination before returning home it was a great choice as it brought us inline with our cosmopolitan home of London (such a contrast to the plains of Africa!), not to mention the festive celebrations leading up to Christmas with the carols playing in the shopping malls and hotels.

Jason getting in the festive spirit!!

The Swarovski Crystal Christmas tree

HK have this annual festival called ‘Winterfest’ to celebrate this special time of the year with this year, having an 8 foot tall Swarovski Crystal Christmas tree on display among other cartoon and cute exhibitions.

The tall sky scrapers are even lit up with Christmas greetings that makes you wonder about the enormous electricity bill!! LOL But it all worked to get me in the mood for the Christmas fun, J and I will have on our return home, to cold and wintery Englan



The war memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives during WWII when Japan occupied HK for 3 years



The Happy Valley horse races, a very popular past time, with late night racing on Wednesdays







HK was a real delight, and has its eyes firmly set on the future