Hong Kong: Day 2 Downtown & Star Ferry

One of the most striking things about Hong Kong is the architecture, and Victoria Bay is absolutely stunning at night. The people of Hong Kong are fully aware of this and at night both sides of the bay, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island celebrate by illuminating at night with synchronised choreography. At the magical hour of the night music blares from speakers on either side of the bay and the light show begins! 

I had a few hours yet before that began, so I opted to explore the inner areas of Hong Kong proper. After exiting an incredibly crowded train station I found myself in the heart of the sky scrapers, looking up  to find myself surrounded by the monolithic structures. At the top of it all is the Peak, a landmark of Hong Kong known for unrivalled views of the city and it's nightly light show from high altitude. Initially hoping to find my way to the cable cars that provide a shortcut for tourists, I was unpleasantly surprised to discover that the wait was hours long and I would surely miss the show if I attempted to wait it out. Stubbornly I hoofed it back down the hill and made it to the bay, where I was able to catch the infamous Star Ferry, which has been in operation since 1888. Let that sink in for a minute. 1888!

Hong Kong: Day 2 pitstop at Tung Chung station

On my way back to Hong Kong proper, I made a pitstop at Tung Chung station on Lantau island. Lantau island is not only home to Hong Kong Disneyland and Hong Kong airport but is the jump-off point to access the Ngong Ping 360 Degree Cable cars and the giant seated Buddha statue not far after. Initially I had hoped to make it out to see the Buddha on my way back but found that I arrived far too late in the day to catch a cable car. Oh well, given the close proximity of most places in Hong Kong it wasn't a terribly long journey even from my location across the bay in Mong Kok, Kowloon.

Hong Kong Disney Land!

Hong Kong Disneyland is one among the company's international branches. Having worked at Tokyo Disney Sea for over a year by this point, I was able to gain entry into this park as an associate. Make no mistake, though- there's a healthy bit of sibling rivalry between the two parks and their employees! When asking about the time for the nightly fireworks display I was ensured that it was the best in the entire world, easily shadowing our Japanese neighbour's. Whether that holds true or not I can not say, as the weather was overcast and drizzly all day which could put a damper on the dazzle and in all honesty I didn't linger long enough to catch the fireworks. Living within walking distance of Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea I was able to witness their firework display every night from the comfort of my own home, which made catching yet another kaboom-show less enticing than exploring a whole new country. That all being said, they certainly spare no corners at this park and you can expect the magic to be in full swing. Approaching the park you're treated to the complete Disney experience, replete with Mickey shaped porthole windows in the train that shuttles you right up to the front gates of the park. 

And yes, Mickey and his friends are all there! Just like all the other Disney parks you can expect to encounter your favourite characters throughout the park, whether in the parade, rides, or a meet & greet. 

More photos below the cut!

Hong Kong: Day 2 breakfast & leaving the city

Day 2 in Hong Kong!

Ready, set go~

Started my day with a bowl of beef noodle soup at a small noodle shop down the street from where I was staying at the Harbour Hotel. I walked right passed the place before as it was hidden behind stalls so overflowing with produce I didn't realise there was an entire store front tucked away! 

I don't speak Chinese and what little kanji (Japanese symbols based off of ancient Chinese) I did know wasn't of great use, to be honest. I can recognise symbols like 肉 niku, or meat, and 麺 men, or noodle, so at least I had that much to work with but proficiency that surely does not make. Even though Hong Kong used to be a British territory, you shouldn't expect everyone to be proficient in speaking English and I certainly didn't. While some people could communicate quite well with me, there was still a lot of gesturing and patience involved from all parties. In this little shop there were sufficient pictures for me to point and eat and the servers tolerated my linguistic challenges well enough. That all being said, the food was absolutely delicious no matter what I had or where I stopped! The noodles above were chewy and springy in a flavourful broth and the meat was sufficiently cooked by the broth without being tough. After refuelling my belly, I stepped back out into the bustling streets of the Ladies' Market to venture forward into my day. After breakfast, I was heading to Hong Kong Disneyland, which will be it's own post tomorrow!

Hong Kong: Goldfish (Tung Choi) Street & Ladies' Market, 1st night

Hong Kong's Tung Choi street fish market is quite a sight to see. 

Beams of fluorescent lights refract off glistening baggies by the hundreds. 

Tucked into impossibly crowded alleyways between two overflowing buildings, or dangling precariously from wire racks are countless varieties of fish enclosed in their own personal bubbles of atmosphere, ready to be snatched off and carried home with a lucky collector of aquatic creatures. From turtles and frogs to fugu, there's something for everyone. Walking along, taking in the sights and sounds, it's otherworldly for certain, like stumbling into a scene from Bladerunner. 

Shoppers and the curious commingle, bumping shoulders to catch a glimpse at each creature.

Hong Kong: Day 1

Hong Kong. 

Flying from Narita airport in Japan, Hong Kong is a 4-5 hour flight, plus additional time getting to their airport, which added about another 2-3 hours from my residence. 

I packed my things the night before and when it came time to head out, I hopped a taxi to a nearby hotel that was part of the Tokyo Disney Resort group. From there I'd jump aboard a bus to the airport, a peaceful jump onto the freeway that winds itself through small towns and rice fields. Arriving at the airport, the efficiency and businesslike manner of the Japanese is evident in rapidly cleared lines and a clean, lovely airport that has always felt surprisingly quiet and spacious in my visits. This would set a very stark tone against the congestion and visual chaos of Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated metropolitan areas in the entire globe. It's an entirely different world, even from it's neighbours. Such a visually lush city, there's no way I could even possibly come close to capturing every photo opportunity. I long to revisit the city to discover what new hidden gems, what chaos, what beauty I'll discover this time around. Here's a collection of sights from my first day of my first trip to this gorgeous little world.