A Speed Tour of Hong Kong in One Day

Get the most out of just one day layover in Hong Kong

A view of the Wan Chai Convention Center.

Okay, you have a few hours, say, 8 hours to burn in Hong Kong.  You want to see more than the inside of the Chek Lap Kok Airport.  Mind you, it's a very nice airport and if I was ever stranded at an airport, I would want it to be that one.  There's lots of shopping, great coffee shops, and a shopping mall in Terminal Two, complete with a 4-D Theatre.  There's a pretty good sized shopping area in Terminal One as well.  So no shortage of things to do.  But... This may be the chance of a lifetime to see Hong Kong.  

With the Airport Express train from the airport, (aka Hong Kong International Airport), it's possible to zoom downtown, have a look at a few things, get the feel of the place and then zoom back to the airport in time to catch your plane.  

Here's what you can do.

Lorette E Roberts: Sketches of Hong Kong Life

Artist, Lorette E Roberts, brings Hong Kong to life 

(This image used with permission from Lorette E. Roberts.)

This coffee table book is the perfect Christmas gift, birthday gift and souvenir of Hong Kong.  It's colorful, it's cheerful and  it's so Hong Kong.

It's only recently that a copy of The Second Edition of sights and Secrets of Hong Kong fell into my eager, waiting hands.  I've coveted Lorette Roberts' books ever since I moved to Hong Kong, so it was with great delight that I received this one.  It is evident that Lorette loved her life in Hong Kong.  She depicts all her characters and subjects with great empathy.  Everything you ever thought you knew about Hong Kong and so much more that you didn't know are within the covers of this book. 

A Really Effective Home Remedy for the Common Cold

Finally, a home remedy that really works for fighting colds.

This really works.  I kid you not.  I'm so pleased that I've found a home remedy that I can use to treat and prevent the flu bug from taking hold.  I found this amazing elixir on Pinterest.  (Gotta love Pinterest!)  So I went to the website to find out what it is all about.  And this is what I found...

Maggie's Cough Remedy

Egret Island, Pat Sin Leng Country Park

The Lure of Egret Island

An English Seagull...

Believe it or not, when I came to Hong Kong, one of the things I missed were the seagulls.  Well..., honestly, what is the sea without a half a million chorusing seagulls?  And there should be lots of them here, because it's just the type of habitat they enjoy...scavengers that they are.

The Unexpected Picnic in Pat Sin Leng Country Park

  Pat Sin Leng Country Park

Plover Cove Reservoir, not much water there then... about 2 years ago.

The Return of the Jackhammer ...

We like it when unexpected things happen.  We seem to thrive on spontaneity.  (Like leaving it until the very last minute to plan our Christmas holidays?) 

So anyway, we were sitting, peacefully eating our breakfast, when all of a sudden, a noise that will forever remind me of Hong Kong began to reverberate throughout the whole building.  The Jackhammer Returns!  You never get used to it.  It was right next door most of the summer, but, mercifully, it's moved down a few floors.   And even more mercifully... it's gone now.   

Cheung Chau: Full of surprises

Cheung Chau 

One of my very favorite places to go for a day out is the island of Cheung Chau.  There are plenty of things to do and see there.  It's a lovely little touristy place packed with little shops selling everything from vegetables to knick knacks, food snacks, tea, long flowing dresses and other kinds of "nacks..."

Northern Chinese Cuisine at Chao Yang Restaurant Hong Kong

Northern Chinese Cuisine at Chao Yang Restaurant in Hong Kong

Best place to get Northern Chinese cuisine, featuring Northeastern, Beijing and Shanghainese cuisine in Hong Kong.

It wasn't planned.  My husband and I thought we would check out some of the Chinese restaurants located at iSquare Sunday night.  The first one we decided on was hosting a wedding, so no room for us.  That was fine.  We returned to the lobby and walked across to the opposite row of elevators.  (They don't all stop on the same floors, you see.)  So off we went again, this time to the first Chinese Restaurant on the way up, and as were about to get off the elevator we realized they were also hosting a wedding and no room for us!  (Must have been an auspicious day on the Chinese calendar...so many weddings!)

Six ways to beat the winter blahs

It's winter in Hong Kong and that means rain, cold, grey skies, low light levels, high levels of pollution, colds and flus abounding and... well, you get the picture.  Then, the winter blahs settle in.  

Here are six things to do to beat the winter blahs in Hong Kong...

Sai Kung Attractions

Sai Kung Day Trip

Sai Kung is a wonderful place to spend a day.  It would be a wonderful place to live too.  Quiet, away from the bustle of the city. .  It's a small seaside town on the Eastern side of the New Territories.  There is a thriving expat community in this area.

A Bluenoser moves to Hong Kong

 What does Bluenoser got to do with it?

A Bluenoser is someone who was born and raised in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Canada's Atlantic coastline. So there you go, I'm just a country girl from rural Nova Scotia, transplanted to the "big city."  I must admit, I've had an infatuation with Hong Kong for quite a few years.  So it's no surprise that this is where I live now.   They say that if you think about something all the time, that thing will become your reality.  I guess that's what happened!