Hong Kong
Dim sum. Egg tarts. Monastery mushrooms. Hong Kong was delicious!
After landing from Bangkok and checking into the hotel, I took a walk around the neighborhood - Causeway Bay - for some exercise and a light bite. I discovered there would be a smaller tennis tournament in the park across the street (and there were some tennis players in the hotel…) but my itinerary didn’t leave time for tennis on this stop. There was some good window shopping around Fashion Walk, then I turned a corner and stumbled upon a hole-in-the-wall dumpling shop that was busy but not crowded. I seemed to be the only non-local in there and got some delicious shrimp dumplings with soup. Perfect post-flight meal.
On Day 1, the main activity was Victoria Peak. I took the (holiday-Disney-themed) tram up to the peak for dazzling views of Hong Kong. It’s amazing to see the city rise up between the mountains and the water. The duality of modern city surrounded by densely tree-packed mountains is an embodiment of yin and yang. After wandering around and taking pictures, I headed back down the tram and crossed over to Kowloon to explore the Flower, Goldfish, and Ladies’ markets. I also made a stop for dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, which was highly recommended and did not disappoint! The char siu bao (pork buns) were the best I’ve ever had. The bun dough was light, covered with a crust that added crunch and a little sweetness, like a craquelin on a cream puff.
On Day 2, I headed to Lantau Island to see Tian Tan (the Big Buddha). The tram ride over to Ngong Ping had views rivaling Victoria Peak. I opted for a tram with a clear bottom for a unique view of the scenery, though others in the tram didn’t like the heights as much as I did. The Big Buddha lived up to its name, and I would recommend visiting to any who travel to Hong Kong. After climbing a lot of steps, I was ready for lunch at the Po Lin Monastery, which serves a simple vegetarian menu. Though the menu is simple, the flavors were intense and complex. There were these mushrooms that were the most mushroom-y mushrooms I've ever eaten. Whatever the monks did to prepare the vegetables highlighted them to the best versions of themselves - even the celery was delicious! I needed a walk after lunch, and hiked around the Wisdom Path and surrounding trails for some contemplation (and digestion). It was incredible to think that I was so close to a major city, yet could not feel more remote in nature.
I leave Hong Kong feeling balanced. I walked a lot, ate a lot, and rested. After seeing 8 countries over the past month, I’m ready for a (slightly) slower pace as I head into the next phase of my adventure: 2 weeks each in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
View from Victoria Peak
Tim Ho Wan shrimp dumplings and char siu bao
Big Buddha at Tian Tan
Lunch at the monastery was not the most photogenic, but it was so delicious
Another view from Victoria Peak
View from the Ngong Ping tram
Po Lin Monastery (from the Big Buddha platform)
Treetop view out the bottom of the Ngong Ping tram