How to do Hong Kong in a Hot Second

Kristina Bair
Mar 23, 2015
3 min read

Alternate title: Instructions on how to be Kris for a couple days.

1. Take a gratifying moment to watch the sunrise over the Pasig River in Manila, bringing new light to your last day in the Philippines (for now).

2. Take an evening flight to Cebu for a six hour layover, then take an early morning flight to HKG. Sleep as much as possible during this time.

3. Obtain a map, some cash and an Octopus card upon arrival at HKG.

4. Go full tourist style taking the front row seats of the upper level on the bus ride to the city.

5. Get momentarily lost because you are too busy sightseeing and photo-taking to remember to observe the map and street signs.

6. Find your destination, a high class hotel in Wan Chai, leave your pack at reception, then brush your crusty teeth and wash your greasy face in the fancy bathroom.

7. Take the five minute ferry ride across the harbor to Kowloon.

8. Stop at a 7-11 (located on every corner), find this beauty, and savor every delicious drop.

9. Take no longer than 30 minutes absorbing some culture at the art museum.

10. Practically sprint across the street to the space museum and take two hours to marvel over every piece of information and activity because you are utterly astonished by the universe.

11. Stumble upon some interesting art while doing a lap through Kowloon Park.

12. Figure out how to use your Octopus card at the MTR (a ridiculously simple task you were unable to accomplish at the ferry because you saw the coin machine first).

13. Stare at these silly looking creatures found at the aviary in Hong Kong Park.

14. Practice using the macro setting on your camera.

15. See stairs. Walk up them. You love stairs.

16. Inquire someone about where you can have a nice view of the city. Get directed to Bowen Road where an elderly Chinese woman walks next to you practically arm in arm using her cell phone to try to teach you how to write in Mandarin for four kilometers. Smile and nod while trying to remember the last time you took a shower.

17. Bus back to Wan Chai, wait for Joy to get off work, eat Thai food with her.

18. Meet up with Missy, find a tall building, get on the elevator, walk through an emergency exit door hoping not to set off any alarms and get to an under-construction-rooftop you definitely shouldn't be on to enjoy the view of the foggy city at night. YOLO!

19. Wait for Dad back at the hotel, excited for a weekend reunion.

20. Shower (finally!) and head out to Lockhart Road.

21. Barhop through Wan Chai until 4 am.

22. Allow Papa Bair to purchase all of your beverages.

23. Accidentally stay up until 5 am having a heartfelt convo with Dad because you two are tight. Wake up at 10 to this view.

24. Eat the best breakfast in the city!

25. Take the bus to Stanley on the south side of the island for a stroll through the market and some fresh air.

26. Get lost on the shortest walking trail ever because you are tired and hungover.

27. Freshen up with a cold beverage and a huge plate of nachos.

28. Go up to Victoria Peak for a beautiful view of Hong Kong's skyline.

29. Eat ice cream and Geocache on the way back down.

30. Head to Soho and wander along the "world's largest outdoor covered escalator system" according to The Guinness Book of World Records. (Note: when you first heard about this, you thought it was one gigantic escalator- it's not. It's several normal sized escalators connected by pedestrian walkways, which is still cool.) This system links the 'Mid-levels' to the Central district in an almost straight line, allowing tens of thousands of people to avoid the winding hilly streets, drastically shortening their daily commutes.

31. Take the MTR back to Wan Chai and make a pit stop at the Queen Vic, looking for familiar faces from the night before. You quickly learn that the sidewalk in front of this establishment, particularly on a Sunday afternoon, is more than meets the eye. Business cards swap wallets, clients are propositioned, serious matters are addressed. As Papa Bair says, "When business is being conducted out in front of QV, it's real business. Hands are shaken, punches are thrown, I've seen it all there."