i got yet another chance to travel to Hong Kong. i’ve spent there 9 days in October this year.
what did change since my previous visit in 2018?
- Visa/Mastercard cards are getting more and more widely accepted – in the MTR / underground, buses, trams – i had a choice of paying with Octopus Card or regular card; but on some ferries i still had to use Octopus or cash; similarly in smaller bars or fruit/vegie shops – cash was still the king.
- it’s clear it’s China now – red banners about 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China were everywhere.
what did not change:
- it’s a lively place – with people busy with their commutes, life or excercising,
- internet still seems to be ‘western’ – so google, x etc work just fine; interestingly tiktok / baidu does not operate in HK,
- it’s hot and humid, but I did not expect anything else,
- public transport is crowded and works like a clockwork – is frequent, arrives on time and ‘just works’,
- it feels very exotic yet familiar, i could communicate in English anywhere and felt safe regardless of the time of the day or night,
- outside of the concrete jungle – fresh and green.
few places that i’ve hiked around for the first time:
Lamma Island – i got there with a ferry from Central. concrete path from Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier to Mo Tat Wan and then back to Pichic Bay was easy, rural and picturesque.
during that route – i’ve tried to take a detour, climb on a hill. it worked, sort-of but the bush was thick and i did not feel like going any further. this route is quite steep [ there are some ropes early on the track ]. if you want to go any further – take long trousers or cover your legs and avoid scratches.
Wong Chuck Hang to a nearby hill
Easy route, with great view for sunset if you arrive at the right time.
