I've now spent couple of years living in and out of Hong Kong, and recently started thinking what to me are the most characteristic things about Hong Kong and give it its unique personality. What are those places, sounds and other things that are so inherently Hong Kong that if I would be brought into... Continue Reading →
Going for a short trip to Singapore and want to make most out of it? These are my tips and tricks for maximizing the fun and minimizing the hassle. Getting to and from airport While you can get to and from the airport with transportation, it really does take a long time and typically involves... Continue Reading →
Going to Singapore? Here's my recipe for a perfect stay in this amazing city. Overview Singapore is a great city to visit all year round both for adults and kids. Weather is always warm (30-33C) and while it rains on most days, it's typically only couple of brief showers in the afternoon. The city is... Continue Reading →
My biggest concern before coming to Langkawi was if it's too touristic as it's likely the most famous of the holiday islands in Malaysia. I'm very happy to say my concerns were totally void! Below I've collected some highlights about what to do while in Langkawi based on our trip there in early April. Kilim... Continue Reading →
Koh Lipe is the southern most island of Thailand and considered by many as the one with the most beautiful beaches in Thailand. We came there for a day trip from Langkawi, but you can easily get there also from the coast of Thailand or from other islands in Thailand as there are daily ferry... Continue Reading →
Kilim Geoforest park is an Unesco Global Geopark, a special protected area of geological significance and thus protected. It's located in the north east corner of Langkawi and consists of more than 100 small islands and dense mangrove forest. Exploring the park means you need to hop on a boat. You can do this either with... Continue Reading →
For our Easter holiday we had reserved 5 days to spend in Langkawi to enjoy its amazing beaches and warm weather. This time we were 2 adults and a 12-year old, and finding a place that would both be affordable and fulfill everyone's criteria was definitely not an easy task. Normally, I'd always prefer small... Continue Reading →
Cheung Chau is a perfect half-day trip destination from Hong Kong offering culture, beach and some great seafood. You can reach Cheung Chau from pier 5 in Central, with boats going almost every half an hour. The journey takes roughly 35min on the fast ferry (schedules). The ferries from Central arrive right to the center... Continue Reading →
I still cannot get over how Hong Kong is able to so easily hide huge gardens right in the city center - so well that you might even totally miss those if not specifically going there. The Hong Kong botanical gardens and the small zoo next to it are such places and free to visit... Continue Reading →
Sai Kung is a huge national park in the eastern part of New Territories in Hong Kong and it’s a very popular destination for both locals and expats during the weekends. To get there you can either take the combination of metro and bus, depending where you are coming from, or taxi. Given it’s a... Continue Reading →
Would you like to escape the busy streets of downtown Hong Kong? If your answer is yes, you should take a bus or taxi to Stanley, the little village located on the less developed southern side of the Hong Kong Island. Along its Mediterranean style boardwalk, it offers restaurants and bars with outdoor seating and... Continue Reading →
Hong Kong actually comprises of total of 261 islands in additional to Kowloon and New Territories which is the mainland part of Hong Kong. The islands are typically referred to as “outlying islands” and most don’t have motorized vehicles and are only reachable by ferry – if with any form of public transport as many... Continue Reading →
Hong Kong is a mecca for food lovers and you very rarely have a bad food experience there. What you have to take into account is that everything is relatively pricey at dinner time (all main course typically 250hkd i.e. 30€ or more) but you can find some good deals at lunch time for 99hkd.... Continue Reading →
Ok. So my first visit to the Big Buddha in Hong Kong was anything but enjoyable. Just like most people, we took the cable car from Tung Chung to the village of Ngong Ping where the Big Buddha is located on top of a hill. The first thing you need to be prepared for are... Continue Reading →
What? Are there beaches on Hong Kong island? it took me a couple of visits to realize this but there actually are plenty! And they are pretty nice also! The Beaches on Hong Kong island are all located on the less developed southern part of the island, which the most popular ones listed below. Repulse... Continue Reading →
Hong Kong has two major amusement parks, out of which Disneyland is the one known by most tourist but personally I actually like Ocean Park much better – It offers much better value for money, especially if you want to see a giant panda (super cute!) or actually take some rides which are very few... Continue Reading →
Wanting to escape the buzz of Hong Kong to beautiful and relaxing surroundings? Then Nan Lian Garden and the Chi Lin Nunnery inside the garden are the place to go. They offer an oasis middle of a bustling city, a place to relax where I also always enjoy returning to. The design of the Nan... Continue Reading →
There is no visit to Hong Kong without atleast once taking the Star Ferry. Before the several car and metro tunnels were built, the Star Ferry used to be the only way of getting across the canal from mainland to Hong Kong Island. I most enjoy taking the Star Ferry in the evening when you... Continue Reading →
The Peak is maybe my favorite place in Hong Kong and no visit to Hong Kong feels right without visiting The Peak. Personally I typically prefer going up via The Morning trail (see my hiking blog post for details: morning / night), but for most tourist the way to get up is to take the... Continue Reading →
Tokyo as a city offers some great food, e.g. in form of sushi and yakiniku barbecues, great onsens (Japanese natural hot spring baths), and some great parks especially during the cherry blossom season. Also, if you have more time to spend, you can easily take a day trip to either Mt Fuji or if visibility... Continue Reading →
Travel the World with Taru 