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As you sit reading this I’m off on an adventure to Hong Kong! This is the first time in almost 10 years that I’ve been in Asia and I’m super excited. My family is originally from Hong Kong and while most of them have left the city for other parts of the world, it’ll be interesting to see the city my parents grew up in. Exploring my roots so to speak.
I have been to Hong Kong before. The first time I was just a wee one of 5 years. The second, was a quick 24 hour blur of the city before heading off to Cambodia and Thailand. This time around, I will be in the city for 10 days. I’m really looking forward to actually really seeing this city and most importantly, EATING!
Here are a few things on my to do list:
See Hong Kong from the top of the Peak.
The last time I was up here it was 3 am and really really foggy. Hopefully this time around, I’ll get a view like this.
Ride the ding ding cars.
They look like the Knight Bus from Harry Potter (especially that first purple one). So tall and thin!
Explore my family’s roots
My parents have given me a list of places to see that were important to them. Where they grew up, went to school and so forth. Above is where my father lived, but now it no longer exists.
See Lantau Island and its big Buddha.
I have pictures of me here at age 5. All I really remember is the smell of incenses.
Visit all the markets.
I’ve only ever been to the night market at home and I’ve been assured that the real thing is completely different.
Popping over to Macau and experience a little bit of Portugal in China
Are we in Portugal or is this China?!
Eating all the food!
Dim sum, noodles, BBQ pork. You name, it I’ll eat it. Nom nom nom.
See some cool temples and monasteries
Like the Chi Lin Nunnery pictured above.
Join in on the umbrella revolution
Just kidding. Sort of. I’m staying in the area they’re currently located so I wouldn’t be surprised if I run into them.
Just wander around and take in the beautiful harbour and lights
Hello nightly free light show! So pretty!
Oh… and did I mention eating?
Someone is going to have to roll me onto a plane.
Have you been to Hong Kong or Macau before? Give me your best tips! I’ll be posting photos and updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to follow along!
Photos: 1 ¡kuba! // 2 Neerav Bhatt // 3 Daniel Lee // 4 Anna & Michel // 5 Alexander Savin // 6 Philip Wong // 7 Rob Young // 8 流璃 // 8 Steve Webel // 9 Robert Banh
Sunday Traveler
This is a post for the #SundayTraveler link up. 
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Note to #SundayTraveler readers: I won’t be updating next week. I’ve been blogging consistently and would like a short break while in Hong Kong. Plus, for the first time in ages, I’m not traveling with a computer! If I’m able to my hands on a computer, I’ll add in the link code below, but if not you can link up the following week with any of the other cohosts.
Update Nov 16: There are computers at the airport!
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Have fun! We’re going to be in Hong Kong for a quick weekend trip in a couple weeks! I’m looking forward to adventuring there, too!
Thanks! I hope you have a blast when you go. There’s so much to see and eat! Enjoy 🙂
Make sure to have a duck or goose. Also, egg custards!! They’re delicious!!
Yes! I ate plenty of goose. So good. Egg tarts I’m kind of indifferent to. The only time I like them is when they’re fresh out of the oven and they melt in your mouth.
I have never been but adore Asia so it’s on my list! Enjoy your adventure xx
Thanks Bron! Hopefully you get a chance to go. I had a great time!
How exciting! I can’t wait to hear how your trip went! I’ve been to HK, but it was so long ago that I can hardly count it. I was 15 or so and very bummed that we hadn’t gone somewhere beachy for my school break, so I spent the entire three days in HK pouting like a sulky teenager. 😉 Needless to say, I need to go back!
Aww! If only we can all go back and slap our sulky teenage selves for all the silliness that we do. Hopefully you get a chance to go back! It’s a lot of fun to explore.
One of my dream destinations. Hong Kong must be a very exciting place.
I’d love to ride those double-decker trams, view the skyline from the peak.
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It very much is a very exciting place. So many people and they’re all moving at such a fast pace. It can be dizzying!
Have heard wonderful things about Hong Kong, and look forward to reading your subsequent posts! And, by all means, if you feel like air-freighting some dim sum over here, by all means, do! 😉
I’ll be shipping some right over to you 🙂
Nice! I was there several years ago, but it was close to the summer and was extremely hot. One of the most memorable moments was watching the fireworks show from the Bruce Lee statue-area. There were some breakdancers breaking/dancing to one of the songs from Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift (which I loved.) They were really good. It was all so exciting.
It was one of those crazy atmosphere moments in travel that you just really feel present and in the moment and it was amazing. Have a great time, and don’t forget to eat some good food ;).
Yikes! I can’t imagine visiting during the summer. The 25 degrees plus humidity I had was more than enough. That does sound like a great memory to have of the city. So much fun!
I love Hong Kong! I used to go there for visa runs when I was working in mainland. I can’t wait to see your posts about the big buddha. Each time I was in HK it was too cloudy/rainy so I thought I wouldn’t be able to see anything. Enjoy!
Oooh yes, you definitely need to go see it on a clear day. I just started my post on it so it’s coming up soon!
How exciting! My grandparents met in China but started their courtship in Hong Kong, and I made a point of going to the street where my great-grandfather had a store. One of my childhood dreams was to ride the incredibly long Central-Midlevels Escalator. However, no one had told me that they are one way depending on time of day. We were dropped off at the wrong end, and I only got to walk the stairs next to the escalator instead of actually riding it. My next bucket list item is to finangle an invitation to the incredible house you can look down on from the top of the Peak (you’ll know which one I’m talking about).
Yikes! I would not have liked having to climb up all those steps along the mid-level escalators. I sure hope you were going down and not up! I didn’t know they switched directions either until we got there, but we got lucky and picked the right time and place. Good luck on snagging your invite. Let me know when you do! 🙂
That dim sum!!! It all looks incredible, have a great trip! My best friend lives in Hong Kong at the moment so hope to get there soon enough! 🙂
Thanks Emma! I hope you get a chance to visit too. Hong Kong is awesome – especially if you have someone to show you around.
Hi Adeline, sounds like you got most great to do stuff covered . It would be nice to spend 10 days in HK. I’m sure you’ll be in for a great time. I suggest exploring Sheung Wan, the old heart of HK. For me, the true charm of HK still lies in its old heart. For temple visit don’t miss, Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple. Locals from all walk of life frequent this temple to have their fortunes read and to make wishes. It’s very atmospheric. BTW, I just wrote a post on HK few weeks ago. You may want to check it out. http://wp.me/p2htrT-5OX
Thanks for the tip! I actually missed out on Wong Tai Sin much to my disappointment. I didn’t do proper research and by the time I found out about it, we had already explored that area of HK and it didn’t make sense to go back to the area. I’m sure I’ll be back in HK in no time though.
I’m so excited for you that you’re in Hong Kong (saw it on your instagram today!). It makes it even more special that you’ll be exploring your family’s roots. I know some of my most memorable travel experiences have been the ones where I got to learn more about my family! And yesssss… the food. I’ve actually only been in HK during an 8 hour layover (a few weeks ago!), but all I did was eat and eat. D’s been to HK previously and he swears that the food there is one of the best in the world. Can’t wait for you to share what you ate there!
I feel like all I did was non stop eat. There is SO much good food there. You seriously can’t go wrong. Lots of food posts coming up stay tuned 🙂 Hopefully you’ll get a chance to properly explore HK later (though, I think you might get bored quickly after all your time in other parts of Asia)
Have a great trip! I haven’t been but if you bungee jump, the tallest one is in Macau. Seen crazy videos from it but know a few girls who did it and loved it.
Haha, you couldn’t pay me enough money to jump off of a building, much less the tallest bungee jump in the world. I’ve seen other bloggers do it, but this one stayed firmly on planted on the group. I did look at the tower though haha!
How exciting! I’ve heard such interesting things about Hong Kong. Enjoy and can’t wait to follow along!
Thanks Amy! I had such a blast. Great city to visit.
Have a great time 🙂 Take a step out, forget the blogging world for a few days and really savour your time there. And the food. Of course.
Yes! It was so nice to not have to worry about making sure posts were publish on time, monitoring comments and doing all that pesky promo work. Now that I’m back home, its been tough getting back into the swing of things!
how awesome does that food look! have a brilliant time!
Thanks Andrew! The food was amazing!
Sounds like you have a great trip planned! Something I’ve always wanted to do is go back to Italy where my family is from. And eat of course 🙂 Enjoy Hong Kong!
Thanks Marissa! I hope you get a chance to do that trip. It’s always interesting to see where you come from.
Have fun exploring your family roots in Hong Kong then, Adelina! I have only been there once, but I found the city a lot more enjoyable than the rest of China. Definitely make sure to take the ferry over to Macau. That was probably my favorite part of the trip as I had never seen a n Asian version of Las Vegas in a the middle of a Portuguese town… 🙂
Thanks Dennis. I think Hong Kong is a great introductory to Asia and it’s pretty easy to explore 🙂 Macau was definitely strange – exactly as how you describe it. Vegas, Portuguese and Chinese all at the same time.
You’ll be booking two seats for the way home after all that yummy looking food?! I actually had some friends at school who came from Hong Kong but spoke with a Yorkshire accent, very funny!
Haha, pretty funny! There were lots of strange English accents, but I guess it comes from all the British influence over time. Didn’t need the 2nd seat but lets just say my pants have been uncomfortable tight for most of the trip. So much good food!
Good pictures interesting place
Ah, I love Hong Kong too!!! It is such a vibrant and great city! One can never get bored in Hong Kong! Have an amazing trip!!
Thanks! So true! There is so much to do in the city. And always something to eat 🙂
I haven’t been, but a friend has recently moved out there. I think it sounds like an amazing place to visit, especially when you have a personal connection
How is your friend liking it? I had a great time! Hong Kong is definitely a lot of fun to visit.
Holy YUM! Your food pictures are making me drool!!! I’ve never been to Asia, but Hong Kong and Japan would be my top 2 for visiting. Hope you had a blast – can’t wait to read more about your trip.
P.S. I nominated/challenged you to name 5 places you’d like to re-visit as part of a promo going around in the travel blogosphere: http://thriftygypsytravels.blogspot.com/2014/11/5-places-that-draw-me-back.html 🙂
Thanks Katrina. I think Hong Kong would make a great way to start traveling Asia & I’d love to go to Japan too. Hope you get a chance to go one day! Thanks for the nomination too 🙂
I think you are going to have a blast in Hong Kong, Adelina. I’ve never been there but all those who return from Hong Kong are in awe of it. Especially if you still have some family there and maybe even speak the language, it will make you feel more at home. Glad for you. Looking forward for future posts about it.
Thanks Anda! I had a great time! Can’t wait to share all the stories 🙂
How exciting!!! I want to visit Hong Kong someday! Also on my list, if I ever went, is Hong Kong Disney! 🙂 Anyway, can’t wait to hear about your adventures and all the things you get to see!
I debated HK Disney, but decided against it in the end. You should check out Ocean Park too if you ever go. It’s apparently the thing to do if you’re a local (and tourists too).
Whoooop whoooop sounds like a blast. Enjoy.
We were in Hong Kong a couple of years ago… gosh, the food!!!!! Yummm! We went in November — time for hairy crabs! 🙂
Yes! The food was amazing. I don’t think I stopped eating at all the whole time I was there. Alas didn’t have any hairy crabs this time around though. My travel companion is allergic to shellfish and I can’t eat it all on my own 🙁