AN EXTRAORDINARY HONG KONG 10-DAY ITINERARY (PART 2)
GET A TASTE OF THE REAL HONG KONG!

Day 7   The Hong Kong Cultural Day

[Dialogue in the Dark –> Street Food@Dundas Street, Mongkok –> Yau Ma Tei Theatre+ Red Brick Building –> Yau Ma Tei Jade Market –> Dinner@ Temple Street Night Market]

After a physically-demanding day in Ocean Park, we’ve designed for you a relaxing day to get you exposed to the different cultural features of Hong Kong.

Start the day by challenging your four senses in the specialty museum called “Dialogue in the Dark” and experience five different Hong Kong environments in total darkness by using only sounds, smells, temperatures and textures!

Other activities are equally worth-trying: Birthday in the Dark, Dinner in the Dark, Wine Tasting in the Dark, and more.

Next, hop onto to MTR to reach Dundas Street in Mongkok to indulge your taste buds even further! Along this street, you will find all kinds of food stalls selling street food. Recommending you four of my personal favourites (try to order in Cantonese!): Egg waffle (Cantonese: Gai Dan Zai), Fish dumplings (Cantonese: Siu Mai), Rice rolls (Cantonese: Cheong Fun), Fish balls (Cantonese: Yu Dan).

Yau Ma Tei Theatre – After lunch, enjoy a very traditional Cantonese opera in this only surviving pre-war cinema building in the urban area of Hong Kong. Don’t worry about the language because some of the shows come with English subtitles and of course, music and actions are universal languages!

Also visit the historical Red Brick Building on the opposite side of Shanghai Street to buy some Chinese opera products as souvenirs!

The next stop is just seven minutes away and it is the Yau Ma Tei Jade Market. Poke through all kinds of jade products which have long been associated with long life and good health in the Chinese culture. The most popular items are jade accessories, including rings, bangles, pendants and earrings.

Another hidden treasure here is the street of “letter guys” (many locals don’t know about it!) which has been serving the public since the early days of Hong Kong under British rule. Their main jobs are to help people write letters and legal documents and fill in tax returns. Chit-chat with them and they’d be excited to tell you their life stories!

Today’s final stop would be Temple Street Night market. This street is also named Men’s street and the show is on only AT NIGHT! When the sun goes down, you will find traders laying out all kinds of low-priced watches, menswear, trinket, and electronics – all that you name. Many also get indulged in the street’s atmosphere as the experienced opera singers come out to perform and the fortune tellers exuberantly illustrate their stories of the future.

And not to leave your starving stomach behind – try the most local-style clay pot rice, seafood, noodles and other treats with extra gusto!
Links:

Dialogue in the Dark: http://www.dialogue-in-the-dark.hk/web/?lang=en

Yau Ma Tei Theatre: http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ymtt/

Day 9   A day to remember

[Golden Bauhinia Square –> Villain Hitting@ Canal Road Flyover –> Joy Hing Roasted Meat –> Causeway Bay Shopping –> Tram –> Shoe-shining@ Pedder Street –> Duddell Street Startbucks –> Pottinger Street (Stone Slab Street) -> Peak tram –> Victoria Peak + Madame Tussauds]

Set your alarm clock the night before so that you don’t miss the daily flag raising ceremony (7:50 a.m. to 8:03 a.m.) in this iconic Golden Bauhinia Square. FYI, the bauhinia flower is the emblem of Hong Kong while the Forever Blooming Bauhinia Sculpture erecting in the square was a gift from the Chinese Government to mark the 1997 Handover. Google it to know more about HK’s history! Take a selfie with this golden city icon with the beautiful Victoria Harbor as backdrop!

Next, walk to the Canal Road Flyover to meet this group of people who you never want to mess with – the Villain Hitters. They’re easily recognisable as you’ll hear their loud voices putting curses on their client’s enemies even 50 metres away! It is simply jaw-dropping to observe their work – no wonder why it’s already been listed as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage” of Hong Kong.

Joy Hing Roasted Meat – Then slowly walk over to another award-winning restaurant to savour their famous rice with roasted meat (Cantonese: Char Siu Farn)

When you feel that you’re fully re-energized, that’s the time you set off for your shopping spree in Causeway Bay! Yes, the piece of land you’re standing on is right where consumerism proudly blooms.

Dear girls, please prepare enough cash to work your way through the countless shopping malls, department stores, boutiques and market stalls. Dear boys, sorry to tell you this, but please be prepared that today your statuses will probably be overtaken by all the eye-catchy clothes and shoes and cosmetics and accessories.

Take a tram to Central (locals call it ding-ding, you’ll know when you’ve tried it!) When you walk past Pedder Street, you may catch sight of this interesting scene of businessmen having their shoes shined by sophisticated shoe-shining professionals. ATTENTION: They’re the only few left in Hong Kong!

Next, visit the Duddell Street Starbucks – the World’s first-ever Starbucks store to incorporate a BING SUT (traditional café) corner, fusing together a nostalgic retro style with a contemporary coffeehouse design. Have a lovely sip of the richness of this unique East x West culture alongside your regular cup of Grande cappuccino!

Then take a 10-minute walk to the famous Pottinger Street (Stone-stabbed street). Named after the first British Governor of Hong Kong, it is actually an uneven pavement made of granite stones – rarely found nowadays. Ideal checkpoint to find weird or scary or any kinds of costumes to stand out of the crowd, and to create your photo album! (Get your DCs and your Polaroids ready!)

N shots down, let’s continue the journey by walking to the Peak Tram Station. This must-take transport will take you up to the highest point on HK Island while uncovering to you the stunning scenes of the sparkling skyscrapers at a 45-degree angle – an absolutely pleasing visual experience!

Hold your breath, as what comes into your eyes at the Peak will be even more striking! It’s best to arrive in the late afternoon so that you manage to witness how the panorama changes from a dynamic dayview to a shimmering pink and orange sunset to the dazzling galaxy of lights.

I can assure you that after tonight, you will exclaim: OMG There’s no better view than Hong Kong’s!!!

If you still have the time, do visit Madame Tussauds Hong Kong to battle with Bruce Lee, pose with Barack Obama, hang out with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, shoot hoops with Yao Ming and feel David Beckham’s heartbeat!

Links:

Duddell Street Starbucks: http://www.starbucks.com.hk/coffeehouse/store-design/duddell-street

Peak Tram, The Peak: http://www.thepeak.com.hk

Madame Tassauds Hong Kong: http://www.madametussauds.com/HongKong/en