Aside from a walk on The Peak, taking a ride on the Star Ferry is another must while visiting Hong Kong.

If you’re a tourist on a tight schedule, chances are you’ll only be able to take the ride once. When it’s time to board you need to know which seats will give you the best view and photo opportunities. Sitting on the wrong side, in the wrong place will squander the trip.

Though the Star Ferry ride is now shorter than it once was (due to the relocation of the pier,) the brief trip still offers a fantastic view of the city at any time of night or day.

To get the best view, first make sure you take the entrance to the upper deck. In the Tsim Sha Tsui and Central ferry terminals, you know you’re headed to the upper deck if you’re one level higher than the ground floor. Another way of confirming this is by the fee, which is a mere 2.2 HKD for a one-way ride on top.

After you figure out the new token machines, and proceed through the turnstile, you will normally be waiting for the next ferry to arrive. During most times of the day, there will be a new ferry every five minutes or so.

In the terminal there are two slips, one on either side. Typically the next boat leaves from the opposite berth than the last ferry departed from. You should make your way to the entranceway and stand in line before the electronic gate swings open.

For the best photos you should sit in the outdoor seating area. The outdoor seating area takes up the middle of the boat and is divided into two parts. The ferry also has indoor seating at the front and back ends of the boat, but this is not the ideal spot for taking photos.

The down arrow points to an ideal seat at the end of the row. In the photo above, the back support would need to be pushed in the opposite direction so that you could face forwards, heading towards Tsim Sha Tsui.

As you board in Central, you should sit on the right side of the boat. This will give you an excellent view of the interior of the harbor, including landmarks such as the Bank of China, the Convention Center and Tsim Sha Tsui’s Cultural Center. The other side faces the exterior of the harbor, Discovery Bay, and less notable parts of Hong Kong and Kowloon. If you are boarding from Tsim Sha Tsui, heading towards Central, you’re going to want to sit on the left side of the boat to get the best view.

Ideally you will want to be one of the first to board and the first in your row. If there are already too many people on line, and you’re afraid you won’t get a good seat, don’t despair. Hang back and catch the next boat, it’s usually just 5 minutes away. (Even if there are people on line, you’ll have an edge, since you’re going to know which are the best seats before you even board!)

The bench seats on Star Ferry have a movable back support that can be changed depending on which direction the boat is traveling. Once you board, you will often need to push it back, so that you travel facing forwards. (Facing the wrong way is a sure sign you’re a tourist!) The boat always goes in the direction of the destination. So when you’re boarding from Tsim Sha Tsui, the boat will be facing Central and traveling towards towards Central.

You may have to switch the back-support to the correct direction before you sit. Look for the opening in between the thin columns. You’re going to want to sit in a space where the view is unobstructed. (O.K., it doesn’t make a huge difference, but it will provide you with the best opportunity for taking video and photos.) If you can’t get the seat you want in the first section of the boat, there are other good seats towards the back in the second section of outdoor seating. Look for a row where there will be a clear view not blocked by the columns and sit in the seat closest to the water.

To recap: sit on the upper deck on the correct side of the boat: right side leaving from Central, left side from Tsim Sha Tsui. Enjoy!

For more tourist info, check out my post on Hong Kong in only 1 day!

If you had just one day to show people Hong Kong, where would you take them?

Here’s my top secret one-day tour!

Say you’re in Hong Kong just for a limited time and you want to see as much as possible. Where do you start?

First of all, don’t trust your guidebook. Most of the time it’s not aimed at the sophisticated traveler but for the most mainstream tourist. Use it as a reference only. The guidebooks tend to push things that aren’t central to the Hong Kong experience. Two places I would immediately skip are the Big Buddha and Stanley. Both of these require too much travel time and don’t deliver enough pay-off to justify the trip.

Get your goals straight before you arrive. Although the territory is diverse, Hong Kong is primarily known for being a vibrant, cosmopolitan city – “the Manhattan of Asia.” The emphasis on this short tour is to give you a glimpse into the colorful markets, extreme shopping, and stunning urban landscapes that earn the city its reputation.

This quick, condensed tour will provide you with excellent photo opportunities, great souvenir shopping and a peek into the soul of the city.

Before you set out:

Bring your walking shoes because in order to explore this town you need to walk. You can stop for a drink every so often and refresh yourself. Learn part of what makes Hong Kong tick – convenience stores! Hong Kong has two major chains: 7-11 and Circle K and they’re everywhere. Use them and you’ll be living like a local.

Getting around:
Taxis in H.K. are much cheaper than in other countries and are not too dishonest. (Perhaps because Hong Kong is too small to drive too far?) Apart from main tourist destinations, it helps to have the address either told to the driver or written in Chinese. Most taxi drivers’ English is fair but don’t expect them to know the names of every street in English. Normally it helps if you tell the driver both the street name and the neighborhood. For example: Queens Road, Central.

The MTR, Hong Kong’s subway system is extremely convenient, clean, and exceptionally safe. You can purchase tickets for individual rides through the easy to use vending machines, or you can go to the ticketing desk. Read my post with details about the system.

Hong Kong is relatively small so walking is a great way to really see the city. In many parts of town you can walk from one neighborhood to the next in no time. Take a small map with you and you should have no problem navigating. Streets are clearly marked in Chinese and English and there are natural landmarks such as the harbor and mountains, as well as tall buildings to help you get your bearings. Hong Kong is very safe and you won’t feel intimidated walking anywhere at any time of day.

Bargaining and haggling:
Since this tour explores markets, you may need some bargaining strategy. Keep these points in mind: start with a smile; prices get cheaper with greater quantity; not every price will be negotiable, but most prices in markets should be negotiated. Don’t go too crazy if the price is already cheap (for example, a $12HKD bouquet of flowers you don’t need to get down to $10.) However, a suitcase priced at $300 you may be able to get down to $180.) In some circumstances it helps to act like you’re going to walk away, but only after they’ve given you a reduced price that you believe is too high.

This is a one-day itinerary, but feel free to break it up should you only have an afternoon or a night free. You can use your guidebook, or any free map found at hotels or at the Hong Kong Tourist Association offices to help you follow along. The itinerary includes the following sites:
Flower Market
Bird Market
Fa Yuen Street Market
Tung Choi Pet Street
Electronics shopping on Sai Yeung Choi Street
Ladies Market
Tsim Sha Tsui Harborfront promenade
Star Ferry
The Peak
The Lanes

Markets, markets and more markets

Shopping is the number one past time of Hong Kong city dwellers. For better or for worse, you can’t stroll down the street without multiple shopping opportunities presenting themselves. You can find everything from ultra high-end to below $10 HKD stores. In addition to being places to shop, the markets included here provide an interesting slice of Hong Kong culture and are extremely photogenic. Here we go!

Start at the Flower Market in the neighborhood called Prince Edward on Kowloon side. Once you’re there, simply walk to the end and you can enter the bird market!

For details, directions and photos of the Flower and Bird markets, see my in-depth post.

Nearby is the start of a different kind of market. On the front corner of the Flower Market, cross the street at the intersection of Sai Yee Street and Prince Edward Road and walk away from the market, towards Nathan Road. Look for the beginning of the market on Nullah Road / Fa Yuen street. You should see a car-less pedestrian street packed with stalls and people shopping.

Here you enter another dense street market. If you like, walk not down the center, but on either side where you will find sample clothing stores to browse. Head one long block down towards Mongkok and take a right on Bute Street. Next, take a quick left to head down Tung Choi Street. You know you’re in the right place when the street looks like a sidewalk aquarium!

Pause to take some photos of the hundreds of varieties of fish on display. Continue down in the same direction as before. When you hit Argyle Street, cross and walk over one street to your right – this should be Sai Yeung Choi. Sai Yeung Choi Street is a major shopping strip particularly for electronics. (If you’re camera hunting, try inside the Yau Shing Building at 51 Sai Yeung Choi Street South. There you’ll find several floors of electronics shops. Note that electronics prices differ according to the type of warranty.)

At the intersection of Nelson Street and Sai Yeung Choi, take a left and walk half a block and you’ll hit the Ladies Market on Nelson Street and Tung Choi Street. The Ladies Market is filled with all sorts of necessities, tourist merchandise and knock-off products. This is a place you should definitely bargain and perhaps even use the ‘I’m walking away’ technique. After a few blocks you should be tired and perhaps sick of shopping! Take a break, grab a drink, or head to lunch.

Next stop is the Star Ferry pier in Tsim Sha Tsui. Take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui (pronounced ‘Chim-Sa-Choy’) or a taxi to Star Ferry pier if you want to save time.

Once you arrive, walk along the waterfront, up the stairs of the observation platform and catch the magnificent view of the harbor. You can read more about this area here and here.

When you have enough photos, head back along the water and enter the Star Ferry terminal. The ferries depart to two different destinations on Hong Kong Island, Central and Wanchai. Take the journey to Central. There are actually two different entrances. Climbing the stairs will put you on the upper deck of the boat. The street level entrance goes to the lower deck. I prefer the upper, but you’ll have similar views either way. (The lower-deck smells a little bit like diesel fuel.)

(Note that the seats on the ferry are benches with back-boards that swing in either direction allowing you to sit facing the direction of travel. Switch it to the correct side, (if it isn’t set when you board,) and then take your seat.)

From the ferry you have a water level view while traversing the harbor. The route is much shorter than it used to be, but still provides you with a wonderful view of the city. As you depart you will get closer and closer to the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island. Getting off the boat you will arrive in Central near the (current) tallest building in the city, Two IFC aka IFC2.

Exploring The Peak

Let the other people stand in line for the Peak tram. Instead, just hop in a taxi and say “The Peak”. It’s cheaper (with a few people,) faster, and you can take the tram down if you want.

Arriving at the Peak don’t go to the regular viewing platform. There you’ll see only a fraction of the view. Read my post on How to Optimize Your Peak trip. The Peak walk can take place at night or during the day. Either time is stunning and worth the trip when there’s decent to good visibility.

After all your time in the markets and perhaps with the additional shopping you’ve done in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, or Causeway Bay, you might be running out of room in your suitcase. If you find yourself in this situation, or just want to load up on more souvenirs while in the Central neighborhood, The Lanes are worth a stop.

Comprised of two parallel alleys (East and West,) in the Lanes you will find similar tourist souvenirs as you would in the Ladies Market in Mongkok or at the Temple Street Night Market. (You can skip The Lanes if you’ve already filled your souvenir quota.) However, another draw is a set of shops selling suitcases at very reasonable prices. The stores are located closer to Des Voeux Road on Li Yuen Lane West. Expect to find lower to mid-range luggage. The price of suitcases in Hong Kong is much cheaper than in other countries. Something you would need to pay $200 USD for, you can find for $25 USD in Hong Kong.

As for other interesting Hong Kong shopping destinations, I’d suggest On Lan Street in Central, Granville Road and vicinity in Tsim Sha Tsui, and the area around Juice in Causeway Bay.

Note: I may update this post from time to time to add more spots I think are worthy of a one-day tour. Enjoy!

I’ve only been to the big Buddha, one of Hong Kong‘s top tourist attractions once. The last time was after no sleep on January first several years ago and I found the place over-rated. Commonly referred to as “the big Buddha,” the official name is the Tian Tan Buddha Statue. The big Buddha is located in a far-removed area called Ngong Ping on Launtau Island. It’s perched high atop a hill with a long straight staircase that leads up to the base.

Finding myself lured back to the statue last week, I decided to double check my first appraisal, as well as map out the best route, weighing transportation time, scenic beauty, safety, and fun.

There are multiple ways of getting to the big Buddha statue. The fastest route depends on your starting point and the amount of scenery you want to take in. I’ll use Hong Kong’s Central neighborhood as an example.

First, take the ferry from pier number six, just outside of the IFC mall. Look for the sign that says Mui Wo, Lantau Island. The ride time depends on whether you get an express ferry, or a slow boat. Another variable is if it is a weekday or public holiday. Once you arrive at Mui Wo, simply exit the ferry and you can catch the number 2 bus to Ngong Ping directly outside of the terminal. The number 2 is the first bus-stop closest to McDonald’s and 7-11.

The cost is $25 HKD one way for an adult. The buses are clearly marked and easy to find both going and returning. If you like, you can take a taxi, which costs around $125 HKD one-way from the ferry pier to the big Buddha statue.

Another common way of getting to the big Buddha is by catching the Tung Chung MTR line from the basement of the IFC mall. You take the train until the final stop which is Tung Chung. Walk out of the station and take the number 23 bus to Ngong Ping, the site of the big Buddha. I haven’t tried this simply because the ferry ride offers a more pleasant experience than taking the train. It might be slightly faster, but it’s certainly less scenic.

The newest option you have is to take the infamous Ngong Ping cable car, from Tung Chung to the Buddha at Ngong Ping. Why is it infamous? The cable car has had several performance scandals in its short life including stalling with people trapped in the cars, and has even had an empty car fall to the ground! To me, that’s simply not excusable for a transportation service that’s open to the public – especially not in the early life of the system. As much as I’d like to take this ride, I’m reluctant based on its short history of performance. But as far as thrill and scenery goes, the cable car has lots to offer! The ride is around 25 minutes long and the views should be amazing. Not a good place to take someone afraid of heights though!

For more information about the Nong Ping cable car, have a look at the site here. At the moment it appears to only be running in limited service. You can catch the cable car by going to Tung Chung via MTR (as described already above,) and then walking to the Ngong Ping Cable Car terminal.

The bus ride to Nong Ping where the Buddha resides is around thirty minutes of hillsides, mountains, and ramshackle lots on Lantau Island. You might even spot a few brown cows lounging next to the road! If traveling by bus, sit on the right side and you will have a view of the Buddha perched on top of the mountain long before you reach the site. Look for it when you see a large reservoir out on the right window of the bus.

The bus completes its journey to Ngong Ping, dropping you off at the end of the line which is nearly at the feet of the long, steep staircase up to the statue. Those with walking impairments might want to consider whether they’ll be able to make the climb. Though I found it easy, it may be difficult for the elderly or the out of shape. A slow climb is possible.

Arriving at the top I snapped a few photos. The sun was protruding over the shoulder of the statue making it difficult to photograph from the front. My favorite view was from the side, where I caught the blue sky as the background. There is a serene quality to the sculpture partly due to its massive size and simple lines.

After the climb they have an indoor exhibition of some kind that I didn’t feel inclined to see. Part of the pleasure is just admiring the neighboring mountains from the statue base.

Descending to the bottom again, my friends and I decided to check out the adjoining monastery.

The big draw here seems to be the assorted food courts serving vegetarian cuisine. There are also several areas of worship with burning incense.

The biggest difference between now and the last time I visited is the development of Ngong Ping Village. The village is located just a block away from the bottom of the statue and the nearby monastery. Between the Big Buddha statue and the cable car terminal, a pedestrian street with low-rise buildings on either side has been built. Visitors are funneled between the cable car and the statue with ample restaurants, urban standbys such as 7-11 and Starbucks and tourist traps of different colors.

Meat lovers who find themselves un-satiated by the monastery’s vegetarian offerings now have a place to dine.

Despite my reservations about taking the cable car, I would have taken it back from Nong Ping to Tung Chung, however, getting on line at the place labeled “Ticket Sales,” we were told that tickets were only available in Tung Chung. Perhaps this means that only round-trips are offered, or possibly this limitation was due to the holiday.

Since there was five of us, and the bus cost $25 HKD per person, I decided that we should just take a taxi back to Mui Wo. Soon, one of the light blue taxis arrived near the big Biddha bus station and we jumped in for a swift ride back to the ferry.

If you are so inclined, you can catch a bus in the same spot as you were dropped off. It’s best to have money on your Octopus card, or exact change, since they can’t take bills. Take the number 2 to head back to the Mui Wo ferry pier, or the number 23 to go to Tung Chung Centre, which will leave you next to the MTR station.

Despite the new offerings, I still feel like the big Buddha isn’t one of Hong Kong’s top sites. Especially due to the time it takes to get there and back, if you’re only in town a few days, your time would be better spent exploring the city’s vibrant urban landscape.

I’ve been up here countless times already and it’s still a wonder to behold. Walking along Hong Kong’s busy streets you have no idea how the city fits together – building by building, block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood. From the vantage point up on The Peak it all comes together. Peer down from above and you are rewarded with a fresh look at places you dash by every day. I come up here as often as I can to have a look at the city. You can read more about my trips and see additional photos by going here or here. I love this place. It’s rare for a city to have such an inspiring view.

Tuesday night I took a few photos. Wednesday during the day I was back up there again and decided to shoot a short video with my camera (don’t expect vivid colors!) Have a look at the 35-second tour!

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/6X3worLZSGPFlf3yC" width="425" height="335" wmode="transparent" /]

Don’t settle for less: see the full view of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak
Most people who visit the Peak simply go to the observation deck on top of the Peak Tower (home to the Peak Tram station.) While this is an excellent view, it’s only a partial look at the city.

For a view that’ll really knock you off your feet, simply walk a casual ten minutes away from the crowd, along a winding cement pathway located at the rear of the Peak Tower. The walkway is nearly flat and you’ll be in for a big treat. (You know you’re starting at the right place if you walk by a set of stairs going down on your right, and continue past a small older building on your left before entering the pathway.

After around ten minutes you get your first taste of the magnificent 180 degree view – but don’t stop yet. It gets better! Continue walking in the same direction. Take your time and you will notice that moving another twenty feet gives you a noticeably different perspective.

At a certain point you will begin facing the Tsing Ma bridge far off in the distance. If you’re feeling ambitious and would like to see what’s on the other side of Hong Kong Island, continue walking. The pathway forms a loop and it will take you right back where you started from. To be honest, the view of the other side isn’t as breathtaking. There’s a scenic waterfall and some photo-ops of rolling hillsides with Lamma Island in the distance, but it’s not as dazzling as the cityscape.

How long does it take to do the loop? It all depends on your walking speed. I’d say forty-five minutes to an hour at a decent rate, slower if you’re pausing for pictures, which you surely should be!

Closed for renovations for about a year, the harbor-front observation deck in Tsim Sha Tsui recently reopened. The structure is a one-story high elevated walkway located directly in front of the Cultural Center. It offers unobstructed views of Hong Kong Island’s breathtaking skyline directly across the harbor.

I happened to be early to meet a friend for dinner, so after disembarking from the Star Ferry I walked one block to the observation deck. It was exactly eight o’clock, time for the daily “Symphony of Lights” show. I hung back and watched as the tourists jockeyed for position to photograph the spectacle. The display consists of thirty-three different buildings flashing their lights in time to music with narration. Several of the buildings have elaborate colored lights, spotlights and lasers, which makes it more interesting. The real stars however are the buildings themselves, so any time of day the observation deck is a worth a visit.

To get there, take the MTR (subway) to Prince Edward Station. (The station is on the Tsuen Wan line or ‘red’ line.) When you get off at Prince Edward stop, look for signs that list the different exits. Take Exit B1 and you will find yourself on the corner of Prince Edward Road West, and Nathan Road. Look around, you will NOT need to cross any street. Turn left when you exit onto the sidewalk and walk down Prince Edward Road West. After a few steps you will pass a police station. You will probably see people carrying flowers walking in your direction. Walk towards where they came from, further down Prince Edward Road West.

After a few short blocks you will be at the beginning of the Flower Market. Along Prince Edward Road there are dozens of shops selling flowers, but mostly accessories. If you continue down the street, it will open up to the main flower market area with flowers spilling out onto the street.

When you get here, turn left, up from Prince Edward Road West and walk into the main market area. You can only walk for half a block before you turn right, along the street that runs parallel to Prince Edward Road. This is Flower Market Road. Flower Market Road contains dozens of shops selling all sorts of flowers. They have flowers here that you’ve never seen before!

As you come towards the end of the road, it begins to curve back onto Prince Edward Road. You will see the following sign:

You are now at the entrance to the Bird Market. I know they call it the “Bird Garden”, but that sounds too fancy for me! This is the place where you can buy bags of live jumbo-sized grasshoppers for your pet bird to snack on. People (mostly older men,) will bring their birds here and then hang their cage on a hook or a branch, and hang out and talk with other bird enthusiasts. It’s a scene!

One of my favorite scenic sections of Hong Kong, the waterfront promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui, finally reopened after a few years of renovations. The walk begins at the Star Ferry terminal, and continues towards Tsim Sha Tsui East. Strolling along the harbor you are treated to breathtaking views of the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island, with the mountains at their back. This is the view that greeted me on my first night in the city many years ago. No matter how many times you see it, it’s inspiring. Click on any of the photos to see a larger version.

Added to the walkway recently is “Avenue of the Stars” an homage to the stars of Hong Kong’s once glorious film industry. Yes, it’s an imitation of Hollywood, but that doesn’t stop people from crouching down and taking photos with their hands in the mold of Jackie Chan’s. There’s even a statue of Bruce Lee.

If you’re a fan of Hong Kong cinema, you will be happy to spend half your time gazing down at the names that appear sporadically in the pavement. Even for those with no interest in the movies, the view along the waterfront is as captivating a cityscape as you are likely to find, so it’s worth a visit.

Located near the beginning of the Avenue of Stars is the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Across from the Museum lies the Cultural Center, a wedge-shaped building (where traveling plays and concerts are held,) and the planetarium.

Occasionally, you can even spot (and photograph!) an old ship in the harbor!

Last weekend I was showing around some friends and I took them to the Temple Street Night Market that begins in Jordan and ends in the Yaumatei neighborhood of Kowloon. The night market is a must for tourists. It’s easily accessible by taking the MTR to Jordan station and walking a few blocks west on Jordan Road until it intersects with Temple Street. The market consists of several blocks with stalls forming a corridor in the center of the street. You walk through the narrow space between stalls and check out the merchandise.

For sale you can find souvenirs, weird gadgets, action figures, some knock-off products, small home necessities, clothing and many other things. At the middle of the market there are scores of fortune tellers who sits at small tables and peddle their services. The end segment close to the Yaumatei MTR station has more stalls set up selling “antiques” as well as food stalls and even more gadgets.

Near the beginning of the market, I discovered a CD shop called HIP HOP that has an excellent selection of CDs. Although I’m not much of a CD person (I prefer vinyl,) the selection of music was much better than other shops I’ve seen in H.K., with very cheap prices. There were many special Japan releases of CDs, and an especially good selection of Hip Hop, Dancehall, and Soul music. The address is: 179A Temple Street.

I’ve mentioned the MTR in several of my previous posts. The MTR (Mass Transit Railway,) is Hong Kong’s subway system that stretches to 53 stations and is used by over 2.4 million people each day. Every car is extremely clean, air-conditioned, well lit, and completely safe. They are likewise graffiti free, although they are occasionally covered in advertisements (some of which are actually innovative and cool). The train’s cars are open, with no doors in between, so you can look down the entire length of the train for as far as you can see. Many of the platforms are enclosed which keeps the tracks clean, and prevents accidents.

Hong Kong’s MTR system is less complex than other subway systems around the world, which makes it easy to get around and simple to use. There are several different lines that intersect, but nothing as complex as New York or Tokyo. Should you have a question, there are station manager booths with people to provide information or address any problems with your ticket. Announcements of stops are made after the doors close. All announcements are made in Cantonese, English, and Mandarin. Maps of the system are located above the train doors in every car. There are five major lines, plus the Airport Express. Each line has a different color theme. Trains run from 6am to 1am. There is even a new Disneyland Resort Line with specially customized trains. Mobile phones work perfectly throughout the system. Click the image below to see a map of the MTR system.

In many of the stations there are 7-11 or Circle-K convenience stores (although no eating or drinking is allowed on the trains.) Each station has ATM machines, and many also feature small bank branches. A popular place to select to meet friends is usually at the bank.

There are two ways to get through the turnstile (more like a small gate) to catch a train. One way is by purchasing a ticket, the other way is by using an Octopus card. To purchase a ticket, simply go to one of the ticket vending machines in the station. You pay a fee based on your destination. Just press the destination, and the machine will calculate your fare. You can pay either by coins, or small bills – as some of the machines take ten and twenty dollar bills. However the preferred method of payment is via Octopus card.

Octopus cards are stored value cards that work by radio waves. You don’t need to take them out of your wallet or bag, simply touch it to the right place on the turnstile and you can proceed. You can use your Octopus card (or the even cooler – in a geek way – Octopus watch,) to make small transactions as well as pay for your fare on everything except taxis including: the MTR, busses, ferries, trains, trams, and mini-bus. You can also make purchases from convenience stores, McDonald’s, Starbucks, and the two major grocery stores chains (Park N Shop and Wellcome.) The rechargeable Octopus cards can be purchased for $150 HKD and are available at the station booths.

A few nights ago I went for dinner on The Peak and ended up going for a walk and taking a few photos. It was the clearest day in a long time, so I couldn’t help myself – even though I have around a hundred photos from here already. The view never gets old.

The search lights in the above photo, shooting up from the building across the water must be a property company looking to generate interest in a new development. Hong Kong is under constant construction.

The government is beginning to develop a section of reclaimed land called West Kowloon. It’s on the Western side of Tsim Sha Tsui. (It’s the right side middle of the photo above.) I’ve seen some of the models and it’s going to be VERY impressive. H.K. has a number of large waterfront projects going on right now that are really going to up the quality of life in the city. The harbor front walks are already enjoyable, but they’re being expanded tremendously. I hope they stay away from the gimicky crap like ‘Avenue of the Stars’ that they created in T.S.T. though.