Britain in Springtime

After we had had enough of the freezing weather and short daylight for months, we went on this 2-week perfect journey in the lovely springtime with a route looping around Britain from London to York, from York to North West England where Lake District National Park was a must-see, and then to Scottish Highlands including Isle of Skye, and the Lowlands including Edinburgh and the Lothians, and finally Durham City back in England on our way back to London. 

YORK The Capital of North Yorkshire

Although travelling by Britain’s National Rail can be costly, it is still the best option when tickets at reasonable price are available by booking in advance, and when the time required for the journey is just two-thirds or even half of what it takes on a road trip, not to mention how tiring it could be to drive for hours. We went from London to York by train in early May, with a ticket costed GBP39 per adult. We could have had it cheaper.

A 1.5-day stay in the City of York was just right for us. As York is known as a walled city, the wall itself is an attraction, especially the part containing Micklegate Bar. Going between the accommodation and the city center we enjoyed walking on the city wall from which we had bird’s eye views of the city. York Minster is probably the iconic attraction of York, but the admission charge is GBP10, which we found overpriced for a visit to a church. We paid the visit free at 17:15 instead, by claiming we were there for the Evensong. By the end of the day we also found St Mary’s Abbey next to Yorkshire Museum. Not only is this Abbey in ruins a beautiful attraction, it is also free of charge. Never had I read about such Abbey on any major websites of York tourist information, which tend to feature paid attractions. We visited Clifford’s Tower the first thing next morning. The Tower is the keep of the former York Castle, a fortified complex comprising, over the last nine centuries, a sequence of castles, prisons, law courts and other buildings on the south side of the River Foss. The top of the Tower also overlooks City of York. The next stop was National Railway Museum. We planned to finish the visit in two hours, but it finally took us four hours to explore all those Britain’s trains of different eras. The museum is just kind of huge. We spent the rest of this last day in York wandering around the vibrant city center. There are other paid attractions that can be interesting if you are travelling with kids. 

Last but not least, Romley Guest House B&B is highly recommended, even though we are always picky and rarely so much satisfied with any accommodation when we travel. The room was neat, cozy, and well refurbished. The host Bruce was very helpful, friendly, and funny. He surprised us by serving us Alaskan waffles one morning and American waffles in the other.

Lake District and Cumbria

After one and a half day exploring City of York, we departed for Lake District in Cumbria. It was when our road trip began. We picked up the car at York Rail Station and then headed northwest. Kendal, a town in the South Lakeland District, was like an entrance to the region. We went on an easy trail called Scout Scar, in order to prepare ourselves for the more strenuous hikes the following days. The next two stops were Stott Park Bobbin Mill and Furness Abbey of English Heritage located in the south end of Cumbria. The former is an interesting museum whose entrance is by guided tour only, while the latter is a splendid Abbey ruins probably the biggest we had ever seen. Then, we headed to Windermere, one of the popular tourists destinations as well as accommodation in Lake District. It was almost 18:00, but there was still our dear sunshine for a final activity of the day - another short walk on a pleasant circular route around the busy waterfront area of Bowness and the quieter shoreline around Cockshott Point.

The second day in Lake District there was a clear blue sky for a whole day. Before arriving in the center of Keswick for one of the Keswick Walks - Walla Crag and Ashness Bridge, a moderate-grade hike full of stunning views over Derwentwater and mountains, we stopped at Thirlmere on the way as we saw a beautiful reflection of mountains and azure sky on the still water of that lake. We also went up to Catbells Summit, where we had nice views around Derwentwater from a different angle. After a long exhausting day, we went to Castlerigg Stone Circle by car. The Circle with layers of mountains as background made another best picture. We were glad we did enjoy this day as much as possible, as the host of the guest house in Windermere mentioned once, “It’s a very nice day today, but I’m afraid it will get back to normal tomorrow”. Then, it rained the following two days.

We always prepare a Plan B or even a C before setting off, especially in the rainy Britain. On the third day it was raining quite heavily while we were having breakfast. We decided to go for Plan B to avoid outdoor activities, i.e. head north to visit castles or other historical sites of English Heritage. Clifton Hall, Brougham Castle, and Penrith Castle were all nice places to see. The sun started to shine in the afternoon, and so we switched back to Plan A. Back in Windermere we had a short uphill walk to Orrest Head. From the top there were spectacular views in all directions. At around 16:00 the sky turned clear blue. We went on an easy trail from Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge. Halfway between the two points there was also a pretty waterfall. We spent a wonderful time there. The spacious green, layers of mountains, together with the perfect sunlight made one of our favorite scenes. 

The next morning we departed from Lake District for an 8-day trip in Scotland. Instead of going straight to Scotland, which could have been a 3.5-hour drive, we stopped off at three historical sites around the English-Scottish border by the Hadrian’s Wall. They were Carlisle Castle, Lanercost Priory, and Birdoswald Roman Fort. We found the first two more interesting than the last one. Roman Forts are generally burnt-to-the-ground ruins. Surprisingly, entrance fee of the fort was the most expensive among the three sites. That little museum in the fort might be a reason of such higher cost. In the late afternoon we headed north to Stirling, our first stop in Scotland. On the way up approaching the rainy Scotland it started to rain heavily. We had no more activity the rest of this day, but we did worry about the absence of nice weather for the coming days in Scottish Highlands where we planned to explore the beautiful nature.

Scottish Highlands

Stirling is actually part of the Lowlands. Touring around the beautiful Stirling Castle under an azure sky was such a joy. Both the interior and exterior of the castle were impressive. The colorful state apartments, in particular, attracted my attention. From the bastions there were also bird’s eye views of the area. Stirling Castle was our favorite among all castles we visited in this trip. Then, we headed north to Dunblane, where we visited Dunblane Cathedral. It was not a gigantic church, but the interior looked very nice though. After a 12-minute drive west from Dunblane Cathedral, we arrived at Doune Castle. It was when it started to rain. Fortunately we were protected from the rain during the visit under the roof of Doune Castle. Next, we headed 120 km northwest and arrived at Dunstaffnage Castle. Sadly, it was raining hard. On the way up the coast we stopped by for a view of Castle Stalker. It would have been a very nice view under the sun.

Unfortunately, it was not only cloudy but also rainy the next morning. From our accommodation in Fort William we headed east to the famous “Harry Potter Bridge”, Glenfinnan Viaduct. It would have been a good spot to see the bridge close enough in nicer weather. Then, we needed to head east back in Fort William, from which we continued to head north so that we could also finish a round tour around Isle of Skye by the end of the day. On the way up we visited Commando Monument and Eilean Donan Castle, and had some views of lakes and mountains without sunshine. The sun came out at midday, when we started to go on this circular route from the Skye southwest to northwest, from which we started to explore the entire northern part, and then got back to our accommodation in Broadford in the southeast, via Portree, the Skye’s largest town where we had a delicious seafood dinner. The magnificent Quiraing and Mealt Falls were must-see.

The next morning we departed from Isle of Skye. Going back east and then up to one of the largest castle in Scotland, Urquhart Castle, the appealing castle ruins right beside Loch Ness, home of Nessie. After lunchtime we arrived at Fort George, a large 18th century fortress to the northeast of Inverness built to pacify Scottish Highlands in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Fort George has never been attacked and has remained in continuous use as a garrison. We visited the barracks and the Grand Magazine, that displayed reconstructions of life in the early days of the fort and the Seafield Collection of Arms respectively. There was also the Highlander’s Museum that exhibited uniforms, weapons, medals, World War I memorial plaques known as “death pennies”, photographs, paintings, memorabilia and regimental regalia. We spent quite a lot of time in Fort George, before returning to Inverness for a night stay.

Scottish Lowlands

Going from Inverness to Elgin the next morning we were leaving for Lowlands. The big ground of ruins at Elgin Cathedral was impressive especially on a beautiful sunny day, as we saw shadows of these remains all over the ground. We also went up to the top of the tower where we had a stunning views of the entire ruins. Spynie Palace, another attraction 6-minute drive away nearest to Elgin Cathedral, looked nothing like a palace or castle because of its relatively smaller size. We were passing a very happy day, as the sun continued to shine. The next must-see was Duff House, a Georgian estate house as well as part of the National Galleries that exhibited a range of art treasures and superbly furnished rooms. The next two stops were Tolquhon Castle, one of my favorites, and Huntly Castle, the last of the day before going a long way back south to Perth, a city in Central Scotland as well as the historic county town of Perthshire.

Huntingtower Castle in Perth was once known as The House of Ruthven. It comprises two fine and complete tower houses. There is also a fine painted ceiling in the hall of the eastern tower. The weather was quite nice. We headed south to the first stop in Kingdom of Fife - Dunfermline Abbey, founded in the 11th century by Queen Margaret, and the Palace, fallen into disrepair in 17th century. Dunfermline Abbey & Palace was one of the most impressive architecture we saw on this trip. Next, we visited Aberdour Castle, the 13th century fortified residence of Aberdour extended by the Douglases between 15th and 17th centuries. We continued to head south until we arrived in Edinburgh and the Lothians where we visited Blackness Castle and Linlithgow Palace the first thing, before enjoying an air of romance at twilight at Arthur’s Seat, the main peak of the group of hills situated in the center of the city of Edinburgh that provides excellent panoramic views of the city.

The first stop of the next day was Tantallon Castle, that served as a noble fortification for more than three centuries and endured three sieges. It was just too cold and windy there on the coast. We felt much better and had a nicer time in Dirleton Castle, a magnificent medieval fortress located 15-drive west away from the coastal Tantallon. The resuscitated splendid gardens in Dirleton Castle that include the world’s longest herbaceous border was another pretty attraction. Then, we went back west to Craigmillar Castle in Edinburgh. Craigmillar is a well preserved medieval castle. It began as a simple tower-house residence, and it developed gradually over time into a complex to structures and spaces, as subsequent owners attempted to improve its comfort and amenity. This was the last day of the trip we travelled by car. After returning the car at Edinburgh Waverly station, we had a very yummy seafood dinner at Mussel Inn Seafood Restaurant in Rose Street.

Before going back to England we spent the last two days touring around the beautiful Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh on foot. Luckily, weather was very nice both days. Attractions included Scottish Parliament, Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street Gardens, Scott Monument, and also Calton Hill on which we saw Dugald Stewart Monument, The Nelson Monument, National Monument of Scotland, and City Observatory, and from which we had another perfect panorama of the city in addition to the ones from Arthur’s Seat and Edinburgh Castle. It was such a joy picnicking at West Princes Street Gardens, especially when we settled on a bench opposite Ross Fountain with Edinburgh Castle just behind over the hill. We did plan for a 1-day trip in Durham before returning to London. It was unfortunately raining heavily for one whole day, so we saw almost nothing but Durham Cathedral.

Brighton on the South Coast of England

On the south coast of England there is this lovely town - Brighton, the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove. Due to its proximity to London, Brighton is one of the most desirable holiday destinations for both Londoners and international tourists. The train journey from London Victoria to Brighton takes only 1 hour. One-way ticket per person costs £5 the cheapest.

Royal Pavilion, often referred to as the Brighton Pavilion, is the premier landmark of Brighton and Hove. This former royal residence was built in 18th century as a seaside retreat for King George IV, in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India back then, with an extravagant Chinese-styled interiors. As we arrived early at 10:30, we successfully beat the queue and avoided the crowd which would have been a nuisance for the visit and taking some good pictures. The magnificent building is no doubt a masterpiece. This is not a huge palace, however, a 2-hour visit shall be appropriate. Entry per adult costs £10.5. Print a voucher from VisitBrighton for a 10% discount.

One of my favorite kinds of trips is when sightseeing can be done entirely on foot, because it saves me lots of time and money on public transport. Brighton is a compact town where malls, shops, pubs, and restaurants are all located in the vibrant town center, not to mention popular tourists’ spots like Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier are only 12- and 18-minute walk away respectively from Brighton station. We did quite a lot of sightseeing in this 1-day weekend trip. Apart from Royal Pavilion and the seaside, interesting spots include Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, St Nicholas Church, Clifton Terrace, Vine Place, Powis Square, St Michael’s Place, Vernon Terrace, Montpelier Crescent & Villas, Hampton Place, Western Pavilion, Western Terrace, Hippodrome, Bath Arms, Black Lion, The Cricketers, Town Hall, The Pump Room, etc.

South West England

One perfect occasion for a little trip is when both Friday and the following Monday are bank holidays. Our four-day Easter weekend in South West England was even nicer than expected, as the weather was nicer than usual, surprisingly in the cloudy and rainy England. We did experience some traffic jams the last day on the way back to west London, but it was nothing big that could cause a huge delay.

Day 1: Stonehenge + Salisbury Cathedral + Thermae Bath Spa

We departed at around 10:00 for Stonehenge, the famous prehistoric monument located around 1.5-hour drive southwest from west London. These remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks were probably built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. According to archaeological evidence, Stonehenge could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings. The site and its surroundings have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1986. We had been told there was nothing but some stones and so seeing the site from outside the fence was more than enough. Some friends even suggested we exclude Stonehenge from the itinerary. After we had come so close to, and seen these stones from different angles, however, we confirmed the £8 entrance fee was well worth it for the magnificent views of the entire site.

Salisbury Cathedral, only 20-minute drive south from Stonehenge, might be the only big attraction in Salisbury. Parking just next to the site costs £6, so we went backwards to somewhere nearby and spent around £1 on off-street parking. Although commonly known as Salisbury Cathedral, the official name is the Cathedral of Saint Mary. This Anglican cathedral is considered a leading example of Early English architecture. It has the tallest church spire, largest cloister and the largest cathedral close in the United Kingdom. It also contains the world's oldest working clock. Entry to churches of this kind is usually free, but a voluntary donation is requested for its costly maintenance. No doubt the cathedral looks gorgeous outside, but the design of its interior sounds too blank. We did not spend that much time here before leaving for the next stop.

The plan of visiting Wilton House was called off, as it would not be a good idea to start the visit at almost 16:00 at an attraction that was closing in an hour. After another 1-hour journey on the road, we arrived in the beautiful city of Bath. We had been excited about the featured activity of this evening - Bath Spa, but we were then a bit shocked to see the long queue extended from Thermae Bath Spa to the street behind. On the left is a view of top of Bath Abbey and back of Roman Baths Pump Room & Museum from where we were in the queue for the Bath Spa. It took 40 minutes to wait for entry and it costed £26 per person for a 2-hour spa session. Bring your own slippers, towel, and robe, or you will need to pay for a rental. We had some good times in the “hot swimming pool”, but there was not anything extraordinary. Hot spring in Taiwan was much better.

Day 2: The City of Bath + Prior Park Landscape Garden + Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House

Since main attractions are all packed together with the farthest one located only 18-minute walk away from the hotel, we spent most of the day exploring this beautiful City of Bath on foot. The first stop was Pulteney Bridge, which is a passage we must go through when we go to and from the hotel. Embedded in as part of the bridge there is a little cafe that overlooks a panorama of River Avon in the south. Parade gardens,  where we could have got the best view of Pulteney Bridge, were supposed to be open, but it was closed. Luckily there is a footpath just opposite the gardens from which there is a very nice view of the bridge together with Victoria Art Gallery and a little fall of the river. The scene was especially breathtaking because of reflection of buildings in water and the azure sky.

The next two stops were The Circus and The Royal Crescent. Constructions in both sites are brilliant. By the Royal Avenue there is a spacious green from which we enjoyed a picture-postcard vista of the Crescent. We spent only a very short time there before going back south joining the crowd where Bath Abbey and Roman Baths stand. Commonly known as Bath Abbey, the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Bath is one significant example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the West Country. This cruciform church has been placed on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest in the United Kingdom. The Abbey looks gorgeous both outside and inside. A view of which from outside together with the front of Roman Baths was one of my favorite. 

Right next to Bath Abbey was our final stop in the City of Bath - Roman Baths Pump Room & Museum, probably the most notable attraction in the city. We had to queue for around 20 minutes, but the wait was not painful at all as we were pleased to have some nice shots of side views of Bath Abbey from where we were. We were not interested in the Fashion Museum of contemporary and historical dress, the entry fee was £12.75 per adult, instead of £16.25 for a combined ticket. Apart from the famous Great Bath, all other parts of the site are marvelous. There are The Terrace, Sacred Spring, Temple, People of Aquae Sulis, Temple Courtyard, Heated Pool & Plunge Pools, etc. Aided by the audio guide, we spent almost 4 hours to learn about the history and characteristics of these Roman Baths.

At around 14:30 we departed for Prior Park Landscape Garden, a beautiful 18th-century landscape garden located 5-minute drive away from City of Bath. Visitors’ best-loved historic icon is definitely the one of only four Palladian bridges of such design in the world. There is one other in Wilton House, a planned destination we missed on the first day. This Garden set in a sweeping valley that overlooks magnificent views of Bath also has trails leading to a circular route encompassing beautiful woodlands and meadows, an Iron Age hill fort, Roman settlements, etc. At around 17:30 we arrived at Sally Lunn’s Refreshment House back in City of Bath. After a visit into the mini-museum that showcases old-fashioned kitchens, we waited for 15 minutes to be seated and enjoy a late afternoon tea. I tried the Sally Lunn Bun, which was tasty!

Day 3: Cheddar Caves & Gorge + St Mary Redcliffe Church + Castle Combe

We departed at around ten for Cheddar Caves and Gorge, the largest gorge in the United Kingdom located 50-minute drive away from our accommodation in Bath. I had booked our tickets online in advance for a discounted price. For parking, we could have made some efforts to look for a space up the hill, instead of paying £5, even though the five was for a full day parking. The Gorge Bus Tour gave a brief introduction of the Caves & Gorge. Stalactites and stalagmites inside the scenic Gough’s Cave and Cox’s Cave were particularly awesome, while I would recommend to skip The Crystal Quest, unless you are travelling with kids. We had so much fun before ascending to the Lookout Tower and Cliff-Top Gorge Walk. The panorama of Cheddar Village was nice, but the Gorge itself was nothing exceptional.

Cheddar Caves were our favorite of the trip. We spent more than four hours there. At around 15:00 we headed northeast to St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol, a city located around 20 km northwest from Bath. Like Bath Abbey, the church is a Grade 1 listed building in the UK. This Anglican parish church is well-known for the beauty of its Gothic architecture. It is also the tallest building in Bristol. Queen Elizabeth I has described it as "the fairest, goodliest, and most famous parish church in England." From outside it does not look as charming as Salisbury Cathedral, but the architecture and fittings inside are far more exquisite. The Victorian stained-glass windows were created by some of the finest studios of that period. It was still early. At 16:00 we decided to go to Castle Combe, a destination originally scheduled for Day 4.

Renowned for its attractiveness and tranquility, and for fine buildings including a medieval St. Andrew's church, Castle Combe, a small village in Wiltshire, has been called “The Prettiest Village in England”. The village houses were constructed in stone with thick walls and roofs made from split natural stone tiles. The hundreds of years old properties are listed as ancient monuments, and therefore strict rules apply to preserve the beauty and character of the village. Residents need to arrange extra layers of double-glazed windows inside for cold weather, as they are not allowed to replace the original old windows. Castle Combe is a very pretty village. It is even smaller than I expected, but we spent quite a long time there to admire all those scenic spots and had enough nice shots until 19:00 when the sky was still blue.

Day 4: Farleigh Hungerford Castle + Nunney Castle + Windsor Castle

Since we had visited the pretty Castle Combe the precious day, there was extra time for extra destinations on Day 4. Farleigh Hungerford Castle and Nunney Castle are located 18-minute and 40-minute drive south of Bath respectively. Both medieval castles are in ruined condition. We had seen quite a lot of castles and palaces, but it was our first time to admire the ruins. The former is a Grade 1 listed building that fell into disrepair by the 18th century after Sir Edward Hungerford, the last member of the Hungerford family to hold the castle, needed to sell the property in 1686. The latter in Nunney was built in the late 14th century possibly influenced by the design of French castles, and was damaged during the English Civil War. It took around 1.5 hour to explore the entire Farleigh Hungerford, which costed £4.10 per entry; but a 15-minute visit was enough for Nunney.

We then headed northeast to Windsor Castle, which was the last stop of our trip on the way back to London. Due to traffic jams on this last day of Easter long weekend, it took almost 2.5 hours to drive from Nunney to Windsor. We had had no problem parking the car, but there in Windsor we spent 15 minutes to have the car finally parked, with a fee of £6.50 for only 3 hours. At around 14:20 we started to sightsee Windsor Castle. It is a big castle with gorgeous exterior. It is exactly the kind of fairy-tale castle I fancy. The entry fee of £17.75, however, is overpriced; because only a very few areas of this big castle are open to public. Unlike Palace of Versailles, for example, where you pay €18 to see the entire estate that would take a full day, we finished Windsor Castle in 2.5 hours, not to mention St. George Chapel was closed.

Hong Kong SAR

This is a picture from Tourism Commission Hong Kong.  
For more pictures, please visit www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/english/gallery/gallery.html

Born and raised in Hong Kong I should be considered a reliable source of tourist information of this vibrant and cosmopolitan city, which is also well-known as one of the world’s leading international financial centers.  This former British colony was transformed into HKSAR, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, when China resumed sovereignty in 1997.  It appears to me many overseas visitors see Hong Kong as simply one of the many cities in China.  Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, however, to a certain extent the city has nothing to do with its Chinese motherland.  You may not need a visa to enter HK, for example, but it can require a lot more preparation to cross China border if you fancy a 1-day trip to the mainland during your stay in HK. 

Despite being ruled by Britain once, locals are either illiterate in English or quite never have any chance in everyday life to practice using the language they have learnt from school.  English-speaking tourists should have no difficulty seeking assistance in business districts such as Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, and in stations of MTR, the subway system as well as main arteries of the city, but mobile apps like Google Translate and Search Engine might play an important part when you get on a taxi or a bus, go beyond big attractions to explore more thoroughly the city, and dine in local restaurants.  Nevertheless, as a form of official written language in HK, English is widely used in printed information and signs in MTR stations and other public facilities.

Hong Kong is a wonderful and very advanced city where people never get bored and as a tourist you are at ease getting around via the extensive transportation network, feel safe even going out alone at night, and depart with many pleasant memories.  Just bear in mind how hot it is in summer.  You might want to plan a visit before June or after August, if you have a choice.  I love Hong Kong.  It’s still the best place I would recommend, after traveling to quite many other places in the world.  I’d been a tour guide for a few times when friends from afar came over.  I hope some ideas and tips below would be of use.

Victoria Harbor

This is a picture from Tourism Commission Hong Kong.  
For more pictures, please visit 
www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/english/gallery/gallery.html

If, unfortunately, you can stay in HK for only one day, Victoria Harbor is definitely a must-see both in daytime and at night.  Have some yummy dim sum as breakfast in a Chinese restaurant.  Get off in MTR Central station and walk to the Garden Road Peak Tram Lower Terminus.  Enjoy a nice ride up to The Peak where the Sky Terrace at 428 meters above sea level offers spectacular panoramic views of HK.  Try one of the suggested walking trails to further explore the city’s diversity and sophistication.  You might want to spend a few hours at The Peak.  After that, take a bus outside of Peak Tram Lower Terminus towards Central Pier.  View the Victoria Harbor in a different angle on the ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui.  Inside Harbor City just next to the pier, choose from abundant choices of cuisines for lunch.  One of my favorites is the Taiwanese Din Tai Fung.  The dumplings, buns and xiaolongbao are sublime.  After recharging your batteries, shop the whole afternoon in Tsim Sha Tsui, one significant location of the HK shopping paradise.  Alternatively, get off in MTR Kowloon station and reach the city’s highest indoor observation deck Sky100 on the 100^th floor of the International Commerce Centre, the fourth tallest commercial building in the world, that overlooks this world-famous sight with another unbeatable 360^o panoramic view.  This costs more than The Peak.  And again, it’s a matter of luck whether there is a clear blue sky.  Get back to Tsim Sha Tsui and arrive by 19:30 at the waterfront between Avenue of Stars and HK Cultural Center, a vantage point of the nightly spectacle “A Symphony of Lights” which combines interactive lights of 45 key buildings on both HK Island and Kowloon with musical effects to showcase the vibrancy and glamorous night vista of Victoria Harbor.  Never elsewhere could you have such a magnificent scene.  The show is free for public enjoyment, and is staged every night at 20:00 with English narration on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  You should be hungry after the show.  For choices of dinner the nearest you can go inside Harbor City.  As Tsim Sha Tsui is a prosperous district full of quality cuisines, you may also go further away from the harbor to search for your favorite meal.  Or, go straight to Knutsford Terrace, a terrace street located 20-minute walk away from the waterfront, famous for its bars, pubs and restaurants.

If it’s a trip for celebration of birthday, anniversary, etc., or you just fancy an unforgettable night dining by the Harbor with a stunning view, reserve a table at Sky Dining 101 over Sky 100 observation deck in ICC, or one for a buffet at Harbourside of Intercontinental Hotel located only 7 minutes walk away along the waterfront. 

The Chinese Temples and Gardens

There are numerous Chinese temples and gardens in Kowloon, HK Island, and even outlying islands.  Following are some ideas of how you could make the best use of time to see the most.  From MTR Lok Fu station either walk or take a taxi to Kowloon Walled City Park which sits on the very site of the former Kowloon Walled City, a notorious nest of drug divans, criminal hide-outs, vice dens and even cheap, unlicensed dentists throughout the 20^th century.  The park was constructed by a work-force of skilled artisans from China being employed to ensure perfect reproduction of the classical concept of design inspired by the Jiangnan garden style of the early Qing Dynasty.  A typical visit lasts less than one hour.

Then, go one station east from Lok Fu to Wong Tai Sin.  Wong Tai Sin Temple, a well-known shrine and major tourist attraction in Hong Kong, claims to “make every wish come true upon request”.  Home to Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism the temple’s natural setting and finely ornamented buildings make it an amazing scene, especially for fans of Chinese culture.  Inside the temple there is also the Good Wish Garden which is often overlooked by main sources of tourist information.  The Garden provides a magnificent place with typical Chinese architectural features for visitors.  Pavilions of different shapes along side with two ponds and an artificial waterfall are linked up by a long-corridor, known as a replica of that in the Summer Palace in Beijing.

Next, go one station east again from Wong Tai Sin to Diamond Hill.  Follow the signs and walk for around five minutes to reach Chi Lin Nunnery, a large temple complex of elegant wooden architecture, treasured Buddhist relics and soul-soothing lotus ponds.  The Nunnery was renovated in Tang dynasty style.  It also includes a series of temple halls, some of which contain gold, clay and wooden statues.  Opposite the Nunnery across the road there is also the Nan Lian Garden, a public park also built in Tang dynasty style.  The park is meticulously landscaped.  Every hill, rock, body of water, plant and timber structure has been arranged based on specific rules and methods.  You might want to enjoy a lunch at the quality vegetarian restaurant inside the Garden.  Alternatively, get back to Diamond Hill station and search for your favorite meal inside Hollywood Plaza where there are many choices of delicious Asian food.

Hike and Seafood

Right over MTR Diamond Hill station there is a big bus terminus.  Take Bus 92 to Sai Kung Bus Terminus.  This is a 45-minute journey, so the hungry would lunch first before heading to Sai Kung, a former fishing harbor surrounded by villages and now a typhoon shelter where fishermen gather and boats can be hired for fishing and swimming trips to boost tourist trade.  Just spend an afternoon touring around Sai Kung Town that is full of local snacks and shops.  If you feel like burning some calories, come early to appreciate the beauty of this Peninsula on the MacLehose Trail Sections 1 and 2, known as the best way to see the amazing hexagonal volcanic columns of High Island.  To do this, catch Bus 94 at Sai Kung Town towards Wong Shek pier and alight at pak Tam Chung Station.  The route also passes High Island Reservoir and Long Ke Wan, two of the HK’s “10 Best Scenic Sites”.  However you spend your afternoon, enjoy a very palatable seafood dinner in one of the many restaurants in Sai Kung Seafood Street.  Seafood dishes there are all sublime!

Another place best for hike and seafood is Lamma Island.  Get off at MTR Hong Kong station, walk to Central Ferry Pier, and then take a ferry to Lamma Island.  It doesn’t matter which one of the two piers on Lamma you depart for.  There is only one main hiking route from one side of the island to the other.  Not only is it an easy hike suitable for all ages, it also offers nice sea and mountain views on the way at the highest points.  Treat yourself to a palatable seafood dinner on either end.

Lantau Island

Begin your day with a 25-minute cable car ride from the Tung Chung Terminal of Ngong Ping 360 near MTR Tung Chung station.  You could opt for a Crystal Cabin by paying 50% more than that for a Standard Cabin.  Its glass bottom offers a stunning bird’s eye view of the deep blue sea and lush green mountainside right under your feet.  The culturally themed 1.5-hectare Ngong Ping Village located where cable cars terminate has a wide array of shops and eateries that offer a delightful shopping and dining experience.  You might also be interested in the Walking with Buddha multimedia presentation and the educational animated fable Monkey’s Tale Theatre.

The renowned Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping Piazza and Wisdom Path are all located only five-minute walk away from the Village.  Climb the 268 steps for a closer look at this massive Buddha, a remarkable statue which took 12 years to complete.  Catch your breath and enjoy the sweeping mountain and sea views at the top from the Buddha’s base.  Descend the stairs and visit the Po Lin Monastery just opposite.  Known as one of HK’s most important Buddhist sanctums and named “the Buddhist World in the South”, this monastery is rich with colorful manifestations of Buddhist iconography.  Its pleasant garden full of birdsong and flowery scents worths a visit too.  Have a nice lunch at their popular vegetarian restaurant before leaving for the next stop.

Get back to Ngong Ping Village and take Bus 21 to Tai O Village, home to a community of fisher folk who’ve built their houses above the tidal flats of Lantau Island for decades.  These interconnected structures form a tightly-knit community that literally lives on water and are seen as a photographer’s paradise.  Have a walk along Tai O Market Street where homemade shrimp sauce, shrimp paste, salted fish and dried seafood can be found.  Don’t miss the Tai O Rural Committee Historic & Cultural Showroom that stars relics of local community’s intriguing past such as fishing tools and dismantled old structures.  All the items in its collection were donated by local residents.

Take the bus at Tai O Terminus back to Ngong Ping Village, and conclude your Lantau Island day-trip with a beautiful sunset view as you take the cable car ride back to Tung Chung.  Alternatively, take Bus 1 to Mui Wo and then the ferry to Central.  Enjoy a walk past all those skyscrapers or take a bus to Soho District, an entertainment zone flooded with quality restaurants, bars, nightclubs, art galleries and antique stores.  Have a yummy dinner, followed by some nice times in a bar.

Colorful Markets Day and Night

Two must-goes for visitors, in particular the shopaholic, to experience local culture are Ladies’ Market and Temple Street Night Market.  The former is actually Tung Choi Street, one of the most well-known street markets in HK, where various kinds of products not just for women are sold for cheap prices.  Practice your haggling skills while you walk along this one-kilometer stretch that comprises 100 stalls of bargain clothing, accessories and souvenirs.  Get off at MTR Mong Kok station and pick a nice lunch among many choices of delicacies before the market stalls open.  If you ladies want something more than Ladies’ Market, continue shopping at Langham Place, one of the biggest malls in HK, or at other shopping centers in Mong Kok, which I would call it a shoppers’ paradise.  When the sun goes down, go one station south from Mong Kok and get off at MTR Yau Ma Tai station.  Temple Street, sometimes called Men’s Street, is known for its night market, its snacks and roadside dining, and as one of the busiest flea markets at night.  There are also opera singers and fortune tellers.  It’s common to see the place crowded at dusk with both tourists who shop and sightsee and locals who look for a delicious but cheap HK-style street cuisine.  Claypot rice, seafood, noodles and other treats consumed in gusto all represent HK’s traditional and unique food culture.

Shek O and Stanley

Shek O, literally meant “rocky bay”, a beachside village located on southeast HK Island, faces the South China Sea and is surrounded by Shek O Country Park, Big Wave Bay and Cape D’Aguilar.  Shek O Beach, a sandy public beach, is a popular weekend and holiday destination with a public barbecue area and many local-styles restaurants.  I liked spending some time at the Beach with friends before walking into the pretty village where we had some drinks followed by a tasty lunch.  Avoid going there on Saturday or Sunday, as public changing room and toilets are crowded and can have a very nasty smell.  Big Wave Bay, located around one mile north of Shek O Beach, is a desirable place for surfers.  There are basic bars and restaurants, and equipment hire such as body boards and lilos at both beaches.  To go to Shek O, get off at MTR Shau Kei Wan station and take Bus 9 to the final stop.  Also located on southeast HK Island is a nice town called Stanley, whose places of interest include Stanley Market and Pat Kan Uk, Stanley Main Street, Murray House, Stanley Plaza, and Stanley’s Beaches.  It’s considered a tourist attraction, but I would say it’s a place for a community of expatriates from western countries to live, relax, and gather with friends.  Buildings, restaurants and bars are of western styles, except that there are a few small Chinese temples.  To go there, take Bus 6 at Central Exchange Square Terminus.

Disneyland and Ocean Park

Most tourists have a tight schedule and sometimes it’s impossible to spend two full days on exploring both themed parks.  Which one is more interesting, Disneyland or Ocean Park?  Well, it depends.  First, if you’ve already visited a Disneyland of a bigger scale, for example, Disney World in Orlando, Disneyland HK wouldn’t give you any extra surprise.  Second, you might want to revisit a magical wonderland as such, only when you travel with kids.  Ocean Park is rather all-inclusive, in contrast to its competitor.  It’s an integration of marine mammal park, oceanarium, animal theme park and amusement park.  You would be happy to see some of Asia's most precious native animals, including giant pandas, red pandas, Chinese giant salamanders and Chinese alligators at the Giant Panda Adventure.  It’s a theme park visitors of all ages would have fun.  If you fancy fantasy, get off at MTR Disneyland Resort station.  Otherwise, take Bus 629 from MTR Admiralty station and alight at Ocean Park.