Hong Kong city
Holidays in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a heady mix of spanking new malls that out do one another, twisty little streets that are home to the coolest hangouts, and dessert shops at just about every comer! Why do we love Hong Kong? Let us count the ways:
Hong Kong market
Guys will so get in the way if they can’t keep up with the Hong Kong shopping pace.
Joey from the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Singapore office, wasted no time in bringing us to the malls. If it’s hip, trendy buys you’re after, head straight for the amazing Langham Place Mall in Mongkok — it’s got 15 floors of goods and will give you a buyer’s buzz for sure! The Spiral Zone houses over 100 up-and-coming designer labels, accessories and collectibles, all laid out bazaar-style to get that shopping adrenaline pumping.
When we hopped over to APM Mall. Why APM? It’s a play on am and pm because the mall’s open every day from 11am till midnight! The restaurants stay open till 2am and the entertainment spots all the way till 6am! It’s totally accessible from the Kwun Tong MTR.
We went gaga over brands like Biotherm, Clinique, Maybelline and L’Oreal Paris. It even has the largest DHC (a popular japanese beauty brand) store in Hong Kong.
We dropped by Shoegirl where you can get gorgeous custom-made shoes and bags. Pop into Pink Martini, and you might just be shopping alongside actress Charlie Yeung. It carries fabulous frocks sourced from Europe and Japan. The clothes are all one-of-a-kind and we simply couldn’t resist trying them on. In case you’re feeling a little guilty for blowing all that cash on yourself, Dusty, a local streetwear brand, has some funky caps and tees for your guy.
The place for quirky stuff has got to be LCX at Harbour City. The youth-oriented level has stores like Foam Factory where you can handmake your soaps, and The Palace, Prince & Princess where you can snap up a tiara!
Hong Kong Food and Restaurant
A serious shopper has to refuel and in the food paradise that is Hong Kong, there are many places to do just that! Macau Restaurant’s value-for-money breakfast sets (just HK$21) are great! Don’t miss its famous pork chop buns and Portuguese egg tarts.
Temple Street’s Hing Kee’s claypot rice is another must try. It’s got ingredients such as pork ribs, eels, beef slices and even crabs in it. Over at Central, we slurped up Min Yuan Noodle House’s crisp, handmade thick broth of beef brisket noodles. Street stalls are definitely the best places for an authentic foodie experience!
For some posh nosh, there are more than enough restaurants on the menu to pick from. Fusion cuisine is really big here so we trooped to Xi Yan Sweets. If the name sounds familiar, it’s the sister restaurant of the same renowned private dining restaurant in Hong Kong that’s also opened here in Singapore. It serves the same signature dishes like Wine Marinated Chicken with Sour Plum. The desserts are utterly delectable, especially the ice dining with your girlfriend is that there’s no nagging when you pick food off her plate, and sharing always makes you feel as if you’re eating less than you really are!
Hong Kong Disney
Hong Kong Disneyland opened to much fanfare in September. Good thing it’s easy to reach the happiest place in Hong Kong — simply take the MTR to Sunny Bay and go on board the Disneyland train. It was Disney magic the moment the train pulled up with Mickey Mouse and the rest of the Disney characters adorning the carriages inside out.
Maybe it’s the Disney air but we were like two giggly schoolgirls as we watched the float parade and queued up for the park rides. We were most shutter-happy as we posed with Donald Duck, Tigger and Pooh! Don’t leave Hong Kong Disneyland too early — make sure you catch the nightly display of dazzling fireworks at 9pm.
While it’s not exactly known as a spa destination, Hong Kong does have some sweet spots for relaxation. For some downtime, we scooted off to Pretty Beauty Spa, a small chain of spas that prides itself on using natural ingredients like papaya, apple and seawood. The spa ingredients are all ordered from Banyan Tree. I picked a chocolate wrap for myself while Janice chose the Swallow Axilla (a combination of bird’s nest and honey) wrap. Other tempting treats: Coffee Exfoliator or Rice and Sandalwood Healer. It offers great deals too — get an aroma massage, milk spa soak and body wrap for just HK$48o for 90 minutes of body indulgence.
And if you’re looking for the latest trend-setting look, make an appointment at II Colpo Avant Garde. This hair salon has styled the locks of Hong Kong pop stars like Alex Fong so we took their leads and left with an updated do!
Hong Kong is party central! Whether you’re in the mood to boogie up a storm at a club at Lan Kwai Fong or croon at a karaoke joint, Hong Kong pretty much has it covered. Minden Avenue at Tsim Sha Tsui has recently become the hot spot for locals. Wine bars, cosy alcoves and thumping R&B clubs can be found along this short stretch. We made our way to Cloudnine, a slick after-dinner drinks club with an adjoining KTV lounge and people-watched the night away.
If you prefer something a little more laid back, Lace is the perfect place for an afternoon cuppa. This Parisian-chic hideaway combines a cafe and a concept store selling vintage clothes. We just couldn’t tear ourselves away from the plush, comfortable surroundings.
Hong Kong gave was a whirlwind of a trip and we hadn’t even explored the entire city yet! We agree that it’s perfect for a getaway with the girls. Be it shopping, dining or chilling out, the city sweeps you up in its never-ending cycle of activities. And whether you’re going on budget or aiming to live the high-life with your chums, you’re bound to find something that will make it an unforgettable getaway.