10 things to do with your mum in Hong Kong

I've just recently said farewell to my lovely mum who left Europe for the first time to visit me here in Hong Kong. My mum doesn't like big cities, busy places or the heat, so needless to say I was very worried that she would absolutely hate it here. Oh, and to top it all off she suffers quite badly with vertigo! My main aim of her trip here was to give her all of the great experiences Hong Kong city has to offer (from as close to the ground as possible) mixed in with showing her Hong Kong's quieter side and charming natural beauty. Instead of documenting everything we did I thought i'd make a list compiled from the things my mum most enjoyed, with an additional few that we didn't do on this trip but I will endeavour to do on her next visit (yes she says she wants to come back, success!). So here are '10 things to do with your mum in Hong Kong'.

1. Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden's.
Beautiful, tranquil and very easy to get to from the city. My mum loved it so much she went back twice during the days I was at work. Check out my previous blog post on it here.

2. The House of Dancing Water, Macau.
The most impressive show I've ever seen. I think this is a must for any visitor! You can make a whole day of Macau, walking around the old Portuguese style town and gambling in some of the biggest casino's in the world. Ride a gondola around the Venetian before crossing over to the City of Dreams to watch the show. Buy your tickets here.

3. Kadoorie Farm.
Get some fresh air at Kadoorie farm see some beautiful scenery, a variety of animal's from pigs to flamingo's and pick up some organic produce.

4. Varga Lounge.
My favourite bar in Soho, the most amazing cocktails coupled with friendly bar staff, cool decor and retro music. A great night out for anyone! Check out their cocktail menu and address at their suitably themed website vargaloungehk.

5. Lamma.
Have a mini break in Lamma, take the 25 minute ferry from central and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, take a walk to the beach, hunt for souvenirs in the numerous kitschy shops, have dinner at one if the waterfront restaurants by the pier and watch the sunset before taking the ferry back. See the Lamma post I wrote for more details.

6. The Peninsula.
Treat your mum to some high tea in one of the grandest hotels in Hong Kong, complete with a live string quartet!
The Peninsula is across the road from the Avenue of Stars, perfect for a post tea stroll along the harbour.
Peninsula website

7. Market Shopping.
My mum is one for buying lots of souvenirs for people back home, there are so many markets around Hong Kong to choose from, Ladies Market and Temple Street should cover all your souvenir needs (I personally prefer Temple Street, it's a bit less touristy so less haggling is required). Stanley markets are a more chilled out option.

8. Big Buddha and Tai O.
A tourist attraction well worth visiting. The cable car ride journey there is great, I would highly recommend booking your cable car tickets in advance as it will cut out a lot of queuing time when you get there, and there are always queues! (Book here on the website - np360). If you're mum is like mine and suffers with vertigo, then there is a bus that goes to Ngong Ping from just next to the cable car, it's $55 dollars for a bus pass which I'm pretty sure gives you access to any bus on Lantau for the day (It was all in Chinese so I couldn't be sure). The dolphin excursion in Tai O is also well worth the $30, even though it's highly unlikely you'll see any pink dolphins, it's a fun trip around the village. If it's a nice day I would stick around on Tai O until sunset, it's really very beautiful. See if you can spot the Macau tower on the horizon too!
I went back to Mui Wo after Tai O to catch the ferry back to central, there's a great bar/restaurant along the waterfront right next to the pier called 'The China Bear' which makes for a lovely evening to end a day on Lantau Island.

9. Stanley
A lovely place to have a beach day complete with cute markets, cafes and bars aplenty.

10. Junk Boat trip down Victoria Harbour.
Observe the impressive cityscape from the water in an antique style Chinese junk boat, Aqua Luna does a great 45 minute cruise down the harbour, with a cocktail included in the price.