Pop-up Parties in Hong Kong

There appears to be something of a pop-up revolution reshaping nightlife in Hong Kong (or maybe I'm just late to the party..?) In recent months, I've noticed more and more 'pop-up' parties literally popping up all over the place. I've attended a few and, well, they've been really great, just what I feel is missing from Hong Kong's often overly pretentious nightlife. These events appear to be attracting a really great crowd of people, good music and excellent settings. Some of these events are taking place on rooftops all over Hong Kong, so if the crowd and music weren't good enough, you can also soak up the views and general amazingness of being in the midst of Hong Kong's skyline. I've compiled a selection are groups who are putting on these pop-up parties, so take your pick and enjoy.

Rewind

Held at the Penthouse by Harlan Goldstein in The Midtown, Causeway Bay. This free party boasts a million dollar view, reasonably priced drinks, a cool crowd and very funky music. Definitely a winner. Their last event was only their third event and they were full to capacity for quite a while.

Photo's taken from Rewind's Facebook page, photo credits to Jason Dean Cooper.

George Lucas Reggae Movement

One of the OoOH HK guys pop-up events. Similar vibe to rewind, but strictly reggae. The location has so far varied from Shek O beach to the legendary Azure rooftop. There have so far only been three events of this sort, and they're already a sell out. Chilled out reggae Sundays, a dream combination.

Botellón

Botellón, Spanish for "big bottle". Another OoOH HK number, currently on Botellón XII. With the aim to bring a touch of European lifestyle to Hong Kong, in the simplest of manners, this event has unsurprisingly been a huge hit. This is basically a mass gathering of people at the amphitheatre in LKF, the organisers get the music spinning then the rest of the party is down to the crowd, bring your own bottle of something and immerse yourself with this open-minded group of Hong Kongers.

 Join the OoOH HK Facebook group to keep updated about these two event series.

*OoOH HK stands for Out of the Ordinary Happenings in Hong Kong, incase you were wondering.

Little Burro Block Party

Not only does Little Burro serve brilliant burritos, they put on a great party. Now on event number 4, the Little Burro block parties are not one to miss (unless you're like me and have to work.. hopefully I will make it to one over the summer when my schedule will change and free up my Saturdays). So anyway, I found this little quote on their event page and thought there was no way I could possibly make the event sound more appealing.

"With a (dope!) line up of guest DJs and musicians playing throughout the day, margaritas on tap, kegs flowing and burritos rolled to order, we are daytime drinking. Again. Did we stop?"

It sounds perfect, really it does. 

Unknown Pleasures

So, this series of pop-up parties hasn't event launched yet. I checked out the event page and saw that it will be held on a, yet to be disclosed, rooftop in Sheung Wan, up-and-coming artists will be playing and it's BYOB. That combination is sure to be a massive success! Definitely one to watch. Part one will be held on May 30th, the link to the event is in the title.

Any other similar event series to recommend? Please let me know!

Kowloon: Coffee Joints

Lately, I've found myself really heralding Kowloon. There's a great mixture of things on offer, today I am looking at Kowloon's coffee joints. Who needs to go to Central for good coffee when we've got such great array on offer here?

N1 Coffee and Co.

Due to its proximity to where I live, this is one of the places most frequented by myself on the list. A lovely little coffee joint just adjacent to K11. This place ticks all the boxes, relaxed atmosphere, great coffee and they even have a fantastic selection of bagels on offer. If you're in the TST area regularly don't forget to pick up a loyalty card.

34 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui



Cafe Ceres

I used to love coming here when I worked in Kowloon City, great coffee and they always put a lot of effort into the artwork, I really appreciate details like this.

19 Fuk Lo Tsun Road, Kowloon City



Gladys' Estate Coffee

These guys are really passionate about their coffee. If you're a real coffee connoisseur, i'm sure the attentive staff here will be more than happy to talk beans with you. They offer brunch here as well as some delicious looking cakes which i'm really keen to try.

6-8 Lion Rock Road, Kowloon City



Wolf Den

generous sized portions

I was both surprised and overjoyed to find a place like this right by where I work in Mei Foo, tucked away underneath the Broadway right across from Lai Chi Kok park. They have some outdoor seating which makes for a great place to sit outside and enjoy your coffee. They also serve nice food, generally very big portions of it as well. They have a good selection of things from salads, to jacket potatoes and burgers. If you're not familiar with the Mei Foo area, I recommend going for a walk around Lai Chi Kok park while you're here, it's a really beautiful little park.

G/F No.1A Broadway, Mei Foo Sun Chun, Mei Foo



Kubrick

image taken from Timeout HK

A Kowloon coffee list is not complete without a mention of hipster haven, Kubrick. A great place to spend an afternoon, peruse the shop for books and wonderful nicknacks before getting your caffeine fix in the cafe. Check out an art house movie at the Broadway Cinematheque next door while your there.

3 Public Square Street, Ya Ma Tei



Full Cup Cafe

Hidden away amidst the hustle and bustle of Mong Kok, this little gem is spread across three floors. They offer a huge selection of quirky teas, from herbal tea to fruit tea, and coffees. They often have bands playing on the first floor. Definitely worth checking out if your in the area, the chilled, vintage style of the cafe is always a warmly welcomed escape from the busy streets of Mong Kok.

36 Dundas Street, Mong Kok



Green Door Coffee 

A small hole in the wall cafe just behind Granville Road, simply decorated, minimal menu. All round good quality with a nice relaxed atmosphere.

3 Granville Circuit, Tsim Sha Tsui

Music Event Organisers in Hong Kong

I love Hong Kong, however something that i've always felt is lagging far behind my home country is the music scene. Saying that, there are quite a few music event organisers around which put on some fantastic events and who are all working really hard towards one goal, having a thriving music scene here in Hong Kong.
Each group specialises in slightly different genres and they all have their own unique style of putting on events, so hopefully there should be something here to please everyone!

Hybrid Group

The newest of all the groups on my list, they rebranded themselves in January 2015, formally known as EDM Freaks. As their former name suggests, they generally host Dj's specialising in electronic dance music. Under their new brand they've already brought several big names to Hong Kong including DJ Chuckie, Sunnery and James and Hook and Sling. Under their recent rebranding they are looking to bring even more variety of music to Hong Kong, so watch this space.

Fresh Off The Boat Asia

I've been a fan of these guys since first attending their warehouse party in Kwun Tong, what a night that was! These guys throw a varied mixture of events from DJ's such as Simian Mobile Disco in Fly, Brunches in Ovolo, to their recently started NiteBite events, a magical combination of food and drinks. The packages for their NiteBite series include free flow food and drinks at locations such as Boqueria, along with some top quality Dj's of course!
I'm still waiting for warehouse party part 2...
Oh, and rumour has it the event organisers actually live on a boat. How cool is that?!

Songs For Children

For all you indie music lovers, these event organisers are a must! Ran by the lovely Lammaites Mike and Jane from Scotland, they've bought across a myriad of top quality indie acts from Carl Barat to The Drums. They've recently expanded their company to be a management company and record label. Their events are always in great venues such as The Hangout in Sai Wan Ho.

Bunker Club

The first rule of Bunker Club, you do not talk about Bunker Club.
Yes, this is the place to go for your secret rave in the mountains, the forest, a country park or maybe even an actual bunker somewhere. Message the Facebook group with your email to receive the location (only released on the day of the event) along with a map.
Remember, it's a secret. Shhhhh!

Heavy Hong Kong

Hip hop, drum and bass, jungle, reggae. Nights most often held in the infamous XXX. Expect cool vibes and cool people, no champagne packages or VIP at these events. One of the rare few nights out you'll have in Hong Kong where you can experience a true night in the underground.

Follow these guys on Facebook and you should always be able find somewhere to go to fulfil your music cravings in HK.

Do you know of any other great music event companies in Hong Kong? Let me know!

Easy Hong Kong Hikes

A Sunday spent hiking in Hong Kong is a perfect end to the weekend.. however if you're not the biggest fan of sweaty Sunday's, or always seem to spend most of your Sunday nursing a hangover from the night before, here are some hikes which are relatively short and easy. Just the perfect amount of exercise to clear your head and not leaving you in regret over yet another wasted Sunday. (I've thrown in a few post hike restaurant recommendations for good measure).

Sai Kung - Sai Wan
Okay, so it's not the easiest place to get to (unless you live in Sai Kung).. but the hike itself is very pleasant with some magnificent views, after around an hour walking you will end at the beautiful Tai Long Wan beach. If you're feeling particularly lazy you can even cheat and get a speedboat from the beach back to Sai Kung rather than hiking back to the bus stop! There's lots of restaurants in Sai Kung town to enjoy as well, last time I was there I had a particularly excellent meal at Mandy's Private Kitchen. Authentic Caribbean cuisine, so think jerk chicken and coconut cocktails, mmm...

Go for a dip in the rock pools behind the beach

The view, best enjoyed on a clear, sunny day when the water glows turquoise

If you live in Kowloon, getting the red minibus from the bottom of Dundas Street in Mong Kok is definitely the quickest way I know of. If there's a group of you, getting a taxi from Sai Kung to Sai Wan Pavilion will work out not much more expensive than getting the 29R bus (which I've found to be somewhat unreliable in the past). The road up there is very windy.. If you're hungover, be prepared.

Discovery Bay to Mui Wo 
You can start this from either side. As both DB and Mui Wo have an excellent selection of bars and restaurants you can decide which way to go based on where you want to spend your evening post hike (perhaps not the best hike if your looking for an entirely healthy Sunday..) My Mui Wo favourite has to be the China Bear, I've also heard great things about the Turkish restaurant Bahce, I will have to check it out at some point. If you want to finish in DB I cannot recommend Thai Restaurant Koh Tomyums enough! The best Thai food I've had outside of Thailand. It was cheaper than I was expecting for DB as well, the bill came to around $340 each for which we shared starters, several mains and two bottles of wine between three. Not bad at all! Don't forget to redeem your bill for free ferry tickets back to Central upon spending over $120 at any restaurant in the D'Deck. (Every $120 spent gets you a free ticket).

Back to the hike.. it takes around an hour and a half, whichever side you pick there will be a section which is quite uphill, but it's still pretty easy going.

Escape to the mountains

Approaching Mui Wo

There are ferries that run between Mui Wo and Discovery Bay, if you decide you want to go back to your start point, check out the times here.

Lamma Island
You can opt for either the long route around the whole island, which takes approximately 2.5-3 hours, or you can just walk from one side to the other which is around 1 hour long. Whichever you choose, the trail is quite flat. Lovely Lamma is always enjoyable! I may as well throw another recommendation in and keep with the theme.. Lamma Grill does a great selection of western food, you can sit along the waterfront to eat. Best enjoyed at sunset. I'm also a big fan of The Waterfront Restaurant, where I've had many a good curry. (One of the best I've had in HK actually!)

This view over dinner is why you should aim to be in Yung Shue Wan in time for sunset 

Tai O Infinity Pools 

Again, not the easiest to get to for most, but the hike itself isn't too strenuous bar from the uphill part leading to the pools. Better still you can have a dip in the infinity pool before heading back to Tai O (the walk back is easier then getting there..) I've mentioned this hike a few times on my blog, so for a more detailed description of how to get there see my previous blog post here.

Cooling off in the Infinity Pool

Note: Last summer they stopped people from swimming in the actual pool, I'm not sure if this is still in force or not. Does anyone know?

Dragon's back
The cliched Hong Kong hike. The views of Hong Kong are great, the trail is relatively easy and it leaves you off at either Big Wave Bay (for the surfers) or Shek O beach (where there's a great BBQ area). This is probably the longest hike on the list, taking approximately 2 hours.. however it's the easiest to get to, especially if you're an islander with the trail starting near Chai Wan. Get the MTR to Shau Kei Wan, go out exit A3 and take the number 9 bus which will drop you off at the beginning of the trail.

Reap the hiking rewards at Big Wave Bay

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.

10 Reasons to TEFL in Hong Kong

1. The Wages.
As far as TEFL jobs go Hong Kong is certainly one of the highest paid countries in Asia. A wage of $12000 -$15000 (£1000 - £1300) plus the flights and accommodation is around average. (If you have a formal teaching qualification it will be a little higher).
If you get onto the government ran NET scheme you are looking at a wage between $23,000 - $50,000 (about £2000 - £4500) per month as well as $16,000 (£1200) monthly housing allowance (which even in Hong Kong will get you a very decent place) and if you complete a two year contract you get 15% of your accumulated wage as a bonus.
There is also a high demand for private tutors, the average pay is around $300/hour (about £25), doing this a couple of times a week will quickly boost your earnings.

2. The Lifestyle.
Earning a good wage, nearly all the comforts of home available (sometimes just at a higher cost) and you can jet off to exotic destinations during the school holidays. It really is hard to find fault there.

3. For Travelling.
If you want to travel around Asia, Hong Kong really is one of the best locations to be centred. Perfect for exploring South East Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China and India in the school holidays.

4. The Food.
With tiny kitchens and ovens being a rarity in the standard household, eating out is a huge part of Hong Kong culture. So long as you're eating asian food, it costs little more to eat out than to eat in. Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Taiwanese and Indian are all very popular cuisines.

5. The Transportation System.
The mtr system is very efficient, trains run every couple of minutes and there are very rarely delays. It's super cheap too, you can travel the length and breadth of Hong Kong and you would struggle to spend over $100 (£8) in a day. If the mtr doesn't get you to your destination then there will surely be a bus that will, an individual journey rarely costs more than $10 (80p). Look out for the red minibuses, if you find one going to your destination then you will have the time of your journey halved (not for the faint hearted).

6. East meets West Culture.
Hong Kong is heavily influenced by the western world, yet still has strong roots in Chinese tradition. Hong Kong offers a great balance between getting to know the Chinese culture while still living a western lifestyle.

7. It's not all Big City.
Live the big city lifestyle but thanks to the wonderful transportation system, you can be hiking through the wilderness, swimming in waterfalls or chilling on tropical beaches in less than an hour from the heart of the city.

8. It's very safe.
Hong Kong has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Despite the fact it's definitely one of the most crazy busy places I've ever been, I always feel very safe. I have on more than one occasion had people stop me to tell me my bag has come open.

9. No major language barrier.
The level of English in Hong Kong is very high, most locals will at least have a basic grasp. The only times i've had difficulties are with taxi drivers.

10. Diversity.
Hong Kong is one of the most diverse cities I've ever been to. You can do something different every weekend and never run out of things to do. From shopping in the city to hiking in the wilderness. Trying out all the different Asian foods or splashing out on champagne brunches or fine european cuisine. Weekend trips across the border to Shenzhen for cheap shopping and spa weekends. Or get the ferry over to Macau and gamble in some of the biggest casinos in the world, or even do the highest bungee jump in the world. The list is seemingly endless. You can never be bored in Hong Kong.

Of course, every place comes with its up and downs, if you are considering moving to Hong Kong be prepared for the following;

- Saturday is a working day.
Hong Kong is a very hard working city. The working hours are long and most jobs will expect you to be available to work on Saturday mornings.

- Pollution.
Hong Kong suffers with a high air pollution index, although it's not as bad as Beijing and the big cities in mainland China. You may find respiratory problems aggravated.

- Learning the language is difficult.
If you are looking to TEFL somewhere where you can pick up the language in a year, Hong Kong is not the easiest place to do so. This is a downside of English been so widely spoken, plus Cantonese is particularly difficult to learn. Saying that it certainly isn't impossible and is a great challenge if you are determined to learn Cantonese.

- It's busy.
Hong Kong is probably the busiest place I've ever been, if you're not into crowds the city is going to be pretty stressful for you. However, peace and quiet is attainable, you could consider living out in the New Territories or on one of the islands (Lamma or Lantau) if you can find a teaching job out there or are willing to commute to and from the city. I do find that the big crowds in Hong Kong don't feel quite as chaotic as places like London, people are much less rushed here.

- Chicken feet..
..and other strange parts of animals may find their way onto your dinner plate at school or in Chinese restaurants. Sometimes it's best not to ask.

- Music.
Compared to the UK the music scene in Hong Kong is pretty dead. There are music events going on and a couple of festivals, the underground music scene is also beginning to thrive. But still it has a long way to go to catch up with Europe in the music stakes.

- Small living spaces.
Hong Kong is home to the most expensive accommodation rate per square metre in the world. You get a lot less apartment for your money here then at home. The kitchen and bathroom space in particular are usually sacrificed.

10 Hidden Gems in Hong Kong

(Written for expatsblog.com top lists)

Before I moved to Hong Kong I read that you could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner in a different restaurant everyday for 11 years and still not have eaten in every restaurant in the city, this is just one example of the seemingly endless amount there is to be discovered in the sprawling concrete jungle that is Hong Kong. The urban centre isn't even all there is to this city, the archipelago of Hong Kong is made up of more than 200 islands, less than 25% of Hong Kong is actually built up urban area.

1. Private Kitchen - Tokyo Chilli House, Causeway Bay.

Private kitchens - this dining trend started in Hong Kong in the 90's and has been evolving ever since. A somewhat 'underground' experience of dining where you feel like you are (and in some cases actually will be) eating in someone's living room. This private kitchen is located close to Causeway Bay station exit F, and like many of Hong Kong's best hidden gems is located in an unassuming residential building.

Contrary to what the name suggests, the Tokyo Chilli House is actually a Thai restaurant. I can't even remember how many dishes we had when we went, but it was enough food to feed all nine of us for days. We were presented with dish after dish of wonderful Thai food, including Tom Yum soup and a Penang crab curry. We paid a set price of $298/head and there's no corkage fee, so we bought a couple of bottles of wine with us. A perfect intimate setting for a celebration.

Reservations essential: +85229150083


2. Hidden drink offer - Little Sheep Hot Pot.

Winter in Hong Kong means it's Hot Pot season, a wonderful way to dine with friends. A large pot of broth is placed on the table for everyone share in cooking and eating their food.

As a popular chain of hot pot restaurant, this isn't a 'hidden gem' in the same way as most of the places I have featured, the reason I have chosen this one in particular is because there is a relatively unadvertised drink offer - pay $18 (about £1.45) and you can drink as much Tsing Tao beer as you can while your hot pot is still going.

Little Sheep has several branches around Hong Kong, my local one is the Mong Kok branch located on 4F Mong Kok Commercial Centre (opposite Langham Place).


3. Reality Escape Game - Freeing Hong Kong.

“We’ve had 3D movies for a while now. 4D has come out, too, but what about 5D or 6D? What if, instead of only watching a film, we could one day take part in the actual story?” Instant Wan, co-founder.

Freeing HK is a reality escape game where you are trapped in a themed room full of codes and puzzles, you have 45minutes to break the codes and escape back to the real world. Located in an unassuming commercial centre in Tsim Sha Tsui (there are also venues in Mong Kok, Yuen Long, Causeway Bay and Kwung Tong). We opted for the 'gold rush' theme, the setting appeared to be in the basement of a brewery with frantic western music playing in the background. Our reality escape began with us all being handcuffed together and tied up to a wooden post, we were left a clue sheet to help us figure out how to complete the first challenge - to get out of the handcuffs. A challenging game of logic, a different way to spend a night with friends.

Prices vary - our goldrush experience was $168/per person.

Book online at http://freeinghk.com/


4. Hush Up Cinema.

Hush Up (creators of the Secret Island Party) hold a series of alternative film nights, from floating cinema experiences to rooftop screenings.

They have just launched 'Secret Cinema' a cinematic experience aimed to utilise all of your senses, using taste and touch as well as visual and sound. I went to the screening of Amelie at their launch on Sunday, they themed everything to a tee including the setting being in the basement of a french bar to having wine and cheese tasting beforehand.

Check out their website for screenings - http://hushup.hk/


5. Underground club nights

There is more to Hong Kong nightlife than fancy cocktails and champagne. There are a couple of event organisers which offer a different kind of night out in Hong Kong away from the main partying areas LKF, Wan Chai and Soho.

Fresh Off the Boat Asia - they recently hosted a 'secret warehouse party' at Sk85ive2 indoor skatepark in Kwung Tong around month ago. Located on the seventh floor of an industrial building, which we had to access via a rickety lift with old school manual doors.

https://www.facebook.com/FreshOffTheBoatAsia?fref=ts

hkbunkerclub - held a rave in a forest in Sai Kung for halloween, only accessible by the organised bus and then a hike.

https://www.facebook.com/BunkerClubHK

xxx - Art gallery/club. Usually around $100 byob. The music is a mixture of Hip Hop, Drum and Bass and dancehall reggae.

https://www.facebook.com/3xgallery?fref=ts


6. Full Cup Cafe, Mong Kok.

To get to this independent cafe you have to make your way down one of Mong Kok's darkened allies, it may take a bit of wandering around to find (it did for us anyway) but it's vintage and eclectic style of furniture is quite a novelty to see in Mong Kok, it's well worth the effort. A great place to chill out after facing the chaos of the city, and it has one of the most impressive selections of tea and coffee i've seen in Hong Kong - they have everything from herbal tea to white chocolate coffee. The cafe spans over three floors and can be accessed by staircase.

Around the 5th and a half floor... 36 Dundas Street, Mong Kok.


7. Aqua, Mong Kok

Hong's Kong's shopping district Mong Kok is the most densely packed place in the world - between the vast number of locals going about their daily lives and the tourists hoping to haggle a bargain down the famous Ladies Market on Tung Choi Street, it can get pretty overwhelming. Aqua bar is within a two minute walk from ladies market in the rather run down looking Ho King Shopping Centre. escape the crowds here after a hectic day of shopping on their large terrace adorned with fairy lights. Be amazed at the peace and quiet you can find so close to the chaos.

3F Ho King Shopping Centre, Fa Yuen Street.


8. IFC Rooftop, Central.

A lovely little spot above one of Hong Kong's most high end shopping malls, the IFC (the whole place even smells expensive). There's lots of big cushioned sofas and tables which are free for anyone to use - you are allowed to bring your own food and drink, a great spot to bring a picnic and some drinks. Admire the stunning view over the harbour from one of Hong Kong's most famous buildings, without having to fork out a small fortune as most 'bars with a view' will charge.


9. Tai Long Wan Beach and Waterfalls, Sai Kung.

This is the most inaccessible beach in Hong Kong as it can only be reached by foot - and my favourite Hong Kong hike. Get a bus or taxi from Sai Kung to the Sai Wan pavillion and the beach can be reached in less than an hour by foot. The view of the islands on the way is spectacular, on a sunny day the water is a vivid turqoise. The beach at the end is one of the nicest i've seen in Hong Kong - it could be anywhere in South East Asia. There are also some secluded waterfalls at the far end of the beach, just take a left before the stone bridge an walk through the clearing in the trees. Here you will have the opportunity to do some cliff diving (the ledge is around 8ft) and swimming in the fresh water pools.

10. Tai O infinity pool, Lantau.

Swim in this outdoor infinity pool fed by natural waterfalls overlooking Tai O, this spot for me opitimises the title of this article.

Once you have made your way to the sleepy secluded Tai O on Lantau island, cross the stone bridge by the bus terminus and follow the hiking trail for about an hour. You will eventually come to a red fire hydrant marked 470, after this look out for an unmarked concrete staircase on your left. Hike uphill for around 15 minutes and you will come to the infinity pool fed by a natural waterfall (if you pass by some abandoned buildings on the way you're on the right track). This waterfall goes all the way down the mountain and there are around 9 freshwater pools, most of which are good for swimming (the others do require some 'off track' hiking to get to, this can be difficult in summer - when the area is infested with spiders).

The Tai O sunset from the infinity pools on a clear day is truly special to see.

4 great beach days out in HK

Since I returned to Hong Kong in September the weather has been perfect for the beach - more sun, less humidity. So i've been doing some exploring at the weekends.

My favourites so far.

1. Cheung Sha Wan - Lantau Island
For cows and glamping..

Only 15 minutes by taxi/bus from the Mui Wo Ferry port, if you get the fast ferry it is possible to be there in about an hour from central (although the taxi's don't seem to be too reliable from the taxi stand). I paid about $60 in total for the journey. (MTR from Mong Kok, fast ferry from central, then shared taxi).
This is possibly the most beautiful beach I have seen in Hong Kong. It has a long stretch of white sand, the water is lovely to swim in and there are a handful of nice restaurants to eat at. We ate at The Stoep for lunch, a South African themed bar - great food, right on the beach too.

There are also some Native American style TeePee's which can be rented out for an alternative camping (or 'glamping!') experience.

We even got to pet some cows!

2. Sai Kung - Tai Long Wan
A hike and a beach.

$15.50 for a red mini bus from the bottom of Dundas Street in Mong Kok to Sai Kung down, we then caught a taxi from Sai Kung to Sai Wan pavilion for around $80. There is also a bus (27R, catch it from outside McDonalds) which is $17.
The Pavilion is the start of the hour long hike to one of the most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong. The journey to this beach is just as beautiful as the beach itself.

You get to see this view on the way.

At the end of the hike (which isn't too strenuous, there's a bit in the middle which is very uphill but quite manageable) you are rewarded with this beach.

If you walk to the end of the back and take a left before the stone bridge crossing the lake, then climb over some rocks (not the easiest of climbs), there are some waterfalls where you can sit, swim and even do some cliff diving!

Surf Hong Kong is located on this beach, camping is also possible if you would like to make a weekend of it.
There are two options for getting back to civilisation. Take the hike back to the pavilion and catch the bus to Sai Kung town. Or take a speedboat directly from the beach back to the town.

The first time I came here we did the hike and bus back, we left when everyone else did (after sunset) so the queue for the bus back was huge. We waited for nearly an hour and a half at the Pavilion, then we had the half hour bus journey back. So from the beach to Sai Kung it was a three hour journey. Not ideal especially when we then still had the journey back to Mong Kok.

The second time we got a speedboat back, costing $120 each. This option is more expensive but much quicker, half an hour as opposed to three hours the previous time. Not only is it more time efficient it was much more fun! We left at 6.30pm so had a beautiful sunset journey back to Sai Kung where we arrived just in time for dinner. (We had a great meal at AJ's Sri Lankan Cuisine, the only Sri Lankan restaurant in HK!)

I would definitely recommend the speedboat option back, the boat holds around 12 people, so if you are in a small group try and find people to join up with you throughout the day. We didn't know you could do this until some guys approached us at lunch to make up their boat. No more three hour journey back to Sai Kung again!

walking to our speedboat

There are a few more beaches in Sai Kung which I haven't been to yet, we're planning on paying 'Ah Kwok' on Sha Ha beach a visit next time we head to Sai Kung to hire some kayak boats and explore the islands. Apparently the night time squid fishing is a good trip out too.


3. Lamma Island.

A beautiful chilled out island..

Read my post on the lovely island of Lamma here

4. Stanley
Not just a beach!

Stanley is a lovely spot, the beach is a lot busier than the others an not quite as 'tropical island' beautiful, but it's a lovely area with lots to do, you could easily pass a day there without even going to the beach. You can spend time browsing the markets and shops, or eating and drinking in one of the many bars and restaurants. I always pay a visit to the Smugglers Inn, the walls are covered in notes with messages left by previous guests. The food is good (British style pub food) and is one of the cheaper options for eating along the waterfront.

Smugglers Inn

I'm sure there are more HK beaches that I am yet to discover, but these are my favourites so far.
Anyone know of any more beautiful beaches in Hong Kong?