Originally published in January 2017.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more pleasantly surprised when visiting a new destination than I was when traveling to Hong Kong last year.
Planning a trip to Hong Kong was more of a whim than a well-researched plan. I knew that November/December was the best time of year to go (the heat and humidity are milder in the winter), and flights from Tokyo were only $100. I was curious to see what this famous city was like and eager to see more of Asia in general.
I think I fell in love the minute we got off the train and stepped out into Soho/Central HK. Hong Kong was like nowhere I’d been before, and unlike anything I think I could imagine. Just walking up the sloped city steps, browsing in the many designer boutiques, and stopping at a hole-in-the-wall bar for a beer and a peach old-fashioned made for a PERFECT day.
There’s plenty to do in Hong Kong, but my boyfriend and I were eager to get out of the city for at least a day. Picking a day trip to the island of Cheung Chau turned out to be a happy accident. An ex-pat bartender told us we should go to the island that had the Rainbow Cafe, apparently an incredible seafood restaurant, but we picked the wrong place… Instead of the island with the seafood restaurant, we picked the island with the coffee shop called Rainbow Cafe. Oops.
It was super easy to catch a cab from our hotel in SoHo to the Hong Kong Ferry Terminal, then about $5 USD to get a ticket for the ferry to Cheung Chau. The ferries come quite regularly, and we happened to catch one that was leaving right when we got there.
I have to admit, I slept through most of the hour-long ferry ride. But Justin got some great shots from out the window as we departed the terminal. The Hong Kong skyline as seen from the water is unreal.
Upon arriving in Cheung Chau we walked around a bit on the main street, snapping pictures of the lively atmosphere and the colorful boats in the water. The smog hung heavy on the horizon, creating unique lighting for our photos.
Despite getting to the island around 1 pm, we still had time for a full day’s worth of activities, starting with lunch at an Indian restaurant with outdoor seating - perfect for people watching.
After sharing a few dishes we continued along the main street and headed to the hiking trails, selecting the “Family Walk." It’s a 30-45 minute walk, uphill, and pretty remote. We crossed paths with other travelers a few times but were mostly on our own. As for the workout, I’m not sure I could have done it in more humid weather – I was definitely sweating the whole way.
About halfway up the path, we came across an eerie graveyard on the hillside, probably the most interesting part of the hike. The view from this point was magnificent, especially with the sun low in the sky. There was something special about this spot, something that evoked unexplainable emotions in me. It was one of those beautiful moments that reminded me why I love to travel.
Continuing on a bit further, we finally made it to the end of the trail, with a shrine on top of a hill and a very gratifying view awaiting us.
When we walked back down to the main road it was getting dark, and I finally did what I had been wanting to do all day – stopped at a super touristy pearl shop to open up a clam and get the treasure inside. It was so exciting watching them break into it, and I love my souvenir! Still just trying to figure out what to do with it.
After that, we stopped at a 7-11 to grab a beer and a Strongbow, then sat on the pier to enjoy some music as we waited for the ferry back to Hong Kong. Cheung Chau had proven itself as the perfect day trip out of the city, and we left feeling very content about the whole experience.
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