5 Must-Dos in the Fragrant Harbour (Hong Kong)

1. Eat.
Sounds obvious, but when in Hong Kong, you simply must do as the Honkies do - fill every empty inch of your body with Dim Sum and Noodles. Well, I don't know if that's what every Honkie does, but it is certainly what I did. My flight was direct: Melbourne to Yum Cha restaurant, via a sleepless night.

This is the unhappy face you get when slurp your super hot noodles and hot soy drink too fast. Nasty, but hard to avoid.

(And, meet Chica, my, well, sort-of-niece. She's even cuter when not complaining of a burnt mouth) Yes, even with burnt mouth, noodles are, simply, delicious.

The last supper, well, the last Dim Sum. The 3 constant dishes on my Yum Cha list of favourites - Chong Fan (Rice Noodles with Prawns), Cha Shu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns) and DUMPLINGS; steamed or fried filled with everything imaginable and often not comprehendable. (What sort of meat do they really use in those Xiao Loung Baos and Jiao Zi??)

And if you are still hungry after your massacre of small and delicious eats (a literal translation of Dim Sum) then, why not try out the Yum Cha Buffet that this restaurant offers. Genius.

One more thing - The Honkies are soo efficient that when you pay your bill, they already anticipate what note you will pay with and they have your change all ready for you.

2. Shop Shop Shop Shop.

Nothing to say really here except despite the desolate look of the grim and extremely narrow alleys off small streets, hidden round confusing corners, you may just find a hidden shopping complex, with 100's of shops that rival the hidden boutiques in Curtain House up hidden staircases in Melbourne. I swear to you, these shopping centres exist, all 5 floors of them.

My advice....Always, take a local shopping with you, they will haggle for you and show the inner city shopping secrets.

Gold.

Oh, and take your wallet and fill it with money, it helps you own all the nice things you see.

My two local tour guides, and also good friends, Frances and Pete. (Thanks guys for the GREAT afternoon and evening. My new Hong Kong purchases are being well worn!)

Oh, and when shopping in Hong Kong, or in any city other than an Australian ones, beware of the crowds. The Hong Kong streets are a million times more crowded than the Myer Christmas windows on Bourke St Mall, only more condensed and constant.

Make sure you get a good and proper certification on your new Gucci purchase, as I did, otherwise the zip will break when you are running late for your plane.

3. Ride in the front seat of a Double Decker Bus

It's a much cheaper way to get to the airport and is much more scenic. Bring a strong stomach as the drivers are as crazy as any Asian driver and it's a lot scarier when your in the top of a bus while it's weaving in and out of traffic and taking corners too fast. Also, if you take the scenic route to the airport, remember to properly check your flight time. It's really not good for your stress levels to find out half way to the airport that your flight leaves in an hour when you thought it left in 2 hours.

The view from the bus, including the wacky looking super-slim trams.

Me, on the bus (with my new scarf. Thanks hidden-gem-shopping centre, I am now warm and cool, all at once)

Buses apparently love to try and kiss each other. It also serves to freak out the tourists sitting in the front with their cameras.

4. Get High.
I highly recommend this to any visitor of the Fragrant Harbour. To get high in HK is easy, you get on this vertical-looking tram that takes you up this vertical mountain, that is hidden behind the mass grid of extremely tall buildings, and, bingo, you are high. High above the HK skyline with a view that is breathtaking (and body-warmth-taking - thank you coldest winter in 100 years)

5. Find a cool Tree.



It's a challenge in a concrete jungle. This isn't really a must-do, but I just liked this tree, out front of where I was staying.