Sailing Into 50 in Style: Join My Biggest Celebration at Sea!
By Cruising With Honey - 13:32
Sailing Into 50 in Style: Join My Biggest Celebration at Sea!
Ahoy my beautiful cruise family!
This year, I’m hitting the big 5-0, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than surrounded by all of YOU on the high seas!
I’m planning my biggest group cruise ever, and it’s going to be the ultimate party at sea. Think laughter, dancing, sunsets, and memories that will last a lifetime.
RSVP HERE
Whether you’ve sailed with me before or are just dreaming of joining, this is your chance to be part of something truly special.
We’re talking good vibes and celebrations around the decks. From morning coffees to late-night laughs under the stars, this cruise is all about joy, connection and a little sparkle of adventure
Pack your party shoes and get ready to make my 50th a milestone to remember. I can’t wait to celebrate with every single one of you, because what’s better than a birthday at sea with your cruising family by your side?
Ready to join the celebration? Register your interest HERE and vote on which date you prefer
I have two dates in mind, both from Sydney:
- 2 July (4 nights on Carnival Adventure to Moreton Island
- 3 July (3 nights on Carnival Splendor to nowhere)
Navigating Carnival’s Transition & the Future of Australian Cruising
By Cruising With Honey - 16:20
Last year when Carnival Cruise Line announced one of the biggest transitions the Australian cruise industry has ever seen, opinions were loud, fast and often polarising.
My blog post, The Temu of The Seas was read every 2.8 seconds in the first few hours of publishing. It attracted very emotional comments - from many agreeing with my perspective to the complete opposite.
Over the last decade, I have always been truthful and authentic and I stand by every word I wrote. But, when Carnival reached out a few weeks ago, I was happy to have a chat to understand more about the transition and the lessons learnt.
Change at sea can feel unsettling — especially for loyal cruisers who form deep emotional connections to ships, brands and onboard rituals. But cruising has always been about evolution, and Australia’s love affair with Carnival was never going to disappear overnight.
Now, nine months on, the dust is settling and the story is far more nuanced than the early headlines suggested. Behind the scenes, there’s been a huge focus on crew retention, guest feedback, food fixes and redefining what value cruising looks like for Australians today.
In this exclusive interview, Carnival Australia’s leadership, I interviewed Assistant Vice President, Sales & Marketing Anton Loeb who reflected on the challenges, the lessons learned and why 2026 marks a confident new chapter for Australian cruising — one built on familiarity, choice and the unmistakable Aussie spirit guests expect at sea.
Interview: Navigating Carnival’s Transition & the Future of Australian Cruising
Q: It’s been around nine months since the transition. How has it felt from your perspective?
A: It’s been challenging, no doubt, but incredibly rewarding. A transition of this size takes enormous effort before, during and after launch. Seeing a company of this scale work together toward one goal has been inspiring. While there were challenges early on, the pride now comes from seeing the results and how far we’ve come.
Q: You mentioned that 96% of crew have remained onboard. How have they adapted?
A: That retention rate says a lot. Crew are now part of a much larger global organisation, which brings more opportunities, mobility and career pathways. There’s been great integration between existing Carnival crew and those joining through the transition, and that sharing of experience helps maintain the fun, warm spirit guests love.
Q: Were there challenges during the early sailings?
A: Absolutely—and that’s to be expected with any transition of this magnitude. What mattered was listening, gathering feedback quickly and responding just as fast. That commitment helped everyone settle in sooner than expected and refocus on delivering great holidays.
Q: Have you seen loyalty from Australian cruisers carry through?
A: Yes, and the data proves it—strong bookings, repeat guests and positive reviews. Australians understand transition periods and tend to stick with brands they trust. That loyalty has been critical as we’ve also welcomed new-to-cruise guests.
Q: Has the target market changed?
A: We’ve strengthened the family market while still appealing to couples, multigenerational groups and experienced cruisers. Ultimately, it’s about showing value, simplicity and convenience—regardless of age. If someone tries cruising and loves it, we’ve done our job.
Q: How do you educate first-time cruisers?
A: Cruising is very different from land-based holidays, so education is key. We work closely with travel agents and directly with guests to set expectations clearly—so every experience onboard becomes a positive surprise that exceeds expectations.
Q: Carnival Adventure, Encounter, Splendor and Luminosa are very different from one another. Is that intentional?
A: Absolutely. Rather than making ships identical, we lean into their strengths. If food like burgers and pizza is your priority, there’s a ship for you. If pools, bars and beach clubs matter more, there’s a ship for that too. Variety gives guests real choice.
Q: Food received some criticism early on - I was personally disappointed with the food quality. Has anything changed?
A: Feedback was clear, and we acted quickly. Inclusions like Eggs Benedict, avocado toast, fruit platters and pizza were reinstated. We closely track guest satisfaction scores, and food ratings have risen consistently month-on-month. It’s an ongoing focus.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in 2026?
A: A more settled year with clarity across our fleet, itineraries published through 2028, and strong year-round offerings. That stability allows us to focus on growth, education and bringing more Australians onboard.
Q: Homeporting more ships around Australia is a big move. Why?
A: Australians want convenience. Homeporting reduces the need to fly and opens cruising to more people. Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland and regional destinations are showing strong demand—and we’re responding to that.
Q: Will Carnival retain an Australian identity despite being a global brand?
A: Emotional connection matters. People didn’t buy into a corporation—they bought into memories, experiences and feelings. Our job is to honour that legacy while evolving the product. Theme cruises, Aussie favourites and signature events will continue.
Final Thoughts
A: Cruising is deeply emotional. Guests connect moments to places onboard, and that’s powerful. With variety, value and year-round choice, Carnival is well positioned to lead Australian cruising into its next chapter.
Cruising With Honey Turns 10: Reflections, Stories and What’s Next
By Cruising With Honey - 12:55
10 Years of Cruising With Honey
Can you believe it? Cruising with Honey turns 10 TODAY.
And we have hit over HALF A MILLION readers on this blog!
As of today, exactly 502,495.
THANK YOU ALL
Ten years of sharing my life with you all, my adventures, cruise tips, those glorious sunsets and cheeky extra-sweet mojitos.
I've survived and thrived, and they all said I wouldn't last.
I've made it through a pandemic, harassment, stalking, slander and even having to seek two restraining order.
I've built a readership of over HALF A MILLION people.
I've travelled the 7 continents of the world and cruised over 50 times, visiting hundreds of cities.
I've continued to re-invent my platform, creating new products, evolved with social media trends and, most importantly, stayed true to myself.
All with ZERO budget. I've never spent any money building my brand.
Authentic, always. And on my own.
I'm so grateful for the support from the cruise industry and of course my family, friends and followers.
2026 will see my podcast and book come to life, PLUS a daily newsletter on all things cruising.
I've made it through a pandemic, harassment, stalking, slander and even having to seek two restraining order.
I've built a readership of over HALF A MILLION people.
I've travelled the 7 continents of the world and cruised over 50 times, visiting hundreds of cities.
I've continued to re-invent my platform, creating new products, evolved with social media trends and, most importantly, stayed true to myself.
All with ZERO budget. I've never spent any money building my brand.
Authentic, always. And on my own.
I'm so grateful for the support from the cruise industry and of course my family, friends and followers.
2026 will see my podcast and book come to life, PLUS a daily newsletter on all things cruising.
Why I’m Focusing Beyond Facebook
Over time, I’ve noticed Facebook engagement has slowed — and that’s not because my content isn’t valuable or that you don’t want to see it.
Declining engagement isn’t about poor content; it’s a structural shift in how Facebook works. Brands and creators are increasingly turning to other platforms, community-building and paid promotion to reach their audience effectively.
I have lived and breathed social media for a decade, studying closely the trends and algorithms. And here is the reality:
• Paid promotion is encouraged – Facebook’s algorithms are designed to push pages toward spending on advertising
• Organic reach is shrinking – Facebook now prioritises posts from friends and family meaning even my best posts reach fewer people.
• Engagement is changing – People like, comment and share far less than they used to.
• Audience changes – Older followers interact differently
• Posts with external links are penalised
It’s important for me to reiterate all posts on Cruising with Honey Facebook are 100% organic. I don’t buy followers or likes, and I regularly delete fake or suspicious profiles. Every follower is genuinely interested in cruising content.
The biggest tell a Facebook page has bought likes or followers is when it boasts thousands of followers, yet engagement is all over the place — one post might rack up a few thousand likes while the next barely gets a handful — and many of the accounts are low-quality, fake or from totally unrelated locations.
It’s honestly very easy to spot once you know what to look for.
That’s why I’m focusing on my new podcast (release early 2026), this blog, my book, Instagram and my Daily Newsletter.
On these platforms I can truly connect with more cruisers across all demographics and tell the stories I love.
Facebook may be slowing down, but the adventures continue, as I Cruise May Way Through This Thing Called Life.
Here’s to 10 years of cruising together.
Big news, cruise lovers! Cruising with Honey is bringing the sea straight to your inbox with Honey’s Daily Cruise Buzz – your new go-to for all things cruising, delivered free every single day.
Imagine waking up to a fresh dose of cruise news, tips, insider insights, and the latest deals, all curated for savvy travellers who live for the waves.
From the hottest itineraries to amazing promotions, AND giveaways, Honey’s Daily Cruise Buzz keeps you ahead of the pack.
It’s short, exciting and easy to read. The perfect way to stay connected to the cruise world while sipping your morning coffee.
Subscribe now and get your free daily cruise buzz delivered straight to your inbox. Don’t miss a wave!
About two months ago, P&O Australia sailed her last cruise, ready to embark on a new journey under a new brand, Carnival. The remaining P&O ships, Adventure and Encounter, underwent a hurried spit and polish, crowned with a new logo and thrust upon Australian cruisers, promising a same-same but different experience.
The message was confusing; some Carnival features would be adopted on the former P&O ships; some after a comprehensive dry dock. Pizza, an included dining option on Carnival, would only be offered ‘free’ a few hours a day on Adventure and Encounter. Similarly, there would be no Guy’s Burgers nor soft serve available – two popular inclusions on Carnival ships. What were cruisers to expect? P&O on steroids or a watered-down version of Carnival?
The reality is a lot sadder. The former P&O ships have been trans-downed into ‘Carnival-lite’, a Temu of the Seas perhaps. Not living up to the standard cruisers have come to expect from either brand but playing dress-ups and providing a mediocre experience while still expecting passengers to pay full, and now inflated, prices.
On a recent 3-night cruise on Carnival Adventure, this downgrading was evident across all departments. Dining, beverages, service and entertainment. Minor cosmetic changes and new uniforms failed miserably in convincing cruisers that Carnival – who now have a monopoly in the Australian cruise market – was the better choice.
The included food options were mediocre at best with inconsistent quality served even on the same table. More paid options were now offered in the ‘free’ restaurants Angelo’s, Dragon Lady and Waterfront, including a $6 fruit plate.
This Woeful option has been viewed 100,000 times!
The buffet, or ‘Pantry’ had limited dishes that varied from woeful to almost inedible. Hygiene standards were very low, with the two of the four basins at the Pantry’s entry (for passengers to wash their hands), clogged with dirty water for over a day and the other two operating basins providing a trickle.
Dirty plates were seen being wiped on aprons and returned to the clean plate stack and tables remained uncleared.
Prior to the changeover, Carnival Adventure stated that 90% of P&O crew would be retained. However, crew encounters aboard the cruise ranged from good to lacking any semblance to service. Many seemed overwhelmed, lacked friendliness, seemed new or generally disinterested.
Observations include crew members in groups of three or four chatting for extended periods in the Pantry oblivious to the dirty tables. Wait staff in the Waterfront pointing passengers to their table and walking away. Drink service taking an extraordinarily long times and drink orders of half of the table ignored. Certain soft drinks ‘ran out’ on the second day at some bars and the advice given was to try to “find a Sprite elsewhere”.
It appeared that crew did not have either that well-known P&O warmth nor the ‘Fun’ vibe of Carnival. The majority seemed unhappy. They also seemed lost, unable to correctly explain new procedures (such as the corkage fee) or complete drink package transactions.
While it was a Comedy Cruise, the general vibe on board was less laughs and more Footy. For most of the three days, football was screened on the outdoor screen.
Australian cruisers on social media have expressed strong thoughts, ranging from “let’s wait and see” to “I’ll never cruise on Carnival again”. Some are hoping that post dry-dock, the new additions to the fleet will have all the bells and whistles promised. But, with dry dock still quite some time away, (Carnival Encounter in February 2026, and Carnival Adventure in February 2027), Carnival might have failed in keeping loyal P&O cruisers AND simultaneously failed to attract loyal Carnival cruisers to Adventure and Encounter.
Now, with the recently announced surprise axing of Carnival Cruise Line Australia’s Vice President Kara Glamour and the Senior Director Sales & Marketing Anton Loeb reporting directly to Miami, the question is whether more jobs will be cut in the Carnival Australia office and if the future of Australian cruising will indeed still be able to sustain four Carnival ships in our waters.
Australians deserve a better cruise experience.
Carnival Australia was contacted and offered the opportunity to comment but declined to provide any comment.
There is a certain kind of magic that Disney weaves.
It’s that nostalgic feeling of childhood, wonderment and losing yourself in make believe. It is that escape from reality; delighting the young who don’t yet know the harshness of life and it giving adults a unique opportunity to forget – even if just for one day – that the world isn’t perfect.
In truth, I’ve never been drawn to visit a Disneyland, maybe I was too cynical. I thought that this manufactured joy was cringey and just too saccharin.
Imagine then, said 48-year-old self-proclaimed sceptic, not even two-minutes after entering Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and upon seeing the Castle of Magical Dreams, running full pelt towards the spired palace, tears stinging her eyes.
I don’t know what came over me, but in that instant, I was an awestruck child who believed in fairytales.
Getting to the happiest place in Hong Kong
If you’re planning a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, there are a few easy steps to ensure your visit is hassle-free.
As were staying in Kai Tak, I opted to take a taxi to the Sunny Bay MTR station. I could have easily taken the MTR from Kai Tak MTR station but it would have meant changing lines and adding about an hour to my trip. So the taxi was a good option to maximise our time.
However, getting the MTR from the closest stop to where you’re staying is perfectly fine. Just remember to use your Octopus card.
The train runs every few minutes from early in the morning until late at night. The magic had begun! The train had Micky Mouse shaped windows and other Disney paraphernalia inside. Boarding the train, you get an instantly feel as if you are already part of the Disney universe.
The added bonus is the train from Sunny Bay to Disneyland only took five minutes and costs $7.40 HK – that is $1.43 AUD. What a bargain.
While it was crowded, there was no pushing or shoving and all passengers alighted and proceeded up the stairs in a orderly manner. This is what I love about Hong Kong – the manners.
Here are some important tips to follow:
• Pre pay your tickets• Buy meal vouchers
• Take a poncho or umbrella
• Remember a portable phone charger
• Download the DisneyHK app and plan out your day – especially if you want to see the shows and meet the characters. The app is awesome in that it gives you an approximate wait time for the rides.
The longest we waited was 30 mins.
There are many ticket options from one-day right through to annual passes. But for a general admission, the ticket price is $669 HK or about $140 AUD. Click here for more info.
Explore the different lands
The park is made up of different ‘lands’ including the newly opened World of Frozen. Would you believe that I’ve never actually watched the film, but let me tell you, when I entered Elsa’s world, I danced around under the ‘snow’ that filled the air.
Hong Kong Disneyland is the smallest Disneyland in the world, but it is packed with all your favourite rides and attractions. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh’s world was just utterly spectacular. And you bet I posed under every “Hunny” sign.
Other parts of the park include: Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Toy Story Land, Mystic Point, Adventureland, Grizzly Gulch. The park is really easy to navigate and you can easily see it all – and go on most of the rides – in one day.
Something to savour
As I mentioned above, a good way to budget on food and snacks is to buy a 3-in-1 prepaid meal vouchers which gives you lunch, dinner and a snack (popcorn or Mickey Ice cream) and costs $308 HK or $63 AUD.
The vouchers are not valid at every eatery, but at many and I can honestly say the meals were REALLY good. Forget the overpriced slop you get at most theme parks, we ate very well indeed. My favourite was at the Royal Banquets Hall where we slurped on delicious Ramen.
If you’d like to explore other options, there are so many to chose from and all have that special Disney whimsy to make your chosen meal delightful.
Even if you’re not a thrill seeker…
Let’s talk about the rides. There are rides that are tame, such as Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Cinderella Carousel, to thrilling, scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs rides, such as Hyperspace Mountain (which was terrifying but amazing) and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars that I loved so much I went on twice!
The longest we waited was 35 mins, and that was for the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, which looked tame but was the worst! Within a minute of being on this ride, that rose high up in the air, I started screaming, “Please let me down”. To my embarrassment, a fellow rider yelled back “It’s too late now” which immediately sent my daughter Hope into hysterical laughter. I’ll never live that down.. and it became a running joke for the rest of the day.
Drones, fireworks and the ultimate show
As our visit was very close to Christmas, the entire park was dressed in Christmas fanfare. At the top of main street, a giant Christmas tree stood tall and sparkly. Now, here’s another tip: if your visit coincides with a holiday, make sure you look out for special events.
As the night drew near, there was a special tree lighting ceremony and drone show. This is why it’s important download the app so you don’t miss out on these special moments.
I didn’t think it was possible, but Disneyland Hong Kong looked even more magical at night. Soon, people were thronging around the Castle of Magical Dreams for the Momentous Nightly Spectacular. It was everything I imagined it would be. Lights, music, lasers and fireworks.
In this moment, Hope forgot she was teenager averse to affection and cuddled in close. I held her in my arms and watch the sky light up in technicolour, I saw her face transform into that three-year-old who wore her Belle Princess dress every single day for a year.
“Best day ever, Mama.”
A huge shoutout and thank you to Hong Kong Tourism Board who hosted me in Hong Kong from 6 - 10 December and organised all my activities, accomodation, Octopus card, transfers, meals and transportation.
Where Pandas and Stars Align - Hong Kong's Illuminating Triumph
By Cruising With Honey - 21:24
Where Pandas and Stars align
Day 3 - Discover Hong Kong
Waking up on my third day in Hong Kong, I was hungry to see more, eat more and explore more. Today’s agenda included another lunch and dinner, and I was hoping to squeeze in a harbour cruise. At this rate, I was going to transform into a giant, spongey, juicy dumpling.
I was excited to head back to Tsim Sha Tsui, but this time by taxi. It’s probably a good time to share my experiences with the taxi service in Hong Kong.
• Some taxi drivers speak some English, some don’t speak any
• Most prefer cash but some do take credit card and Octopus card
• The back doors open and close automatically in some taxis
• They are helpful with luggage
• I used the Uber app and selected the Taxi option. I found this was easier and avoided any possible communications problems. I could also track the route and it also meant that I didn’t have to carry around a lot of cash.
• THEY DRIVE FAST (but not over the speed limit)
Okay, so confession time here: I’m not the most relaxed passenger in any situation. I prefer to drive everywhere myself. Throw in a foreign city and a language barrier and it makes me nervous.
• Most prefer cash but some do take credit card and Octopus card
• The back doors open and close automatically in some taxis
• They are helpful with luggage
• I used the Uber app and selected the Taxi option. I found this was easier and avoided any possible communications problems. I could also track the route and it also meant that I didn’t have to carry around a lot of cash.
• THEY DRIVE FAST (but not over the speed limit)
Okay, so confession time here: I’m not the most relaxed passenger in any situation. I prefer to drive everywhere myself. Throw in a foreign city and a language barrier and it makes me nervous.
However, let me stress, every single taxi was super safe. They know the roads and know how to navigate them. When I expressed a tiny bit of concern to one taxi driver after he took a corner a little too fast for my liking, he chuckled and said that passing your taxi licence in Hong Kong was only second to the hardest in the world, becoming a London cabbie. That made me relax, somewhat. My co-passenger/teen daughter however was as cool as a cucumber, loving the faster pace. Maybe I’m just getting old.
First stop, Cuisine Cuisine
Anyway, after a leisurely hotel breakfast, it was time for lunch at the dim sum restaurant, Cuisine Cuisine at The Mira Hong Kong. The hotel was gorgeous, decked out in Christmas cheer. Upstairs, the restaurant was cool and elegant and we were greeted with such warm hospitality.
Once again, I left it to our hosts to decide on our meal and what proceeded was a three-hour extravaganza of soups, dumplings, seafood and special slow-cooked red bean dessert that was velvety and rich.
Panda-monium and an Avenue of Stars
Lunch did however run over time, so unfortunately I missed the Aqua Luna Harbour cruise. I was so looking forward to cruising around the harbour on the traditional and iconic junk boat. It just means I’m going to have to come back to Hong Kong, and soon.
Then another, then another, then another eleventy-hundred more.
IT WAS UTTER PANDA-MONIUM.
On we continued down the Avenue Of the Stars – a promenade along Victoria Harbour waterfront that honours celebrities of the Hong Kong film industry, stopping to people-watch and of course snap a pic of the famous Bruce Lee statue.
Now in Central, the mission was to find some of the famous egg tarts that had somehow alluded us. We walked and walked and walked, and I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere as we ended up in Exchange Square, a complex of three massive office towers that house the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. There’s also a massive shopping mall where we found a delightful bakery and munched on macarons instead.
On to Mong Kok
Why does time speed up when you’re having fun? It was after 7pm and we had dinner reservations at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Ming Court at the Cordis Hotel at 7:30pm. Luckily, Central to Mong Kok was only a 15-minute taxi ride, and I enjoyed the array of neon signs that illuminated our path.
The standouts for me was the stuffed crab shell - so sweet and creamy – and the highly recommended 8 Treasure Soup. The fried rice was decadently served with fois gras and A5 wagyu beef. Make sure you visit Ming Court the next time you’re in Hong Kong for a truly special experience.
Tomorrow we were headed to Disneyland Hong Kong, so there was not any time for an after-dinner cocktail (mocktail).
Reflecting on the last three days in this wonderous city, I felt intoxicated by its eclectic mix of refined cuisine, bright lights and lush nature.
Everything about Hong Kong was enticing and it just pulsated and exuded with excitement. I had fallen deeply under its spell.
A Bronze Buddha on an Island of Natural Delights - Discover Hong Kong
By Cruising With Honey - 20:50
Discover Hong Kong - Day 2 in Hong Kong
Cable cars and a bronze Buddha
Being suspend 414m in the air with nothing but some glass and metal separating me from the earth below did not immediately strike me as something I would ever willingly do.
In fact, it set off a clamour of alarm bells that ricocheted around my brain. Compounding this commotion was my daughter’s anxious voice reminding me quite loudly every 3 mins in the taxi on the way to take the cable car from Tung Chung, “But mum we are both afraid of heights.”
“It’ll be fine,” I heard myself saying out loud in my most fake reassuring ‘mum voice’ – the one mums reserve to instil comfort.
Neither my brain, nor my rapidly beating heart were, not convinced.
As the taxi dropped us off at Tung Chung station, I resolved that this was one of those moments that I had to pull up my big girl pants; if I panicked, she’d panic and we’d both miss out on what was set to be spectacular day in Hong Kong.
The Ngong Ping 360 cable car connects the suburb Tung Chung to Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. The trip takes about 25 minutes and travels at a smooth 6km per hour. Ngong Ping is home to the second largest seated Buddha in the world, the Tian Tan Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery.
Our lovely guide for the day, Luna was waiting for us, and in a little hop, skip and jump, we were in the cable car and heading up, up, up.
IT WAS MAGICAL
There was no time to feel nervous as I was busy trying to drink in the breathtaking 360-degree views. My phobia of heights melted away as I snapped a million pics of the lush Lantau North Country Park (apparently you can hike up, but I’d much prefer the cable car), the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and Hong Kong Airport. Lovely Luna explained to us the history of the cable car – which she gets to ride every day! Now that’s a commute.
The cable car we were in was a standard cabin, but I was promised that our return cabin would be in a Crystal+ cabin. More about that later. During the 5.7km ride, the cable car made its way through several stations. From past experiences in cable cars/gondolas, this is the part that can get bumpy, but this was as smooth as silk. Honestly I almost did not want the trip to end, but the mammoth gleaming Buddha in the distance was beckoning.
Ngong Ping Village, Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery
As my daughter and I climbed the steps, Luna explained that this Buddha was constructed like lego. The monument is made up of 202 bronze pieces that were clicked together on top of the three-level altar.
While I am not a Buddhist, I admired not only the astounding architectural feat but also the cultural and religious significance of Tian Tan. The serenity and peace I felt when I reached the top was palpable and I took a moment to once again recognise my privilege for having experiences around the world, just like this one.
Ngong Ping Village is a lovely place where shops sell cute souvenirs, statues shine and wild cows roam free. Yes, I said cows. I LOVE cows. When you visit, please be mindful that these are wild animals, so admire from a distance.
After a tour of the Po Lin Monastery, which was resplendent with 1000 Buddhas, it was time for a vegetarian lunch. Soup, rice, vegetables, tofu… the meal was simple and simply delicious.
A step back in time
Our next stop was Tai O fishing village, a short bus trip from Nong Ping. Walking through the markets, wonderful aromas filled the air.
There was street food, restaurants, shops selling everything from starfish to coffee. It was my kind of place, a bustling insight into a working fishing village and glimpse back in time.
A scenic river cruise and a visit to the interesting fisherman’s village - where we toured one of the above-water homes – and then back to try even more street food. This time, I sampled sweet treats and had literally the most delicious black sesame mochi I’ve had in my life.
My mind was collecting and processing memories - the day had zoomed by so quickly. Before I knew it we were back in the cable car – this time in the Crystal car which offers 80% field of view and is almost completely transparent. I took some pretty funny and cliched pics.
I would be remiss not to give a huge shoutout to our tour guide Luna who was absolutely spectacular. Knowledgeable, generous, kind and warm. I’d return to Hong Kong just to do a tour again with her. Also, If you’re the kind of traveller who loves to visit the sites but you don't like crowds, Lantau Island is perfect. At no time during the day did I feel rushed, crowded or swarmed with people.
Once again, Hong Kong Tourism Board had made reservations at a well-regarded restaurant for our dinner, The Chinese Library in Tai Kwun, which is located on the top floor of the old Central Police Station.
No books, just food
I don’t think I’ve ever had a better Chinese meal. I’m not sure if I ever will.
Every dish was expertly created ensuring a balance of flavours and textures. The menu included Cantonese, Sichuan and Shanghai dishes The plush surroundings were offset by moody lighting and the service was impeccable. Do yourself a favour and if you only have ONE night in Hong Kong, eat here.
Even though our stomachs were overflowing, our final stop for the day/night was the Cardinal Point Rooftop Bar on the 45th floor of the Landmark building. We were late - dinner has exceeded 3 hours and we sheepishly entered this almost-secret lift to the rooftop where I was warmly greeted and ushered to the terrace.
This was very fancy indeed! I sampled a delicious margarita, and Hope had a passionfruit mocktail. I felt quite underdressed even though I was in a lovely skirt/dress combo, but it seemed to me as if I was surrounded by every Hong Kong fashionista within a 5km radius. It was just so, so… cool! If you ever get the chance to visit, dress up to the nines. The bar offered sweeping views of the bright lights of the city. It was just the perfect place to have a cocktail
Like nowhere else on Earth
Hong Kong is like nowhere I’ve been. It’s busy and enthralling and stylish and has the perfect mix of nature, city, modern amenities and interesting historic sites. I can’t wait to explore more!
