Welcome to Hong Kong - Cantonese Cuisine and Christmas Lights
By Cruising With Honey - 22:30
HONG KONG - Day 1
Welcome to Hong Kong - Cantonese Cuisine and Christmas Lights
I always find the airport transfer a surreal experience. One moment you’re collecting your bags at the carousel, the next you’re being driven to your hotel, not quite sure if you’re going in the right direction while simultaneously afraid to blink for fear of missing even a millisecond of new and wondrous sites.
Hong Kong is a peninsula made up of 263 islands of which Hong Kong Island is the second largest, and probably the most well-known. The largest is Lantau Island. This made the drive from the airport in Chek Lap Kok in western Hong Kong to the hotel in Kai Tak, on the eastern side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, an interesting drive of crossing several bridges. I drank in every moment, ohh-ing and ahh-ing at the number of apartment buildings that rose high into the clear sky and the stark contrast of the lush mountain vistas in the background.
This was going to be an interesting four days, and I couldn’t wait to start exploring.
Kai Tak: Our home in Hong Kong
Located in Kowloon, the neighbourhood of Kai Tak is the perfect location for cruisers to set up base due to its proximity to the sleek cruise terminal.
As we pulled into our home for the next four nights, I was immediately impressed with the modern, elegant building. The Dorsett Kai Tak is a luxurious new hotel offering 373 rooms.
Opened only a few months ago, the interior design is reminiscent of cruise and yacht elegance, a feature that pleased me greatly.
What a relief it was to zoom through check-in, step into the bright, modern room and freshen up. I’m sure all travellers can relate to that supremely revitalising feeling of that first shower after a flying.
A bit more info about Kai Tak
From 1925 until 1998, Kai Tak had an international airport which is now being developed as part of the whole neighbourhood which is currently undergoing a massive revitalisation.
As well as the cruise terminal, Kai Tak is developing a multi-purpose sports complex with stadiums and entertainment arenas and lots of housing options. There’s an MTR station and beautiful semi-enclosed open spaces.
Let’s go explore on the MTR
Whenever I land in a new city, I try to avoid taxis and prefer to try the public transport system. It’s a much more organic way to learn your way around and see things from a local perspective.
My experiences around the world have varied, from good to sketchy. I’d heard so much about the Mass Transit Railway, or as its better known as the MTR, and couldn’t wait to see if it lived up to the hype.
The Dorsett Hotel has a free shuttle that transports guest to Kai Tak MTR station (it is close enough to walk if you want to get your steps up), a sleek area that houses a new residential development, shopping, dog parks and of course the station itself.
Now, here is the most vital tip you need to follow for seamless travel: You need to get an Octopus card. There are lots of options, but get yourself the tourist version.
The Octopus card is a smart card that you can use to pay at 180, 000 places (including public transport) such as shopping, dining, some taxis and more. I even used my Octopus card to buy coffee! It such an easy, efficient system that I wish we had in Australia. Hong Kong is living in the future.
We had dinner reservations at a Catonese restaurant in Ocean Terminal, Harbour City. The closest MTR stop is Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, only a few stops from Kai Tak (about 20 mins travelling time). It was clean, efficient, safe and easy AND cheap. There are English signs and English spoken over the PA making it easy for tourists to navigate.
We had dinner reservations at a Catonese restaurant in Ocean Terminal, Harbour City. The closest MTR stop is Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, only a few stops from Kai Tak (about 20 mins travelling time). It was clean, efficient, safe and easy AND cheap. There are English signs and English spoken over the PA making it easy for tourists to navigate.
Tsim Sha Tsui - this was the Hong Kong of I was expecting. We walked along Nathan Rd and Canton Rd, energised by the busy (but not frantic) atmosphere. High-end shopping, snazzy cars, gold shops, food. It was a sensory overload in the best way.
We walked towards Harbour City in amazement, all around us the most fantastic Christmas display. There were throngs of people with wide smiles and joyful demeanors snapping pics of the Christmas extravaganza. While it was tremendously busy, there was no pushing or shoving or rudeness that you might find in other tourist hubs. I decided I liked Hong Kong, I liked it very much.
I could have spent a whole day in Harbour City. Not only does it house the cruise terminal, but over 450 shops, 80 restaurants (I wanted to try them all) an art gallery, three hotels and an observatory deck. It is also has the most incredible harbour views. But, now dinner, there was plenty of time later to admire the view later.
Cantonese fare updated with contemporary flair
My stomach grumbled.
With typical Chinese hospitality and love for feeding people, we were greeted and seated and very soon after our multi-course meal began. Opened in 2017, Hexa is renowned for it’s modern twist on classic dishes.
Don’t expect Beef and Blackbean stirfry here, rather Roasted Iberico Pork with Loquat Honey, double boiled partridge Soup, (my daughter Hope and I simultaneously broke out in song, “On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me, a Partridge in a Clay Pot”) Hokkaido scallops with salmon roe.
.. and the dishes kept coming out – nine courses in total.
Each one more interesting than the next, some not exactly suiting my palate (sea snails are an acquired taste) but a fabulous experience, nonetheless.
One thing I will make note of is that Chinese desserts are very different. You might nor like the super sweet, warm broth-type desserts packed with herbs and fruits, but try it anyway.
I had hoped we’d get to see more of Harbour City, but dinner – actually any Chinese meal – is never a hurried affair and it was after 9pm before we bade our goodbyes to Hexa.
It was such a beautiful evening, it would be a shame to take a taxi home and we needed to burn off some calories. So, we meandered up and down the promenade admiring the Christmas displays again, the stunning illuminated harbour, got a sweet treat and strolled back to the MTR to go home, aka The Dorsett Kai Tak.
