Big Apple of Asia

A land of myriad activities and destinations for tourists, Hong Kong is also Muslim-friendly

Flower Market Street.

Flower Market Street-Famous Orchid.

BRIGHT lights, bustling streets and an amazing skyline that is recognised the world over, Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps. Dubbed the Big Apple of Asia (or in a regional context, the Big Lychee), it is a city of treasures!

As Hong Kong is a land of plenty — activities and destinations, that is — first off, decide what you want to get out of your visit.

Lots of walking and sightseeing? A spot of retail therapy (think fashion, electronics, antiques, etc) perhaps?Or full-on fun days at theme parks and such?

Whatever you decide, let’s get it right from the get go! GET, SET ... GO!

Get yourself a Sold Tourist Octopus card at the airport or at any 7-Eleven store. They can be used for trams, trains, buses, ferries, most touristattractions, fast food chains, personal care stores, supermarkets and even some vending machines.

So instead of rummaging around your wallet and trying to acquaint yourself with the local currency, you can just bleep your way through.

Now that you have your Octopus card, you can choose from the various efficient public transportation platforms available.

The MTR (train) stations are conveniently located (almost every few hundred metres) but itis best to walk and take in the sights and sounds.

Be it the “ding ding” bells of the doubledecked trams (which are fondly referred to as ding dings as well) or the bellowing short blasts from ships and boats signalling the berthing or leaving of the docks at the harbour, the daily hustle and bustle of Hong Kong life is one every traveller should say they are a part of during their visit.

As this is one of the busiest cities in the region, there will be a lot of traffic — but it’s more human than vehicular.

So expect to be walking among huge crowds and though you may choose to stroll around at your own leisurely pace,try not to obstruct others at pavements and escalators as many places will be bustling with people.

Many may not be quick to offer a smile or you may be jostled around a bit but do not mistake this for them being rude. This is merely the local culture where time is always limited, hence the goal is usually to get from point A to B.

ThestreetsofHongKongarepedestrianfriendly and comfortable. Covered walking shoes are a must! Soggy feet on rainy days is a downer so save your fancy shoes for days when you will be taking a taxi or if you plan to spend the whole day indoors in a mall.

Weather-wise, if your smart phone doesn’t already have its own weather app, you may want to download one like weather. com to check the forecast for the day. Springtime(MarchtoMay)iswhenthe weather is at its most unpredictable and itwill be very handy to have an umbrella with you at all times to minimise disruption of your

travel plans.

HAPPY FEET

If you’re up for a lot of fun walking, check out Mongkok where the famous Ladies market is located. It is a bit like our night markets but on a bigger scale. There are also Fa Yuen Street (for flowers galore),Goldfish market and Sneakers Street.

And while at Mongkok, do take a 10-minute walk to the Starbucks outlet at Sai Yee Street. It is one of the few unique concept stores in Hong Kong by the brand and showcases the Hong Kong of old, where the furniture includes cinema seats from the Sixties and mahjong tiles deck the walls.

The quaint Tai-O Fishing Village.

Another must-try experience is the Star Ferry ride. This legendary service has been ferrying passengers between Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the Outlying Islands. The short ride allows you to relive the authentic scenes of those Hong Kong drama series aired in the early days of TV2!

For another quaint picture to add to your travel photos, go tothe fishing village of Tai-O. It is one of the few fishing villages left in Hong Kong and is still home to the Tanka, a nomadic ethnic Chinese group.

Here, you can buy dried seafood or just order a cold cola drinkstill served in the traditional old glass bottle as you sit on wooden stools overlooking the green waters and misty hills.

It’s a Hong Kong completely different from the cosmopolitan city you know!

Being the metropolis that it is, bigger dining establishments which do not have full halal menus will still carry kosher and vegetarian options. The city has many halal dining options. There are also Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Also,whendiningatseafoodrestaurants, always check with the managers to ensure that no lard or pork floss is used.

Visits to Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Victoria Peak and Avenue of Stars are definitely worth spending some time at, but these aren’t the only places you should add to your itinerary.

Heritage 1881 is a trendy, upmarket shopping district, converted from what was once Hong Kong’s marine police headquarters. There is also the four-storey Lignan-style Blue House reminiscent of how housing used to be like in the early days and where kung-fu master Wong Fei Hung’s student Lam Sai Wing opened his kung-fu studio.

All in all, in Hong Kong, every corner is a new adventure for the curious traveller.

MUSLIM-FRIENDLY HOTELS

With only a 35-minute ride from Hong Kong International Airport, guests will be welcomed by the majestic hotel, which