Densely packed with adventure
ALEX HIBBERT stays at Hong Kong’s luxurious Kerry Hotel
PHILOSOPHER Aristotle said ‘adventure is worthwhile’, and it’s a sentiment which always struck a chord with me.
Though I never fulfilled my childhood dream to become Indiana Jones, I’ve tried to travel and immerse myself in new cultures.
Of course, being an explorer isn’t easy these days, but Cathay Pacific’s five-times-weekly direct flights from Manchester to Hong Kong on their new A350 aircraft make discovering new worlds all too tempting.
A mesmerising city, Hong Kong teems with life; nothing ever really closes and there’s always something to do. And it’s the perfect place to connect West to East – mixing Oriental and European sensibilities, culture, food and lifestyle.
Like all the best places, it feels alien from the moment you arrive – as you take in the skyline, the neon and the smells on the trip from the airport to wherever you’re calling home for the duration of your stay.
From one moment to the next you could find yourself flying up and down its steep streets on a historic double-decker tram, sailing aboard a junk ship enjoying the spectacular harbour views, or trekking across sprawling country parks.
Aromas dance through the air from unknown places, people never seem to stop moving. And despite being home to more than seven million people, Hong Kong isn’t so huge it feels overbearing.
Normally the hotel could be incidental to a trip discovering a truly unique place like this, but Shangri-La’s new Kerry Hotel is no ordinary hotel. Set on Kowloon’s vibrant waterfront at the heart of Hung Hom Bay, it delivers my first moment of pure wonder – when I walk into my room and see the breathtaking views of Hong Kong Island’s skyline.
The hotel is opulence defined. Rooms are grand but modern, offering all the amenities you could care for on a city-break, while its lounge ‘The Club’ offers guests a luxury breakfast spread to stock up for a busy day, or a place to unwind after a long day with a cocktail and some snacks. And it’s possibly the only hotel I’ve ever stayed which has a gym so luxurious it actually made me want to work out.
If you can tear yourself away from the hotel, a good place to start exploring Hong Kong is up at Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island – it offers 360-degree views of the island and views of the harbour vista as you look down and across to Kowloon. It’s fun to simply pick a spot and start wandering – and there’s nowhere better to get lost than in Hong Kong’s Old Town, one of the oldest yet trendiest districts in the city. Here hipster joints merge with historic streets and sights, residents hang washing out on balconies perched just above artisan coffee joints. Take an organised tour by Walk in Hong Kong (walkin.hk) – the company’s knowledgeable guides offer a fascinating insight into the city’s history and its people.
While exploring the Old Town, be sure to pop into Po’s Atelier, an uber-chic bakery which mixes traditional techniques and modern décor, and its Cafe Deadend eatery just behind for a steaming hot chocolate.
Funky neighbourhood Poho – which you’ll know from the mass of streets and buildings with names starting with ‘Po’- is a cluster of cafes, boutiques and galleries that act as a hotspot for Hong Kong’s hipsters. There are plenty of places to sample the city’s world-leading cuisine and cocktails here.
One standout is the otherworldly Iron Fairies (facebook.com/ The IronFairiesHongKong), where thousands of petrified butterflies line the ceiling and revellers are treated to a live jazz and blues, fantastical cocktails and hearty food.
Hong Kong Island is the city’s commercial centre, where sky-scrapers crowd around you, futuristic walkways perched above highways give way to green spaces and escalators deposit people onto rooftop bars and shopping malls brimming with luxury brands.
But for an insight into what life is like for the masses in Hong Kong, Kowloon’s heartland of Yau Ma Tei and Jordan offer a grittier, more ‘real’ experience of the city.
Here flats pile up on top of each other and food markets fill to the brim with workers during the early afternoon. Pop into to a Cha chaan teng – or tea restaurant – for some Hong Kong cuisine, including pineapple buns and the ever popular milk tea. We were shown around by Ho Ho Go (hohogo.com.hk/en/ hohogo) – who offer tourists cultural walks, workshops and excursions.
And after a busy day discovering the city, being able to return to the refuge of The Kerry Hotel is the perfect way to relax. You can easily lose a few hours sipping cocktails on the Red Sugar bar’s veranda, or dining at its restaurant Hung Tong – where executive chef Matthew Bennink’s menu fuses traditional Cantonese recipes with forward thinking.
And as Hong Kong is Cathay Pacific’s Asian hub, it’s possible to fly on almost anywhere in Asia, Australia and New Zealand if you want to continue exploring.
The disappointment of a journey’s end is made all the more bearable when you’re on board Cathay Pacific’s A350. The airline’s staff make sure you never want for anything, while business class passengers get to relax in seats designed by Porsche, and even economy seats offer a level of luxury well above the competition.
As I relax on my return flight, reclined and relaxed with a cocktail in hand and my highdefinition screen playing the latest films, I think sometimes it’s a good thing if dreams don’t come true.
After all, Indiana Jones never had it this good.