We visited Hong Kong before I had Jetset Wanderlife, but here goes things to the best of my recollection:
I had no expectations for Hong Kong. It made sense to stop for a couple days on our way to Thailand (LAX to HK to Phuket is just too bloody miserable to do all at once IMHO) so we booked a cheap place (pretty much a closet) and that was that.
We went to the Temple Street Night Market, which was rad to see the city so awake and crazy at like 1am. It was also cool to see all the crazy seafood, so many crustaceans alive in ice and water just waiting to be cooked and eaten. Actually that part was a bit sad, but they looked cool.
And I can say without hyperbole, the dan dan noodles with green sauce and dumplings was my favorite meal I’ve ever had. Part of it was surely the fact I had a slight cold and Hong Kong was chilly and the hot noodles and broth hit the spot, but my goodness I still cry thinking about it. We went back the next night and it was still amazing. The worst part is I took a photo of the sign and posted it to a Hong Kong forum and it’s some really generic restaurant name, so when we go back I just pray I can find it.
We did the tram to Victoria Peak which is SO worth it. I read that Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers for the amount of land or something, and from above it seems like it must be true. Just an insane view. And we took the ferry to/from Kowloon and saw the city light show at night where the buildings light up and do coordinated dances…let’s just say Caitlin liked it more than I did, but whatever. We also went to the famous statue garden and the national museum, which was so rad and free!
Just go. It’s crazy and amazing and massive yet tiny…if possible.
I was in HK for a month from Sept to Oct 2019. It was only convenient because I stayed in the Sheung Wan area in HK island and could walk to Central. You can also walk to the ferries without the bus or MTR. The MTRs shut early or did not operate at all due to protest threats. Sometimes most shops, restaurants and even the huge mall IFC close as well. There is plenty to see in Central itself. There is a tour off the beaten path that I took called Hong Kong Free Tours and that was most interesting and donation based. They operate daily and you sign up through the website or just show up at the designated meeting point.