Taiwan
I was in Taiwan to visit relatives, and tour around northern Taiwan. The trip started with a 16 hours non-stop flight Houston to Taipei on Eva Airways.
Taipei Zoo
Lots of animals to see, including tigers, lions, and pandas.
Sun Moon Lake
Taiwan's largest lake. The east side is shaped like the sun while the west side is shaped like a moon crescent, hence the name. Lots of opportunities for hiking and climbing mountains. People ride ferries to get across the lake and there is a hop on hop off bus that goes around the lake. There is also a cable car to see views of the lake from above.
Beitou Hot Springs
Relax by sitting in the natural hot springs. Beitou has several hotels with private bathing areas - for use by people staying at the hotel or people can also rent a room for a few hours to bathe and then shower. Millennium Hot Springs is the main public bathing springs. Millennium has three pools - hot, hotter, and hottest. I rotated between hot and hotter - the hottest was too hot.
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Hong Kong
My first visit to Hong Kong. I arrived via my first Cathay Pacific flight and my first time flying an Airbus A350 wide body jet. I stayed at Intercontinental Hong Kong, on the tip of the Kowloon peninsula. This hotel has great views of the harbor and is close to several subway stations and the Star Ferry. The hotel also has an outdoor hot tub with partial views of the harbor - perfect for relaxing after a full day of touring. I divided my Hong Kong visit into 3 areas: Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Island, and Lantau.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui is the southernmost point on Kowloon peninsula. It is filled with shops, parks, restaurants, the Hong Kong History Museum.
Kowloon park is a large park in the middle of Tsim Sha Tsui. The park is an oasis in the midst of a bustling area. It has lots of walking trails, ponds, fountains, and a bird center.
I love city skylines along water, and Hong Kong is one of my favorites. Standing on the Kowloon peninsula, you see Hong Kong Island across the sea with the skyscrapers amidst a mountainous background.
The skyline is also spectacular at night, when the buildings light up in many colors.
Every night, there is a Symphony of Lights show at the harbor which combines music, building lights, and lasers to produce a coordinated musical performance.
Another way to enjoy the Hong Kong skyline is at the Ozone, a skybar on the 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre (ICC), Hong Kong's tallest skyscraper. The ICC also has an observation deck, named Sky100. Drinks at the Ozone bar are expensive but cost is comparable to the admission fee to visit Sky100. The viewing area in Ozone is open air, so you will want a jacket as it can get cold up there. Sometimes, when fog rolls walking in the outdoor area is like walking through clouds and fog can even get inside.
Hong Kong Island
There are several ways to travel between Hong Kong Island and the mainland, and Star Ferry is the most scenic. Enjoy views of the skyline during the 10 minute commute.
The Island side is considered the political, historical, and economic center of Hong Kong. Several famous spots include the Peak, Ocean Park, and the mid-level escalators which is a unique way to climb the hills of Hong Kong. A fun way to get around the Island is the double decker trams - the upper deck offers nice views of the neighborhoods. Trams have served Hong Kong for over 100 years.
To get to the top of Victoria Peak (aka The Peak) you could take a bus, or a more fun way is the Peak Tram. Lines for the Peak Tram can be long with wait times approaching 2 hours so get there early in the day or book tickets through a tour agency (I used klook). Tour groups, including klook, can use the fast track line. The top of The Peak has spectacular views of Hong Kong and the harbor. There are also hiking trails, places to eat, and an observation deck. Sunset is the most popular time for visiting The Peak.
Victoria Peak also has a chocolate art museum, which has sculptures made out of chocolate and of course chocolate samples. You can even order a chocolate sculpture to take home and eat.
Lantau
Lantau is Hong Kong's largest island, and is mostly mountains. Lantau has the Hong Kong International Airport, Disneyland, and Ngong Ping 360. A fun, scenic way to see Lantau is the Ngong Ping cable car. The ride is 30 minutes and has spectacular views of Tung Chung Bay, the airport, and mountains. The cable car starts near the Tung Chung subway station and ends at Ngong Ping Village. The village consists of shops, shows, and restaurants. A key site near the village is Big Buddha Statue - you can climb 200 steps to get to the base of the statue. There are also hiking trails beyond the village. Tip #1: arrive at the cable car shortly after it opens - I arrived less than an hour after opening and waited 5 minutes to get on a gondola and when I returned in the afternoon lines were super long. Tip #2: book tickets in advance (via klook or Ngong Ping website) to avoid the ticketing line and possibly save money.
New Years Eve
I watched the New Years Eve celebration from my hotel lobby. Hong Kong puts on a fireworks and lights show at the harbor to ring in the new year.
More Hong Kong Pictures
