Hong Kong -7) Food and Street Shopping

Hong Kong is truly a paradise for food lovers. From Michelin-starred dim sum to humble street stalls, the city takes its cuisine seriously.  XiaoFu took me to a few hidden local spots for dim sum—such a treat. My mouth still waters when I think about it.  

When in Hong Kong, you should experience street shopping at least once.  Going through all the merchandise itself is a joy even if you don't want to buy anything. Some time, there were so much choice, you have hard time to make up your mind.  Just you know I brought Cotton top and shirt for $7 for my visit to Indonesia that were so beautiful, easy to care and photographed nicely!

Hong Kong- 6) Wonders of Hong Kong

After walking along Victoria Harbour, soaking in views of the skyline and the boats crossing its deep blue waters, I hopped on the famous Star Ferry for a short ride across the bay to Central — the business heart of Hong Kong. 

The Star Ferry runs regularly between Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side and Central on Hong Kong Island, and it’s one of the best ways to enjoy the harbour scenery from the water. From Central Pier, I then caught a bus toward Sheung Wan and made my way to visit Man Mo Temple, where the scent of incense and the quiet calm of the old temple offered a beautiful contrast to the bustling waterfront earlier in the day.

Walking through Hong Kong is like stepping between different worlds at once. The Man Mo Temple feels like a quiet portal to the past, with its fragrant incense spiraling down from the ceiling and the soft glow of red lanterns casting shadows on ancient wooden beams. 

Just outside, the city hums with life as bright red double-decker buses rattle by, giving passengers a front-row seat to the city’s energy. Everywhere you look, towering high-rises soar into the sky, their glass and steel reflecting the sun and making the streets feel both cozy and exhilaratingly vertical. In a single walk, you can experience Hong Kong’s history, its everyday rhythm, and its breathtaking modern skyline all at once.

The Star Ferry

Man Mo Temple

Hong Kong - 5) Victoria Harbour

Victoria Harbour stretches between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, offering sweeping views of the city’s skyline, where modern skyscrapers rise dramatically from the waterfront. It’s famous for its daily “Symphony of Lights” show at night. 

Among many art sculptures, along the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade stands the Bruce Lee Statue, a striking bronze tribute to the legendary martial artist, posed mid-kick in his signature fighting stance. 

 

Hong Kong -4) Big Buddha

The Big Buddha, officially Tian Tan Buddha, is located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The usual route to get there is:

MTR (metro) → Tung Chung Station → Ngong Ping 360 cable car → Big Buddha

Take the MTR Tung Chung Line from Central / Hong Kong Station

Ride to Tung Chung Station

Exit the station and follow the clear signs to Ngong Ping 360

The cable car terminal is only about a 2–5 minute walk from the station. Then take the 25-minute cable car ride up to Ngong Ping village. From there, it is a short walk to the Buddha and Po Lin Monastery

My friend XiaoFu backed off at the cable car station as soon as she found out the ride because she was affried of the heights.

I got a single ticket from a local vender at the cable car station and went there by myself (there were two types of cable car: one with glass bottom, one with solid bottom for different experience and they are differently priced)

The cable car ride was one of the highlights of the visit because it offered beautiful panoramic views of mountains, the South China Sea, the airport, and Lantau Island. 

Once you arrive at Ngong Ping village, I followed the crowd walking through a visitor's village to the 268 steps leads you to reach the statue itself. The view from the top is absolutely worth it.

Hong Kong-3) Victoria Peak

A special tour bus takes you from downtown to Victoria Peak, a hilltop offering panoramic views of the city.

We arrived just before sunset, so we were able to watch the sky change into beautiful shades of color. As night fell, we saw the city light up from a completely different angle than when we viewed it from Victoria Harbor. It was such an enjoyable experience!

Hong Kong - 2) A Symphony of Lights

Free to watch. “A Symphony of Lights” is a nightly multimedia show that illuminates the skyline around Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. It’s one of the city’s most famous attractions and celebrates Hong Kong’s energy, creativity, and status as a global metropolis.

The show features synchronized lasers, LED displays, searchlights, and colorful building lights from dozens of skyscrapers on both sides of the harbor—Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The lights are choreographed to music and narration, creating a coordinated performance across the skyline.

The show happens every night at 8:00 PM and lasts about 10 minutes. On certain days (usually Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), the show includes narration that highlights themes like Hong Kong’s history, culture, and future development.

Best Viewing Spots: The Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade (very popular and lively atmosphere), A harbor cruise boat on Victoria Harbour (more immersive and less crowded), Near the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, From elevated spots like Victoria Peak (for a wider city view rather than close-up detail)

Frist day when I arrive, after dinner, we walked to nearby Harbor, walked around the harbor and got on one of the cruise boats and watched the show.  It was a great experience.

Hong Kong 1) Streets

Those photos were taken on the way from airport to my hotel located in Mong kok district. The ride from the airport is about 1 hour.

3 days in Hong Kong Impressions and Experience

In October 2025, on my way to Bali, I stopped in Hong Kong for two days to visit my childhood friend XiaoFu and to do a bit of sightseeing. It was a short two-and-a-half-hour nonstop flight from Chongqing on Hong Kong Airlines.

I had no trouble finding my friend right after exiting baggage claim. From the airport, we walked to the bus terminal and took Bus #22 directly into downtown.

Just as I had imagined, Hong Kong is a vibrant, high-energy city that blends Chinese heritage with a strong British colonial legacy, creating a culture that feels both distinctly Asian and uniquely international.

As soon as we arrived in the city, I immediately felt that unmistakable Hong Kong vibe—towering skyline buildings rising above busy, narrow streets packed with people hurrying about their business. It’s lively, crowded, and full of energy.

Most major stores and hotel staff speak both English and Chinese fluently. Locals primarily speak Cantonese, a dialect I don’t speak—but thankfully XiaoFu does, fluently.

In just two days, we managed to visit several iconic sites. We took a harbor cruise on Victoria Harbour to watch the famous “A Symphony of Lights” show. We also visited the giant Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island, arriving by cable car, which made the experience even more memorable. Of course, we also enjoyed local food and did some street shopping.

Hong Kong’s skyline—especially around Victoria Harbour—is iconic. The view from Victoria Peak is unforgettable.

Real estate in the city is scarce and extremely expensive, and visiting Hong Kong can be a bit costly as well.

Hong Kong is truly a paradise for food lovers. From Michelin-starred dim sum to humble street stalls, the city takes its cuisine seriously. XiaoFu took me to a few hidden local spots for dim sum—such a treat. My mouth still waters when I think about it.

From luxury brands in Central to the lively night market on Temple Street, shopping is part of the city’s rhythm. Even if you don’t buy anything, simply wandering through the markets is an experience in itself.

Hong Kong’s public transportation system is efficient and easy to use. The MTR is clean and convenient—though often very crowded.

Still, I had a fabulous time there, partly because I was so happy to see XiaoFu after all these years. We were best friends growing up, and even after such a long separation, we still get along so well and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. That made this short visit even more special.

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I’ve included a photo here to show where the bus hub is located at the airport. There isn’t a large, obvious sign, but you once you get out of the terminal building, you can find it by looking for the blue sign posted on a huge column just off the street next to the bus station.

Yogyakarta: 3) Keraton Ratuboko

Keraton Ratu Boko is an archaeological site located on a hilltop about 3 km south of Prambanan Temple in Central Java, near Yogyakarta. Ratu Boko is said a ruins of an ancient palace and fortified royal compound.

The site dates back to the 8th century and is believed to have been built during the time of the Sailendra and Mataram kingdoms. Historians believe it was not just a palace but possibly a combination of: Royal residence, Religious retreat, Fortress or administrative complex.

Some views of the town below the temple