Think you know Hong Kong? Next time, skip the usual malls and chain restaurants, and head to where the locals like to go
During a recent trip abroad, my group and I went on an eye-opening tour. We walked through hilly, narrow streets filled with establishments that are small in size but big in character. We visited charming boutiques selling jewelry and accessories handcrafted by local artisans. We sat and ate at cool hipster joints where the owners themselves would serve you. And on our third day, we hung out at a pristine beach with other nature trippers.
If you think we were at some exotic island location, well, you got half of it right. Because yes, we were on an island-—and that island is called Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is such a familiar destination for us Filipinos that we don’t need a tour guide to take us around. We can navigate its streets with our eyes closed—but only if those streets went straight to the huge malls and popular shopping areas: Pacific Place, IFC Mall, The Landmark, Times Square, et al. But have you thought of veering off that beaten path? I have—I’ve always wanted to explore Hong Kong’s little nooks and crannies, but I didn’t know where to start. I’ve often wondered where the locals hang out and where the secret shopping addresses are. And what do they do on the weekends, when they want to get away from the city, away from work, clubbing, and shopping, and just chill?
Callixto’s can’t-miss fuchsia façade
Homeless storefront’s distinct design
Shek O Beach is considered by many to be the best beach in the island
Tai Lung Fung’s narrow space can only accommodate a long counter and stools
The Coffee Academïcs can get pretty full, so prepare to wait or share tables
The interiors of The 9th Muse allow for easy browsing
I got my answers when I accepted an invitation from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to experience its current campaign, “My Time For…” You can create your own theme by continuing the sentence and filling in the blank, such as “…Indulgence,” “…Renewal,” “…Summer Fun,” or “…Urban Escapes,” and make your own list of things to do and places to see.
For our particular group, the theme was “Made In Hong Kong.” The HKTB prepared an itinerary that would allow us to explore the city’s “undiscovered yet worthwhile activities, such as dining in chic local cafés, take part in outdoor activities locals enjoy doing, and visit fashion boutiques by local talents.” As you can see, the emphasis was on “local,” so we were in for some made-in-Hong-Kong goodness.
SHOPPER’S PARADISE
We all know Hong Kong is Asia’s shopping capital, but have you ventured outside those humongous air-conditioned malls? It’s time you did, especially if you’re tired of bumping into people wearing the same thing you are or are in search of something one-of-a-kind, handcrafted, and made with love. The side streets of Causeway Bay and Central are full of hidden gems that are waiting to be discovered. Here a few to check out:
• The 9th Muse takes a little effort to get to as you need to take a lift to the 12th floor. It carries well-curated collections of jewelry, bags, scarves, sunglasses, and other accessories, including New York-based Filipino Chris Habana’s elegantly subversive earrings, necklaces, and rings. Co-owner Charlotte Hwang sources from all over the world. “People like to hang out here after hours,” she says. 12/f Unit 1204, One Lyndhurst Terrace, Central; the9thmuse.com
The Coffee Academïcs also serves food like this Artichoke & Pesto Pizza
G.O.D.’s tongue-in-cheek Chinese-themed designs
• G.O.D. (Goods Of Desire) has been around for over 15 years, starting out as a little retail space that sold Chinese-themed curios and tchotchkes. Today, they have seven outlets, and continue to sell its tongue-in-cheek lifestyle products. 48 Hollywood Rd., Central; go to goodsofdesire.com for complete list of branches
• Visionaire is a hodgepodge of unique items in different categories—jewelry, accessories, bags, home décor, paper products, and more. While many are from local designers, a lot are sourced during the owners’ travels. 26 Gough St., Central; visionaire.hk
• Homeless has several branches throughout Hong Kong, but it is their flagship in Central that is most recognizable, thanks to its distinct façade that looks like an alien’s tentacles wrapped around it. Give yourself time to browse in here—lots of novelty items, cute stuff, whimsical designs, all very useful and actually functional! 29 Gough St., Central; homeless.hk
• Callixto’s hot-pink storefront is hard to miss. The inside is like a candy shop full of precious little trinkets, many of them handmade by local designers. Its location, Hollywood Road, started out as an antiques market, but this street is now filled with lots of cool shops and cafés. Give yourself a workout and hike this hilly path! 67 Hollywood Rd., Central; callixto.com
• PMQ stands for Police Married Quarters and was, literally, housing built for Hong Kong’s married junior police officers back in 1951. Vacant since 2000, in 2009 the building was declared to be preserved, and then transformed into a creative industries landmark, which opened just last April. Give yourself a day to explore the eight floors of this complex filled with unique shops, cafés, and galleries. 38 Aberdeen St., Central; pmq.org.hk
Whimsical animal heads at Homeless
Handcrafted silver bangles at The 9th Muse
FOODIE HAVEN
Hong Kong is one of the world’s top dining destinations—from hole-in-the-walls to get your dim sum and noodle fix, to Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurants, locals and tourists alike are spoilt for choice. Then there are the in-betweens: neighborhood bars, quirky cafés, and charming bistros that you might find in the side streets you often pass and ignore. Turn left or right and discover these places:
• The Coffee Academïcs is a hipster’s wet dream. First, there’s the cool interiors—brick walls, open ceiling, mismatched furniture, and good-looking baristas. And then, of course, there’s the coffee, which they take very seriously. This third-wave-coffee establishment sources, roasts, and blends beans from all over the world. An extra service is custom blending for a personalized bag of beans with your or someone else’s name. 38 Yiu Wa St., Causeway Bay; the-academics.com
• Tai Lung Fung brings back the spirit of old Hong Kong by offering home-cooked dishes using local ingredients. The interiors, with its counter setting and bar stools (the only “table” is actually a wide bench with low bamboo stools for chairs), has a nostalgic feel to it. The simple dishes are served in a traditional way, on small plates set atop rice bowls. Must-try is the Shrimp Paste Wings and their home-brewed liquor. They also have a bar in Wan Chai. Shop H107, PMQ; pmq.org.hk/shop/tai-lung-fung
• Peel Fresco Live Music Bar has live music every night and is a favorite of jazz enthusiasts. They carry a good selection of wines and beer on tap. Happy hour is daily from 5-8:30pm. 49 Peel St., Central; www.peelfresco.com
WEEKEND WARRIOR
Just as we Manila city dwellers like to get away from traffic, pollution, and crowds during the weekend and drive off to the beach, so do Hong Kong residents.But unlike Manila where the nearest beach is at least two hours away by car, in Hong Kong all it takes is a 20-minute train and bus ride.
It’s easy to dismiss beaches in other parts of the world because we have so many beautiful ones in the Philippines, but who knew Hong Kong had some lovely ones as well? Even if it’s surrounded by water, you just never think of going to the beach in Hong Kong. But we spent a day at Shek O (which means “rocky bay”) Beach, which has a wide shoreline, fine golden sand, clean calm water, organized facilities, and a relaxed, quiet ambiance.
You can walk to nearby stalls that sell the requisite souvenir, as well as beach essentials (swimsuits, goggles, inflatable rings); and no-frills, open-air restaurants, where you can just hang out and chill. Try: Shek O Chinese and Thailand Seafood Restaurant (the name says it all!).
How to get there: Take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan, take Exit A3, and hop on the Number 9 bus for Shek O. Or take a taxi.
For more Hong Kong attractions, go to discoverhongkong.com
A NEW WAY TO FLY TO HK
Enjoy an enhanced flight experience with Cathay Pacific’s Premium Economy Class
Cathay Pacific Airways offers passengers a more enjoyable journey with its new Premium Economy Class.
Cathay Pacific’s new Premium Economy Class experience includes a wider seat with a longer pitch and bigger recline
“This is a big step in our commitment to provide outstanding products and services to our passengers. We’re confident that this new product will be a winner, especially when combined with the famous Cathay Pacific service,” says chief operating officer Ivan Chu.
Apart from introducing a totally new seat and entertainment system, the new Premium Economy experience features a quieter, more spacious cabin than the traditional Economy Class with 26-34 seats per aircraft. The seat pitch is 38 inches (six inches more than Economy Class)and the seat itself is wider and has a bigger recline. It has a large meal table, cocktail table, footrest, a 10.6-inch personal television, an in-seat power outlet, a multi-port connector for personal devices, and extra personal stowage space.
Passengers will also benefit from additional on-ground complementary features: priority check-ins at dedicated counters, priority boarding before Economy Class passengers, and an increase in baggage allowance (25kg, or two pieces of baggage up to 25kg each for select destinations).
For more information, go to cathaypacific.ph