On my flight to Manila last December, I made a few nights stop over to Hong Kong and met up with some people. It was a Do It Yourself (DIY) side trip. After a little research before my flight, Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) was identified as the best location for our temporary abode and to match our planned activities. It is near to almost everything especially to the coolest street to do the food trip (will come in a separate post).
In the first afternoon, we shrunk through the shopping stalls. There are so many quirky, bizarre and hip stuff being offered. I intentionally bought a huge red Minnie and Mickey bag from there, knowing that I would be needing an additional bag just before consummating the flight to Manila. We were then headed to Victoria Peak.
There are two ways to reach the Peak: to take the tram/bus or to walk up thereeee (It’s so high, imagine yourself hiking. I thought the residents were bluffing us. But I personally witnessed few athletic and adventurous fellows who dared to climb, err, walk up to the Peak). We took the Peak tram. The experience was like riding in a skyrocket. The tram kept on riding up, that it’s like being on the upward right side of a very steep triangle . And when it’s time to go down, the tram wouldn’t reverse. So you are seated backwards going down. That saved me. Or else my fear of heights will attack me (again).
Victoria Peak is the highest mountain in Hong Kong Island, with 1,810 feet altitude. This tops the Travel Advisor’s list of must-sees in Hong Kong.
The view is breathtaking. A good spot to appreciate the skyline is in Burger King. However, to appreciate it at its best you have to pay a little extra for an entry to the Sky Terrace. It was night time when we went there. Hence, it was especially cold.
You will enjoy being on the Sky Terrace. This is one of the moments wherein you would just want to do nothing (besides taking photos) but stare, keep looking, forget any slight fear of heights or any fear, and worries that you have.
At the Peak, there are souvenir shops, bookstore, gaming centre, and al fresco restaurants.
A number of people (including us) badly wanted to dine here. It would be like ancient time dining on a hill. Unfortunately, a private gathering was held that night.
This giant gingerbread house was a main attraction last December.
As I sorted the photos that I took in different days, I noticed the ‘anatomy’ of the view from the Peak. These ones were taken during my visit to the Central District.
If you’re exploring HK by yourself, better earmark Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong Museum, and Symphony of lights for one go.
The other way to appreciate Victoria Harbour is at Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, near Avenue of Stars. I suggest that you go there before 8pm just in time for the daily Symphony of Lights. There are approximately 44 key buildings in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island that participate in this musical showcase. Beware of asking for directions though in case your map doesn’t serve you well. Instead of asking for the venue for the Symphony of Lights, just be pointed to the Avenue of Stars’ direction. Or else you’d probably not get in time because of the language barrier and (surprising) unfamiliarity of the Chinese to the terminology itself.
But I highly recommend that you view the harbour from the Peak, on the Sky Terrace in particular. And be there from sunset till night. There’s no doubt why this is included in the book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die.
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Nice picture of the HK view. The last time I visited HK was in 2000 i guess??? Which i can visit HK again especially Disneyland
Been there! Rode that stiff-climb-tram and saw that awesome view! Took some pics too, but not as beautiful as yours. Did you went to the wax museum? It’s just near that place.
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wow! breathtaking experience and an amazing photos. thank you for sharing Jo.
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I would really love to visit HK sometime, maybe when budget permits me. We have long wanted to visit HK but we wanted to finish one project at a time, so tatapusin muna namin ang paglipat sa new house, before we make lakwatsa, hehe. Nice photos Jo, glad you enjoyed HK.
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wow! ganda! when we went here, it was afternoon, so we didn’t get to see the lights [we were at the other side though, kaya maganda rin ang view]. super ganda!
Wow those nightshots from the Peak are dazzling! We went there in the afternoon before catching our flight back to Manila. The view is simply spectacular from the Sky Terrace and it was very windy too!
A friend of my sister who lives in HongKong doesn’t recommend taking the double decker bus to the Peak because of the zigzagging roads which tend to make people seating on the upper deck throw up. Ewww.
The Peak tram was a marvelous experience. Going down in reverse without seeing the destination though was a bit weird for me.
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You know when we went to Hong Kong and visited The Peak, my wife and I rode a bus (almost two hours I think, scenic route). Not knowing it was The Peak when the bus stopped, we wandered around to the tram and thought that we had to ride that to get to The Peak (hindi kasi nagtatanong). Imagine our horror when the tram descended. We spent two hours going there, just 2 minutes to gaze at the wonderful view, and 15 minutes travelling down via tram.
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amazing! just looking at them, it felt like i was in hongkong na rin. and the skyline is way better than the towers here in dubai. i would love to have a sidetrip there before ako uwi ng pinas.
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Great pics from the Sky Terrace! I must go there with D40 in tow when I’m in Hong Kong one of these days
galing ng mga kuha! between trams and walk, ill definitely choose walking unless time is limited.
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amazing pics! you’ve got really great angles. what kind of camera do you have? i think my camera will be unable to take such great photos.
wow Wits, those are amazng photos. I would love to experience that too. That would be soon (keeping my fingers cross)
Those are some really cool photos… especially the gingerbread house! I love travel, so thanks for the heads up
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your photos always, always look great. how do you do it?
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amazing view!
kelan kaya ako makakadating diyan? my gulay! it’s so lovely and pretty with all the lights!
ahhhh!sarap talaga pag magbabakasyon
pag pauwi!
hirap na pag pabalik na sa trabaho..he he he.
experience is the best thing!
buti pala napasyal ako dito,yung mag ina ko pupunta ng hongkong sa march.mabigyan ng tip kung saan papasyal.
nice shots. how come you were able to get those night lights shots in good condition? tinanong ko yung sa photography club ang sabi sa akin eh kailangan ko daw ng tri pod nun…siguro kasi sobrang lamig ng paris kaya yung shots from eiffel tower di maayos ang kuha…kainis ehehehe…pero good pictures ha…me pictures na din sa blog ko..ehehe nag edit ako ng entry ehehhe
last time I was in HKG was 10 years ago
I bet it has changed since then. The reclamation project seems to go on forever. I remember we went to this “night market” which was busy like crazy at mignight.
Spectacular night shots !
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Amazing night shots. I just love the bright city lights.
wow love love the shots jo! when we were in HK last 2007, we were not able to visit the peak! panu ba naman nag shopping na mga kasama ko! haha
You took these pictures? These are great. I especially liked the first pic.
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hey jo, loved your night landscape pics. very nice
haven’t been there, but now i want to. hehehe. thanks for the tips!
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Thanks. I’m using a point and shoot Sony and semi-pro Olympus in pic-taking. For these particular photos, I used Olympus (SP565UZ model).
Thanks, Angeli. I just love to click the shutter and find the right angle/focus as much as possible. I use my iPhone in ordinary days and for this HK trip, my point and shoot Sony and semi-pro Olympus helped me capture the moments.
We didn’t check the wax museum because I already checked something like this in another exhibit in the past. I saw from the website that they have recently added Obama’s waxed image.
Time to revisit HK. Especially that Disney was not yet there in 2000. I guess it opened in 2005.
You’re welcome. It was indeed a good experience.
First things first. HK can wait. I’m sure when that time comes Tabebs and the rest of the family will have fun there.
We initially wanted to be there in the afternnon. Incidentally, shopping/ window shopping took much of our time which was good because we came in perfect time.
I’m glad we didn’t ride in the double decker. I was so tempted I was imagining being on the upper deck. Heehee. That reverse ride is strange but in a way I’m thankful because I have fear of heights. If it was the normal ride, probably my eyes were closed the whole time the tram was going down.
We were supposed to take the double decker/bus because I wanted to experience being on the upper deck. Then I remember a tourist’s suggestion to take the tram instead. Oh, only a couple of minutes of gazing. You didn’t check much the other attractions on the peak?
That’s number 1 rule, having a friendly camera reaching The Peak.
Taking a sidetrip is worth it. To any of Philippines’ neighbor countries.
Thanks. It must be challenging to walk up to the peak.
Soon! I’ll be wishing for you. You’ll enjoy it there.
It was so hard to catch the gingerbread house ‘alone’. One of the most photographed areas. Thanks for visiting.
I agree, pretty and lovely…. and romantic? Imagine yourself standing there with your beloved A.
Ganun nga. We hopped on the double decker bus. The view while going up was good, lots of big houses. Sabi nila that’s were rich Hong Kong people live. Sadly, we didn’t get to enjoy The Peak. We’ll come back again soon, I hope. That was our first international trip and my first time to ride an airplane.
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Hi Mai! It’s achievable even without the tripod. Focus lang. I am always visiting your blog. Happy blogging!
True. Nung nasa Pinas ako, parang gusto kong patigilin ang oras para hindi muna ako aalis hehe. I’ll be posting more HK-related entries.
Memorable trip being the first time. I still plan to return to HK and Macau but not soon. I want to try riding in the double decker naman next time. I’d like to enjoy the view/see the big houses (aka HK’s Beverly Hills).
Thanks. I enjoyed the night market. Although the shopping was not the main agenda.
Shopping really steals the time. Engaging kase ang night market. But you shouldn’t miss The Peak when visiting HK!
City lights cheer me. They’re like stars up close especially when viewed from the hill.
Yes.
A must-see. You’re welcome.