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China, Hong Kong antique street market

Things To Do in Hong Kong

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Apart from sightseeing, Hong Kong excels in offering a multitude of activities for travelers of all tastes. These include shopping, clubbing, hiking, trailing and even gambling. Among other things, Hong Kong is a shopper’s paradise.

Shops in the city are marked by zero VAT, zero sales tax and fierce competition, which make it easier for shoppers to find quality items. However, don’t expect the costs to be cheap everywhere and be ready to put up your fiercest bargain if you want cheap shopping. Mong Kok in Kowloon is the major shopping district in the city. Shopping malls are abundant and the most popular ones include Landmark, City Plaza, IFC Mall, Pacific Place, APM, Festival Walk and Times Square.

Dim sum steamers at a Chinese restaurant, Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Cuisine

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Hong Kong holds the much-deserved title of “World’s Fair of Food” and “Gourmet Paradise” and it spoils you for choice. The city’s unique east-meets-west style reflects in its cuisine as well and you can see popular global fast food joints or hot pot and dim sum restaurants flourishing alongside traditional Chinese Haute Cuisine establishments as well.

This makes it a good place to eat for both – travelers who want to experience the traditional Chinese cuisines and those that are homesick and have had enough of the Chinese food. It is also a good place to eat for travelers who want a premium dining experience. Four among the world’s best 100 restaurants are in Hong Kong, as per the Restaurant Magazine. And you can easily use the Michelin Guide or Open Rice to find and locate other great places to eat.

Sightseeing in Hong Kong

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Hong Kong is known for its tall buildings and one-of-kind activities for tourists. The most popular attractions include:
Victoria Peak Tower: Commonly called just “The Peak”, the tower is stylish, entertaining and thrilling to say the least. It is home to The Sky Terrace – city’s highest 360-degree viewing platform, among other fascinating things.

Ozone Bar, Ritz-Carlton: The highest bar in the world, Ozone sits on the 118th floor of the building and offers unmissable views of the vibrant city.

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center: The building is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in Hong Kong. If you have watched the Jackie Chan starred New Police Story, you may remember the center from the epic finale of the movie. When there, be sure to visit the Golden Bauhinia Square as well.

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In addition, Hong Kong’s local markets, temples, and gardens offer great experiences that are characteristic of Hong Kong. Popular attractions include:

Local Markets – Temple Street Night Market and Cat Street for jade, antiques, and bric-a-brac; Ladies’ Market for inexpensive souvenirs and Stanley Market for the more premium ones. The Fa Yuen Street Market and Jade Market for some authentic Hong Kong-style shopping.

Temples – The Big Buddha and Wong Tai Sin Temple are two of Hong Kong’s most popular destinations for tourists who would like to make prayers while in the city.

Gardens – Nan Lian and Chi Lin Nunnery, two spectacular gardens right in the middle of soaring skyscrapers are ideal for some peaceful reflection and introspection. The Hong Kong Wet Land Park, though not technically a garden, is another calm and serene destination that will get you thinking.

Line of taxis at Hong Kong Island, China

Hong Kong’s Transportation

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Hong Kong boasts a highly developed transportation network, both internally and externally. It is well connected with all the major cities and countries in the world. The Hong Kong International Airport, which has been labeled the “World’s Best Airport” eight times by Skytrax, connects Hong Kong to all major cities in North America and Europe with one daily flight at least. Flights to and from Asia and Oceania are also frequent.

Getting into Hong Kong is also possible via helicopters and ferries, especially if you’re traveling from mainland China. Cruise ships from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam are another way to get into Hong Kong.

While in Hong Kong, you will find a sophisticated mix of (private and public) rail, road, and air transport to get around. These include the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), tramways, funicular or cliff railways, franchised buses, light public buses, taxis, ferries and aerial lift transports such as cable cars. You can also rent a car or a bike to get around.

MTR is the fastest and easiest way to get around. Taxis are another good option. Compared to other cities around the world, taxis in Hong Kong are easy to find and ride. They are also significantly cheaper. You can use the Octopus Card, which is a prepaid debit card the people of Hong Kong use to pay for services such as public transport and car parking. It can also be used in supermarkets, restaurants and convenience stores. You will get discounted rates when using the Card for public transport.

thailand koh lanta layana resort and spa walking by the pool

Thailand’s quick facts

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Thailand’s climate can be divided into three parts. They are the rainy season (May to October), the cool winter (November to February) and the hot summer (March to May). The best time to visit Thailand is between November and February during the cool season. Don’t arrive during the rainy season because you will have to contend with heavy rains and slushy roads. Note that the ‘cool’ season is actually not cool (temperatures can easily reach up tp 30 degrees in the middle of the day).

The official Thai currency is the Thai Baht. Currently, the Baht is hovering around 33 Baht per US dollar. With a thousand US dollars, you can live a very comfortable life in Thailand for at least a month.

It is a good idea to base yourself near a hospital whilst in Thailand. Keep cash with you when you go to a doctor or a hospital. Please take care of your passport and other important travel documents because once they are lost, they may be lost for good. Get photocopies of your important documents and stash them in a safe place. If you lose your original documents, please contact your embassy immediately. Foreign nationals from 19 countries are eligible for visa on arrival in Thailand.

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Bridge River Kwai, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Transportation in Thailand

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There are a number of travel options when in Thailand. Traveling in Thailand is inexpensive though not always fast. There are local buses in the cities but they may be crowded, so it is a good idea to rent a car when you are in Thailand (check for damages before you rent the car or the car owner will charge you for them later). Train is the prefered mode of transport for long distance travel. Please ask a local travel agent to help you with reservations.

Do note that foreigners may have to pay a bit more for long distance train tickets than locals. Women are recommended to travel with companions and it is better to avoid night travel.

Koh Chang Thailand ferry boat If you want to go to another island, take a ferry. All major Thai islands are connected to the mainland by ferries. Avoid traveling on boats that are in poor condition or overcrowded. You might have to wait for some time for the next ferry to depart but its worth it. Ferry prices are very cheap and you must buy the tickets inboard. There are speedboats too but those cost a lot more.

If you don’t mind the cost, consider taking a flight. All the major cities are connected by plane. In some cases, you can save a lot of time and effort by traveling by plane. For example, the journey from Chiang Mai to Phuket can take days by road but it is only two hours by plane. There are a number of low cost carriers to consider.

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thailand krabi aonang cliff beach resort krabi horse back riding

Things to do in Thailand

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Some of the popular places for shopping in Thailand are Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Carry a small hand towel with you to wipe yourself because it can get quite hot and sweaty during the day. The best time to visit a market is in the early morning or in the afternoon (because the markets are typically crowded in the evening). Plan where you want to go so you don’t go wandering in the city. Bangkok’s street markets are quite popular (Sampeng, Chatuchak, Saphan Phut, Pratunam). Do not offer a vendor a price, if you are not ready to meet it.

Bangkok is also known for its nightlife. There are a number of bars and nightclubs which are frequented by foreigners. The top nightclubs in Bangkok are Insanity Nightclub, Levels Club & Lounge, Route 66, Demo and Grease Nightclub. There are also a number of seedly back alley massage parlous and Go-Go bars in Bangkok but avoid those. In the south, Phuket has a very colorful nightlife. Seduction Club in Patong is very popular.

Gambling is illegal in Thailand. All games of chance and luck are banned in Thailand (except the state owned lottery). So don’t go betting on Thai boxing matches, fish fights and cockfights. If you are caught engaging in any one of them, the police will charge you.

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Salted grilled fish

Thai Cuisine

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Thai food pays a lot of attention to detail, taste, color and texture. It is intricate, has good flavor and uses ingredients with medicinal properties. The Thai are not only concerned about how the food tastes, they are also interested in how it smells, how it looks and how it fits in with other food.

Thai papaya salad also known as Som Tum from Thailand. Most Thai dishes require light preparation, have strong aroma and are quite spicy. Seven Thai dishes have made the list of 50 most delicious foods from around the world (by CNN International). These dishes are Pad Thai, Tom Yam Goong, Massaman Curry, Som Tam, Thai fried rice, moo nam tok and green curry.

North of Thailand's local foods Thai cuisine is four regional cuisines rolled into one. They are central Thai, Northern Thai, Isan and Southern Thai. Rice is staple in most diets. In fact, the word khao means both rice and food. Rice is made into congee, noodles, vermicelli and even rice flour.

Herbs, vegetables and a variety of spices are a big part of Thai food. Fish and other sea food are commonly eaten in Thailand. Most Thai meals will finish off with a sweet dish (can be fruit also), containing rice, coconut milk, banana and fruits.

The Thai also eat fried insects especially in the North where they are quite popular. Crickets, silkworm, termites, ant eggs, bee larve, grasshoppers are commonly fried and eaten. Thai street food is also renowned around the world (Thailand is called the world’s street food capital). Most Thai are non-vegetarians, so finding exclusive vegetarian food in Thailand can be quite difficult. Don’t forget to try the local beers – Singha (called Sing by the locals) and Chang. Other popular beverages in Thailand are Thai Ice tea and Thai coffee. Krating Deang is a popular energy drink in the region (Red Bull was derived from this drink).

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Floating market

Explore Thailand

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Most foreigners to Thailand arrive in Bangkok and start their journey from there. Bangkok has a number of famous Buddhist temples that are worth visiting. Please dress appropriately when you go to the temples otherwise you may be turned away. Wat Pho or ‘Temple of the Reclining Buddha’ is a must visit.

Sukhothai historical park, the old town of Thailand Other places to visit in Thailand are Pai (town), Phanon Rung, Railay (if you are an adventure junkie or rock climber), Khao Sok National Park, the ancient city of Ayuthaya (just 80 km away from Bangkok), Chiang Mai (best city in the North) and the Thai islands (gorgeous scenery, beautiful beaches and lively party scene).

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s cultural capital. In Chiang Mai, do visit Doi Suthep (a hill top temple) and Nimmanhaemin (for trendy shops, eateries and cafes). There are also a number of elephant parks in and around Chiang Mai.

Thailand ocean landscape. Exotic beach view and traditional shi There are three main sets of islands in Thailand. Some of the well known ones are Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Samet, Ko Chang, Ko Tao, Ko Phi Phi and Phuket. Ko Phi Phi is where Leonardo DiCaprio starred, ‘The Beach’ was shot. Phuket is the best and largest island destination in Thailand. If you want to go scuba diving, visit Ko Tao.

 

 

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Inside Doi-Suthep temple, Doi-Suthep,Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thai’s Culture

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The Thai are very friendly people. Some tourists have said that the Thai are some of the nicest people they have ever met. This comes from the region’s Buddhist influence. The typical Thai is always smiling, very polite, helpful and always happy. They will go out of their way to help you and even translate for you. They also treat guests very well. If you have ever made friends with a Thai, the next time he sees you, he will give you a big smile and a hug. No wonder, Thailand is called, ‘land of smiles.’


Nearly 95% of the people are Buddhists (Theravada). Theravada Buddhism is supported by the government and the monks receive many government benefits, like free bus travel. The traditional Thai greeting is the wai, which is performed with folded hands and a slight bow of the head. It is similar to the ‘Anjali mudra’ of the Indian subcontinent. In other ways, the Thai are very conservative and they don’t show PDAs (public displays of affection). Touching the head, unless you are an elder is considered rude. Most Thai don’t speak English (but the Thai will make every effort to understand you) so it is a good idea to learn basic Thai phrases before you come here.

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