travel to the far east

How I did it: Was under pressure from family and friends about what I was going to do for my 30th birthday - party / dinner / dancing...blah blah blah boring!  Decided to book a ticket and fly to Hong Kong to visit a friend who was living out there.  Went on my own and absolutely loved it! Was my first time on a plane and the journey wasn't great.  Got stuck in Abu Dhabi for quite some time and being a blonde haired female alone in Abu Dhabi airport overnight is not an ideal situation.  (The airport building was amazing though - so beautiful!).  Once in Hong Kong I had the most incredible time.  Everything was so beautiful and different.  Spent my birthday (day) on my own on the island of Lantau where I visited the Po Lin Monastery and walked up the Tian Tan Buddha (the world's tallest, seated outdoor bronze buddha). So peaceful and an inspirational trip to make.  Spent my birthday night in a great restaurant with friends and finished up at a cool american  bar which was great because my birthday is July 4th and they were having a massive independence day party.  Had the best frozen margaritas in the world in the M Bar which is at the top of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and overlooks the harbour - stunning!  Have been wanting to go back ever since!

Lessons & tips:

• Visit as many places as possible 
  • Stanley market  
  • M Bar - Mandarin Oriental Hotel
  • Victoria Peak
  • Ocean Park
  • Temple Street Night Market
  • Ladies' Market
  • Cheung Chau Island (incredible seafood)
  • Lantau Island - Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha
  • Star Ferry
  • Kowloon
  • Lan Kwai Fong (bars, clubs, restaurants)
  • The Hong Kong Jockey Club
• Bring mucho sun tan lotion - sooo hot there and humid too!
• Take a really good camera
• It is quite expensive there so bring plenty of money!
• Sleep with the air conditioning on!
• Try to get a non stop flight.

Nov 29, 2008, 01:48PM PST | 0 comments