Ngong Ping 360 • 0 comments • The territory of Hong Kong consists of over 200 islands of varying sizes, the largest being Lantau Island (and not, surprisingly, Hong Kong Island). Lantau is home to Hong Kong Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the Ngong Ping 360 (among other things). We opted to skip Hong Kong Disneyland, and instead ride the Ngong Ping 360 aerial tramway, over the water, to the Po Lin Monastery and the impressive Tian Tan Buddha. We paid for the glass bottomed gondola cabin, and were paired with another couple. Although we didn’t share a spoken language, we were all able to convey our excitement and apprehension (it began raining and got quite windy as soon as we were high above the water) during the 3.5 mile/25 minute ride. As soon as we passed the first peak, we were validated in our purchase of ticket for the glass bottomed car. We were treated to stunning views of the aquamarine water, towering buildings, and a bird’s eye view of the walking path winding through the lush greenery, through peaks and over streams. - Alex
Above & Beyond Restaurant at Hotel Icon • 2 comments • The Tsim Sha Tsui district of Kowloon has a dizzying array of museums, malls, and tourist traps. A huge attraction of the area is that it offers great opportunities to watch the Victoria Harbour light show. We were fortunate enough to be able to view it from the 28th floor of Hotel Icon while enjoying dinner at the Above & Beyond Restaurant. The lobby sets the tone for the rest of the hotel; high quality, well designed, and making thoughtful use of greenery to balance the modernity. The Cantonese restaurant pairs amazing views with a delicious mix of classic and contemporary dishes. Each of the restaurant staff we interacted with were warm and welcoming. It made the dining experience feel very personalized, and having a corner window seat facing the harbour didn’t hurt either. If you're looking for a special way to view the light show, I'd recommend calling early to reserve the best spot. We were treated to a tasting menu that began with a crispy crab claw and shrimp mousse appetizer. While I’m generally not a fan of crab, the preparation won me over and we were soon presented with the second dish, which was probably my favorite. The steamed "garoupa" with egg white and yellow broth was one of those dishes I may never have ordered on my own, but was thankful it was included in the tasting menu because of it’s mix of flavors, textures, and presentation. The menu was a journey through inspired local favorites, including prawns with tangerine peel, wagyu beef with soy marinated goose liver, minced pork with salted fish, marinated chicken in shaoxing wine, Northern Chinese crispy potatoes, and a trio of satisfying desserts. Right at 8pm, our window lit up with a countdown for the Victoria Harbour light show: A Symphony of Lights. More than 40 buildings on either side of the harbour participate to put on the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. When the countdown hits zero, the harbour is filled with a choreographed, and a times chaotic, display of neon, light animations, and lasers over the water. A big thanks to Above & Beyond for having us and for being so kind. - Alex
Hong Kong Commuters • 4 comments • A few pictures of Hong Kong commuters taken while we were sticking out like sore thumbs:
