Tag: Things to do

48 Hours in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is an excellent stop over for flights from the UK to Australia and New Zealand. The iconic image is one of modern, futuristic skyscrapers where space in an absolute premium but there is so much more to the city than that. It has a rich and diverse heritage where the old blends seamlessly with the new rather than battles with it. There are numerous parks and green spaces in which to spend a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle because make no mistake about it Hong Kong is an incredibly busy place at times and is home to nearly seven and a half million people. Forty eight hours is just about enough time to see the major sites and get a feel for the place but there is of course much more to explore if you have the time. Here is what we managed to do on two day stopover en route to Australia.

Museum of History

Located in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Kowloon this was a good place to start for us as our hotel was close by. The museum tells the story of Hong Kong from its formation way back over 400 million years ago the mega city it is today. As you walk the galleries you will learn about its geology, geography, fauna and flora. There are some stunning displays telling the story of the people that colonised and worked the land and sea. Entry to the museum is free and it should be possible to get round the main exhibition in 90 minutes to two hours.

Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade

Just a short walk from the Museum the promenade will take you all the way to Kowloon Pier and the Star Ferry terminal. On the way you will pass the Avenue of Stars, a tribute to Hong Kong film industry. Most striking and very popular is the state of Bruce Lee where many tourists pause and poise for a phone with the film legend. The railings along the waters edge have hand prints of other film notables.

You pass the Art Museum which is well worth a visit if you have the time. The promenade is a good place to view the impressive skyline of Hong Kong island and no better time is after sunset when the lights of the buildings make a stunning display. The Symphony of Lights takes place at eight each evening. At the end of the promenade by the Kowloon Pier is the Clock Tower, once part of the Kowloon – Canton Railway, and is nearing its hundredth birthday.

The Star Ferry

The Star Ferry is an important transport link for all those locals that need to make the daily trip between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island and it is a must do for visitors. The ferries have been crossing Victoria Harbour for over one hundred years and they are a Hong Kong institution. The service is very frequent so even if you just miss one you want have to wait long for the next one. To board you must purchase a green token from the machines in the terminal which you use to operate the turnstiles close to the gangway. The price for a single crossing on the top deck is currently 2.70 HKD. The crossing time is around ten minutes.

Victoria Harbour Cruise

The best time to join a harbour cruise is after sunset when the lights of the city make a magnificent display. Watching the Symphony of Lights, which takes place at 8pm every evening, from on board is a great experience and well worth it, some even include a free drink! You can join harbour cruises either from either Kowloon Pier or Hong Kong Central.

Man Mo Temple

The temple is dedicated to two gods, Man is the god of literature who is depicted holding an ancient writing brush and Mo the god of war who holds a sword. Man Mos is a Taoist temple and was built in the middle of the nineteenth century. You can tell your fortune here if you so desire by purchasing a stick which reveals your fortune. Translations into English are available.

Sample Dim Sum

There are Dim Sum restaurants all over Hong Kong and you should aim to try some at least once while you are here. The more traditional the restaurant the better. We went to Lin Heung Teahouse (160-164 Wellington Street) as it was only a short walk from the Man Mo Temple and it proved to be an excellent choice. It was full of local people and we looked to be the only overseas visitors but we were warmly welcomed and well looked after. Dim Sum is served from trolleys that travel from table to table and the servers tried their best to tell such what each was. Not much English was spoken but it didn’t matter as all the Dim Sum were excellent. Dim Sum are traditionally served with Chinese tea and there is no exception here. The tea was refreshing, fragrant and the pot refreshed regularly.

The HSBC Building

It may seem strange to recommend a visit to a bank but this is no normal bank. The headquarters of HSBC the building is a magnificent structure and when it was built in 1985 it was the worlds most expensive building. Escalators take you to the third floor where the main everyday banking business is conducted. At night the building is a wonderful display of changing coloured lights.

The Peak

Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island and is the place to go for the best views of the city providing it is a clear day. The best way to get there is by the Peak Tram which has a lower terminus on Garden Road close to Hong Kong Park. A return trip is around 100 HKD and this includes entry to the sky deck viewing platform. The tram goes up some incredibly steep accents such that the surrounding skyscrapers appear to have been built at a very curious angle.There are plenty of shopping and eating opportunities once at the top but it is the view most people go for. It was a little cloudy on our visit but the sky did clear all be it temporarily to give us the expansive view go Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour below.

Hong Kong Park

We have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of green space to be found in such a densely packed city. The Hong Kong Park is a delightful oasis in which to wander. There is a wedding venue here and the most amazing lake full of Carp and basking Terrapins.

Watch the Sun Set Over Hong Kong Island

For the best view you need to get high up and the 29th floor of the 1 Peking Road building in central Kowloon is a great location. Combine this with some expertly made cocktails and you’re all set up. Aqua is a super cocktail bar and restaurant that is relatively quiet early evening as the sun sets and its huge glass windows give some fantastic views. You’ll be highly tempted to have just one more drink before heading back down to street level.

Hong Kong by Night

Hong Kong is a pretty impressive city at anytime of the day.

By night the city takes on a spectacular look which begins with the most amazing sunset over Hong Kong Island. For a great view of the setting sun head for Aqua, located on the 29th floor of the 1 Peking Road development. This really cool bar has huge windows giving a great view over the city and makes the most perfect cocktails to sip as you watch the sun going down.

If you can tear yourself away from the delights of Aqua head on down to the Kowloon Pier Public Number 3 and join a cruise of Victoria Harbour. Operated by Wing On Travel it departs Kowloon at 7.15 and heads across to Hong Kong Island for further passengers. From here you then get a 45 minute cruise around the harbour to enjoy the spectacular display of lights on the buildings, some of which are specially decorated for the approaching new year celebrations. The tour includes a free drink at the bar on the upper deck which was most welcome and a nice surprise.

Things to do in and Around Tavira

Tavira is a small town in the eastern Algarve with a population of around 30,000, though this can increase considerably in the summer. It is 24 miles (38Km) from Faro airport and can be reached in well under an hour if you use the A22 motorway. You can also get there using the Algarve Regional Railway from central Faro with a journey time of 37 minutes. Tavira can date its origins back to over 100 years BC but much of what you see in the old town today dates back to the eighteenth century. Influences here are distinctly Moorish but the town also was a port in The Roman Empire. The town sits on either side of the River Gilão, the two sides are connected by rather modern road bridges and a a pedestrian only bridge in the centre of town. Tavira is a great base for exploring the Algarve, though to get the most out of your visit you will need a car. There are plenty of accommodation options here. We have stayed here twice recently, once at the Maria Nova Lounge Hotel and on the second occasion we rented an apartment through Airbnb for a few weeks.

This ideas for things to do in and around Tavira is by no means comprehensive but are some of the things we particularly enjoyed on our two recent visits.

Castelo

A visit to the castle is a good introduction to the town, offering some good, if not spectacular, views. There has been some sort of fortification here for centuries but what remains today dates back to the seventeenth century. The courtyard area has been developed into a small but very pleasant garden but for most visitors climbing the walls is the main attraction. As with many old fortifications in the Algarve there are not always handrails when climbing steps onto the walls so care is needed.

Camera Obscura

Constructed in what was once the town’s water tower the camera obscura gives you an unrestricted 360 degree view of the town. Unfortunately closed for renovations on both our visits it is due to reopen in January 2020 so it would be worth checking in advance.

Ponte Romana

Crossing the River Gilão and linking both sides of the town the Ponte Romana (Roman Bridge) was first built in the twelfth century and had n nothing to do with the Romans. The present stone bridge was built in the mid seventeenth century and is now pedestrian only making it a very pleasant crossing point to stop and linger for a few photographs.

Fish Market

Located in the new Municipal Market by the Avenida D Manuel bridge and well worth a visit if you are looking to buy fresh fish. The variety is amazing and you will certainly be spoilt for choice. For me one of the real pleasures of visiting Portugal is fresh fish. It never ceases to amaze me that despite the UK being an island really fresh fish is so difficult to come by these days. Here you select your fish, pay and then pass it to a close by stall where they will descale and prepare it for you any way you wish.

Ilha de Tavira

The Ilha de Tavira can be reached by a short ferry ride from either Tavira or Quatro Aguas. There are restaurants and cafe/bars on the island close to the ferry terminal but most are only open in the summer season when it can get very busy. The main attraction here is the most beautiful sandy beach facing the Atlantic Ocean and for most of its length very quiet, especially out of season. You can walk all the way to Praia do Barril at the far end of the island where you will find cafes and toilets and the anchors embedded into the sand dunes which stand as a monument to the former tuna fishing industry which was once big business in this part of the Algarve. You can leave the island here as there is a footbridge leading to the mainland just west of the small village of Santa Luzia.

Cacela Velha

This pretty and charming village just east of Tavira is regarded as one of the most beautiful on the Algarve and it is easy to see why. Here the small houses are whitewashed with brightly painted, often blue, borders around windows and doors. There is also a small fortress facing the ocean with great views over the beach and surrounding headlands. It can get very busy here so time your visit. For those who fancy the exercise there is a good cycle path to the village from Tavira.

Hire a Bike

There are two straightforward cycle routes from Tavira, both mainly on very quiet cycle paths. The first runs west from Tavira, passing through the octopus capital of Santa Luzia, with its many cafes, bars and restaurants, and onto the town of Fuzeta passing the salt flats just outside the town. Just after Santa Luzia you can take the footbridge and walk to Praia Barril but you will have to leave the bikes at the bridge as they are not allowed on the island. The ride to Fuzeta and back can easy be accomplished at a gentle pace with a few stops in four hours or so. If you time it right and you can call in for lunch at Marisqueira Os Fialos for some perfect grilled fish as you pass. A little shorter is the ride east from Tavira to Cacela Velha with a nice refreshment stop at the waterfront at Cabanas de Tavira on the way. We hired from Abilio Bikes in Tavira (R. João Vaz Corte Real Nº23) which have a range of different bikes, including ebikes, for hire by the half or full day.

Quinta dos Marim

Taking the regional road west from Tavira and just 3km outside Olhão is this delightful nature walk centred around the offices of the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa. It is so peaceful here as you pass through a number of very different environments ranging from native woodland, salt flats, sand dunes and salt marsh. There is an old water mill to explore and while you can not guarantee a sighting of local animal life there is still more than enough to enjoy. If you want to explore more of the Ria Formosa boat trips are available from Olhão and Faro.

Take a Tour

There are a number of companies offering tours from Tavira, most are local but it is also possible to sign up for a day trip to Seville in Spain. Tours usually have very knowledgable guides and you get to know something about the local area that many tourists miss. We took an excellent trip out into the countryside to see how cork and olive oil are produced and it even included a pick up from our hotel. See the post here.

Alcoutim

A drive of around 41 miles (65Km) to the border town of Alcoutim is well worth it if you have the time. Alcoutim stands on the western bank of the River Guadalina which forms the border with Spain. It is a delightful town with some great options for lunch or a quick snack. A visit to castle is a must as it offers great views across the river into Spain.