Hong Kong is great for Independent Travellers!

The first time I traveled alone was when I was sent by my company to get some practical training in Hong Kong for 2 weeks.
Truth be told, the first few days were nerve-wrecking and relatively stressful as my understanding of the Cantonese dialect is limited to 'Dan Tat' (egg tart - which is so damn good), 'Zhou san' (Good morning), and 'Sek Bao Mou' (Have you eaten? - not sure if my pronunciation is right). My colleagues were speaking so fast in Cantonese and their hands were moving even faster. So I bit my lips and tried my best to keep up and keep out of causing them any problems. Soon enough, they opened up and became more willing to teach and guide me. (Score one for the Singaporean~)
Anyway.. back to the leisure part where I explore the streets of Hong Kong during my off days. Hong Kong is similar to Singapore in the sense of size of the country and public transports. An awesome thing about Hong Kong is that they have the night bus 夜巴 or also known affectionately as Life-risking Ride 玩命小巴. The speed that the drivers go puts the drivers of Fast and Furious (since this is a movie, the speed might just be fake) to shame, especially when they are driving a mini bus loaded with the lives of many people inside. It is available till late and have a fixed path to travel on, but no exact stops so just press the bell and hop off. Make sure you are seated and hang on!

Prince Edward Station Exit B
This is where my journey started. I apologise as this trip was three years ago, when I have not invested in a camera nor do I have any form of photography skills. My memory is pretty much hazy so I can't give much details of the places I have been to. However Prince Edward Station has quite a few attraction streets and can all be conquered by walking. Remember to stay hydrated in Summer!





Fa Yuen Street
Literally means Flower Street. No, it is not a garden but a street that has many florists. The street smells really nice cause all the flowers are fresh. But honestly, as a tourist you wouldn't actually buy flowers.





Tong Choi Street (Goldfish Market)
Nope. Not just Goldfish but many other fishes. You will see a lot of fighting fishes packed in these tiny bags hanging on metal racks. Lots of aquariums along this street (duh?!) and occasionally some other pet shops.

Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
Bird owners put their birds up for exhibition. Be prepared to see worms, slugs and crickets. All the yummy delicacies for the owners to get for their prized possessions. (No graphics provided)

Yau Ma Tei Market (Jade Market)
Tons and tons of stalls selling jades, jewellery and accessories. Everyone is persuading you to go over to their stall to buy some souvenir for your mother, grandmother, wife, daughter etcetc. I am not an expert in jade and hence will not comment on anything regarding the items. I did buy one pink jade? bracelet that is still with me.





Temple Street
This night market sells more items for men. I managed to buy 2 pairs of fake Converse sneakers, both have died on me already. Some stalls on the side of the street are Video stalls where Adult Videos are made available. Once again, a shock to the young me as Singapore does not have any Adult materials.

One place I recommend that I think many tourists, however frequent you visit Hong Kong might miss out. I am not a fan of gardens as Singapore has some pretty amazing gardens in the Neighbourhood area. But this Nan Lian Garden, located near Diamond Hill station, left me with a pretty good impression. Walking through the garden, you will end up at Chi Lian Nunnery. This garden has a Zen feel, with waterfall, water wheel, red bridge and a good blend of green, stones and wood.
Do give it a visit if you are tired of shopping!

As I did not have much time during this trip, I wasn't able to grab nice food and all that. I did catch a movie, sang at a Karoake lounge and grab lots of egg tarts. Looking forward to my next visit to Hong Kong where I will truly be there for leisure.