Archive for Asia Pacific
According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, there are more than 11,000 restaurants in Hong Kong. Locals and visitors alike have a fantastic choice of Cantonese and other regional Chinese food, cuisines from the rest of Asia as well as Western fare.
So after Hong Kong Highlights: Things to Do (28 April 2009), I thought I would share some of the eateries sampled on my recent trip:
Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop
The Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop in the impressive International Finance Centre is a far cry from the ‘dai pai dongs’ (open-air food stalls) that traditionally serve congee and noodles.
These days, dai pai dongs are in rapid decline as they are moved into more ‘hygienic’ cooked food centres. They still offer cheap, delicious food, though, and are definitely worth trying.
However, if you find yourself with weary feet in Central’s waterfront and have an urge for wanton noodle soup, the Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Shop on Level 3 of IFC Mall could be just the place. As you’d expect being in the IFC, this place is a restful, more refined, but pricier version of the beloved dai pai dong. The food’s still good though; I can recommend the dried fried beef ho fun, wanton noodles soup and red bean soup.
Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine
Another shopping centre, another restaurant. Hong Kong’s famous Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui has around 700 shops, including 50 places to eat. Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine offers just that - Thai food in a traditional setting. Prices are above average, but where else could you eat Thai and watch the big cruise ships dock right by your window?
Sham Tseng Chan Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant
Sham Tseng in Tseun Wan district is famous for its roast goose and there are several restaurants in the area serving this speciality, including the excellent Chan Kee Roasted Goose Restaurant. Our half roast goose was roasted to perfection, with crispy skin on the outside and juicy meat on the inside. The other dishes of fish steamed with ginger and spring onion and a marrow soup (served in the marrow!) were equally delicious. Sham Tseng is in the New Territories and so a little way out from central Hong Kong. However, if you have the time, it definitely is worth taking the trip.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations | Hong Kong, Hong Kong Places to Eat, Hong Kong Restaurant Reviews|No Comments
I recently came back from another memorable trip to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a dazzling, vibrant place to visit. The pace of development means there’s always something new to see and yet, comfortingly, the old attractions still endear.
Lamma Island
The Outlying Islands provide a wonderful getaway from the hustle and bustle of downtown Hong Kong. Lamma Island is popular as a weekend getaway as it’s less than half an hour by ferry Central. It’s also one of the places to go to for delicious seafood.
I’m not usually one for tours, especially in a place that I regard as my second home, but the Lamma Island Romance Tour turned out to be a fantastic way to experience 3 ‘must-dos’, especially if you’re travelling with children or older relatives (as I was).
The tour, organised by Able & Promotion Tours Ltd, included a mouth-watering seafood banquet at the Rainbow Seafood Restaurant on Lamma Island, a harbour cruise to see the Symphony of Lights show in Victoria Harbour and a trip to Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram (see more on this in a previous post: My Personal Top Five Things to Do in Hong Kong).
Ocean Park
Ocean Park is one of Southeast Asia’s largest aquariums and theme parks and is home to two pairs of giant panda cubs.
On a previous trip, the crowds were such that I vowed never to visit Ocean Park again. Well, I’m pleased to report that the crowds were not as bad as before and have to admit that Ocean Park is actually a rather spectacular theme park.
Perched on a hillside on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, you need a whole day to get around the park. The two sites are linked by a jaw-dropping cable car ride, or you can opt for the free shuttle bus.
Lantau Island
Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong. Originally the site of traditional fishing villages, the island has, in recent years, been transformed and is now home to Hong Kong’s new international airport, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ngong Ping 360.
Ngong Ping 360
Ngong Ping is a breathtaking cable car experience that offers stunning views of North Lantau and the South China Sea. To enhance your experience, you can opt to wait for one of the Crystal Cabins - a glass-bottomed cable car! The cable car takes you to the themed Ngong Ping Village (with obligatory shops and places to eat), from where you can walk to the Big Buddha. At 34m tall, it’s one of the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.
Of course, Hong Kong wouldn’t be Hong Kong without the food and the shopping and I will be sharing food and shopping highlights with Your Travel Planner readers in my next posts.
If you’re thinking about visiting Hong Kong and need help planning your trip, please feel free to contact me, Ching Lee, at Go2 Holiday Research, www.go2research.com.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations | Hong Kong, Hong Kong Things to Do|1 Comment
It’s been many years since I visited Nepal, but it still ranks as one of my best trips. From the intoxicating Kathmandu Valley to breathtaking mountain ranges, Nepal is a country of diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions.
So it’s with particular interest that Your Travel Planner reports on the launch of the ‘Green Circuit‘ today, an initiative that brings together some of the best responsible travel packages in the South Asia.
The ‘Green Circuit’ is the brainchild of Raj Gyawali from socialtours, a specialist tour and trekking company based in Kathmandu. Currently, the Circuit connects four great experiences around Nepal, India and East Himalaya using various means of ground transportation:
Nepal: Tamang Heritage Trail highlights an ancient lifestyle combined with picturesque scenery and healing baths in natural hot springs; 17 days, heritage sightseeing, moderate trekking, jungle safari
Eastern Himalaya: Red Panda Tea and Elephant Trail explores East Himalaya, one of the top biodiversity hotspots of the world; 22 days, culture, wildlife and tea gardens
East India: Orissa Odyssey offers an adventure through timeless India; 15 Days Kolkata - Visakhapatnam
South India: The Malabar Holidays captures the spirit of old Malabar (now northern Kerala). Live and let live as you meander through Cochin to the virgin beaches of Kannur; 14 days, culture, spice tour, beaches, homestays
If you have the time, the Green Circuit can be done as one long expedition, or taken seperately (and all are customizable). If you’re after shorter experiences, the companies involved are more than happy to discuss alternative itineraries.
For more information, visit ‘the Green Circuit‘ on the socialtours website.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Responsible Tourism | India, Nepal, Responsible Tourism, South Asia|No Comments
As part of their 25th birthday promotions, Virgin Atlantic are offering a different sale fare each week until the big birthday on 22nd June. Virgin Atlantic’s “Offer of the Week” last week was a sale fare for London to New York return from £225.
This week the offer is London to Hong Kong return from £325.
The terms are:
- Applies to departure dates of 05 Mar - 20 Mar 09 and 06 Apr - 11 June 09
- Includes all taxes, fees and surcharges
- Additional credit card charges and weekend travel supplements apply
- Book from 5 March to 10pm on 11 March 09
Check their website for regular updates.
If you decide to go and need help planning your trip, please feel free to contact me. I’d be happy to help.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Travel News | Hong Kong Flight Offer, Virgin Atlantic Offer of the Week, Your Travel Planner|No Comments
This is the second of my top 3 holiday destinations ideas, as a result of visiting the Destinations Holiday and Travel Show in London last week.
Destinations is the UK’s largest consumer travel show. It’s a great place to get ideas or even book your next trip and I told YTP Email Club members that I would share some of the travel ideas that had inspired me at the show.
The first holiday destination idea was Belize and today, Maldives is the focus.
Maldives
Powder white beaches, turquoise seas, spectacular coral systems - the Maldives are all these things. Having travelled to the Maldives twice, it is a place that I can thoroughly recommend.
Amongst the 1190 coral islands, there are some 90 resorts that vary from the basic to the luxurious. Each has a unique feel and planning a trip can take a bit of research to find the right one for you.
I was very pleased to meet Christine Aldridge at the show. Christine is the owner and manager of No News No Shoes, a specialist travel operator organising holidays to the Maldives and Kerala.
What I liked about No News No Shoes was their first hand knowledge of a large number of resorts. Like me, Christine Aldridge is passionate about travel. It was always a dream to visit the Maldives but when the time came to plan a trip, Christine found that most operators lacked the in-depth knowledge required, particularly for a Family booking. No News No Shoes was established to fill this gap.
As in my business, the emphasis is on personal service and attention to detail. The majority of holidays to the Maldives are booked through an operator, so it’s reassuring to know that there is a personal and knowledgeable company you can turn to, to help organise the your perfect Maldives holiday.
See the No New No Shoes website to find out more.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations | holiday destination ideas, Maldives, No News No Shoes, Your Travel Planner|No Comments
Last December, I talked about an alternative way to spend Christmas (see UK family friendly hotels at Christmas time and Hotel Review: The Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire).
Of course, another alternative is to go abroad for Christmas and that’s what Annie Armitage and her family did. The holiday in Phuket, Thailand sounded amazing and I asked Annie, a wonderful photographer, to share her review of the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa with Your Travel Planner.
Annie’s verdict: A real gem - the JW Marriott was probably one of the best hotels I have stayed at.
I only ventured out of the resort once as we wanted a complete rest. Yes, the hotel is expensive, but so is Christmas and this is a fabulous alternative to Christmas at home.
Bedroom: Our room was beautiful and the bed-linen was divine. Every single detail had been thought through.
Restaurants: We had some of the best meals of our lives! New Year’s Eve was an incredible buffet on the beach with ice carvings.
Leisure Activities: The pools were clean and imaginative; the blue pool area was contemporary and funky with a swim up bar complete with waterfall. The other pool had slides and lie-down jacuzzi areas (a great way of getting a tan).
The gym was extremely well equipped; the changing rooms even had their own jacuzzis! There was also a tennis court, which we didn’t try, but it seemed pretty busy.
I had a good pedicure in the Spa, but there was a vast range of treatments to choose from. We ended up with the ladies in the little huts by the beach for Thai massages most days for 400 baht.
There was also a children’s club which looked lots of fun. They had circus school everyday for the children.
Service: Just could not fault it!
Being a photographer, Annie took some beautiful pictures which she shares with Your Travel Planner. (You can see her work at www.anniearmitage.com and read more about her Phuket holiday in her blog).
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The beach at JW Marriott, Phuket
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The Sala part of the bedroom
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Sunset Ceremony in the Infinity Pool
If you have a review of your favourite place, why not share it with Your Travel Planner. Please contact me at www.go2research.com/contact_Go2.php.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations | luxury family friendly hotel, luxury hotel, Phuket, Thailand, Your Travel Planner|No Comments
Hong Kong (literally translated as Fragrant Harbour) is many things to many people and because of its history, Hong Kong is all of these things: modern yet traditional, brashly cosmopolitan yet conservative, Westernised yet Chinese.
Hong Kong is a vibrant, dynamic and chaotic place, but somehow, it works…and visitors can still find places of peace and tranquillity amongst the 7 million people who live there.
For many, Hong Kong is about eating and shopping…and yes, I certainly love to eat and shop there too. Yet, for a small place, Hong Kong has so much more to offer. My personal favourite experiences are:
Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade
I never tire of the view of Hong Kong Island from Kowloon. It really has to be one of the most iconic and best city skylines in the world. The promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui East is a lovely way to get an uninterrupted view of it. A walk along the promenade is great during the day, but spectacular at night, when the Symphony of the Stars, a fantastic sound-and-light show is on. The show takes place every night from 8pm for 20 minutes and involves 20 buildings on the Hong Kong Island skyline.
Star Ferry
The famous Star Ferry in Victoria Harbour
Another great way to see the Victoria Harbour is to catch the famous Star Ferry. The ferry runs both ways, but the best view for me is from the ferries going from Kowloon to Central on Hong Kong Island. An important part of the commuter system, the Star Ferry traces its origins back to 1880 and at HK$2.20 (around 20p - and it’s worth paying the extra 50c to sit on the upper deck!), it definitely deserves its ranking as one of the world’s best value-for-money sightseeing trips.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Sha Tin
As someone whose family is from the New Territories, for me, Hong Kong is so much more than Victoria Harbour and Kowloon. I always encourage friends and clients to take a trip to the New Territories.
Sha Tin, formerly a market town is now one of the busiest towns in the New Territories and on arriving at Sha Tin KCR station, you would be forgiven for thinking you’ve arrived at one of the busiest places in Hong Kong. My advice is to just go with the flow and experience the crowded, huge shopping centres and delights offered by the restaurants in the food courts.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin
For a quieter type of culture, head for the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, located southwest of Sha Tin town centre. A modern museum built in traditional style, it introduces the art, culture and history of the New Territories, as well as Chinese culture in general. My personal highlights include the New Territories Heritage Hall, giving the history of the New Towns and mock-ups of traditional shops and a Hakka fishing village; the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall and the wonderful Children’s Discovery Gallery.
Market towns of Sheung Shui and Fanling in the New Territories
Continuing passed Sha Tin, the KCR takes you to Fanling and then Sheung Shui. Formerly small market towns, the pace of development in Hong Kong has meant that high rises now dominate the skylines. The traditional markets with their dark, but lively alleys have now been moved into new, modern premises. They still retain their colour though, and Fanling (the market is in the old district of Luen Wo Hui) and Sheung Shui are worth visiting to experience a less cosmopolitan side to central Hong Kong, close to the mainland’s border. Both towns are surrounded by villages, habited mostly by Hakka people, for whom Fanling and Sheung Shui are the main towns. You can take a minibus from Luen Wo Hui to Luk Keng to see village life, far away from the bright lights of Kowloon.
The Peak
This hilly landmark is probably the most popular tourist attraction, but I think it has to be a must. Standing at 552m above sea level, the Peak is the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island and the views of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and surrounds are breathtaking.
You can travel up the Peak by bus, but the Peak Tram is definitely more exciting. The tram (a double reversible funicular system) takes you up and down the Peak at a gradient of 4 degrees to a steep 27 degrees. What’s remarkable is that the Peak Tram has been taking visitors to the Peak for 120 years.
Hong Kong is my family’s home. So please contact me for a different insight to planning and arranging your Hong Kong holiday.
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Travel Tips | Hong Kong, Things to Do|1 Comment
More than 200,000 prospective applicants for Tourism Queensland’s “Best Job in the World” - a six month A$150,000 (US$103,000, £70,000) contract on Hamilton Island - have visited the www.islandreefjob.com website in the first 24 hours, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said.
“The Best Job in the World” campaign was launched internationally last weekend and already over 200 applications have been submitted.
Acting Queensland Premier Paul Lucas said the “Best Job in the World” campaign was a A$1.7 million global marketing strategy that will increase the profile of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef islands and is expected to generate more than A$70 million worth of publicity for Queensland.
Whoever thought of this idea deserves a huge promotion and pay rise (or perhaps even “the best job in the world” itself?) as there has been an unprecedented global response.
Tourism Queensland are keen to stress though that The Best Job in the World is a genuine job offer where candidates would have to submit a 60 second video application from which 11 finalists would be flown from around the world for an intense interview process on Hamilton Island.
So what are the job responsibilities for The Best Job in the World?
- undertake a range of activities such as swimming, snorkelling, bushwalking
- explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef
- make friends with the locals
- report back on their experiences via blogs, video diaries and media interviews
- live rent-free in a three-bedroom oceanfront villa
Sound too good to ignore? Then apply at www.islandreefjob.com. Applications close on February 22, the 11 short-listed applicants to be flown to Hamilton Island for the final interview process in May and the successful candidate to start their six month contract in July.
If the site is slow or down (which it has been, due to the response), try the BBC website for news and tips on how to make the best of your application.
Let Your Travel Planner know if you apply!
Filed under: Asia Pacific, Destinations, Travel News | Australia, Great Barrier Reef, The Best Job in the World, Tourism Queensland|No Comments
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