Hong Kong in Three Days

Hong Kong was the first city my husband and I traveled to when we started dating. I went there for one of my best friends' wedding and decided to make a trip out of it with my significant other. I have always loved Hong Kong for its cityscapes mixed with nature and we were lucky enough to witness a traditional HK wedding to begin trip. 

Tips & Recommendations:

1. The underground is the best way to travel around the city. Hong Kong is small and filled with people, so you'll often be stuck in horrendous traffic when traveling via car or bus. 
2. Try the street food. Hong Kong is known for its street vendors, so it's def a must try. 
3. Hong Kong used to be a British colony, so most people in Hong Kong speaks English, and most of the signs are in English as well.
4. Keep watch of your belongings and beware of pickpockets! 

Day 1

STOP ONE - Disneyland

Yes. It's not a typo. Our first stop was Disneyland because that was where my friend's wedding was. The wedding started out with the chaos of the groom and his groomsmen breaking or forcing their way into the bridal chamber to take the bride. It's a classic Chinese wedding tradition. The bridesmaids would then try their best to stop the groom and his groomsmen from getting in. Once the groom and his men gets in, they would have to complete a series of tasks in order to meet the bride..tasks include brushing their teeth with wasabi, picking up mahjong pieces from a tub of water with their toes, taking shots of mystery drinks, etc. It's quite the party. 

After the groom and groomsmen accomplish their tasks, the groom meets the bride to start the tea ceremony where the couples pour tea for the elders in exchange for red envelopes (for good luck). 

Post tea ceremony, everyone gathered to play mahjong for a few hours until the actual wedding ceremony. The wedding ceremony was at the beautiful HK Disneyland resort. The bride was in a white wedding gown and the groom in his tuxedo...a classic western wedding for this portion. The girl on the far bottom right is me in case you are wondering!

Once the couple was officially married, it was time to celebrate with a big Chinese banquet. The new couple had thousands of guests and had to toast all the guests from table to table. Imagine all the shots taken!

Day 2
STOP ONE - Victoria's Peak
Victoria's Peak is the highest mountain on the island and is the best way to see the Hong Kong skyline. We took the tram up the mountain and explored the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria. 

STOP TWO & THREE - Hong Kong Island & Kowloon
My favorite part of Hong Kong is walking around the different urban areas of the city, shopping, checking out food markets, architecture and small local restaurants. Great places to check out on Hong Kong Island are: Admiralty, Central, Soho, Causeway Bay, Sheung Wan, Stanley and Wan Chai. For Kowloon, I recommend walking around Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon East, Kowloon West, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po and Yau Ma Tei. 

Daytime:

Night time:

 Day 3
STOP ONE - Avenue of the Stars/Victoria Harbour
Avenue of the Stars is located along Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui. It is modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring Hong Kong celebrities. The view is quite beautiful and great for taking a walk in the early morning or early evening.

STOP TWO - Ngong Ping 360
After an early morning walk at the Victoria Harbour waterfront, we took the Ngong Ping cable car, an all glass cable car to Lantau Island. The ride was about 25/30 mins with an aerial view of the beautiful mountains, bodies of water, and the big buddha!

STOP THREE - Lantau Island
As we arrived, we walked through the small village on Lantau Island to check out the Giant Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery.

STOP FOUR - Lan Kwai Fong

After a day of visiting tourist attractions, we went to Lan Kwai Fong, the most popular spot in Hong Kong to drink. The area features tons of bars, clubs and restaurants. On weekends, the place is filled with expats and tourists who spill out onto the surrounding streets and the buss is irresistible. Nightlife kicks into gear at around 9pm and carries on well into the morning. Some essential spots to check out are Dublin Jack, a sleek Irish pub in which the owners knows his patrons by name; Hong Kong Brewhouse features some of the best local brews; Drop features a financially solvent crowd; while Stormies is the focal point for drunken antics. A must, if you are in the area, is a drink on the rooftop of the Fringe Club, which offers a peaceful pint in the middle of the chaos of Lan Kwai Fong.