8 reasons to have a second summer in Hong Kong

8 reasons to have a second summer in Hong Kong

by | May 13, 2014 | Asia-Pacific, Travel blogger destinations

If you’re in the southern hemisphere and coming down with a case of the winter blues, forget rugging up in beanies and scarves and swap winter for Hong Kong’s summer. It’s the best season for a shopping spree, getting your toes sandy at one of the popular beaches, feasting at local food stalls and being dazzled by the city’s Hong Kong Summer Fun Festival.

Travel website Wotif.com has shared eight reasons with us to tempt you to pack for a second summer and explore the lively city of Hong Kong.

Summer in Hong Kong

1. Food so good you’ll be floating

Satisfy your appetite after a day of sightseeing and exploring with fine dining at one of the world’s largest floating restaurants, the Jumbo Kingdom. Overlooking the traditional junks and modern sky scrapers at Aberdeen Harbour, you can feast on authentic Cantonese cuisine and fresh seafood at the Dragon Court and Jumbo Chinese Restaurant.

Jumbo Kingdom (Copy)

Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

2. Cheers to partying with the locals

Watch the Victoria Harbour come to life with masses of colour, the sound of beating drums and cheering at the International Dragon Boat Races. This ancient Chinese tradition is part of one of the world’s best parties, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, where travellers are entertained with live music and performances while cooling down with a cold beer at the San Miguel BeerFest from 6 – 8 June.

3. Hot summer sales

It’s the season for sales, so leave room in your suitcase or buy another one to fill up. With plenty of boutique shops and large shopping malls to explore, you’ll find everything from designer clothes and handbags to antiques and the latest high-tech gadgets marked down. Retail lovers should add Hong Kong’s largest mall, Harbour City, to their daily itinerary, as well as Times Square, Pacific Place, iSquare and The Landmark sprawled across the city.

4. Spectacularly ‘cruisy’

Watch the impressive Symphony of Lights display while cruising along Victoria Harbour on board the Aqua Luna junk boat with a glass of champagne in hand. Take a 7.30pm cruise to see the world’s largest permanent light and sound show which illuminates both sides of the harbour with laser beams sychronised to music and narration.

HK Symphony of Lights - credit HKTB (Copy)

Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

5. Sky high summer cocktails

Take your cocktail sipping to the next level at the highest bar in the world, Ozone. On the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, step out of the lift into the trendy and modern surrounds and feel on top of the city with sweeping views. Cool down and finish the day with a Dragontini or one of the champagne cocktails on the innovative menu before taking in the city scenery out on the breezy, open roof terrace.

The Ritz-Carlton HK OZONE - Bar Area (Copy)

OZONE (Copy)

6. Buzzing after dark

You can easily spend hours haggling over clothes and handbags, finding trinkets and antiques and sampling local street food at the popular open air Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon. Take in the atmosphere and entertainment as you wander through hundreds of colourful and eclectic stalls stretching from Man Ming Lane in the north to Nanking St in the south.

Temple St Night Market - credit HKTB (Copy)

Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

7. Life’s a beach

There are plenty of sandy beaches great for sun soaking or just cooling off in between shopping trips. A short bus ride from Central District will get you to Repulse Bay where you can stroll by the brightly coloured statues of the deities Kwun Yam and Tin Hau and the gardens that lead to the popular beach. For a laid back summer BBQ, head to Hung Shing Yeh Beach on Lamma Island or go windsurfing at Wave Bay Beach at the eastern end of Hong Kong Island.

Repulse Bay - Shutterstock image (Copy)

Shutterstock image: Repulse Bay

8. Lounge around with rooftop views

Take your swimmers up to the 76th floor of the W Hong Kong hotel and plunge into one of the world’s highest rooftop pools. Glide through the water of the pool with a panorama view of the skyline, 211 meters above Victoria Harbour. The trendy outdoor setting featuring an artistic, mosaic wall is the ideal place to pass the hours by. Kick back and recline on a lounge chair while soaking up the sun with a refreshing cocktail from the pool bar.

W Hong Kong - WET pool area (Copy)

 

We love Hong Kong! What’s your favourite Hong Kong experience? Let us know in the comments below. 

 

Hidden food gems of London

by | Apr 21, 2014 | Foodie London

Le Ziz entre - TravelLiveLearn.com

Unearthing a hidden food gem can be one of travel’s most rewarding experiences, especially when it’s not at a Michelin-star price. London is well known for its celebrity dining scene but the city is also home to plenty of gourmet delights without the hefty price tag.

Travel website Wotif.com‘s London-based team has unearthed some of London’s best palate-pleasing eateries to suit any taste and all without breaking the bank, and they’ve shared with us here on TLL!

Hidden food gems of London

Fish & Chips

Recently voted the UK’s best Independent Fish and Chip Restaurant at The National Fish & Chip Awards, Poppies Fish & Chips London is a winning London experience! Savour crispy, golden fish and chips whilst soaking up the uber-hip retro atmosphere. Keep an eye out for free live music at their Camden restaurant.

fish n chips London

Afternoon Tea

Spoil yourself with afternoon tea fit for a…mad hatter! ‘Tumble down the rabbit hole’ and experience an afternoon tea with a difference at the Sanderson, in Soho. Named ‘the hippest hotel in the world’ by GQ Magazine, it’s no wonder this 5-star hotel has put its own quirky twist on the quintessentially British tradition of afternoon tea with The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea. With prices from £38 per person, eccentrics can delight in whimsical treats like the ‘strawberries and cream’ home-made marshmallow mushrooms, a ‘tick tock’ Victoria sponge clock and ‘Jelly Wonderland’.

afternoon tea

London Pub

Originally part of the Britannia Brewery, The Britannia in Kensington is an elegant pub oozing history and charm. Serving a delicious range of gastro pub fare, including one of the best burgers around, this rub-a-dub (Cockney rhyming slang for pub) is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy traditional food and good beer!

Cheap Eats

London’s street food scene has really taken off in the past few years. Who would have thought that tucked away in the city’s markets, food trucks and laneways was some of the most scrumptious food on offer – and at bargain prices!

If you’re venturing to Borough Markets, be sure to go with a hearty appetite because Hobbs Meat Roast serves up a mouth watering pulled pork roll. Sweet, juicy and delicious; this is the perfect treat to accompany a day of shopping.

Whilst the delicious Yum Bun is moving store in early 2014, keep your eye out for the Yum Bus! Serving award winning Vietnamese buns, both carnivores and vegetarians can rejoice with a range of flavoursome fillings available!

If you’re craving some delicious salty goodness be sure to stop by Brick Lane Beigel Bake, London’s oldest and reportedly best bagel shop. Famous for their salt beef bagels, portions are generous and prices, surprisingly cheap. Open 24 hours, this one is a winner at any time of day.

Coffee

Aussie siblings Nick, Andrew and Laura empathised with the plight of travellers on the hunt for great coffee and opened Taylor Street Baristas to help satisfy caffeine needs with its coffee shops located across London. So start your day with some of the city’s best coffee, paired with a vegemite and cheese English muffins – guaranteed to put a rose on every cheek and a smile on every face!

coffee

Café

Hidden down a side street opposite Liverpool Street Station, a neon ‘Sex, Drugs & Bacon Rolls’ sign heralds The Breakfast Club, Spitalfields. The menu is peppered with comfort food and Mexican flavours plus, for late risers, a ‘Late, Late Breakfast’ is available after 5pm. After you’ve polished off your delicious meal, tell the staff you’re ‘here to see The Mayor’ and you will be escorted through to a concealed speakeasy style bar!

The Breakfast Club also has locations in Soho, Angel, Hoxton, Battersea Rise and will be opening a cafe in London Bridge in May (2014).

Food Tour

Google Maps certainly makes it easier to find the foodie hotspots ravenous locals are raving about, but a more enjoyable and hassle-free way to experience London on a plate is on a food tour with an expert! Let your Walk Eat Talk Eat guide lead you on a funny, gastronomic journey through various areas of London. Experience the Great and the Good: Best of British Tourand devour the nation’s most famous foods or treat all of your senses to the vibrant Markets and Meanderings: Camden Tour. All of your food is included; you just need to bring a healthy appetite!

Do you have any London foodie tips to add? We’d love your advice or input – drop us a line in the comments below.