The 7-Eleven Convenience Store on top of the Peak, Hong Kong's main tourist attraction

What’s so special? Looks just like another convenience store mobbed by hungry and thirsty tourists.

If you look closely enough you'll see that the signs above the racks and shelves are actually street signs in Hong Kong!

Hong Kongers are so fond of everything Japanese you’ll find most snacks are imported from Japan. Snacks like Chocolate Pocky, Pretz, Meiji Chocolate Bars, Melty Kiss, Seaweed flavoured chips and strawberry flavoured cookies.

Even the "Gift Tins" are from Japan. They sell infant formula.

Now the Baby formula isn’t really targeting anyone visiting Hong Kong from Western countries because who buys baby formula as a souvenir to take back home? Instead you’ll find that mainland Chinese tourists have a growing penchant for Japanese/foreign baby formula. The rising class of Nouveau riche tourists from China remain skeptical about home made Chinese infant formulas and generally like to buy tins and tins of Japanese infant formula instead. Prices shot up triple fold after the Fukoshima radiation scare about the continued supply so rumour has it that people still stock up.

There actually is a Water Street in the Western District of Hong Kong. Water Street is located at Sai Ying Pun.

Hello Kitty bubble blowers, hand held fans, mirrors and torches are still working their charm on tourists, who adopt it as a fashion statement.

The saccharine candy town in 7-Eleven. Sugar Street is actually a real street in Causeway Bay. From 1866 to 1868, it was the location the Hong Kong Mint, the only mint in Hong Kong.

How to get there: Take the Peak Tram to the Peak Galleria
Location: Shop No. 4-5, Ground Floor, The Peak Galleria
Telephone: 28492150
Opening Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm

Best mode of transport: Take the Ferry to Mui Wo from the Central Ferry Pier and once you get off take bus number 1 to Tai O
When is the best time: Make it a day trip so get to Tai O by 2pm

Ancient rows of houses built above the water give off a strangely nostalgic fishing village sentiment.

4. Big Buddha
The giant bronze Buddha Statue at Po Lin Monastery is the biggest seated, outdoor image of its kind in the world. The number one attraction on Lantau Island.

Best mode of transport: 10 minute walk from Tung Chung Station, take the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, with views of the Chek Lap Kok Airport, South China Sea and Lantau Island Country Park along the way

When is the best time: By 3pm (avoid weekends)

Big Buddha is also known as the Tian Tan Buddha, crafted with 202 pieces of copper plates, resting above the 268 flights of stairs and the lotus seat.

3. Nathan Road outside Yue Hwa Emporium at Jordan.
The main artery of Kowloon Peninsula, a must go for tourists. Crowds and shops both brimming with business. Tall commercial buildings, large and small shops, malls and you’ll find more jewellery brands, fashion clothing stores and restaurants along Nathan Road.

Best mode of transport: Jordan Station Exit A
When is the best time: 10pm

You can walk down either side of Nathan Road to take photos, or get on any bus along Nathan Road.

2. Star Ferry Pier
Star Ferry rides to and from Wanchai to Tsim Sha Tsui, and Central to and from Tsim Sha Tsui depart from the Star Ferry Pier. At the same time, Gaze up at Hong Kong’s majestic skyline, which is an erratic stretch of skyscrapers, hotels and apartment blocks lined along Victoria Harbour.

Best mode of transport: Tsim Sha Station exit A1, and walk down Haiphong Road until you hit Canton Road. Walk through Harbour City to get to the Star Ferry Pier.
When is the best time: Dawn

Star Ferry Pier is also the best place to take photos of the Symphony of Lights Show every night starting at 8pm.

1. The Peak
The top of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island is the most iconic tourist landmark in Hong Kong.  The spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and the panorama of Kowloon Peninsula is what gives Hong Kong the name of “Pearl of the Orient.” The Peak pagoda or the viewing terrace on top of the Peak Tower are the two best spots to take photos. Of course if you walk around the Peak starting at Luard Road then you’ll get even better photos.

Best mode of transport: The Peak Tram
When is the best time: If you arrive in the afternoon then you get to take photos of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. (Check for haze though, some days the visibility can be real bad)

The Pagoda is the best place to take photos of the Hong Kong skyline on the Peak.

The top place in Hong Kong for a romantic and dizzying experience if you like to take photos from the Peak at night:

270 degree Hong Kong skyline makes Hong Kong one of the Asia's leading tourist destinations.

The catwalk show is on May 6th and starts at 11:00 p.m and the party ends around 3:30am. There will be a raffle prize as well as some house, progressive and vocal trance by DJ Costef. The sexy models in Dejavu lingerie will be rocking the runway in an oh so seductive and playful way.

At the end of the show if you want to buy little something for a special birthday / anniversary (or are in trouble for forgetting one) then here is your chance, otherwise there is no obligation to buy anything. Just enjoy the eye candy and the party at Republik.

The competition takes place at the Soccer pitch of Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau. The Official Bun Carnival timetable starts 11:30pm on May 10th and the final competition ends around 12:30am on May 11th. This year there were 199 applications to be climbers, all vying for prestigious title of the “King of Cheung Chau Bun Tower”.

The person who collects the most (plastic) buns in their sack on their climb to the top of the tower within 3 minutes will be crowned the “King/Queen of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival” Competition. For relays, Neighbouring areas and community groups in Cheung Chau are invited to take part (8 teams in total), the teams have to compete by grabbing the designated buns as fast as possible.

The climax of the Bun Grabbing Competition is when the climber grabs the bun at the tip of the Bun tower. But that not all, he has to collect as many buns as he can on the way up and shove them into his bag.

2. when is the best time to get to Cheung Chau?

You can take the ferry from Central to Cheung Chau. The processions start as early as noon but 9pm is the best time to start lining up to see the races and competitions at the Bun tower, there will be plenty of police around keeping order and you can ask them where to line up to get into the football stadium. At 10pm you better be in some sort of queue because roads will be blocked off. Once you get into the spectator area in the football stadium it up to you to find the best spot to gawk in awe at how fast these shortlisted athletes scramble to the top of the bun tower.

May 10th this year is the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong and this year 2011 it coincides with the Buddha’s Birthday too (making it a public holiday on Tuesday) therefore will be attracting more locals and tourists alike to swarm into Cheung Chau to take witness the galore. Snack shops along the dining streets, seafood restaurants are going to be churning out food non stop to feed the ravenous crowds but this year, with the inflation rate as high as 4.6%, expect festival food, souvenirs, handmade trinkets and local getaway guesthouses to slap their prices by at least 10%.

The Buns for the towers are now replaced with plastic ones for hygiene reasons.

If you are planning on spending a night over at Cheung Chau during the Bun Festival then you better think again because rooms that would usually cost around HKD950 per night. Some of the better Cheung Chau guesthouses such as the B&B Cheung Chau and the Warwick Hotel will be charging 4 star hotel prices of HK$1200 to HK$1600 (USD 130-200) per night as yet still be fully booked out. Otherwise all the events going on are FREE, you pay for your food and ferry ticket and that is about it.

The center of attention of the hungry crowds on this day will be these Cheung Chau buns.

Even since since the re-commissioning of the Bun Scrambling Competition in 2005, the Kwok Kam Kee Cake Shop has been synonymous with the round white buns you see at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival tower.

Kwok Kam Kee sells over 20,000 buns during the Cheung Chau Bun Festival

3. Kwok Kam Kee sells over 20,000 buns every year come the Cheung Chau Bun Festival.  This year on top of the traditionally popular sesame paste and lotus seed paste fillings for the Ping An Buns, this local traditional bakery has decided to be more adventurous and experiment with ube/purple yam paste filling and red bean paste filling.

Hude dollop of sweet red bean paste filled Ping An Bun

The owner is expecting to sell 30,000 buns this year and keeps his fingers crossed that the weather will be on his side because if it rains then the “rain is going to pull sales down tremendously”.

4. The Best selling Cheung Chau Bun Festival Souvenirs are the Bun Cushions that sell for HKD50 each and this year the new additions are the Ping An Bun iPhone cases and Ping An hand held mini fans.

5. But all of this aside what is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival actually celebrating?

Progression starts near the Cheung Chau Ferry Pier

Apart from the parades and the carnival-like street procession featuring costumed children on stilts held aloft above the crowd, lion dances and bun towers…

Lion dance is performed to scare away any potential plagues and evil spirits and bless the local community with a bountiful harvest.

6. How many people actually notice the religious Taoist rituals performed each year?

Kids dressed as the various Taoist Gods are paraded around the Island on Stilts so they look like they are floating through the sea of people.

7. Why are people carrying the parading children on stilts?

Tourists flock here to see the show and the get carried away by the excitement of the Bun snatching and the colourful parades and the seafood and savory treats. Since this day is labelled a “Bun Festival”, everyone assumes that everything has got to do with buns and colourful parades. There is, however, a deeper tradition behind this religious day on May 10th and its not exactly a real carnival or “festival” either.

The Cheung Chau bun festival should be better known as the Dajiao, ‘jiao‘ meaning ‘worshipping the gods’ or Taipingqingjiao in Hong Kong. Literally translated into the “the Purest Sacrifice Celebrated for Great Peace“. The true meaning behind this is to ask for the “rebirth” of Cheung Chau, by asking Taoist deities (so important to fishing villages) for peace and rest in their communities before the bun climbing festival takes place at midnight.

Starting at the Pak Tai temple and the processions parade goes around the island once and local Cheung Chau residents let their children represent the 20 or so gods or the goddesses that you see on stilts to let the good luck and blessings pass through to the local community.

Kids are dressed up as a Taiost deity to bring good luck to the local fishing community.

8. Why do the men who carry the gods on stilts in the parade have to race each other run back to the Pak Tai temple?

When the parades have gotten back to near where they started, the men who carry the stilts with the Taoist deities will race back to the Pak Tai Temple because local Cheung Chau residents believe that the team that reaches the Pak Tai temple first will be blessed with good luck.

‘Dajiao‘ (the processions and the following ceremonies) were meant for the “rebirth”, to ask for blessings to the local community but it’s only been in these few years that more and more attention gets focused on the commercial side of the parades, lion dances and the Bun scrambling competition rather than the religious meanings behind this festival.

Coils of incense are meant to bring mortals prayers and wishes to the heavens where the Taoist Deities live.

Obviously its easier to explain to tourists and faster to simply call this day the “Cheung Chau Bun Festival”. In accordance to “dajiao“, its actually a 4 day fasting period where Cheung Chau residents abstain from meat and go vegetarian. Even the one and only Mcdonalds in Cheung Chau will only serve mushroom burgers in respect for local customs. If you fancy a larger seafood meal then plenty of restaurants will start to serve meat again at 6pm after all the parades have gone back to the Pak Tai temple and Cheung Chau has been “reborn”.

Times have changed though and some stores will sell meat all day because they feel the need to capture the enormous business opportunity otherwise risk being outdone by competitors. Yet its still one of the greatest events that goes on in Hong Kong and there is no reason for you to not have fun and enjoy yourself. The debate between respecting the historical traditions vs. the signature Hong Kong practicality to make money out of a great carnival will go on.

Regardless though, One Last tip for the day from a Cheung Chau Local:
There is still Kwun Yam Wan Beach for those envious for a dip in the beach – expect overwhelming crowds though.

When the crowds are too much and the cafes and snack shops all bursting with even more people then go to the library at the top floor of the Cheung Chau market building. There is refreshing A/C and believe it or not its one of the most off the beaten path deserted points of interests come the day of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Its been recently refurbished and there is free internet and wifi, just as the librarians nicely. The best part is getting away from the heat!

Still – In the past 10 years Main St. Deli has sold over 25,000 Reuben sandwiches and almost 37,000 Burgers. Probably best known for the Monster Burger, a 12 inch burger is packed with 32 ounce of prime ground US beef, freshly sliced tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, cheese and mayo and is not for the faint hearted.

The Main St. Monster Burger is served all day, seven days a week.

The Main St. Monster Burger is priced usually HK$488* per burger. The 10th anniversary celebration menu means that you can get their Blue Ribbon Beef Burger that comes with tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, pickles, melted blue cheese and caramelized onion for just $108.

Having second thoughts as to whether or not you can finish the Fries too?

Their 10th year anniversary Menu also includes:
Creamy Mushroom & Barley Soup for $55

Main Street Deli Seafood Salad for$108

Brooklyn Salad, Grilled chicken breast strips with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, Gorgonzola and house dressing for $88

Their very own Reuben, Corned beef, pastrami, turkey, sauerkraut and melted Swiss cheese on grilled rye bread for $98

Main Street Deli Foot Long Hot Dog for just $88

Main St. Deli has the longest Hot Dog in Hong Kong and usually costs 10 inches HK$158 for a foot long dog and HK$218 for a two feet long longest Hot Dog.

Best for sharing with friends but you better be hungry to start off with

There is also Grand Central Pasta with seafood in basil pesto sauce for $108

Mulberry Street Pizza, pepperoni, tomatoes, onions and mozzarella cheese for $120

* Price quoted above is subject to 10% service charge.

Better make your reservation early or else risk missing out on the fun these chaps are having.

You get to the full nostalgia of the college dorm-style open-air cinema, under the stars and above the smog atop Hong Kong’s artsy landmark, the Fringe club. All for just HK$ 125 (includes one drink).

Where else are you going to find all of this in Lan Kwai Fong?

The people organising this one-and-only rooftop cinema in Hong Kong are more excited than a car-full of male models in the middle of a gas fight. The mostly expat crowd here isn’t just couples — you’ll find friends catching up with each other and coworkers on a company outing (you can book a screening for a large group).

A percentage of the proceeds from the screenings goes to the Clean Air Network in Hong Kong, so you can be sure that you are doing your part to minimize your carbon footprint, even while you’re having a laugh.

Tickets for the previous two screenings sold out far in advance: all 90 seats got snapped up like hot cakes.

Here’s the program for April and May:
Tuesday 19 April: Donnie Darko
Wednesday 20 April: Blow
Tuesday 26 April: Point Break
Thursday 28 April: Movie of your choice as voted on the rooftop Cinema’s facebook page (hurry voting ends soon)
Wednesday 4 May: Pulp Fiction

Here is how rooftop cinema works:

• They don’t use tickets at Rooftop Cinema, but they will put your name at the door.
• Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Rooftop Cinema is an all weather event, so bring warm clothes, a blanket, and some rain protection if the weather looks unpleasant.
• You can make a booking online for rooftop cinema on their website; they take PayPal.
• Doors open at 7:30 pm. Show starts at 8:30 pm.

A little taste of what to look forward to.

Hopefully Rooftop Cinema at the Fringe Club can be a regular addition to the Hong Kong nightlife scenery and they can keep adding extra films to the program.

When you are done with the finger pointing and want to know how to refer to yourself and other people in Cantonese:
You – ‘Nei’
Me – ‘Nhor’
Him – ‘Kui’
We – ‘Ngor Dey’

Or how to ask for directions for public transport:
Where is (destination name)? – ‘(Destination name) hai been’
How do I get to (destination) – ‘(Destination) dim hui’
How long is the trip? – ‘Gei loi’
Where do I get off? – ‘Been doe lok cher’

Cantonese phrases tailored for Hong Kong shopping 101:
How much – ‘Gey Chin?’
Can I try? – ‘Hor mm hor yee see har?’
I want this one – ‘Lee Gor’
I want that one – ‘Gor gore’
Cheaper! – ‘Peng D’
Too expensive – ‘Tai Gwai’
Give me discount – ‘Dar gore git tau’

Eating out at local tradition Chinese restaurants:
Menu – ‘Chan Pai’
Whats the signature dish? – ‘Jill Pai choi hai mut?’
I want what he is having (coupled by finger pointing at what that person sitting next to you is having) – ‘Mm goi tong kui yat yeung’
Still raw – ‘Mei Shook’
Small stir fry dishes – ‘Siu Choi’
Nissan Ramen/ instant noodles – ‘Choot Chin Yat Ding’
Tissue please – ‘Zhi ghan’
Spoon – ‘Zhi gan’
Chopsticks – ‘Fai zhi’
Fork – ‘Char’
Cup – ‘Buew’
Sugar – ‘Tong’
Salt – ‘Yim’
Salty – ‘Tai harm’
Too bland – ‘Tai tam’
Spicy/hot/chilli – ‘Laat’
Sour – ‘Shuen’
Bitter – ‘Fu’
Hot – ‘Yit’
Cold – ‘Dong’

Or Street slang that will sure make you stand out from the crowd:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feygiv1-alE&feature=relmfu[/youtube]

The closest MTR station to Happy Valley Racecourse is the Causeway Bay Station, Exit A. You can even plan to take a tram to Happy valley if you are anywhere on Hong Kong Island, simply hop on a tram marked “Happy Valley” and enjoy a scenic ride to the racecourse. Trams are not usually the fastest mode of transport, but at HK$2 they are the cheapest!

If you pass by the Mira, you’ll see that they have put in a life size container in the lobby (outside the Yamm Restaurant) with quite a few Mira Easter Eggs.

You have to guess of the number of eggs in the container to win a buffet for two at YAMM.

If you make an educated guess about the number of eggs in the box then the two closest winners will be awarded a one-night stay in our Spa Suite plus an exclusive designer egg chair chocolate miniature and a dinner buffet for two at the award-winning Yamm respectively. Simply fill in the information on a slip together with a colourful Easter egg collected from any of our outlets and drop this egg into the giant container or check the Mira Facebook to take part in the game.

The French pastry chef of the Mira, Jean-Marc Gaucher is creating a new line of premium chocolate at COCO. From April 1st till the end of this month you can get chocolate hens made with 55% dark chocolate and sprayed with gold glitter,jewellery egg box as well as the designer egg box for HK$550 respectively, or if you don’t feel like breaking your wallet then consider the magic bunny for HK$140. These Easter splurges taste better than they look and you can always give COCO, the chocolatier, a call at 2315 5566:

Chocolate show piece and assorted chocolate eggs

Chef Jean-Marc demonstrates the French tradition of celebrating Easter with chocolate hens (HK$550)

If you are looking for kid friendly things to do during the Easter holidays then the Langham is running Easter Egg decorating classes at Main St. Deli. It costs HK$188 per child, kids get to mingle with other like minded kids, roll up their sleeves and learn how to decorate their own Easter egg with a chocolate fondant, m&ms, gummy bears and more. The classes are available from the 22nd until the 25th April and from 3:30pm until 4:30pm. The best part is that the Chef of Main St. Deli will be around to offer insights and tips on how to decorate this 14cm tall egg. At least its an excuse to spend some time with the kids.

When its time to look for a place to splurge on the Easter buffets and brunches, the Mira and the Langham have put in a considerable effort to impress even the most discerning and skeptical:

1. Yamm Easter Fair at the Mira
Yamm has earned a reputation in Hong Kong for its extremely good value for money buffets and during normal days you can expect to lots of locals queuing for their buffets. Its probably a good idea to make a reservations, the number to call is 2368 1111 if you plan on going for Yamm’s famous buffets with all the Easter treats and trimmings.

On top of their regular array of more than 50 delicacies at Yamm’s buffets, the Easter Fair buffet has an increased choice of dishes for foodies to sample, including sushi, sashimi, assorted seafood, authentic laksa and Asian specialities. With all the festive trimmings, the wide variety of classical treats, such as handmade chocolate eggs and cross buns, allow you to indulge in the festive atmosphere, creating an unparalleled buffet experience to make Easter full of gluttony.

Remember to get the Mövenpick ice-cream after the buffet.

Yamm Easter Lunch Buffet
HK$208+10% per adult and HK$128 +10% per child, available on April 22, 23 and 25.

Yamm Easter Brunch
HK$338 +10% per adult and HK$218 +10% per child, available on April 24.

Yamm Easter Dinner Buffet
HK$550 +10% per adult and HK$330+10% per child, available from April 22 to 25.

2. The Bostonian Jazz Brunch at the Langham

The Bostonian’s Jazz Brunch will have an Easter makeover for one special serving on April 24. The brunch starts with a generous appetiser buffet, featuring a selection of traditional brunch items, including: chocolate waffles, French bread, mini scrambled eggs and salmon, alongside the more indulgent offering of shucked oysters, lobster, crab, sushi and even a foie gras cooking station. For the main courses you get the choice of up to six items, including Roast of the day, to finish this feast of a day, choose from two dessert options and a coffee, before you head home and call it a day.

3. WHISK Easter Brunch at the Mira
Enjoy the more than 30 tantalising delicacies and flowing Louis Roederer Champagne, house beers and wines, plus juices at WHISK’s Easter brunch. From Caviar to Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig, Gourmet Fried Egg with Parmesan Foam to Mackerel with Saffron Fish Soup and Beef Tenderloin with Shallots Sauce. Don’t miss the array of heavenly desserts which includes Passion Fruit Panna Cotta, Chocolate Floating Island Martini, Duo chocolate Dome and Melting Hot Puddings. The festive Easter cupcakes and handmade chocolate Easter eggs will round off the celebration.

Priced at $595 + 10% per person, available on April 24. For information and reservations, please call WHISK at 2315 5999.

4. L’Eclipse at the Langham will be offering a special Easter lunch, afternoon tea and dinner buffet. Especially for children, there will be a mini-buffet serving mini waffles, hot dogs, beef burgers and sweets galore.

5. Palm Court Easter Afternoon Tea:

Palm Court is the off the beaten path sanctuary away from it all during the crazy busy Easter holidays. With plush seating and a relaxing atmosphere, you can enjoy the Tiffin Afternoon Tea while you literally relax and while away the hours on your iphone (or catch up with old friends that you’ve been meaning to for a long time)/ or do both and at the same time. The menu boasts scrumptious sandwiches, handmade scones and delicate pastries.

Off the beaten path choice for Easter so you can while away the hours.

Panoramic View of Victoria Harbour, seen the offbeat way from the West wide of Kowloon Peninsula.

The stylish and contemporary interiors by Singapore’s LTW set the scene for this thoroughly modern hotel set in the heart of Hong Kong. The sense of arrival is breathtaking with views of Victoria Harbour and the iconic Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop. In order to get there you need in you first need get to the 9th floor before being transported up to the hotel lobby on the 103rd floor and this is one offbeat but chic way of seeing Hong Kong.

The hotel’s 312 guest rooms all offer spectacular city and harbour views. Starting at 50sqm for a Deluxe Room, and reaching 365sqm for the magnificent Ritz-Carlton Suite, rooms provide state-of-the-art technology including WiFi, iPod docking stations, blu-ray DVD players and flat screen TVs. In addition, Club room, you can enjoy the panoramic view from the Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge with complimentary food and beverage presentations 24 hours a day. The Club also gives you access to a dedicated Club Concierge, work stations, meeting rooms and WiFi throughout.

Interior of the rooms with the drop dead gorgeous views of Victoria Harbour.

What everybody is talking about in Hong Kong has got to be Ozone. We are talking about Asian tapas, signature cocktails and a stylish wine list on the 118th floor and the world’s highest al fresco terrace where you can indulge in the incredible views over the city. We may be expecting a new benchmark for Hong Kong’s social and dining scene here at Ozone.

On the 102nd floor is Tin Lung Heen, a Chinese restaurant serving refined Cantonese cuisine.

There is always Elements shopping mall just in case you were wondering what else you could do around the Ritz Carlton. Luxury brand names and fine dining without ever having to leave Kowloon Station.