Stop one: Hong Kong Island
We meet the guides in the bustling city of Hong Kong. More than seven million people call Hong Kong home, which makes it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. While many use Hong Kong as a handy stopover, the Guides have a week to explore.
Kevin and Janetta are the HK experts, having been to the city dozens of times. It’s the destination they’ve been to most outside of Australia. Wondering why? According to Janetta, it has it all – shopping, wine and dining.
To get oriented, Matt and Brett and Karly and Bri hop on the Ding Ding – AKA, the historic Hong Kong Tramways. This fleet of 126 double-decker trams traverse the island, carrying around 200,000 passengers a day.
Hong Kong is packed with ritzy hotels and the Guides are checking into one of the best – The Park Lane in the heart of the buzzing Causeway Bay neighbourhood. It gets the tick of approval from all the Guides. Matt and Brett are particularly impressed by the facilities. Ok, specifically, the automatic toilet with its heated seat. The Boys head up to the 27th floor to check out the hotel’s sky rooftop bar and pay for their local beers with their Travel Money Oz Currency Pass, of course.
From the get-go, the Guides get into a 2000-year-old art form – Lion Dancing. The Hong Kong Dragon & Lion Dancing Festival is held in Hong Kong in January each year and the dancing is often seen at Lunar New Year celebrations. It is said to chase away evil spirits and bring good luck. However, it seems mastering the art form requires a lot of practice. All the Guides struggle to coordinate the head and tail of the lion. On the plus side, Teng says his parents would be extremely proud that he even suited up in the first place.
Next up, the Guides have a chance to see Hong Kong from a new perspective. The Peak Tram is one of the world’s oldest funicular railways and takes sightseers high above Hong Kong island. Once there, you can go up to Sky Terrace 428, a viewing platform that is – spoiler alert – 428m above sea level, to get stunning views of the city. Janetta says it’s breathtaking, but Kev thinks it’s basically a tourist trap.
Back in the bustling city, the Guides set out on a tour of the Causeway Bay district. The tour starts with a Fren Family favourite – afternoon tea. However, this ain’t no Aussie arvo tea. The family’s preferred afternoon tea snacks, party pies and sausage rolls, are nowhere to be seen. Even the tea is made with a twist – it’s poured through pantyhose to ensure it is extra silky. There is a sweet course, however Victoria Fren has a narrow brush with death when she discovers the French toast is filled with peanut butter, which she’s highly allergic to.
The tour continues with a Villain Hitting Ceremony, which is a 1000-year-old tradition. In short, you write down the name of someone specific or just a general group of people who have wronged you and then the paper is beaten to get their negative energy out of your life. There’s much debate amongst the Guides about who to write down and Bri decides to put her ex on the chopping block.
Hong Kong is a culinary hotspot with more than 15,000 restaurants to try in the city. The Guides go to one of the city’s most famous yum cha restaurants – Lin Heung Kui in the Sheung Wan district. It even has the Michelin Guide tick of approval. However, it’s certainly not a relaxed dining experience with Teng describing it as more like a “warzone”. To get a table and get served, you’ve really got to hustle here. Bri points out that it’s nothing like Parramatta Leagues Club yum cha.
All the Guides develop strategies to get their meal. Kevin and Janetta sit next to a local to get some insider tips, while Karly and Bri are ignored in the corner. The Boys and the Fren Family are happy to make some noise to get their food, while Matt’s issue is stopping Brett from getting too many dishes. It turns out to be an unforgettable culinary ¬and cultural experience.
The Guides certainly need fuel for their next activity ¬– dragon boat racing. It’s an ancient Chinese sport but was made famous in Hong Kong in the 70s. If you’re heading to HK, The Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships are held in June each year, so you can see the sport in action. The Fren Family probably won’t sign up for the championships, given they describe themselves as not the sporty types and struggle to even get off the beach. Kev, Dorian and Teng are keener, although the drumming used to pace the strokes seems to hold the most appeal.
Costs
