Jessy DB: Energetic, curious and impulsive - three words that describe your Hong Kong Guide. A Filipino born and raised in the city of dim sum, crazy shopping and busy streets, Jessy intends to experience it all and take you along for the ride. Though she’s lived here for most of her life, she believes there’s always something new to discover—good and bad—in this brewing pot of cultures and traditions. Three things she loves best: Shopping, food and music! Look your best as you take a walk in her shoes (at least one from her insane collection) and see what it’s like to be a foreigner in a place you call home. We promise it’ll feel good.
Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year at The Peninsula
With Valentine’s Day falling on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Hong Kong is filled with double the reason to celebrate. As we approach this festive season, many hotels and restaurants around the city have been promoting special Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year packages for everyone to enjoy.
The royal treatment can be found right on your doorstep with one of the world’s legendary Grand Hotels, The Peninsula Hong Kong. Providing quality service since 1923, The Peninsula is...
February 10th, 2010 | Hong Kong | Read More
Peking food at the American Restaurant
The American Restaurant in Wanchai (map) has been a long-standing traditional restaurant that many locals and tourists dine at for the best food in the city. Don’t be discouraged by its name, American Restaurant opened post-World War II and is famed for its authentic Pekingese food.
As the years pass, American Restaurant is one of the rare places in Hong Kong that still remains unchanged and going strong. It is probably the only restaurant in Hong Kong that my whole family, from my grandparents...
January 23rd, 2010 | Hong Kong | Read More
Trip to Stanley Market
Stanley (map) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hong Kong, mostly for the shopping, sightseeing and, in the summer, the Dragon Boat Races that take place near the Main Beach.
While my usual reason for visiting Stanley is to browse around the market for Chinese souvenirs, cheap clothes, bags and other knick-knacks, there are other various things to do there. From visiting the Hong Kong Maritime Museum to eating at the numerous seaside restaurants, it’s a great place to visit for...
January 23rd, 2010 | Hong Kong | Read More
Ringing in a Hong Kong New Year
It’s the end of the year and the eternal question of what to do on New Year’s Eve is stuck in everyone’s mind. Where to go? What to do? In Hong Kong you have a number of options, from exclusive parties and classy restaurants to joining the hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists gathering by the Harbour to catch the spectacular lights and fireworks show, it’s up to you to decide which is right for you.
Clubbing by the ages
18+ – End ‘09 with a bang and start ‘10 with a hang...
December 31st, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Fly to Santa Claus Village with Flight Experience Hong Kong
Have you ever wanted to fly a real airplane? Well, now’s your chance, as for the first time ever in the world two professional flight simulators have been made open to the public in Hong Kong. Offering training courses, youth cadet programs and simply fun and special packages for the whole family to enjoy, Flight Experience Hong Kong gives you the once in a lifetime chance to pilot a real jet airliner.
Probably the most unique gift you can give someone this holiday season, for 60 min. in the ‘air’...
December 30th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest by Gareth Brown
At the beginning of December, I was at the Urban Dance Festival 2009 at Swire Island East (map) where a photo exhibition called ‘Bodies in Motion, Bodies at Rest’ was being showcased. The collection takes a fresh look at Hong Kong’s historical backdrop by juxtaposing it with contemporary dance. As part of an ongoing photographic site-specific dance exploration by local photographer Gareth Brown, it observes infrastructures that have developed within the city through the years by covering both...
December 29th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
The Christmas Express and New Year’s on Ice at Cityplaza
Yesterday I took my seven year old niece ice skating at Cityplaza in Taikoo Shing (map) where we used to live. I grew up in this area and practically visited this mall every week since I was a year old. It’s become tradition for our family to go ice skating here every Christmas holiday so every year I’m excited to see what special displays and showcases they have lined up for the festive celebrations.
This year they have the Christmas Express at Cityplaza complete with a Cirque du Soleil extravaganza....
December 28th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
History and horticulture at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
After enjoying a walk through Hong Kong Park, why not head on up the road to the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (map)? HKZBG was founded long ago in 1871 as just a Botanic Garden and was renamed in 1975 as Botanical and Zoological Gardens as the zoological exhibits expanded. It was the first zoo I ever went to as a child and although nowadays there aren’t as many animals to see, it’s still a very lovely park to take a break and find some solace in the otherwise busy and crowded city.
The...
December 27th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Bird watching at Hong Kong Park Aviary
While at Hong Kong Park (map) last week, I visited the Aviary and really enjoyed seeing so many different kinds of birds flying around. I’m not much of a bird person but it amazed me how such a large aviary can be found in the middle of Hong Kong Park. It’s filled with numerous species of birds, plants and flowers, all making for a wonderfully green habitat.
The Aviary opened first in 1992 when I was just a little girl and this was the first time in years that I visited the attraction. Oftentimes,...
December 27th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
‘Tis the season to go shopping
Hong Kong is a glorious place this time of year. Christmas is on display–and on sale–as shopping malls are decked with festive surprises, streets are packed with cheerful, if not aggressive, shoppers, and best of all, stores are filled with amazing prices! It’s a shopping wonderland in Hong Kong and you’d be a silly Scrooge to miss out on it.
Pacific Place
Every year Pacific Place transforms into a White Christmas with traditional decors and Santa’s cabin set up in the indoor Garden Court....
December 22nd, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Have a ‘Budding Winter’ at Hong Kong Park
Since I was young I’ve always loved visiting Hong Kong Park (map). To this day, it still brings some wonderful memories of my childhood running around the playgrounds, chasing the birds and seeing numerous wedding photo shoots around the vicinity. Hong Kong Park is a great development in the city and I’m amazed at how well they’ve been able to maintain its state. From the cascading waterfalls to the manmade ponds, it really is a paradise in the middle of the busy metropolis.
Hong Kong Park...
December 22nd, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Bargain shopping at Temple Street night market
One of my favourite places to take visitors in Hong Kong is the night market or Men’s Street on Kowloon side. It runs along Temple Street (map), which stretches over Yau Ma Tei (map) and Jordan (map) and is the best place in Hong Kong to find Chinese souvenirs, cheap gadgets, and designer knock-offs, ethnic clothes and decors, as well as have some amazing seafood amidst the chaotic market atmosphere. I prefer bringing guests to this night market as opposed to the one in Mongkok, which is often...
December 20th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Hong Kong Guide trip to Macau: Fernando’s Restaurant and The Venetian (Part 2)
While in Macau last week I was finally able to taste the delicious food of the infamous Fernando’s Restaurant on Hac Sa beach. Known as one of the best authentic Portuguese colonial restaurants in South East Asia, Fernando’s may be located in the far off Hac Sa on Coloane Island but it’s well worth the trip, especially if you’re only in Macau for a short time. There are English, Portuguese and Cantonese menus so that everyone can order easily, and there’s even a special photo menu to give...
December 17th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Hong Kong Guide trip to Macau: St. Dominic’s Square and the ‘Acropolis’ (Part 1)
Last week I went on an impromptu day trip to Macau with some friends and family. It was the first time since I was a little girl that I visited the historic city outside of the renowned Venetian hotel and I must admit, it was quite the experience.
We started the day off walking around St. Dominic’s Square (map), a popular tourist destination filled with busy vendors and shoppers scouring numerous souvenir shops, retail stores and yummy local delicacies, such as sweetened pork and Portuguese egg...
December 16th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Hong Kong Urban Dance Festival 2009
On 12th December the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation is holding its Urban Dance Festival 2009 where you can catch 66 outstanding dance performances from some of Hong Kong’s most talented youth. From 11am to 6pm at Taikoo Place (map), there will be live percussion music, dance workshops, performances and tours complete with characters in costumes. This is all FREE ADMISSION and everyone is welcome to participate. It’s a great chance to spend some time outdoors at the Swire Island East promenade...
December 5th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Mos Burger: Patties from the East
If you’re ever craving for burgers with an Asian twist Mos Burger is the place for you. Originally from Japan, Mos Burger has spread throughout Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong with their simply scrumptious and truly one-of-a-kind burgers.
My top pick would have to be the Saku Saku Chicken Burger (HK$22), which is made with an original sauce that has a distinct Asian tang to it. Other yummy choices include the MOS Burger (HK$20) with a unique bolognaise sauce and the Teriyaki...
November 26th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Genki Sushi at Sen-ryo Sushi Bar
Sushi bars are practically everywhere in Hong Kong but my favourite one is Sen-ryo. With multiple locations in Causeway Bay, Taikoo Shing, Central and Kowloon, it’s one of the most popular sushi chains in the city. With fresh sashimi, rolls and other Japanese delicacies, Sen-ryo is well liked not just for its food but also for being affordable.
It’s lots of fun sitting at the rotating sushi belt and picking out the yummy dishes moving right before you but you can also place your own orders...
November 24th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation presents Sweeney Todd the Musical
This November catch a fantastic stage production of Sweeney Todd the Musical by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation. Now on its sixteenth year as Hong Kong’s premier youth performing arts organization, HKYAF is proud to present their annual production adapted and directed by Lindsey McAlister (Artistic Director of Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation), with musical director Scott Gibson and choreographer Jun Mabaquiao.
I’ve spent the last three months rehearsing for the part of the ‘Beggar Woman’...
November 24th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
Lamma Fun Day 2009: Sun, sand and sea!
It’s the 10th annual Lamma Fun Day this Sunday, 22 November from 10am to 10pm and everyone is invited to come and have some fun under the winter sun! This yearly event is a great one for the whole family as it’s filled with everything from live music, bargain bazaars, arts and crafts, games, beach volleyball, food and drinks, and so much more. Last year was the first time I ever got to experience Fun Day and I had a blast! There’s no entry so you can feel free to relax and enjoy the company,...
November 20th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
UBS Hong Kong Open 2009: Free hotdogs, beer and oh, some famous golfers
Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be invited to the UBS Hong Kong Open 2009 at the Hong Kong Golf Club (map) in Fanling. It was the first time I’d ever been to the Golf Club and though I don’t actually know anything about golf, it was quite a relaxing experience for a chilly Sunday afternoon.
For half a day, I wandered around taking advantage of the free hotdogs and beer (for club members only) and watched the top European and Asian pro golfers vie for the hole in one. That’s...
November 19th, 2009 | Hong Kong | Read More
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