It’s been reported to b
e the most expensive city in the world for expats to live. A little island where the lack of land area has its residents living in towering apartment buildings, dwarfing the skyline of the city center. 
Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) is its official name since the 1997 take over by the Chinese. Yes and still expensive, crowded, a little crazy but much like all large Asian cities and Chinese Communist or not still one of my favorite spots.
Clean and organized but not the Disney LANDesk feel of Singapore. You see smoking bans in parks, restaurants and curb side ash trays, and yes people cleaning them out along with sweeping the sidewalks. Signs posted warning of a $ 600.00 (hk$) ($77 US) fine for violators and enforced by special officers.
Excellent public transportation, subway, tams, buses, ferries and taxi’s get you easily anywhere you want to be. If you’re visiting for a few days, purchasing an Octopus Card is a good bet. Allowing the use of most mass transit options by just a swipe of the card and eliminating those embarrassing moments of trying to figure out the system on the fly.
Kawloon and shopping you bet – Mon Kok where the locals shop clothing,
bags, computers and other everyday items. Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui - bargain basement nick knacks to original Chinese art with all kinds of electronic stuff in between. Hong Kong - hunt for antiques on Hollywood road in center; take a peak in the Rolls show room or just window shop all the interesting shops.
e the most expensive city in the world for expats to live. A little island where the lack of land area has its residents living in towering apartment buildings, dwarfing the skyline of the city center. 
Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) is its official name since the 1997 take over by the Chinese. Yes and still expensive, crowded, a little crazy but much like all large Asian cities and Chinese Communist or not still one of my favorite spots.
Clean and organized but not the Disney LANDesk feel of Singapore. You see smoking bans in parks, restaurants and curb side ash trays, and yes people cleaning them out along with sweeping the sidewalks. Signs posted warning of a $ 600.00 (hk$) ($77 US) fine for violators and enforced by special officers.
Excellent public transportation, subway, tams, buses, ferries and taxi’s get you easily anywhere you want to be. If you’re visiting for a few days, purchasing an Octopus Card is a good bet. Allowing the use of most mass transit options by just a swipe of the card and eliminating those embarrassing moments of trying to figure out the system on the fly.
Kawloon and shopping you bet – Mon Kok where the locals shop clothing,
bags, computers and other everyday items. Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui - bargain basement nick knacks to original Chinese art with all kinds of electronic stuff in between. Hong Kong - hunt for antiques on Hollywood road in center; take a peak in the Rolls show room or just window shop all the interesting shops.
I remember back in the day Hong Kong was the premo place to shop for electronic bargains but the Internet has em beat now a day. Actually, Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City might even have better deals on clothing and the other sundry items us travelers look for. But Hong Kong is still great and such a wonderful experience.
Hop a ferry to one of the outlying islands such as Lamma. What we did was take a ferry to Yung Shue Wan and then hiked the 4 km “family trail” to Sok Kwu Wan for lunch and a return ferry. Great fresh seafood served in open air restaurants over looking the harbor.Take buses over to Stanley,
shop the Stanley market for cool stuff at bargain prices and lunch at one of the many outdoor cafes over looking the waterfront. Being a sailor I really enjoyed the Hong Kong Maritime museum located in the beautifully restored Murray House built in 1846. Esp
ecially cool where the models showing the evolution of Chinese sailing craft and the junk.All this sight seeing and shopping can make a guy darn thirsty and a little hungry. Depending on your budget and the social level you feel most comfortable at, Hong Kong has your back. You have Lang Kwi fong in Central and SoHo in the same general area but take the mid level escalator for the got a new Am ex Card and I want to enjoy it crowd. For the pub crawler sort grab some street vendor chow while heading over to the sting of places on Lockhart Rd. in Wan Chi. The area looks much the same as it did when I took an R&R to Hong Kong in 1967. Lock and Load!
