22.3964° N, 114.1095° E

As the aircraft rushed through the clouds on decent, we started to see the amazing view Hong Kong had to offer. Acres of tall mountains and dark green trees surrounded by bright turquoise waters filled with fishing boats. Honestly, I felt like I was landing somewhere tropical. It was so beautiful.

This layover was for sure one of my favourites so far. From the breathtaking mountain views to the lively downtown streets, it was definitely a culture shock in the most amazing way.

I think what made this place so special for me while visiting was the fact that I would have never thought to travel here. Hong Kong was not a top destination for me, and now I cannot wait to go back.

One of the many things that I loved about this place was how safe and easy it was. Surprisingly, English is everywhere. It’s their second language. I was honestly scared to walk around alone in this place at first but it was so easy, the metro systems were so user-friendly (it seems complicated in the picture but it really isn’t hard to follow), I didn’t even get lost!

Our hotel was really nice (New World Millennium). Modern, clean and comfortable room, the hotel also has a useful gym and a beautiful restaurant inside. The staff was very friendly and helpful, they answered all my questions and gave me recommendations for food and shopping etc. I ended up following the concierge’s advice and set out for an adventure. (Why not?) I walked to the nearest subway station (about 5 minutes walk) and I went north then east, it took about 30 minutes to get to my final station (Diamond Hill). They have a BIG shopping mall just outside of the metro station, but that’s not what I was interested in today. I was headed to the ”Nan Lian gardens”. A beautiful (free) park with Chinese temples, gardens and a beautiful restaurant hidden behind a waterfall.

I walked around for about 2 hours, admiring the beautiful culture behind it all. They had music in the background of the trails and even some descriptions and history behind the temples, it was so peaceful.

All in all, my first trip to Asia was one for the books, it’s definitely not my last time in this amazing place and I cannot wait to explore more of its culture and beauty. Even though I didn’t get much time to explore, I would definitely recommend Hong Kong to anyone. With the 24 hours, I had there I was already eager to come back and discover more.

Till next time Hong Kong, it’s been truly amazing.

-Confessions of a travelholic.