August 05, 2007
07 PM
Since being in the region we have had a number of opportunities to visit Hong Kong, usually for work, but often combined with pleasure. Hong Kong is definitely one of those cities that you need to visit once to experience it. If you haven't been already, think Manhattan perched in a jungle on the side of a steep mountain. The city has a 24hr vibe that Singapore doesn't really have.
Despite being one of the most densely populated countries (or dependencies) in the world, nearly three quarters of the island and attached New Territories is devoted to green space with large country parks and nature reserves. Where development is allowed, there is literally only one way to go - up. The massive office towers and condo skyscrapers are made even more imposing in that they are built on the edges of steep ravines. Roads dive steeply down hills, around sharp bends or straight out along elevated traverses.
However, despite the intense crowding the city maintains an extraordinary efficiency that makes it a pleasure visiting. Our friends Irena and Dicky (+ kids) are long time residents of the city, and it is always fun to head out on the town with them especially as they always have some great restaurant and drinking recommendations.
This last trip we headed to Macau for the day. It was a short walk from our hotel to the "ferry", and on arrival Matt became extremely excited when he discovered that he would be riding on a boat travelling either fast or dangerously enough to warrant seatbelts. The journey to Macau takes about an hour on TurboJET hydrofoil which belts along at 50 knots with barely a quiver through the passenger compartment.
Macau, a former Portugese colony has a great mix of the modern and a well preserved colonial heart. Notwithstanding the chinese signage around you, you can easily feel you are wandering around the cobbled streets of an old European city. On recommendation, we headed out of town to a black sand beach outside the city to visit an institution in the city called Fernando's.
This very simple family-style restaurant serves up huge portions of traditional Portugese food to an appreciative crowd. To secure a table, you need to arrive well before the rough metal concertina doors slide open at 12pm. At that time, it becomes a barely concealed fight for a table. Matt overindulged as expected on the roasted pork, the roasters and the fantastic tomato salad before waddling into a taxi back to town to wander and explore the old city.
