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Hong Kong article from Andrada Puiu Salomeea
Invitation to Hong Kong, the jewel of Asia
Andrada Puiu
For those who love the exotic of Orient, but also love to enjoy the comfort of Western world, Hong Kong is the ideal place. Our special correspondent for the Olympic Games in Beijing, Andrada Puiu, made a stopover in Honk Kong to give readers an overview of this beautiful destination.
Hong Kong was a British colony for more than a century, during which people have assimilated the model of European life, while preserving their own language and tradition. It is so fascinating to see ordinary people in Hong Kong handling top technologies and adjusting perfectly in the futurist landscape of Hong Kong.
Step 1: Accommodation
From this point of view, Hong Kong equation is simple: either you choose a room with a modest look which is affordable, or you pay more for an elegant one. A cheap room downtown costs 12 euros a night, and it's not as bad as someone may think. The cheap rooms are simple, but clean, only the façade of the hotel needs improvement. If you can afford more, you will have to spend 80 euros somewhere else for an European standards hotel.
Step 2: Food
This field is very broad and includes menus that no one European can imagine. You will be surprised to learn that the inhabitants of this area do not consume milk at all. This is because of the moisture in the air, which is very high. So, to protect the lungs, inhabitants must give up milk that retains moisture inside the body. Another characteristic of Far East is the habit of eating on the streets. You can see pedestrians moving here and there with food in hands, sometimes even soup. Local specialties include, of course, seafood (octopus is the most successful), soup of beef tendons (which maintains the body mobility), Chinese tofu and eggs. Meanwhile, the fruits are well appreciated here, being consumed as juice, frozen or just as they are. You will meet a wide variety of fruits, with exotic look and name: dragon's fruit, mangoes, bitter melon, papaya and passion fruit. The price of food is very low. With 5 euro someone can eat a good meal in a decent restaurant.
Step 3: Tourist attractions
Hong Kong is a conglomerate of islands and peninsulas connected by ferry or subway. The most famous is Hong Kong island, where you can delectate with natural, architectural and high-tech landscapes. The famous Peak - a high tower located on top of a mountain that comes out directly from the beach - is located on this island. There's also a panoramic of the city and surroundings. The tower can be reached with a train which cut the mountain, moving through the forests of palms and other exotic plants. You must not miss pagodas from Kowloon, Cultural Center of Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui, Man Mo Temple and Tsim Ma Bridge.
Step 5: Shopping
Although Hong Kong is highly developed, prices here are not great at all. You can purchase souvenirs (traditional costumes, statues of jade, wooden masks, paintings on stone, prints) at affordable costs and, moreover, negotiable. There is a place for ladies where men should not lead them: Lady's market, with products of all kinds for them. However, if you get there, don't panic: you will not loose all your money because the price is like in duty free. As a consolation, in the same place there are some attractions for men too: technical stuff at half price.
Step 6: Services
You cannot leave Hong Kong without experiencing the massage which is specific for that place. The offer is much diversified and conditions are more than attractive. You can enjoy a meeting of reflex-therapy with only 10 euros, a complete set of massage with 25 euros, or a session of acupuncture with 15-20 euros.
Special for ladies: manicure and pedicure salons offer spectacular nails painting at very low prices. As a general recommendation, Asians do not receive tips. They feel offended.
Hong Kong is one of the most successful East-West syntheses, preserving only the positive sides of the two civilizations. As a conclusion, do not miss this magnificent tourist destination.
Special: Olympic Games in Hong Kong
Hong Kong hosts the Olympic Equestrian events from the Olympic Games of 2008 in China. Jockey Club in Hong Kong has a long tradition of this sport, brought here by British, but adopted by locals with great passion. Not less than 88 million Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to 103 million U.S. dollars, have been spent over the past two years to prepare the necessary logistics for Olympic trials in Hong Kong. There are two locations arranged for the occasion: Shatin Olympic Equestrian Venue and Beas River Olympic Equestrian Venue. Conditions here are luxurious: horses will stay in stables that resemble rather with a hotel. Tens of thousands of tourists are expected to come from outside to see Hong Kong's races, a true performance for this elitist and less publicly known sport.
