#FollowMeTo - Hong Kong
#diary
Nataly Osmann

We came to Celestial Empire for the first time a few years ago. And it’s quite a funny story to tell here. Just a few hours before our flight to America Murad found out that his visa had expired (which is, obviously, “DID NOT” upset me at all, after all, it could happen to anyone). So we chanced the tickets and went to Hong Kong instead.

Photo: @muradosmann

I have to say, Hong Kong is very specific city and if you haven’t had a chance to visit it yet then forget about reading travel blogs and watching TV programmes devoted to it. First thing to remember to feel the atmosphere of this incredible city is to completely rely on your instincts and intuition, to turn off your consciousness and forget everything you have ever been told about it!

Photo: @muradosmann

Photo: @muradosmann

Important remark: Hong Kong is impossible to understand and accept if you only here by transit (as many people do nowadays). Hong Kong is not like the rest of China, think at least about the history of its foundation. Here you can have a nice meal, visit monasteries or have a high class shopping experience. But one step at a time.

On of the main sights of Hong Kong is Victoria Peak. And, by the way, this is the place where I said to Murad for the very first time that I’m in love with him. And, yes, I do understand that it sounds very sentimental, but I really wanted to do it in a place with a beautiful view. Have I intrigued you yet? Do you feel like you already want to climb up there? By the way, to get up the top you need to take a tram, which is more than 100 years old, and it goes up at the angle of 45 degrees. Last time we went up there we decided to get off just before the final stop and to take some pictures on the roof of the old station. Five minutes later we were surrounded by police. But we had enough time to take a couple of shots.

Photo: @muradosmann

Big Buddha. This is one of the biggest sculptures of Buddha in the world. Yes, it is a long way to drive, but I strongly recommend you to spend one day to visit it. Both times we went there the weather wasn’t very good but that fact only gave some sort of charm to the whole process of the sightseeing. You certainly should hire a cableway car with a transparent floor. It's breathtaking!

Photo: @muradosmann

Chinese junk boats. Traditional Chinese and Japanese boat for a river and seacoast sailing with bright vermilion sails. It could be a very romantic journey, which will probably all of a sudden recall the memories of different novels about sailors, conquerors and travelers…

Photo: @muradosmann

My favorite Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. Don’t think you will be able to find much information in guidebooks about this place, but trust me it is absolutely stunning. On the way there you will see 10 thousand different images of Buddha. And, yes, it will be difficult to climb up the top, but here is a double benefit: you can tone up your bottom and get a cultural inspiration!

Photo: @muradosmann

Go by tram. If you fell too lazy to walk around the city, and I can tell, this could often happen in a very hot or rainy day, you can explore the city by a special double decker tourist tram. It will give you chance to see Hong Kong and have a rest at the same time. Once we had to combine this tour with a press conference with local journalists. What a bunch of annoying people they were! They asked about everything, even what we couldn't possibly know, and photographed everything, even what we strictly prohibited to!

Photo: @muradosmann

For me Hong Kong has forever become a city of romance, this was my first impression and it can hardly be changed!

I would like to finish my story with a phrase which perfectly fits here and which I already used once at the end of our video in Thailand. As Mark Twain said: "Only two things we’ll regret on deathbed – that we are a little loved and little traveled".


Photo: @muradosmann

Photo: @muradosmann

Where are we right now?

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