Welcome Back to Hong Kong!

January 17, 2025

Okay so it's not so much me welcoming Hong Kong back, but rather Hong Kong welcoming me back. Around 30 years ago I lived in Hong Kong for several years so I asked Francesa to engineer a one day layover on our way from Taian to Vietnam so I could show her and the kids wehre I used to live, work and play in my mid 20s.

We crammed a lot into a little time including seeing my old office, my old apartment, taking the escalator up to the mid-levels, riding the tram to the top of The Peak for some amazing night views, eating dim sum (the kind with the trolley push carts), taking the Star Ferry across Hong Kong Harbor to the Kowloon side and running around Kowloon Park. 

For those of you who aren't aware this is the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system. It stretches about 800 meters (2,600 feet) and climbs a total of 135 meters (443 feet) in elevation, linking the Central business district with the Mid-Levels residential area. It was opened in 1993 and I rode it to and from work every day for 3 years in the mid 90s. 

I wanted them to have one of my favorite experiences from when I used to live here.  My friends and I used to eat dim sum every couple of weeks on a Sunday. I loved picking dumplings that looked tasty from the carts that would be pushed around. Sadly, most dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong have stopped using the trolleys and only use the menu system, but I found this one in Central - not too far from our hotel -called Lin Heung Lau, that still uses them (albeit in a limited capacity). 

We stumbled upon this pop up amusement park next to the Star Ferry terminal.  We had just enough time - and left over HK Dollars - to enjoy a few rides and attractions. 

While I was not able to connect with my former HK rommate or my other friends still living there (I waited too ate to put the word out) it was fun being back in that vibrant city that I remember so fondly.  Below are a few pics of our Day in HK.