Hong Kong & Macau [antikvár]

Introducing Hong Kong Hong Kong is a pulsating, superlative-ridden fusion of West and East, an exercise in controlled chaos, a densely populated place that simply 'shouldn't be, but is'. Hong Kong is Wke no other city on earth. _Jhe vast majority of the people of Hong Kong are Chinese; their customs, folklore and dreams are in Cantonese. The Chinese world, with its noise, activity, unusual dishes and language, is everywhere, but intruding into this sphere are familiar icons of the West -sparkling skyscrapers wedged between squatter huts, Christian churches next to Taoist and Buddhist temples, minimalist fusion restaurants beside noodle shops and dai pai dong (open-air street stalls). The meeting of these two worlds shakes and stirs into an invigorating cocktail of colour and aroma, taste and sensation. Hong Kong has something for everyone. Shoppers will trip over themselves trying to reach the huge malls of Central, Admiralty and Kowloon, and the street-fashion factory outlets in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui. Travellers with a sense of romance will gaze by night at the lights across Victoria Harbour or down from the Peak. Aficionados of modern architecture will appreciate Hong Kong's arresting Central district, and world-class museums abound for those who wish to dig deeper into local history and culture. For those who yearn for the great outdoors (or at least a bit more space), sandy beaches and secluded walks await. Hong Kong has a surprising number of natural retreats. Much of Lantau Island, a short ferry ride away, is designated parkland. The New Territories cuts a huge swathe to the north and, while it is becoming increasingly urbanised, it still offers dramatic scenery, challenging hikes and one of the region's most important wetlands for birds. Gastronomes will be spoiled for choice in the city's eclectic eateries, and not just when selecting Chinese and other Asian dishes; Hong Kong today is a veritable atlas of world food. Hong Kong's bars, pubs and clubs colour the spectrum, from the alternative and the chic to the oh-so-refmed. Just an hour by ferry to the west is charming, less-frenetic Macau, which returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1999 after some 450 years under Portuguese rule. Here, Portuguese and Chinese influences have combined to form a unique 'Macanese' culture, and the pastel-coloured Catholic churches and civic buildings, narrow streets, traditional shops and splendid Portuguese and Macanese food give Macau more a Mediterranean than southern Chinese feel. Macau brims not just with atmosphere but sights, including a host of superb museums. My partner and 1 arrived in Hong Kong in late 1979, planning to spend a year or two in what was then a 'British-administered territory'. We left some \2Vi years later, and for us Hong Kong remains every bit the 'moveable feast' that was Paris to Hemingway. Arrive with your eyes and ears open, your taste buds and olfactory senses primed and your fingers at the ready to see and hear, touch, smell and taste the essence of Hong Kong and its little neighbour across the Pearl River estuary. It may not last a dozen years, but your ride will be every bit as memorable as ours was.