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Ashley and Nigel of Our Roaming Empire spend their first 48 hours in Hong Kong during tropical storms and a looming super typhoon. They stay in Wan Chai, use an Octopus card for buses, the MTR and trams, and explore Central and the Mid-Levels Escalator. Food stops include Capital Cafe, Bill Kee Wonton Noodles and roasted goose at Chuck Fo Taipan. They end at a rooftop bar to see the Symphony of Lights, though they find the drinks expensive and the show loosely coordinated. Their early visit to the Mid-Levels Escalator means several shops and restaurants are still closed, which is why they recommend returning later. They also explore Wan Chai and Central, try Capital Cafe's toast and milk tea, and end the evening on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. The trip takes place in difficult weather, but both visitors remain keen to see more of Hong Kong in the weeks ahead.
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First impressions and moving around
Ashley and Nigel arrive in Hong Kong during a tropical depression that develops into a storm, with a super typhoon expected soon afterward. They experience heavy rain, heat and humidity as they explore the city during their first 48 hours. Their initial impressions include Hong Kong's geography across islands and peninsulas and the blend of Eastern and Western influences. They stay in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island and find an Octopus card useful for buses, the MTR, trams, taxis and some restaurant payments. They note that Google Maps works in Hong Kong, unlike mainland China, where other apps may be needed.
The Mid-Levels Escalator is a major stop. Ashley and Nigel explain that it runs one way in the morning for commuters and changes direction later in the day. Their early visit finds many shops and restaurants closed, so they suggest coming later. They also warn that visitors who ride to the top should be prepared to walk down the steps.
Food and the light show
The pair eat at Capital Cafe, where thick crustless toast, eggs and Hong Kong milk tea stand out. They notice that restaurants provide hot water so diners can disinfect utensils before eating. A local budget restaurant culture is quick and efficient, designed to serve many customers. They also visit Bill Kee Wonton Noodles, a small cash-only eatery, and order shrimp wonton noodles with a clean broth and bouncy noodles.
At Chuck Fo Taipan in Wan Chai, they try roasted goose, crispy pork belly and barbecue pork over rice. They describe the people as friendly and the meal as affordable. Later, from a rooftop bar in Tsim Sha Tsui, they see the skyline and Symphony of Lights. The view pleases them more than the show, which they find not especially coordinated, and they consider the drinks expensive. Even with the weather and typhoon preparations, they enjoy the city's energy and welcoming atmosphere and look forward to exploring more.
They describe the Mid-Levels Escalator as the longest outdoor covered escalator system and note that commuters use it in one direction in the morning before it reverses later. A visit early in the day leaves them with fewer open shops, so they advise arriving when more businesses are operating. The route also involves many steps, especially when walking down after reaching the upper levels. Their recommendations combine a practical use of the escalator with time to explore its surrounding shops and restaurants. The food stops provide another look at daily life: Capital Cafe serves toast and eggs, Bill Kee is cash-only, and hot water is used to disinfect utensils before a meal. At the rooftop bar, a good view does not make up for high drink prices, and the light show is less coordinated than expected. The pair compare Hong Kong favorably with New York and say the local people are friendly and helpful.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What was the weather like during their first two days?
- A: Ashley and Nigel arrive during a tropical depression that becomes a tropical storm, just before a super typhoon is expected. They experience heavy rain, heat and humidity.
- Q: What is Hong Kong's political status?
- A: The source describes Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of China under the one country, two systems principle, with autonomy except in foreign affairs and defense.
- Q: What is a convenient way to get around Hong Kong?
- A: They recommend an Octopus card for public transport, including buses, the MTR and trams, and say it can also be used in taxis and some restaurants. They say the card also works on ferries and can be used to pay at some restaurants, making it useful beyond a single transit trip.
- Q: What did they enjoy at Capital Cafe?
- A: They try thick toast without crust, eggs and Hong Kong milk tea, which they say has a coffee-like flavor. They describe thick toast without crust, well-prepared eggs and Hong Kong milk tea, which they say had a coffee-like flavor.
- Q: Why do restaurants provide hot water?
- A: The pair explain that diners use it to disinfect utensils before eating, then dry them with a napkin. The hot water is for utensil disinfection before the meal; diners then dry utensils with a napkin.
- Q: What should visitors know about the Mid-Levels Escalator?
- A: It changes direction later in the day after serving commuters in the morning. Shops may be closed early, and visitors reaching the top should be ready to walk down. Visitors may find shops closed in the morning; at the top, the escalator ride ends and walking down involves many steps.
- Q: What did they order at Bill Kee Wonton Noodles?
- A: They order shrimp wonton noodles with small bouncy noodles, whole shrimp in the dumplings and a clean broth at a local cash-only shop. They order shrimp wonton noodles with small, springy noodles, a clear broth and whole shrimp in the dumplings at the cash-only shop.
- Q: What did they eat at Chuck Fo Taipan?
- A: They try roasted goose, crispy pork belly and barbecue pork served over rice, and describe the meal as affordable. Their order also includes barbecue pork, and they describe the meal as both friendly and budget-friendly.
- Q: What did they think of the Symphony of Lights?
- A: They like the rooftop view but find the light show not very coordinated, and say the drinks at the bar were expensive. They liked the rooftop view but found the show less synchronized than expected and noted the high drink prices.
- Q: What was their overall impression of Hong Kong?
- A: They appreciate the friendly people and the variety of experiences, compare its energy to New York City and say they are eager to explore more. The couple enjoy the city's variety, compare it with New York and are eager to keep exploring Hong Kong.