Hong Kong: Structured Chaos (2025)

[38 Geary]

Day 0 + 1

SFO lit up in its annual Christmas colors (one thing I noticed is that the people in HK say "Merry Christmas" almost exclusively whereas folks in the US tend to say "Happy Holidays")


SFO's international terminal built in 2000 (SOM) still looks clean, modern, and spacious


Daniel Lurie here to welcome and bid safe travels to passengers


Took a Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER red eye nonstop flight to HKG. Flight was smooth but long (15+ hours). Food was so so. Service was excellent.


Legion of 的士. Arrived around 6:30 AM local time, and took a shuttle to check into the Airbnb


First meal in Hong Kong, at a cha chaan teng meal. It was perfect - no frills, very real, and packed with flavor. Ordered the breakfast set with beef satay in noodle soup, fried eggs and toast, and a hot milk tea. Also added a pineapple bun. HK has definitely gotten more expensive but the meal still came in under $9 USD.




After breakfast, when out for a short stroll to get a feel for the neighborhood (Koreatown in Tsim Sha Tsui) and buy some groceries. Cantonese spoken with a Korean accent is very interesting!




The weather throughout most of the trip was a very comfortable/slightly warm high 60s/low 70s with moderate-high humidity, so I was most often in shorts and a t-shirt, whereas most locals were still wearing pants and sweaters/jackets.


TST is a very tourist (mainly Mandarin speaking) heavy area




Lots more variety of cars (mainly EVs)






HK is very walkable with narrow streets and excellent transit. However, you still need to be careful crossing streets (aggressive drivers), and the sidewalks can be narrow at times or not in the greatest shape, or have steps. Or there can just be tons of pedestrians, so not much separation between you and cars if you're walking on the the street side of the sidewalk.






I didn't try this place, because why would I as a Californian? I did wonder how busy it gets during peak dining times... I can't imagine many people go to HK for the Mexican food.


It was next to some sort of Middle Eastern coffee place

[38 Geary]

Day 1 (continued)

These taxis are everywhere


The sidewalks with random steps built in reminds me of SF






One of many random higher end sports car sightings in HK (the police there are very strict on sports cars so people have to resort to underground car meets or track days in China)


Famous wonton noodle spot


Dim sum for lunch (Choi Fook Royal Banquet). For this one the price is much better. For a similar higher end dim sum spot in the US it'd easily be double the price.


Bamboo scaffolding, a symbol of Hong Kong's unique construction, but faces significant safety scrutiny


人山人海 (literally people mountain people ocean, a Chinese idiom meaning vast, overwhelming crowds of people, comparing the dense multitude to mountains and oceans)








Headed over to K11 Musea for a snack and to check out the views from the TST Promenade. The malls, as expected in much of Asia, are just in a different league compared to the ones in the US.


Victoria Dockside - 65 floors, 284 m (931 ft)


The Masterpiece - 64 floors, 261 m (856 ft)










Fortnum & Mason


Quick stroll along the Victoria Harbour






Victoria Dockside - 65 floors, 284 m (931 ft)














Day 2 to follow...

[hauntedheadnc]

Originally Posted by homebucket

I didn't try this place, because why would I as a Californian? I did wonder how busy it gets during peak dining times... I can't imagine many people go to HK for the Mexican food.

Well, speaking as someone who engages in exactly that sort of perversity, I can inform you from my diligent research that the Mexican food in Edinburgh is alright, bad in Tokyo, and worst in Prague. In Mexico City it was just "food," though, so I'm not sure that can be counted.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by hauntedheadnc

Well, speaking as someone who engages in exactly that sort of perversity, I can inform you from my diligent research that the Mexican food in Edinburgh is alright, bad in Tokyo, and worst in Prague. In Mexico City it was just "food," though, so I'm not sure that can be counted.

Honestly, I would not be surprised if it did get packed during peak dining times. HK is mainly a night dining culture, and I didn't get a chance to pass it by again at night. In the area I was in, there was rarely any restaurant that wasn't packed for dinner, no matter how big or small or what type of cuisine. I did see some other French, Italian, and Middle Eastern restaurants as well, but the vast majority was either your typical HK fare or Korean (as I was in Koreatown - not using Ktown since in HK that is reserved for Kennedy Town, another neighborhood) or Japanese.

[38 Geary]

On to Day 2!

Started the morning in Tsim Sha Tsui with breakfast at 華嫂茶室 Waso Cafe, a well-known spot that had been on my list for a while. The food was solid and the QR code ordering system made things easy. Unsurprisingly, it was touristy. Mandarin everywhere, and prices were noticeably steeper than my usual local haunts. The more Cantonese you hear, the more likely you’re in a legit spot. If the line’s full of locals and the aunties behind the counter don’t smile until you prove yourself, you’re probably in for a great (and cheap) meal. Still, it hit the spot.













After breakfast, I walked off the calories by exploring more of the neighborhood, and I realized just how many Korean restaurants there were here. It looked and felt just like Seoul.

[38 Geary]

Day 2 (continued):

Lots of local construction in very tight spaces, almost everywhere you turn. HK is a city that does not hold back on making progress and continually improving itself, a far cry from places back home where you hardly see any construction. No excuses here.


The amount of inconspicuous, well patroned ground floor retail is unmatched by anywhere in the US












After a quick snack at a local bakery popular for its Napoleon tarts, a modern twist on an egg custard tart with a mille-feuille crust, headed over to Nathan Road and Kowloon Park to meet up with some relatives while the nieces and nephews played at the children's playground.























Flamingos at Bird Lake






Mango sago with glutinous rice balls, a classic HK dessert


Late afternoon stroll to dinner










Dinner at 妹記大排檔. Famed for their ubiquity and access in decades prior, dai pai dongs have become a dying art in the city, numbering only a few dozen from the count of hundreds operating in Hong Kong in the late 20th century. The streetside and aircon-less restaurants are notable for their use of heavy spice and garlic, cooking with propane-heated woks, and dishing out affordable Cantonese meals. Due to a government pause issuing dai pai dong licences in the 1950s, fewer dai pai dong have survived today. Whilst few dai pai dongs survive, a new wealth of dai pai dong restaurants have opened in Hong Kong emulating the raw energy of the expiring food culture in Hong Kong. This place was extremely popular and packed within minutes of opening with long lines of locals waiting to get in. No tourists here, more of a IYKYK type of place. The ambiance manages to capture that old school local HK vibe well.

[sopas ej]

Great set of pics!

I like that you took pictures of what looks like where the locals all go to, going about their everyday lives.

What is up with those taxis? Are those older Toyotas from the 1980s-1990s, or does Toyota still make those new, but their designs are just frozen in time? Very interesting!

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Great set of pics!

I like that you took pictures of what looks like where the locals all go to, going about their everyday lives.

What is up with those taxis? Are those older Toyotas from the 1980s-1990s, or does Toyota still make those new, but their designs are just frozen in time? Very interesting!

Thanks!

Those taxis are Toyota Crown Comforts, first made in 1995 and finally discontinued in 2018. It did get a minor facelift in 2002, which are the ones you mainly see in HK nowadays. But yeah overall the design does look like something out of the early-mid 90s. Toyota’s answer to the Crown Victoria. I believe taxi operators also use them in Singapore and Japan, although they are most recognized in the HK taxi livery. Interestingly they are fueled by LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) rather than regular gasoline.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Thanks!

Those taxis are Toyota Crown Comforts, first made in 1995 and finally discontinued in 2018. It did get a minor facelift in 2002, which are the ones you mainly see in HK nowadays. But yeah overall the design does look like something out of the early-mid 90s. Toyota’s answer to the Crown Victoria. I believe taxi operators also use them in Singapore and Japan, although they are most recognized in the HK taxi livery. Interestingly they are fueled by LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) rather than regular gasoline.

Very interesting! I would have been having a field day looking at the cars; it's been a long time since I traveled outside the US but I have always loved looking at the cars that exist in different countries.

[Driver8]

Fantastic! Such urban vibrancy in every street setting.

[38 Geary]

Day 3:

Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙咀 - Started off the morning with a well-know bakery called Bakehouse. They have several locations throughout the city. It is a Swiss-founded bakery chain, founded by Grégoire Michaud, the former executive chef at Four Seasons Hong Kong, in 2013.

Passing by the Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙咀 MTR station, one of 12 different entrances.


This one is A1, which opens up to Kowloon Park and the Kowloon Mosque.


Nathan Road, the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, aligned south–north from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po. It is lined with shops and restaurants and throngs with visitors. There are 5 MTR stations built directly underneath Nathan Road, where the Tsuen Wan Line runs parallel with.






Made it to the spot






Bamboo scaffolding staging






They're known for their sourdough egg tarts


After inhaling the tarts, headed down Canton Road to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier 尖沙咀天星碼頭


The southern section of Canton Road is home to many upscale retail shops, shopping centres and others business establishments, with busy traffic from both vehicles and pedestrians from morning till late at night. Here you can see 1881 Heritage, the former Marine Police Headquarters, one of the four oldest surviving government buildings in Hong Kong.


The former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower 前九廣鐵路鐘樓


The Ocean Terminal


Views of the Central 中環 skyline


The Star Ferry comes in different liveries


This is the traditional green and white one


With a fleet of 12 ferries, the company operates 2 routes across the harbour, carrying over 70,000 passengers per day


The TST Star Ferry Pier has one of these located right before boarding, allowing passengers a quick hit of caffeine before heading towards Central or Wanchai. % Arabica, popular Japanese coffee chain with multiple locations throughout the city


It's just a quick 8 min ride over


The cool breeze, the skyline, the subtle hum of the engine — it’s the kind of moment that makes you fall in love with Hong Kong all over again


The Central skyline is highlighted by the IFC (International Finance Centre), a 88-storey, 412 m (1,351.7 ft) supertall.


The West Kowloon skyline, punctuated by the ICC (International Commerce Centre), a 108-storey, 484 m (1,588 ft) supertall. It is the world's 13th tallest building by height, 10th tallest by number of floors, and Hong Kong's tallest, as well as the only building in the city with over 100 storeys.


Central Star Ferry Pier 中環天星碼頭




Day Star 晨星號




Twinkling Star 熒星號, in Asia's World City livery

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Very interesting! I would have been having a field day looking at the cars; it's been a long time since I traveled outside the US but I have always loved looking at the cars that exist in different countries.

Definitely! As a car guy, it was very cool to see lots of different cars we don't see here in the US. I also thought it was cool how the taxi doors can be opened and closed remotely via a level by the drivers. The drivers just press a button and they swing open for you.

Originally Posted by Driver8

Fantastic! Such urban vibrancy in every street setting.

For sure. No matter where you turn there is something interesting to see. HK is a city of layers in so many ways, physically (hills, streets, walkways, escalators, stairs, parks, buildings), and historically/culturally (old meets new, East meets West).

[38 Geary]

Day 3 (continued)

Did probably the most “touristy” thing of the entire trip: rode the Peak Tram 山頂纜車 up to Victoria Peak 太平山


With an elevation of 552 metres (1,811 ft), it is the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island. It was raining that morning up at The Peak, so didn't get too many shots in.


There's a Bakehouse up here as well


And a % Arabica


Silk, a local HK boba chain, with modern interpretation on HK style milk tea




Headed back over to TST after




























BYD dealership/showroom




Public light bus (PLB) 19 seats van 仔




Dinner at Red Tea 紅茶. Despite the touristy vibe, it was still very solid. Long line out front but got seated in 5 minutes flat with food arriving under 3 minutes after ordering. That’s Hong Kong efficiency for you — chaos with structure.

[ColDayMan]

Fantastic.

[38 Geary]

Day 4: Hong Kong Disneyland! First time at a Disneyland/Disneyworld outside of the US. This one opened up in 2005. It's the second Disneyland in Asia to open after Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, with Shanghai Disneyland later opening in 2016. The park consists of eight themed lands: Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, Toy Story Land, and World of Frozen. The newest themed land — World of Frozen, opened in November 2023. The park is accessible on the MTR via the purpose-built Disneyland Resort line, a themed shuttle train service between the Disneyland Resort station adjacent to the park, and Sunny Bay station.

But first, breakfast and milk tea at the local cha chaan teng








Main Street taxi


Turning 20 this year




World of Frozen is the first Frozen themed section of any of the Disney parks


Very nicely done!


Toy Story Land is the 2nd of 4 Toy Story themed sections of the Disney parks














Tomorrowland




Fantasyland






Adventureland


Jungle Cruise

[38 Geary]

Day 4 (continued)

Forgot to add another thing about HK Disneyland. Zootopia is extremely popular there. The vast majority of people I saw that were dressed up were in the Judy Hopps police outfit.

HK Disneyland is the smallest Disneyland park at 126 hectares (68 acres), so it was easy to navigate and more manageable to complete in one day. Since we finished early, we decided to head back into town for dinner instead of eating at the park, where the food is obviously not as good as HK.

On the way to dinner, spotted an interesting car. The Toyota bB Open Deck, a rare, compact coupe utility (a small pickup/ute) based on the first-gen bB (Scion xB), featuring a small truck bed with a tailgate and opening rear glass instead of a traditional hatch, plus unique suicide rear passenger door for easy access, fold-flat seats, and a distinctive look with roof rails.



Since we were in Koreatown, decided might as well try out one of the spots and it did not disappoint.



Soy marinated crab

[OakAngeles]

I'm always amazed by the fact that HK looks like it's from some sci-fi future but also seems ancient and monolithic, like it was carved directly from the mountains themselves.

[Echoes]

I adored Hong Kong, and this takes me right back there. Your photos evoke the place vividly.

[sopas ej]

Another great set of photos, homebucket!

Originally Posted by homebucket

Definitely! As a car guy, it was very cool to see lots of different cars we don't see here in the US. I also thought it was cool how the taxi doors can be opened and closed remotely via a level by the drivers. The drivers just press a button and they swing open for you.

Oh yes; waaaay back in 1986, when I was 16, my family took a trip to Tokyo, and we took taxis... and I was very impressed with the doors that the drivers just opened and shut for you from the drivers seat.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by ColDayMan

Fantastic.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by OakAngeles

I'm always amazed by the fact that HK looks like it's from some sci-fi future but also seems ancient and monolithic, like it was carved directly from the mountains themselves.

100%. The ultimate Blade Runner city.

Originally Posted by Echoes

I adored Hong Kong, and this takes me right back there. Your photos evoke the place vividly.

Thanks! Hong Kong is both very easy and enjoyable to shoot. Something to be seen everywhere you turn. I tried to capture scenes that make the viewer feel like they are in Hong Kong, not just viewing it from afar.

Very safe city to shoot in as well. No need to worry about theft or pickpockets.

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Another great set of photos, homebucket!

Oh yes; waaaay back in 1986, when I was 16, my family took a trip to Tokyo, and we took taxis... and I was very impressed with the doors that the drivers just opened and shut for you from the drivers seat.

Thanks! Hopefully you enjoyed that last one of the Toyota bB Open Deck. I thought you might get a kick out of it when I selected it for posting.