picturesque: of glimpses and words: Hong Kong Streets

Hong Kong used to be a British colony until sometime in the 1990's when it became part of the Republic of China. As such, it has a rich cultural diversity. The place is entirely safe with almost every street, hotel and sometimes even elevators having CCTV's in it. The streets are a mix of the old and the new. Central Hong Kong being an industrial haven booming with boastful and high buildings while certain parts like Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok have old furnishings and finishing. It's relatively convenient to travel in Hong Kong, with the MTR, shuttle buses and trams around. If you're opting to get to the airport, it is better to ride a shuttle bus. If you're looking for the easiest way to travel then choose the MTR, you won't fail to notice the MTR stations sign in almost every place. If you're looking for the cheapest transportation around then opt for the trams with a ride fare starting from 30 cents hkd.

We have found Tsim Sha Tsui to be a real tourist hub where it is convenient to find shopping malls without need to get to Causeway Bay. Causeway Bay is more like a provincial area compared to Tsim Sha Tsui. Nathan Road is a long road starting from Mongkok to Tsim Sha Tsui. If you're looking for more inexpensive ways to shop then go to Mongkok. They have the market stalls where you can look for a bargain. If Mongkok is not enough for you, then go farther to Wan Chai. But I think Mongkok would be enough to feast your senses.

Try going to the Peak Tram at Central, with 28 hkd, you can ride the tram to the peak with spectacular views. The tram ride is amazing considering that you're literally going up a hill. Go to The Peak, with a 360 degree viewing deck of Hong Kong. But when it's foggy, you won't be able to see the view even from above. In our case, we were there in February and since it's the winter month, with coldness set at 12 degrees Celsius or so. We were not able to see the view. You would then be wasting the 30 hkd per person entrance to view things from the peak.

Winter in February is really cold, especially when you're coming from a tropical country. So bring in your coats, boots and warmers. To pack light for women, I found leggings to be real easy to bring and combine with everything. Just make sure it's thicker. Anyway, in case you failed to bring things that will match the weather, then you can always buy there. Hong Kong is a shopping haven. But come June, you don't need to worry packing light because it's summer and hotter. Check for weather updates before going to Hong Kong.