Hong Kong A mecca of food fashion and finance
Post on: 2011-08-28 By: admin
Hong Kong is a complexity of concepts, cultures and abstracts, packed into city-state enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea. The Hong Kong islands operate under the "one country, two systems" theory, which was adopted when Hong Kong was granted its own autonomy from mainland China, but still relies on China as the ruling country in some circumstances (mainly foreign relations and military). But what Hong Kong is most widely known for is what's on its streets: the food, the fashion and the finance.
Hong Kong is one of the world's leading international centers, hosting the likes of financial giants including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse. As more companies found space in Hong Kong's close quarters, the city's close quarters found new ways to make room: build up. Hong Kong is one of the world's most vertical cities, thanks to the forced need for modern architecture under dense conditions. Your views of Hong Kong will depend on where you stand in the city and on what floor. My advice: always look up during your sightseeing, or you might miss some of the city's best architectural achievements.
To get here is easy, but requires a test of patience. Flying into Hong Kong from Boston or New York is a long 15 hour and 30 minute flight, but made comfortable by airlines' updated long-haul aircrafts which includes personal TV screens with movies, music, games and TV shows. Cathay Pacific, headquartered in Hong Kong, recently launched a new fleet of Boeing 777's that make business class flights even more enjoyable (more on that later), and in my opinion is the way to get go. While business class isn't the most affordable option (usually between $5,000 and $9,000 round-trip, depending on the airline and when you travel), the luxury of space for 15 hours is worth the spend. (Tip: If you're flying economy class, choose a seat toward the back of the plane. The likelihood that you'll get a row to yourself is pretty good, which puts the concept of business class in coach.)
The Hong Kong airport is, in truth, one of my favorite airports in the world. The shopping is extreme (read: duty-free Chloe, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel, Long Champ, Versace, and Ferragamo) but the convenience of the airport is second-to-none. The immigration line can be long and slow, especially during peak travel times of the day, but once you clear customs you're only a quick 20-minute ride on the Airport Express to Hong Kong. The train will land you at the ICC Building in Kowloon or in Central Hong Kong (cabs are also widely available, but since Bostonians are used to public transportation, the Airport Express is the quickest and least expensive option). Once you arrive Hong Kong, the options are endless.
The Far East - with all its mystery and majesty - still leaves a lot to the imagination. Hong Kong is easily an entry point for those traveling into Asia, guided by a beacon of steel and mirrors that stands 118 stories tall in the middle of Kowloon overlooking Victoria Harbour. The International Commerce Centre - Hong Kong's tallest building - is home to everyone from Hermes and Dior, to the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. Overlooking Victoria Harbour and offering endless views of Hong Kong islands, Kowloon is fast becoming the bustling financial center of Hong Kong, a title Central Hong Kong used to hold. Luxury hotels including the Four Seasons, W Hotel, and the InterContinental are housed in Kowloon, making it a priority spot for business travelers and luxury leisure guests. Kowloon really earned its stripes as a luxury hub when the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong opened as the highest hotel in the world earlier this year.
My favorite spot in the city: a little corner on the top of the ICC Building. The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong opened on March 29 of this year as the highest hotel in the world. Occupying floors 102-118 of the ICC Building, the hotel fast became a favorite destination for both business and leisure travelers and a local hot spot, thanks to its trendy open-air bar - Ozone - on the 118th floor. On this particular Saturday night in Hong Kong, Ozone welcomed hotel guests, Hong Kong locals, expats and jetlagged travelers to the best views you'll find in the city. Head to the far right corner of the bar, grab a seat in the window, and enjoy Asian tapas, sushi and speciality cocktails while the lights of Hong Kong's buildings dance beneath you.
Readers: I'll be blogging from Hong Kong and Phuket, Thailand, this week. Stay tuned for more details, including more views from the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, and in-depth interview with the developers and designers of Cathay Pacific planes, and things to do in Hong Kong and Phuket.
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Melanie Nayer is a travel writer who spent many years in the newsroom before jetting off to see the world. Her goal is to bring readers the best insider information
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Article original from: http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/blogs/packup/2011/08/hello_hong_kong.html
