Hello Kitty Pilgrimage (Hong Kong)

Hong Kong is a vacation destination with multiple personalities, as a result of being Cantonese with a historic British influence as well as increasing Chinese connections. Perhaps the hallmarks of this city are its frenzied vibrancy, air pollution and world-class cuisine.

On the surface, Hong Kong is an urban landscape without the charm of what one would consider "China," offering the same types of shopping malls and boutiques found in other world cities. But step beyond the air-conditioned shopping centers, and you’ll find a tremendous variety of sights and sounds packed together, from the street markets of Mong Kok and the bars and restaurants of Lan Kwai Fong to the beaches in Stanley and Repulse Bay, the seafood restaurants on small islands and the beautiful greenery and hiking trails in the Country Parks of the New Territories.

The city is also known for its incredible efficiency, a result of convenient public transport, quick customer service and overall fast pace.

Times Square provides nine floors of shopping. Well lit and airy, this shopping center's most distinctive feature is the open central atrium. Each floor is devoted to a shopping theme such as designer and high street fashion, home furnishings, electronic products, sportswear, gifts and children's wear. Lane Crawford (Hong Kong) Ltd. and CitySuper complete the retail experience. The Food Forum and the Market Place food court will not leave visitors hungry, whilst UA Times Square provides relaxing entertainment.

Nathan Road, named after governor Sir Matthew Nathan, runs directly up to Boundary Street, the northern limit of the British colony prior to the leasing of the New Territories in 1898. Since everyone thought such a wide road was unnecessary at that time, Nathan Road became known as "Nathan's Folly." Today, this is one of the busiest commercial roads in Hong Kong; the lower end of the road is known as the Golden Mile because of the plethora of storefront neon signs. A walk along Nathan Road will reveal a shopping paradise with many boutiques, camera shops, street markets and restaurants crammed in side-by-side.

The distinctive Peak Tower, looking not unlike a Shinto Gate, provides a mixture of shopping, entertainment and dining establishments. Ultra-modern, this seven-floor complex boasts Hong Kong's highest restaurant, Mövenpick Marché, and offers unparalleled views of the city and Victoria Harbour. For entertainment, visit the world famous Ripley's Believe It or Not, or try the Peak Explorer, a motion simulator ride - preferably before dining though! The Peak Tram has its Peak Terminus as well as a retail outlet here.

The distinctive Peak Tower, looking not unlike a Shinto Gate, provides a mixture of shopping, entertainment and dining establishments. Ultra-modern, this seven-floor complex boasts Hong Kong's highest restaurant, Mövenpick Marché, and offers unparalleled views of the city and Victoria Harbour. For entertainment, visit the world famous Ripley's Believe It or Not, or try the Peak Explorer, a motion simulator ride - preferably before dining though! The Peak Tram has its Peak Terminus as well as a retail outlet here.

One of Hong Kong's star attractions and one of the deepest container ports in the world, the harbor is shielded on both sides by stunning skylines - skyscrapers and Victoria Peak on one side, and the Tsim Sha Tsui shoreline on the other. Everyday, hundreds of ferries, tugs, junks, speed boats, and barges chug up and down the shore, carrying people and cargo, only pausing for typhoons. The scene is best viewed from the famous Star Ferry, or the Harbour Cruises.

Once a red light district during the Vietnam War, Wanchai, in many tourist guidebooks, is still linked with the name Suzie Wong. Although it had the reputation of being a sailors' paradise in the late 1950s, it is mainly a business and entertainment area nowadays. Bars, dance halls, nightclubs and karaoke rooms co-exist with modern office plazas, art centers and a wide variety of inexpensive restaurants. The rows of narrow streets house all sorts of interesting shops including printers, small fashion outlets, sign-writers and so on. You can also find many street stalls around the area.

Hustle down to the Star Ferry and take the short ten-minute trip across Victoria Harbour, either to the Kowloon or Central side. Gaze up at Hong Kong's majestic skyline, which is an erratic stretch of skyscrapers, hotels and apartment blocks. The nighttime views, when Hong Kong glitters like a diamond, are dramatic. As it's the cheapest therapy in town for one of the best views in the world, few people disembark in anything but the lightest of moods.

The Peak Tram ascends the steep incline of Victoria Peak, offering visitors a convenient way of getting to the peak and all its sightseeing amenities. The Tram, which is itself an attraction, dates back to 1888 with new and larger cars installed in 1989. Passengers sit back for a literally vertical ride enjoying panoramic views as the car steadily makes its way to the top.

Also known as "Women's Street" because it used to sell goods only for women, Tung Choi Street is similar to Temple Street Night Market, except that it starts its trading day at noon. In addition to the street stalls, which sell anything from furiously beeping alarm clocks and glittering faux designer watches to unisex clothes and CDs, there are also lots of small shops that sell all sorts of other stuff. The market is generally quite crowded, and a bit of pushing is just as expected as haggling over prices.

Lan Kwai Fong was once an "expat hangout", but locals have gradually joined in the party fun. Centered around an L-shaped cobblestone lane just above the Central business area, Lan Kwai Fong houses some of the trendiest pubs and entertainment hangouts in town. Every year, during Christmas, New Year's and Halloween, people dress up and parade through the streets. But, whatever the time of year, Lan Kwai Fong is definitely a fun place to see and to be seen.

Although this is quite a jaunt from central Hong Kong (a ferry trip and a long, at times frightening, bus ride, or a skyrail), it is well worth the trip. Buddhas don't get any bigger than this. Dreamed up by the community of monks on Lantau, it took more than ten years to build. It is made entirely of metal and consists of a steel framework covered by steel and bronze "skin," as well as over one ton of gold amalgam. Note, however, that there are 268 steps to get to the Buddha.