Tag Archives: Hong Kong

New Year’s Eve – Celebrating a New Beginning!

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Celebrated around the world on January 1st, New Year’s Day is an event that attracts much revelry and partying the world over. It is a time of year when people band together regardless of country, class or creed and join hands to face the new dawn and the endless possibilities it will bring. The event is generally marked by lighting fireworks at the magical stroke of midnight as the night sky is lit up with a dazzling array of lights.

Each country however, has special ways to celebrate this occasion. In America, one of the most popular places for festivities is Times Square in New York City where you can countdown the famous ball drop.

In China such major cities as Beijing and Shanghai give you a chance to enjoy a wide range of festivities. Musical concerts which can be witnessed in such venues as the Solana Blue Harbour Shopping Park in Beijing, while not to be missed is taking in cultural performances that can be viewed at the iconic Temple of Heaven.

When in Hong Kong during the New Year make sure to make your way to such areas as Causeway Bay which offer stunning views of the harbour at night. Also worth seeing is the show spectacular known as the Symphony of Lights as well as the pyrotechnics that can be seen on the Two International Finance Centre.

In the capital of Japan, Tokyo, well known celebrations points include Shibuya crossing and Minato’s Zojoji Temple. A distinctive element of the festivities at the Zojoji Temple involves people releasing balloons filled with helium. The balloons generally have a message written with good wishes for the coming year.

A great way to herald in the season is by staying at luxury hotels such as those offered by Peninsula Hotels which offer a truly stylish and sophisticated setting along with the very best in stylish comforts. These five star hotels can be found in key destinations around the world including New York, Beijing, Tokyo and Hong Kong, each offering a truly memorable base where you can come together and share the love with your fellow brother and sister from around the world.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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Cultural Hot Spot – Fringe Club

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Get in touch with Hong Kong’s cultural scene at the Fringe Club, a not for profit arts organization that assists emerging artists of all sorts to get a start in life. It promotes Hong Kong’s culture overseas through cultural exchange programmes and sustains and energizes the city’s cultural heritage by hosting theater, dance and music performances and visual arts exhibitions. The late 19th century stucco building with its red and white façade – called blood and bandages – is provided rent free to artists for performances and exhibitions. Originally built for a dairy farm it saw use as a warehouse, a shop selling dairy products, a cold storage facility and an office until it was abandoned in 1970s. The Fringe Club acquired it in 1984. After renovations to make it suitable for the purpose at hand it was thrown open to the artistes of the city. The club shares part of the building with the Foreign Correspondents Club.

After an extensive renovation in 2010 the Fringe Club now houses two theaters, three exhibition areas, a rehearsal room, a restaurant, a roof garden and offices. It’s a boon to emerging local artistes who are offered free venues, publicity, support and even overseas tours. The club premises are also the venue for the annual Fringe Festival, a smorgasbord of cultural activity with its own productions and performers from overseas. Since its opening in 1984 the club has hosted more than its fair share of festivals, stage performances, exhibitions, live band shows, community outreach events, artist residencies and productions. It has organized tours for its artists’ groups to 31 cities, launched the careers of many Hong Kong artistes, exchanged cultural MOUs with several cities overseas and hosted more than 500 performers and arts groups from around the world. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council and many other sponsors have been generous supporters of the club’s programmes.

The club’s live music performances every Friday and Saturday from 10.30 pm onwards showcase jazz, alternative rock, post punk, indie pop, psychedelic rock, classic rock, canto pop, funk, blues and other musical genres. Its open air roof top bar is a popular watering spot and its thatched roof, green grass like Astro Turf and palm trees provide a very different vibe from that of the other over crowded bars in the city. The fact that it is located atop one of the last remaining old stone buildings also adds some interest. Popular with Hong Kong residents and visitors alike it is an ideal place for a casual evening with friends. Its week end brunches, vegetarian lunches, tapas during the week and happy hours from 3 to 9 pm from Monday to Thursday are well patronized.

The Fringe Club has become an intangible heritage asset of Hong Kong and has successfully demonstrated how to reuse old buildings.

Step into Cosmo Hotel a chic Hong Kong boutique hotel offering unique and modern stylish interiors and a hip ambience. It will suit modern day travellers looking for environmentally friendly, tech savvy and relaxing cool spaces. In addition to a selection of comfortable and intimate accommodation on 23 floors this 4 star hotel Hong Kong offers convenience of location and amenities and facilities to make a stay in the vibrant city a pleasurable experience.

Chinese Brush Writing

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Calligraphy has taken up a distinguished position in the traditional art field of China. In addition to being a means of communication, it is also used to express one’s aesthetic sense and inner world. The practice of calligraphy requires four basic tools; ink slab, paper, ink stick and writing brush.  Agility, strength and speed are regarded as the essence of fine artwork. The body of a brush is made from bamboo or rare materials such as gold, silver, ivory, glass and red sandalwood. Those in search of a hotel in Kowloon Hong Kong will be delighted to find The Peninsula Hong Kong. Offering supreme comforts and service, it is an exemplary Hong Kong hotel.

Nightlife in Hong Kong

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Commonly known as Asia’s world city, Hong Kong is a centre for contemporary art and entertainment. Various events such as the Winterfest, Fashion Week, Dragon Boat races, French May, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Rugby Sevens, Symphony of Lights and more add to the charm of this island.  Hong Kong’s nightlife is unique and caters to expats and foreign visitors. Some of the most popular nightlife spots are located in Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai. 
These areas play host to various entertainment venues and bars. Macau, Lantau and Kwloon are also home to vibrant nightlife venues. The Peninsula Hong Kong is an ideally located Hong Kong hotel.  Affording classic comfort and modern amenities, it is an exceptional hotel in Kowloon Hong Kong.

Famed Hong Kong Jockey Club

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The famous Hong Kong Jockey Club established as early as 1884 was created to promote and generate interest in the sport of horse racing. With a membership of 23,000 the club organizes almost 700 races each year and also conducts popular betting operations. The club is also a social focus, providing recreation and dining activities for its members.

Visitors to the city selecting amongst Mongkok hotels Hong Kong will find an excellent choice in the Cosmo Hotel Mongkok. This outstanding hotel in Kowloon offers comfortable accommodations and impeccable service assuring a memorable stay.

Avenue of Stars – Lighting Up the Waterfront

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As an honor to those who lit up the silver screen of Hong Kong and scaled lofty heights to dazzle the world, the Avenue of Stars was created with the support of the Tourism Department of Hong Kong. The glamorous boardwalk has undoubtedly caused quite a stir in the region and drawn crowds in numbers. It is a prominent attraction added to the shoreline along the waters of Victoria Harbour that open out to the seas around Hong Kong.

Avenue of Stars was opened out to the public in 2004 and since then has been the centre of attraction in the area. In addition to the statues of the iconic personalities, there are plaques set on the floor with hand prints and even autographs of the superstars. Continuous additions are made to keep the avenue up to date with the very latest in showbiz. A century’s worth of theatrical details is inscribed on nine pillars that stand along the promenade making the tale of Hong Kong’s cinema complete.

Almost every evening, a musical performance is carried out by young locals who entice the crowds that pour out of the Cultural Centre, Museum of Art and the Space Museum, which are located around the avenue.

The glamour of Avenue of Stars does not diminish as the rays of the sun die to usher in the dusk. In fact, it is difficult to decide whether the promenade full of celebrities looks better at night or day. During the day, the rays of the sun reflect off the pristine waters of Victoria Harbour causing the environment to glisten along with the stars. At night tiny lights are lit on the walkway and remind the moonlight walkers of the Milky Way.

Some stars never fade, some cities never sleep and sometimes you never want to stop reveling in the ambience. If that is what you yearn for, Hong Kong is probably one befitting destination for you. Cosmo Hotel Mongkok is one splendid hotel in Hong Kong that can make your visit a truly memorable experience. Like many a hotel in Kowloon, it is geared to handle the expectations of its guests, ensuring none of your needs go unaddressed.

Nightlife – Dance The Night Away To The Pulsating Rhythms Of Hong Kong

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Utterly delightful and extremely safe, you wouldn’t mind one bit even if you get lost in the myriad of bustling streets that wind the markets, restaurants and shopping malls of Hong Kong. A veritable shoppers’ paradise, its nightlife is not too shabby either. Hong Kong has stepped into the 21st century by redefining the word ‘luxury’. With high-end malls, exquisite hotels and attractive nightlife scene, this small yet explosive city is the place to be if you want a little bit of a shake-up.

There’s no use denying the pull of the night when in Hong Kong, with countless bars, pubs, clubs and entertainment at hand it’s a worthwhile adventure to be swept away by the crowd. Apart from the usual party places Hong Kong also offers luxurious night cruises over Victoria Harbor, Sea Food Village Dinner Cruise in Lei Yue Munn and Harbor Tours with Star Ferry. If club hopping is more your pace, the most recommended spots are Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai and Lan Kwai Fong where the pubs and bars are one amalgamated mass and where the latter has a reputation of being one of the trendiest hot spots in town.

Not one to dither when it comes to having a good time, Hong Kong boasts of some of the swankiest nightclubs and discos around Asia. Be it Chinese or Western nightclubs or cabarets Kowloon and Lantau Island are two places that must be visited. A vibrant atmosphere where even the restaurants opt to stay open till about 2 o’clock in the morning, you can even find a cinema open if you are in a mood to watch a movie. Tsim Sha Tsui is one such night park always crowded with people dining or watching a movie or even opting for a bit of shopping.

Known as a “modern boutique hotel packed with the cool, hip design features” the Cosmo Hotel in Hong Kong offers contemporary, stylish and affordable accommodation to those visiting the city. A discount Hong Kong Hotel that is built close to Hong Kong’s shopping centers and other attractions it even provides guests with complimentary shuttle bus routes. Described as; “one of the most avant-garde hotels”, this 4 Star hotel Hong Kong will ensure the guest an enjoyable and comfortable stay.

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival – keeping a folk tale alive

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For tourists visiting Hong Kong during the Tueng Ng Festival will no doubt get caught up in the excitement of this melting pot of a city. The summers in Hong Kong are filled with events, and taking centre stage is the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is not just any competition; it’s steeped in Chinese culture and is accompanied with a long history. This carnival is spread out across three days filled with entertainment, music, exotic foods and the perfect setting for a bit of healthy competition.

The competition takes place at the Victoria Harbour, at the Kowloon side of the harbour, each year. For first time travelers to Hong Kong, witnessing the dragon boats pushing through the water, side by side as the drums beat furiously; it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the excitement of it all, while watching international paddlers compete against one another for the coveted prize at the International Dragon Boat Races.

In China the Dragon Boat Festival counts for a day’s holiday, and it is part of a ceremony to commemorate the death of a national hero. Qu Yuan died by drowning himself more than 2000 years ago in the Mi Lo River. Folk legend has it that people who tried to rescue him began beating drums to scare the fish away, and food such as dumplings were thrown in the water to prevent the fish from feeding on his body.

It is from this tradition that dragon boat racing evolved. Today competing teams race in beautifully decorated dragon boats, while heavy drums are being beaten at the head of the boat. What make these boats distinguishable are the intricately carved dragon heads and a tail that appear at the head and bottom of the boat.

Each boat of over 10 metres in length has the capacity to carry a boat crew of about 22. The area where the paddlers sit is called the hull and it is decorated with the colours and scales of a dragon, with a bit of gold edging.

Paddlers who stand at the boat’s bow will often light crackers while tossing rice into the water to relive the legend of the search for Qu Yuan, which adds to the excitement. According to history dragon boat races were held between different clans and tribes and even different villages. The winners received prizes by way of wine and free food.

Paddlers in the dragon boat take the race quite seriously and practice tirelessly while seated abreast with another paddler. The drummer is at the front and encourages the paddlers by beating the drum and is supported by a steersman who is seated at the back.

Popular festival food includes rice and dumplings made using different types of meat, which is wrapped in a banana leaf. It is common thinking among the local community that during the festival days if herbs are collected, the preparations made using them will be more effective. Various herbs are boilt in water and people even bathe with this water believing that they will remain healthy.

For the adventurous travelers who lives off a backpack, a 4 Star hotel Hong Kong such as the Cosmo Hotel, will allow travelers to be centrally located and within walking distance to many attractions. A discount Hong Kong hotel such as this one offers guests a superior service.