I lived in Hong Kong for five years, first as a fresh-faced 21-year-old and then as a returnee a year or so later to make it my permanent home. In 2016, I was conflicted about whether to leave or not, but ultimately decided it was the best thing considering the political situation and my aspirations at the time to work in journalism.
Here are my top travel recommendations for Hong Kong, from food to festivals, hikes and views, to my thoughts on expat life:
When I graduated university in the middle of a recession and couldn’t get a job anywhere, fate took me to Hong Kong. I often think of that “sliding doors moment” of accepting a job on the other side of the world and what would have happened if I hadn’t. That opportunity sparked a lifelong passion for travel and living overseas, and I’m forever grateful to my first home away from home:
Living in Hong Kong for five years, I explored the city, the islands and the mountainous New Territories. I also explored the SAR’s history through popular books set in Hong
Dear Hong Kong, We need to break up. It’s not you, it’s me. We’ve had five beautiful years together, filled with ecstatic highs and bitter lows, but I think it’s
What is it like living in Hong Kong? I get asked this question quite often, especially when I’m back in the UK. So, I thought it was about time that
Hong Kong is best experienced vertically; high-rise buildings, incredible skylines and stunning hikes:
In all my five years of living in Hong Kong I never got sick of that skyline. In fact, saying goodbye to that view was the very last thing I did
Hong Kong may be better known for its electric skyline, imposing skyscrapers and sky-high rent, but did you know that 75% of the Fragrant Harbour is actually countryside? Having called Hong
What better way to spend Chinese New Year than hiking the MacLehose Trail in Hong Kong? This is the story of how we attempted to hike the whole of one
Did I say that Hong Kong is best experienced vertically? I meant gastronomically.
Outside of the UK, I have lived in two places: Hong Kong and Italy. Therefore it sounds a bit biased to claim that the Italians and the Chinese are kindred
Last week I made you question everything you thought you knew about Chinese cuisine by revealing 5 Chinese Foods That Are Not Actually Chinese (well, that’s what Confucius told me
Yep, that’s right, Western world. You have been eating Chinese food wrong your entire life. But don’t feel bad as I too have made the same mistake in thinking that
A few of my favourite festivals in Hong Kong (yes, my birthday counts), which are worth experiencing if the timing of your trip allows:
There is nothing like a dragon boat race. The roar of the paddlers calling time, the drummer, the pounding of paddles pulling through the water, an undulating dragon skimming across
My birthday is the 12th March. That means right now you must be saying, “Oh, I know someone with that birthday,” or, even better, “That’s my birthday too!” – and
Red lanterns are up, the banks are packed and preparations are well underway for Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival. So, here are 10 surprising facts about Chinese New
Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend.
Disclaimer: this box contains affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using this link, but at no cost to you.
FLIGHTS: The best deals can be found on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kiwi (learn more about Kiwi travel hacking here).
TRAVEL INSURANCE: I recommend World Nomads for travel insurance because you can purchase once you’re already overseas and you can easily extend your policy. For digital nomads, I recommend and personally use Genki (learn more about Genki digital nomad health insurance here).
E-SIM: For travel in Europe, I use an e-sim with GoMobile, which is a provider based in Malta, but you need to be there to set it up.
ACCOMMODATION: I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for apartments. For Colivings, I usually book privately, but Coliving.com is a good place to start.
THINGS TO DO: I use Viator or Get Your Guide for booking day trips, city tours and other activities, though I often check reviews on TripAdvisor too.
