Council Connection

This place is special to me, as it was where I first started my years living as an expat in Asia, working in law firms and the insurance industry in that part of the world. My favorite place to visit in Hong Kong is the Pacific Prime Global HQ because of all the friends and colleagues there that I have known for over 10 years. Other than our offices, the places I continue to go back to every time include taking the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, taking a Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui, visiting the American Club in Stanley, and going to Big Wave Bay Beach [a small beach town near the city].

Victoria Peak provides some of the most breathtaking views of Hong Kong and Victoria Harbour and puts the hustle and bustle of the city in perspective. You take the Peak Tram up the mountain, which is a sharp incline on one of the oldest modes of transport in the city but is very easy to get to in the city center. From there you can walk or hike around the peak to amazing views and grab lunch or dinner overlooking all of Hong Kong.

A must-have every time I visit Hong Kong is the dim sum at Yum Cha. Yum Cha literally means drinking tea, and dim sum (meaning “touch the heart”) is the traditional Cantonese delicacies and snacks that go along with the tea. Although I can get great dim sum in Los Angeles, nothing compares to the quality and variety of dim sum available in Hong Kong.

These meals typically involve being in large banquet halls with people everywhere; Hong Kongers can spend hours at a table with family or friends eating and drinking tea.

In terms of more adult drinks, Hong Kong offers some of the best bar and nightclub scenes globally. Those up for some nightlife can party pretty much any day of the week in Lan Kwai Fung where you can club/bar hop. A local favorite drink is called “Nothing,” which is a popular cocktail made with vodka, Midori, pineapple juice, and Malibu rum. However, if you do end up spending time with younger locals, you will not be able to escape the mix of whiskey and green tea which they have now even turned into a beverage available at convenience stores.

The above experiences provide a sense of the local culture, but one can always visit the Night Market in Mongkok, shopping in Causeway Bay, or even taking a martial arts class in the traditional form that Bruce Lee took as a child to experience cultural aspects of the city. Additionally, if you are around for any of the festivals during the year, including the Dragon Boat Festival, travelers will be able to see the local culture from dragon boat racing to a dragon dance. Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world, comparatively, for foreign travelers, which makes it easy to fully explore the city from morning to night. Also, the public transportation is so well developed in Hong Kong, a traveler can easily find transport from the airport to any parts of Hong Kong within minutes.