Here's what I wish I knew before I went to Hong Kong.... and maybe some things I suspected and then had confirmed for me in a very real way.
DO travel with another person. Espeically if you're a chick and/ or are North American and/ or it's your first time in Asia. Hong Kong is a bumping city with lots going on and 2 sets of eyes barely seem like enough to take it all in.
DO NOT make too much fuss about booking a room in advance, unless you like things that are clean and safe. In which case you should probably do these things. There was a conference in town during the time we were visiting which prevented us from getting a room in any of the Central or Kowloon hotels. As for transportation, same rule applies! Yes the bus is cheap, but the driving is absolutely terrifying, and the experience is only compounded by sitting in the upper floor of a double decker. You know the driving is nuts when Aussie is white knuckled on the holy shit handle. MTR subway system is even more cheap, and as a bonus you get to snuggle lots of new friends!!! :-P
DO your best to try new food. In fact, I challenge anyone to be in Hong Kong for 4 nights and NOT eat something completely new because this is impossible. Unless you're super loaded I suppose and can afford to eat at the genuine Itallian restaurants, or can sleep with yourself at night knowing you flew a bijillion miles to eat KFC and McDs. Street food is great!!! Bacon wrapped hot dog things on a stick, amazing calamari on a stick, bag full of spicy chicken/ duck bits... which leads me to my next point...
DO NOT expect to be accommodated if you are any breed of veggiesaurus. Meat. Everywhere.
DO buy an extra suitcase to bring gifts and souvenirs! Especially gifts for yourself because clothes are CHEAP!! Aussie is kicking himself for not buying more board shorts or t shirts; actual Billabong shorts with wax comb and all for $10 CAD, t shirts for like $4.
DO NOT let the scariness of Hong Kong scare you. Ok, the massive crowds everywhere all the time put me into hyperventilation multiple times and I'm not even claustrophobic. So do most of your walking around in the morning when stuff is closed and no one's out. Yes, the dude putting handfuls of pork on your rice just wiped his eyes and nose before doing your order. Take acidophilus, bring pepto, drink tea, it's probably fine. Probably.
When people ask about our trip here at first Ryan was spouting off tons of negatives: "it's crazy! it's busy! I never want to eat Chinese food again! pollution!" Then a few days later, perhaps once we were over the novelty of quiet and fresh air of the Illwara, he was telling everyone to go there because it's easy to do it on the cheap and it's a blowout. You should go there!
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