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Tags: Celeb Chef Travel / Food Travel / Hong Kong Travel / Hong Kong / → All Tags

If Yan Can Cook And Visit Hong Kong, So Can You

If you could practically taste the soy sauce while watching cheerful celeb chef Martin Yan whip up stir-fry on his cooking show Yan Can Cook, head to Hong Kong on a five-day epicurean trip from Oct. 27 to 31 to learn from the master of regional Chinese cuisine himself.

For $2,860 (for double occupancy; the price is based on departure from L.A. or San Fran), the AsiaLuxe Holidays package includes airfare for either Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines and a stay at the Kowloon Shangri-La.

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Wrapping Landmarks: Louis Vuitton Takes Over Hong Kong's Museum of Art

Has the famous landmark-wrapping artist Christo gotten his hands on Hong Kong's Museum of Art? Close, but no cigar; instead the reason for covering the museum in pulp fiction novel covers is in celebration of French fashion label Louis Vuitton and their long line of artist collaborators.

On view from May 22 to August 9, the exhibition of artwork both made by and inspiring the brand will draw the fashion crowds to the museum at the very tip of Kowloon, in the Tsim Tsa Tsui area. WWD has more:

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Hong Kong Wants to Be Friends, and Not Just on Facebook

No man is an island, but Hong Kong sure is! Taking inspiration from similar campaigns in Chicago and New York, HK is recruiting friendly, multi-lingual residents for a "Meet the Locals" tourist service to begin in the fall.

When the "Hong Kong Pals" complete their training, or reprogramming to possibly take you to the best places to drop some Hong Kong dollars, you'll be able to walk up to one of the main Tourism Centers such as the office at the Star Ferry pier in Tsim Tsa Tsui and request a "Pal" based on your area of interest. Is your stomach hungry for unfamiliar food with no English translation? They'll have a Hong Kong cuisine expert. Have a thing for Cantonese Opera? Maybe you and your new "Pal" can take in a show together.

Again, this all goes back to what Hong Kong tourism is calling the "financial tsunami," or what we just plain call the economy. Hong Kong has decided to promote their living culture as their "principal 'soft' asset" now that all Asian cities are vying for tourist dollars. Let's just hope that things that don't take a turn for the worse and your Pal starts directing you to jewelry shops and expat bars; that's what we have cruise ships for.

Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Launches Meet the Locals Programme [AsiaTravelTips]
· HKTB Launches Meet-the-Locals Volunteer Programme [Press Release]
· Hong Kong Coverage [Jaunted]

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'Crazy Lady Freaking Out at Airport' Gets Apology from Cathay Pacific

Admit it: you've seen it, laughed at it and passed it along to friends too. The cell phone video of the Hong Kong Cathay Pacific passenger who, having just missed her flight, falls into shrieking hysterics at the gate, has spent the last few weeks taking YouTube by storm and making the viral video rounds. It has actually garnered enough attention, as internet tumbleweeds go, to warrant a formal apology to the passenger from Cathay Pacific.

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Taxis, Cable Cars and Ferries, Oh My!: A Guide to Hong Kong Transportation

For a self-admitted transportation nerd, Hong Kong is dream come true. We just can't decide on a favorite way of conveyance, and thankfully with HK's bounty of trams, ferries, taxis and even a famous chain of escalators, we didn't have to--we rode them all! So for all of you daydreaming of 80-degree days spent hopping between ferries and funiculars on a single "Octopus" transit card, here's our short and saucy guide to the awesome transportation options of Hong Kong:

· Double-Decker Trams and Buses: The former British influence is still felt here, although they've long exchanged afternoon tea for a Starbucks latte. In Central on Hong Kong Island, the slice-thin double-decker trams pile up on commuters for short trips not worth the subway. Tapping your Octopus card also works on these, although during rush hour there's barely enough room to do even that. The buses, which match London Routemasters in size, are a better option for venturing into residential neighborhoods, and routes are clearly presented at each bus stop pole.

· Victoria Peak Funicular: Along with the Star Ferry, this ranks as a seriously touristy thing to do. Still, it's the most unique and direct way to mount Victoria Peak and take advantage of the jawdroppingly steep ascent. Heading up is often crowded, but the descent leaves plenty of room for picture taking and gawking at the skyscrapers below you.

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Soaking In the Illicit History of the Kowloon Walled City

Every so often throughout history, a community will develop into something which becomes so illicit and notorious that it will figure in popular culture even past its demise. These places, like Carandiru Penitentiary in Brazil or old Mafia neighborhoods in Sicily, are often profiled on the History Channel around Halloween, but we had the chance to visit the remnants of one such dark place on our recent trip to Hong Kong.

The former Kowloon Walled City, a lawless district outside of central Hong Kong, spent the years from 1899 to 1987 steeped in inhumane living conditions paired with opium dens, cocaine parlours, brothels, unlicensed dentists and Triad gang rule. Pictures of the overcrowded "City of Darkness," like the one above, are enough to give one goosebumps.

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Devouring "Pork Floss" in Hong Kong

Typically, when we think of "gourmet travel," visions of Michelin-starred restaurants and barely-killed entrees dance in our heads, but in Hong Kong, one need not hit up the ritzy bits for a culinary adventure. Ubiquitous throughout the city and a favorite of the locals are the pastry shops, like Maxim's and Kee Wah, where we found ourselves saying "Mmm...pork floss and pineapple buns" all too often.

This is no food case at a Starbucks; the offerings at a Hong Kong pastry shop are meant for discerning palates who fancy everything from sausage-filled butter buns to squid ink curry bread (the latter being our favorite). Along with the dizzying assortment comes a kind of etiquette; your choices are to picked up with your individual tongs and placed on paper on your own tray, where they will be then be tallied up by the cashier and packaged separately to preserve the singular flavors.

Despite the intriguing ingredients, pastries from these shops average between 35 cents to a whole dollar (USD), officially making them our cheapest gourmet indulgences ever. Do let us know if you've discovered any other little delicious bites in these shops, but rest assured that we already know all about the 1,000-year egg pastries.

Related Stories:
· Complete Coverage of our Hong Kong Field Trip [Jaunted]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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Heading to Brunch in Soho ... Hong Kong

We are far too easily seduced by the offer of french toast and free wifi. Having spent our week in Hong Kong eating various preparations of pork at all the random local places and a select few famous spots, we switched gears to spend our Sunday morning soaking in the universal comforting experience of brunch at the aptly named Brunch Club in the SoHo district of HK.

The more we travel, the better we identify customs which extend beyond borders and languages, and it seems to us that brunch is quickly becoming one of them. It's not just the US that goes bonkers for a bloody mary, blueberry waffle and bacon in the afternoon, but places like Korea have elevated it from a simple Sunday meal into something of a phenomenon. Similarly in China and Hong Kong, brunch has become de rigueur as it allies itself so well with dim sum. For HK's gigantic expat population, brunch is even more embraced as a neighborhood social hour, which is exactly what is going on at Brunch Club.

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Snag Some All-You-Can-Eat Ramen on Cathay Pacific

It was only two weeks ago that we took our own advice and booked the Hong Kong direct from New York-JFK on Cathay Pacific for a grand total of $795. It isn't our first time and it definitely won't be our last, but this flight begins a whole new chapter for us in terms of which airlines we'll choose in the future, because you see, Cathay Pacific gave us all the free Ramen noodles we could eat.

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Give It Up For Cathay Pacific First Class

We mentioned airliner Cathay Pacific in our round-up of this month's top five international airfare sales. But there are no details to be had in this first-class cabin -- just the lap of luxury the Hong Kong-based airline is known for.

While the coach cabin has to deal with moms giving birth and carry-on territorialists, the first-class cabin saw five seats removed in a 2008 overhaul, the better to fit 81-inch-long seats. Turn-down service and pajamas are provided, of course. Despite being dinged a bit by the downturn, Cathay Pacific is forging ahead with plans to increase service to Jakarta, Shanghai and Paris this year, while putting off its plans for a new cargo terminal.

We think the orchids in a wall vase are such a nice touch, although the wood-paneled TV cabinet reminds us of vainly searching for a signal on our grandparents' '70s-era set. But for a real, non-stainless steel sink, we'll overlook the kitsch factor.

Related Stories:
· Our Top Five International Airfare Sales Of The Moment [Jaunted]
· Cathay Pacific: First-Class Luxury at 35,000 Feet [Jet Set Go]
· How First Class on Singapore Airlines Spent Christmas [Jaunted]
· Cathay Pacific coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Richard Moross]

Tags: Christmas Alternatives / Christmas / Hong Kong / Tourism Board Travel / → All Tags

Another Asian Destination Convincing Us It's Christmassy

And next on our list of unlikely places to spend Christmas … after you've soaked up the Christmas soul of Seoul you can move on to Hong Kong. They're putting on their annual Winterfest that's meant to encourage us all to spend the Christmas season spending Hong Kong dollars in all their great shopping malls.

Well, that's not exactly what they're saying. The Hong Kong Tourism Board wants us to see their ten-story high Christmas tree and perhaps best of all, get into the Christmas carol singing. Spread across various parts of Hong Kong, it sounds like you won't be able to turn around without tripping over a carol singer and they'll also be on open-air buses, trams and trucks.

Do you ever get the feeling these tourist boards might just be conning us by hyping the Christmas spirit of their city? Whatever. We're suckers for a good bit of Christmas spirit so we'll sing along if a Hong Kong caroler comes close.

Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Winterfest [Official Site]
· Seoul Says Celebrate Here [Jaunted]
· Hong Kong Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Gerald Garcia]

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Bad Chinese Food: First Milk, Now Chocolate

Dog food. Milk. Chocolate--and Cadbury, no less, that brand of creamy, rich decadence that puts the saccharine, grainy Hershey to shame.

Powdered milk killed four infants, poisoned tens of thousands of others, and sent hysteria rippling through China. Now, health regulators in Hong Kong have announced that higher-than-legal traces of melamine, the same chemical that was found in the milk, has been discovered in Cadbury chocolate products. Say it isn't so.

The crisis has affected domestic milk sales and exports, while regulators wrangle to sort out the tainted batches and officials point fingers at who's to blame for the whole mess. Vegans, however, step back and chuckle at all the muddling. The punishment for subsisting on food-flavored carob is having to eat food-flavored carob all the time. This here is the reward.

Related Stories:
· Tainted Chocolate [IHT]
· Dangerous Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jeffk]