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[voodikon]

... and hopefully a few daylight hours too. can somebody point me in the right direction as to must-see sights? particularly i'm interested in (not necessarily touristy) places to take interesting photos--of buildings, crowds, streets, etc. as well as a non-posh bar or club--live music, DJ, dancing, whatever. thanks.

[Roger]

Photogenic sites: HK Island:
-The Legco building
the University of Hong Kong main building in Sai Ying Pun;
a church, for instance St. John's Garden Road;
Borrett Road (pedestrian road for joggers with a superb view over Central and Wanchai);
the villaes on the Peak;
maybe a housing complex such as Apliu Chau near Aberdeen;
Tiger Balm Garden on Stubbs Road (Chinese-style palace);
the Jewish Synagogue on Hollywood Rd., No. 70;
Lan Kwai Fong and its bars in Central;
E2 Tower in Central;
Hongkong $ Shanghai Banking Corp. HQs in Central;
Bank of China in Central;
Chaters Garden on a Sunday when it's filled with Filippinas;
Protestant cemeteray in Happy Vally;
HK Exhibition Centre in Wanchai;
Stanley Market;

In Kowloon:
- e old train station tower next to the Star Ferry pier;
- the old Marine Police HQs on the hill beside Canton Road/Salisbury Rd.;
- the pedestrianised area aong the Victoria Harbour from the Star
Ferry to Tsimshatsuy East;
- Kowloon Park (Museum of History inside);
- take pics of those Indian, Pakistani shopkeepers and taylors in
Chungking Mansions, and along Minden St.;
- the Kowloon Mosque on Nathan Rd.;

[once again]

Tiger Balm gardens was demolished many years ago

[voodikon]

thanks! i better find a map to plan this out.

[AsiaTraveller]

Tiger Balm Gardens in HK closed in mid-2001 to make room for 'development'.

Tiger Balm Gardens (Haw Par Villa) in Singapore was to be closed and destroyed in the same year until the Singapore government and tourist board stepped in. TBG Singapore is now honoured as a National Historic Site (since 1993), and I believe that there is no longer an entrance fee.

[Roger]

Yes, voodikon, get a map. You can get free brochures from the HK Tourist Association; they have a stand at Lowu Train stationjust as you pass the customs barriers; in any case, they have a well-appointed office at the Star Ferry pier in Tsimshatsui.
The sites in KOWLOON can be negotiated on foot, but those on HK Island are too far apart.

[once again]

Not sure what the E2 tower is, but there is a viewing platform on the 50 something floor of Central Plaza in Wanchai. You can get some really great shots from there. After doing that, you can get the Hunghom ferry from just below central plaza, and that takes you on a really cheap trip across the harbour. (I think the ferry still goes from there, but not sure). It takes you along and across the harbour, wheras the TST ferry only takes you across.

[voodikon]

thanks, you guys. hk was totally easy to navigate; i just picked up a few free maps and brochures in the airport and was able to get to most of the spots you mentioned plus a few in the brochures that weren't mentioned on this thread (like the midnight market on temple street ... a real treat). i had a total blast and feel like i saw a pretty impressive chunk of both hk island and kowloon ... all in only 24 hours (ha, i slept only four of those). i'm totally in love with the place now and feel a little sad to be back in china, not ogling at hot hongkongnese boys. though i must say the food in china seems much better.

[jerjer]

[poof]

It was a travesty that they pulled down the Tiger Balm Gardens!!!! I only managed to get there in time to just get the last glimpses of it through locked gates...I'd walked for hours trying to get there to see it...

[Steppenwolf]