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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom there, we boarded the Star Ferry<\/strong> to cross the harbour. It\u2019s a short ride, barely ten minutes, but it\u2019s easily one of the most beautiful things you can do in Hong Kong. Standing by the railing, the skyline came alive, glass towers, mountain backdrops, and the steady hum of ferries cutting through the waves. It\u2019s impossible not to be moved by that view, even if you\u2019ve seen it a hundred times in photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, we found ourselves at the Mid-Levels Escalator<\/strong>, the world\u2019s longest outdoor escalator system. It sounds mundane until you\u2019re on it. Gliding through layers of the city that shift from chaotic street markets to quiet residential corners. Every level reveals a new face of Hong Kong. It\u2019s like watching the city breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the escalators, we hopped on the ding ding<\/strong>, Hong Kong\u2019s iconic double-decker tram. We climbed to the top deck, grabbed the front seat, and let the city roll by. There\u2019s something poetic about watching life from above \u2014 the clatter of the tracks below, the flash of neon signs, the quiet rhythm of a city that never slows down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our next stop was food. Specifically, Wai Kee Duck Rice<\/em> in Bowrington Market. It\u2019s one of those meals that sticks with you for life. The smell hit us before the plate arrived \u2014 roasted duck with crisp skin, tender meat, and rich gravy poured over rice. The first bite said everything. Years later, it still stands as the best duck rice I\u2019ve ever had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But not all adventures go smoothly. Determined to squeeze in one last challenge, we tackled the Dragon\u2019s Back Hike<\/strong> the following day. It started easy, with cool breezes and panoramic views of the coast. By midday, it turned brutal. We ran out of water, the sun was merciless, and there was nowhere to hide. My wife and I kept going, each step slower than the last, until we finally reached the end and found the sweetest thing in Hong Kong \u2014 a cold bottle of water. That moment taught me that even in travel, knowing when to slow down matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ended our trip the way many do \u2014 by heading up to Victoria Peak<\/strong>. The view from the top was breathtaking, the city lights glittering like a sea of stars below. It\u2019s one of those places that makes you stop talking for a moment. Just you, the skyline, and silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back on the streets, we wandered through a night market<\/strong>, soaking in the energy. Vendors called out, lights flickered, the air smelled of grilled snacks and souvenirs. Hong Kong, even at midnight, felt alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hong Kong wasn\u2019t just a city break; it was a reminder that travel can be both exhausting and exhilarating at once. From the calm of the Garden of Stars to the chaos of the tram, from that perfect plate of duck rice to the punishing Dragon\u2019s Back heat \u2014 every moment had its place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a city that moves fast but rewards those who take it slow. And that balance, between motion and meaning, is why Hong Kong will always stay with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Our first trip to Hong Kong was meant to be a quick city escape. Instead, it became four full days of exploration, sweat, and discovery. The kind of trip that leaves you with stories instead of souvenirs. Back in 2016, we arrived in the middle of summer, greeted by that signature Hong Kong humidity. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,1469,11,2661,2663],"tags":[2210,2632,2636,2638,2499,2637,2634,2639,2633,2635],"class_list":["post-24446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-my-world","category-blog-posts","category-featured-articles","category-stories","category-travel-stories","tag-azuanzahdi","tag-ding-ding-tram","tag-dragons-back-hike","tag-garden-of-stars","tag-hong-kong","tag-mid-levels-escalator","tag-night-market","tag-star-ferry","tag-victoria-peak","tag-wai-kee-duck-rice"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuanzahdi.com\/wp-content\/\/image-52.png\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Tram, the Food, and the Unexpected Heat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNights That Shine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA City That Lingers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n