Will Robb Photography

Hong Kong really comes into it’s own at night. Once the sun goes down and the neon comes up, there is a whole different feel. It’s always good to join the hordes of tourists who jump on the star ferry from Hong Kong Island over to Kowloon and then look back at the view across the bay. Thousands do it every night, it’s not new, everyone else who goes to Hong Kong does it, but it is a damn fine view.

We spent a bit of time with the crowds gawping over the water and then jumped in a taxi to the Temple street market. I love markets, there’s always an interesting vibe to them and a good selection of oddities on sale. Temple street has the usual food and rip off clothes stalls and tourist tat, but it also has watch repairers, stands selling books about Chairman Mao and Bruce Lee, fake Rolex sellers, suit makers and sex toy stands, all side by side in a bustling hive of activity. Off to the side streets are the sleazy massage parlours where the pink neon crackles the air. Cheap backpacker hangouts and rock bottom prices is the name of the game in Temple street. It’s dirt cheap for everything and you get what you pay for. It’s a great contrast to the jumping off point of the ferry which has turned quite upper class with it’s high end hotels, shopping malls and brand boutiques. I like the new shiny stuff, but only if there is some of the old style Asia round the corner to compare it with.