Spotlight On: Ryan

In this episode of Spotlight On we meet Ryan. Ryan was born and raised in Hong Kong and has an incredible family history that can be traced for hundreds of years. We have asked Ryan some questions about some of his favorite things in Hong Kong.

What's your favorite food and where would you recommend people to get it?

For the summer I like chilled mango sago pudding

For the winter I like hot sago sweet soup in coconut milk or hot cashew paste sweet soup, black sesame sweet soup. My favorite place to get sago soup is a small family-run business in San Po Kong, Kowloon, but I can’t remember the name!

Whats your favourite place to take people to on tours?

When I take people to Tai O fishing town, I make sure that we stop for a rest at a real transitional family run Chinese dessert restaurant.

Other fun facts about Ryan

Languages Ryan guides in: English, Cantonese, Mandarin

Month and year Ryan joined Hello! Tours: 2018

One thing Ryan likes about working with Hello! Hong Kong:

Small group private custom-made tour. Flexible!

Something not many people know about Ryan: Ryan did not answer.

Choosing the right hotel when you travel is one of the most important tasks. Location, price, reviews, easy access to transportation, nearby malls, and other tourist attractions are important things to consider when looking for a hotel.

Hello! Hong Kong Tours Team has listed different districts in Hong Kong to help you decide on which locations are most suitable for your Hong Kong tour.

TSIM SHA TSUI (KOWLOON SIDE) - It has the highest concentration of hotels where you will get the best view of the HK Island skyline from.

TSIM SHA TSUI EAST (KOWLOON SIDE) - It is home to a few of the big hotels and the fantastic History Museum. The views of the skyline from hotels in this area are spectacular. Of course, you have to get the harbor view room!

MONGKOK (KOWLOON SIDE) - If you want a place closer to the local markets, and feel the local vibe, this district is just right for you. You can find a lot of cheap hotel options in this neighborhood. Including the short stay variety!

CENTRAL (HK ISLAND SIDE) - This is probably the most convenient area to stay in Hong Kong. The transport links are excellent. however, convenience and glamour come with a price tag!

SHEUNG WAN (HK ISLAND SIDE) - If you want a more traditional, quiet convenience, this is the right place for you. It has many of the conveniences of Central but without the hefty price tag.

WAN CHAI (HK ISLAND SIDE) - If you want a ‘good fun’ environment with lots of bars playing live music and offering happy hours.

We put together a list of hotels in each district to help you decide on where to stay on your next Singapore trip.

Spotlight On: Keko

In this episode of Spotlight On we meet Keko, one of the longest-standing members of the Hello! Tours Team. We have asked Keko some questions about some of his favorite things in Hong Kong.

What's your favorite food and where would you recommend people to get it?

Definitely Drunken Shrimp. Tung Po dai pai dong in North Point makes the best drunken shrimp and the owner Robbie is so much fun.

Whats your favourite place to take people to on tours?

Because I love terrorizing the fish!

Other fun facts about Keko

Languages Keko guides in: Meow meow.

Month and year Keko joined Hello! Tours: Oct 2013

One thing Keko likes about working with Hello! Hong Kong:

I was the first member of the Hello! Tours team (apart from Laura) and I've been able to live in and learn about the culture of three great cities across Asia.

Something not many people know about Keko:

Not many people know that I am the Chief Operations Officer of Hello! Tours. Most people assume I am just some office pet.

Feeling stuck and nowhere to go? Your Hello! Hong Kong Tours has the perfect getaway for you and your family.

There are plenty of Hong Kong activities that you can do in the city, but nothing beats spending the night out from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy a relaxing Hong Kong Sailing with your loved one.

In this overnight eco-adventure, you will sail through Port Shelter and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch in a family-owned restaurant on the high island. Enjoy the eye-catching islands that are part of the protected Hong Kong Global Geopark. You will then sail towards Tai Long wan where you can enjoy the sandy white beaches and spend a relaxing evening onboard or have close-to-nature evening camping on the beach.

Enjoy your summer Holiday with our Sailing Activity.

Start your second day with a fresh continental breakfast aboard and time on the beach. If you are feeling a little bit adventurous, go on a challenging hike up Sharp Peak. Finally, enjoy the scenery as you sail going back to Port Shelter.

Hurry and take advantage of the summer holiday and enjoy an overnight Hello! Hong Kong boat adventure. Book now!

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Today marks the annual Dragon boat festival. Looking back at the pre-pandemic time, people gather to see colorful boats, hear the thumping of drums, and see excited crowds cheering their team favorites in the friendly Dragon boat race.

Now that social distancing is still in force, you may need to check the activity before you leave your house to make sure that these Hong Kong activities are still running. Despite the restriction, the traditions on how people celebrate the festival will never fade.

Here are the top five traditions that Chinese people observe during the Dragon boat festival

ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT

A dragon boat festival will never be the same without the iconic friendly competition dragon boat race. This tradition is to commemorate the life of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet, and exiled official in ancient China. Qu Yuan drowned himself in the river as an act of protest. In order to save him, locals rushed in boats to save him thus, the dragon race was born.

Don’t forget the Zong-zi (粽子）

Zong Zi is a sticky rice dumpling stuffed with different fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves. It is commonly eaten during the Dragon boat festival. It was believed that when locals tried to save Qu Yuan, they throw the rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river so the fish would eat the grains instead of Yuan's body.

Paper shapes predator decorations

It is believed that cutting out the shapes of five poisonous creatures to ward off evil spirits causes disease. It is sometimes seen sticking stick on windows, doors, and walls.

Wear perfume Pouches

During Dragon Boat Festival perfume pouches are hung around kids' necks. as it is believed to protect them from evil.

Charms all the way

During the Dragon boat festival, people wear lucky bracelets on their necks, feet, or wrists which symbolizes longevity,

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Hello! Hong Kong Tours always wants to showcase the best of Hong Kong. Whether you book a Helicopter Charter, Walking Tour, Sailing Adventure, or fun Activity with us you'll be immersed in the uniqueness and beauty of Hong Kong that we all love.

Our Residents Tours are still running full steam ahead in line with the social gathering restrictions of 4 pax per group. This is your opportunity to explore and learn more about our city in an intimate small group; just like Edwina and Tom who took our Hong Kong Island Food and Culture Residents Tour last week.

Rediscover Hong Kong on our Residents Tour.

Our Residents Tours assume a basic knowledge of Hong Kong and delve deeper into the history, culture and local stories.

You can now start booking these activities for your summer HOME Holiday at a special discounted price of $1888 per group of 4.

HONG KONG ISLAND FOOD & CULTURE TOUR

This is a ‘residents adaptation’ of our Hong Kong food tour which won the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award last year.

Learn about the history of food in Hong Kong, from the traditional fare from Guangzhou to the interesting western crossover cuisine that started popping up in the 1950s. Includes 5 foodie stops, visits to three speciality stores and a good dose of history along the way. 

KOWLOON HISTORY AND MICHELIN FOOD TOUR

An in-depth exploration of Kowloon. Discover Michelin rated street food, immerse yourself in the local culture and learn about Kowloon’s history. We’ll cover everything from the past to the present, explaining Kowloon’s transformation through to the modern day. Visit Wong Tai Sin Temple, Kowloon Walled City Park and Sham Shui Po. Includes fortune telling and a street food tour.

CHUNG CHAU ISLAND HISTORY & CULTURE TOUR

Discover the many secrets of Cheung Chau on this half day tour. Primarily known for its annual four-day bun festival the island also has a fascinating history of filled with smuggling and piracy, suicide and racial segregation. Includes two of Cheung Chau’s most famous foods; the steamed bun of bun festival fame, and a freshly made mango mochi, plus a sampan tour around the western tip of the island.

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GOOD NEWS! We have a time-limited special discount on our private helicopter scenic flights for you! This is your chance to take in the AWEmazing aerial view of our beloved Home Kong.

Get these special rates until JUNE 30th ONLY.

Simply complete our standard booking form and ask for the special discount to be applied.

18-Minute HK Island Private Flight

An 18-minute helicopter flight around Hong Kong Island with a view of the famous Victoria Harbour Skyline and the beaches/bays around the south island.

Maximum of 4 people.

ORIGINAL PRICE: HK$14,400

SPECIAL OFFER: HK$12,500

30-Minute Geopark Private Flight

Experience the contrast between the vibrancy of Victoria Harbour and the calm tranquility of Sai Kung and the spectacular, internationally acclaimed Hong Kong Geopark.

Maximum of 4 people.

ORIGINAL PRICE: HK$22,980

SPECIAL OFFER : HK$19,500

30-Minute Lion Rock Private Flight

Enjoy a 30-minute flight over the spectacular view of the mighty lion and the thriving scene of Kowloon. You can also gaze at the magnificence of the Tsing Ma Bridge and witness the busy container port.

Maximum of 4 people.

ORIGINAL PRICE: HK$22,980

SPECIAL OFFER: HK$19,500

Also, you can check out these Hong Kong activities that you can do this summer!

CHEUNG CHAU KAYAK ADVENTURE

Getaway from the hustle and bustle of the crowds in the city and enjoy Hong Kong's island life. Specially designed for adventure seekers, this 5-hour activity with 2 to 3-hours water time, is perfect for both novice and experienced kayakers and is a great team building activity. $700 per person.

CHINESE BAMBOO INK PAINTING

Have fun with your friends and family and experiment with different Chinese artistic tools and styles and learn how to make use of Chinese paintbrushes and rice paper. From $460 per person.

#hongkonger #hongkongese #welovehongkong #explorehongkong #helicoptercharter #instagood #photooftheday #hk #tourism #travelbug #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #hellohongkongtours #ilovehk #hellohk #streetsofhongkong #hongkongtour #homekong #privatetour #specialtour #personaltour #customisedtour #iconichongkong #iconichk #domestictravel #supportlocaltourism

The hills are alive with the sound of music… or shall we say the city is alive with Hong Kong’s unique sound?. Many of you will surely recognize the different sounds from SCMP’s video showing the city’s very distinctive sounds. Can you take the challenge and see if you can guess each of them?.

Your Hong Kong trip will never be complete if you have not heard these sounds whenever you are just simply walking around the city, or on your tour with your Hello! Hong Kong tour guide. It will be impossible to miss them. Just to give you a summary of what you will hear in the city, and check if you guessed well from the video, here are the most common sounds of Hong Kong.

Chopping sounds at the wet market - You will surely hear this in the wet market where butchers are busy chopping meats for their local customers.

The hustle of people talking - Whether you understand it or not, you will definitely hear these sounds most especially during lunchtime. People talking over lunch and the clinking of plates and glasses will remind you that HEY! it’s lunchtime! Sik fan la!.

Octopus sounds - When you are in Hong Kong, having your own Octopus card will come in handy, as you can use it almost anywhere. Who would not recognize the beep sound of the Octopus card?

Pedestrian Tick - Most of you will agree that this sound is one of the most distinctive sounds of Hong Kong. It helps visually impaired people cross the street safely as the sounds ticks per second telling them it is safe to cross the road and ticks faster when it is unsafe to cross.

Ding-Ding Sound - People have heard this for over a hundred years and will always be one of Hong Kong's iconic sounds.

The PA voice from MTR - Hong Kong is known for its most advanced transportation services. This is a very prominent voice every time you take the MTR. The PA voice-over is also very helpful during the protest years as it helps people using the MTR to get updated on which stations are close and whatnot.

How well did you do? and did you miss them? Well, Hong Kong misses you too!

The Hello! Hong Kong Team is looking forward to welcoming you again to the beautiful city of Hong kong. If you feel like traveling again, feel free to speak to us and we can arrange the right itinerary for you! Get in touch at bookings@hellohongkong.com.hk

#iconichongkong #homekong #travelagencyhk #travel2021 #postcovidtravel #postcoviddestination #ilovehk #discoverhk #wewilltravelahain #travelinspiration #supporttravel #supporttourism #wewillriseagaain #thetravellingnomads #intravelist #backpackersintheworld #travel #beautifulseason #tripscout #digitalnomad #sustainabletravel #photographeveryday #amazing #photographyislife #keepexploring #livetoexplore #wandering #travelanddestinations #seetheworld #tlpick #travellingthroughtheworld #postcardsplace

Today marks one of the largest Buddhist festivals in Hong Kong. It is a National Holiday celebrated normally on the 8th day of the 4th moon in the Lunar calendar. Although Buddha Birthday celebrations vary throughout the world, it is still the most awaited celebration of our Buddhist brothers and sisters where Buddhist temples are all busy with Hong Kong activity.

So how do Hong Kong people celebrate Buddha’s birthday? here is what you will expect when you are in Hong Kong.

Commemorate Buddha’s Birthday with Hello! Hong Kong Tours

Today, expect lanterns being lit as the light symbolizes buddhas enlightenment. The scent of incensed will envelop the surrounding and you will see devotees flooding the temples paying their respects.

The most visited place in Hong Kong during Buddhas’ birthday is the Po Lin Monastery in Lantau. It is also one of the stops of Hello! Hong Kong Lantau Island Tour. Here you will witness Buddha Bathing Ceremony, a cleansing ritual that believes to purify your soul.

To start the ritual, you have to make a half bow in front of the statue. Kneel, and pour the water 3 times over the shoulder of the baby Buddha statue. The first pour is to remind ourselves to only have good thoughts, the second pour to remind ourselves to only say good words. The third pour to remind ourselves to only do good deeds. To finalize the ritual, make another half-bow before standing up.

If you are looking for a perfect hong kong activity on your holiday, go visit the Po Lin Monastery in Lantau Island and witness how our Buddhist brothers and sisters commemorate Buddha’s Birthday. Keep in mind that to expect a different kind of celebration this 2021 as some of the events are observing the proper regulations advised by the government.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LORD BUDDHA!

#travel #travel2021 #postcovidtravel #covidtour #buddhasbirthday2021 #buddhabirthday2021 #tiantianbuddha #hongkongbuddha #thetravellingnomads #intravelist #backpackersintheworld #travel #beautifulseason #tripscout #digitalnomad #sustainabletravel #photographeveryday #amazing #photographyislife #keepexploring #livetoexplore #wandering #travelanddestinations #seetheworld #tlpick #travellingthroughtheworld #postcardsplace #buddhism #buddhist

Mother’s day is just around the corner. That one special day dedicated to celebrating the life and hard work of all Mothers out there. They say that “A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” It is about right to spoil our Mother to this very special day.

Hello! Hong Kong Tours team has rounded up gift ideas for Mother's day to make their special day even more special!

FLOWERS

Your mom deserves the very best! Flowers will definitely warm her heart with their colorful bloom. While there are plenty of shops that offer flower arrangement and delivery, nothing beats the effort of choosing the right flower and arrange it yourself on this very special day. Don’t know what type of flower to buy? worry not, Carnations, Roses, Orchids, Tulips, and Daisies are just some of the few popular flowers for mothers. Shopping for flowers in Hong Kong is easy as it’s just an MTR away! Hop in the MTR Tsuen wan line and get off the Prince Edward station and head out of Exit B1 – walk along Prince Edward Road West until you reach the flower market.

CHINESE TEA SET FROM KAI FAT TEA

If your mom loves tea, this is the perfect gift for you! Tea drinking custom holds a big part of Chinese culture. It is a sign of respect, to apologize, and to show gratitude and celebrate weddings. Since Mother’s day is a celebration of gratitude to our Mothers, why not surprise her with a Chinese Tea set that you can share together.

SURPRISE GIFT DELIVERY

Most of you are probably far from your family, especially this time of the year when the world is all dealing with the pandemic. You can still show your love and greet them on this very special day by surprising them with a monthly gift delivered to their doorstep. Hello! Hong Kong Tours Team has a very special Holiday By Post-Program just for you. All you need to do is subscribe, and we got it all covered! Because why not celebrate just one day when every day should be a Mother’s day!

#hellohongkongtours #hellohongkong #mothersday2021 #mothersdayhk #hellohk #travel2021 #travelagain #ilovehk #mothersdaygift #mothersdaydaygitideas #wewilltravelagain #supportlocaltoursim #supporttourismworkers #suportlocalhk #hello #Hellotours #2021 #postcovidtravel #postcoviddestination #travelbubble #mothercelebration #celebratehk #explorehk #discoverhongkong