Hong Kong Part III

Bless you if you’re still following along with my Hong Kong travelogue. This day was jam-packed with exploring all over Hong Kong Island and riding the double-decker trams back and forth for $.29. Krystle and I also purchased tickets to visit the top of Victoria Peak in the afternoon. When I visited Hong Kong in 2007, it was far too cloudy and hazy to justify making the trip up the mountain, and I was so hopeful that I’d get to see a sunny view of the harbour this time around. Overcast skies most of the day had me feeling pretty worried, but by the time we made it to the top, the sun had broken through the clouds, and the view was everything I had hoped it would be.

You can check out Part I, Part II, Part IV, and Part V here.

Hong Kong Part II

There are so many reasons to love Hong Kong, and their public transportation has to be a big one. Their subways are incredibly clean, run frequently, and are very easy to navigate. (Have no fear—English is one of three official languages in Hong Kong, and English signage is abundant!) We hopped aboard the train for a ride out to Lantau Island so that we could take a glass-bottomed gondola up to Ngong Ping and see the giant Buddha. (Fun fact: we ran into two couples who were also traveling from Michigan!)

After the Buddha (and a ride back down the mountain wherein we had our own private gondola…yes, we had an international dance party), we found a bus and rode out to the historic Tai O fishing village with its amazing seafood and stilt houses. It was an amazing day, and I had to keep pinching myself to make sure it wasn’t all just a beautiful dream.

You can check out Part I, Part III, Part IV, and Part V here.

Hong Kong Part I (or, Happy Thanksgiving!)

I've stopped and started this post so many times, and I'm not sure that I can accurately describe just what it meant for me to travel to Hong Kong one year ago with my best friend Krystle. In 2007, I toured southeast China with a small group of Calvin College students and our beloved professor Larry, and our final destination was Hong Kong. 36-ish hours is not enough time to do this special administrative region justice, and I knew I wanted to visit again someday. My opportunity came ten years later—the same year I turned 30—and my return to Hong Kong was every bit as lovely and wonderful as I had hoped. On Thanksgiving, let it be known that I am infinitely grateful for this great big world and getting the chance to see a tiny little sliver of it.

True to form, I took too many photos to condense into a single post, so I’m breaking things up. I’m starting with our first days of travel (let it be known that flying from Chicago to Hong Kong is no joke—15+ hours is a long time to spend on a plane—but having only one flight to tackle was truly a gift). Our trip focused on exploring different neighborhoods, and we started by tracking down the flower district, the Yuen Po bird markets, and the goldfish district (yes, that’s totally a thing). My favorite quality of Hong Kong is all the color: the weathered pastel buildings, the bright neon signs, the tropical vegetation. These images are my love letter to a place that’s very dear to my heart; I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

You can check out Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V here.

Meridian, Mississippi

I am always looking for an excuse to travel, and visiting my great-aunts in Mississippi this fall was the perfect justification for getting out of town. It had been four years since I last visited, and while we were able to find plenty of great meals and some fun sights, the downtown area of Meridian has seen better days. I'd love to come back in a few years to see a totally revitalized and flourishing downtown, and with the right investment, isn't anything possible?

(I've included some of my travel recommendations below!)

Don't miss out on the tasty cupcakes from Margie's Mixing Bowl. (Of course my mind immediately fixates on cake.) My mom is still talking about the key lime cupcake she ate, and there's nothing better than a super fresh cupcake. Since you're in the south, you should probably plan on eating at a fish camp once. There are several options around, but our visit to Chunky Shoals Fish Camp was absolutely amazing. I had shrimp and catfish, and both were delicious. Also, the jalapeno hush puppies are to die for. (Let's also take a minute to acknowledge how appropriate that this fish camp is on the Chunky River, because that's how we all felt after our meal.) If you can squeeze in a visit to Weidmann's while you're visiting, you won't regret it; plus, it's the oldest restaurant in Mississippi! 

If you're looking for amusing sights, you may want to track down the Royal Land entrance. Located on Sowashee Street behind the Motel 6, you can walk up and peer at the gates of a long-defunct amusement park. The entrance was creepy enough for me, especially when you read about the park's history.

I know this will sound strange, but I've always enjoyed walking around Rose Hill Cemetery. The king and queen of the gypsies are buried there (you can see pictures of their graves adorned with beads and other tokens above). Besides that, there are so many wonderfully ornate markers and headstones. (I also visited Magnolia Cemetery to visit my grandma, and it's appropriately named considering how many gorgeous magnolia trees are on the property.)

No trip is complete without visiting the Dentzel Carousel in Highland Park, which unfortunately I didn't get a chance to see this time around. (I'll just have to return again soon to correct that mistake!)

And for one last tip, be sure to check out Primo's if you find yourself in Jackson. After flying in to Jackson, we had an amazing breakfast there. They also have a fully stocked bakery case and sell individual slices of freshly made layer cakes. (See, a good vacation really does revolve around cake.)

New York

Of the many lessons I learned last year, this one stands out: for me, traveling is never a glamorous affair. I don't arrive at my destination looking effortlessly put together, my luggage typically looks as beat up as I feel, and I can guarantee you that I won't be able to sleep on the plane no matter how tired I am. But that doesn't stop me from always wanting to hop on a plane to anywhere. Last May my best friend and I explored New York City, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to go back every single day.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Our hotel was in Koreatown. There was a subway station at the end of the block and the Empire State Building two streets over, should you need a landmark to find your way home. So fun, and also so convenient.

Don't miss walking the length of the High Line. It's free, the people watching is top notch, and the views are incredible. Be sure to hit the Chelsea Market for a snack or three.

You can always count on MoMA for a great time, but Krystle also made sure we visited the Museum of Arts & Design. The cost of admission was reasonable, and the crowds were delightfully nonexistent. 

If you're looking to walk off all the tasty meals you're no doubt enjoying, walk the span of the Manhattan Bridge. Take an afternoon to wander around DUMBO, and then walk back into Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge. Touristy? Of course, but the graffiti on the Manhattan Bridge is epic.