Trifter

One of the things I love about living in Hong Kong as a foreigner is that about 99 percent of the city is accessible via public transport. Going about town -and even to hiking trails and beaches are a no-brainer. There’s a bus, train, tram or ferry ready to take you anywhere.

If you’re visiting Hong Kong out of the tour bus, here are your other options of going anywhere:

The MTR or subway system connects Lantau Island (where the airport is), Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Stations sport their own color and have maps where the tourist spots are located. Most stations, such as Mong Kok, Diamond Hill, or Causeway Bay are located such that tourist attractions are accessible by a short walk from the station.

The tram is one of the slowest ways to go through Hong Kong Island. What I like about it is that it is one of the cheapest ways to see the city. Two dollars will take you from the east to west ends of the island. Hop on (preferably after or before rush hour), grab a seat on the top level and snap away.

Buses are there to take you to places where the trams or trains don’t reach. This includes Aberdeen (where Ocean Park is), Repulse Bay, Stanley Beach and the various hiking trails.

There are two kinds of buses: the green mini-bus and the big City bus. They ply almost the same routes but with different stops. Not sure which bus to take, these services have websites that show the routes and times.

Ferry boats connect the islands. In particular, taking the ferry the most relaxing ways of getting to and from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Ferries from the Central Ferry pier take you to the outlying islands such as Cheung Chau, Lamma and Discovery Bay – which are attractions in themselves.

Taxis are my last resort, especially if I’m carrying a lot of stuff. Like most other cab drivers in any city around the world, the Hong Kong taxi driver seems to have graduated from the F1 training course. They also charge extra for stuff loaded into the trunk.

Be prepared to pay in exact change. The buses and trams particularly don’t give change for big bills. Better yet, get an Octopus debit card to save yourself from scrambling for coins.

Photos taken with my Diana F+ 35mm analog camera and Action Sampler 35mm film camera.