With a metropolitan and polluted city like Hong Kong, you’ll never imagine there are nice beaches just an hour away from the city. But YES, there are beautiful beaches in Sai Kung. My top two favourites are Tai Long Wan, aka Big Wave Bay (大浪灣) and Long Ke (浪茄). Pollution free, white sandy beach, and wave for your boggie board.

Along the short 20 minutes hike, this route offered some of the best panoramas I`ve seen in Hong Kong. There’s also campsite beyond secluded Long Ke Wan, bring your own tent, food & drinks, as there’s no shop whatsoever in this area. It is definately quiet and remote for the peace seeking campers / swimmers. With a gentle sea breeze, one can stroll along Man Yee Road towards the site to be rewarded by a pleasant panoramic scene of High Island Reservoir.

Location: Long Ke Wan (Long Ke Beach), Sai Kung East Country Park.

How to Get There: take Bus 96R at the Diamond Hill MTR Bus Terminal, or mini-bus from Choi Hung MTR Station to Sai Kung Town. From Sai Kung Bus Terminal, take a green taxi to Man Yee Reservoir East Dam (tell the driver you want to go to Long Ke). You then walk along the roadside path marked towards Long Ke Wan, over a hill for 20-30 mins.

Can’t believe it… there’s German Christmas Market in Hong Kong?!!! Yeah… I couldn’t believe it too when my friend told me about it. I was SO EXCITED when arriving GSIS (German Swiss International School) at the Peak, in search of Gluehwein. Then found out that there’s no Gluehwein in the market, except those bottled ones you can buy and cook it at home!

But all in all, it was a sunny lovely day, the “square” was packed with German & Swiss, with lots of traditional food. Now let me show you some photos.

Big Fat German Pork Knuckle with Sauerkraut.

Grilled German sausages (left); Swiss Grilled Cheese with boiled potato (middle); Old fashioned soda drink Almdudler (right).

Suspend your disbelief for a moment. There is a temporary, artificial beach in Central, the financial district in the heart of Hong Kong. It’s on Aberbeen Street, at the Former Police Married Quarters, just at the corner of Hollywood Road.

There’re many inspiring local artists to showcase their work. This run-down 1950s baracks reminds me of Berlin’s Tacheles, where creative minds can come together. This event only last for 2 weeks, grab your chance to go have a look.

DETOUR 2009
Date:          27/11-09/12.2009
Address:  Former Police Married Quarters, junction of Hollywood Road & Aberbeen Street, Central.
Info:           www.detour.hk / www.ambassadors.org.hk

Date: 17/Jan-8/Feb/2009

Time: Tuesday to Sunday 12:00 – 8:00pm (Closed on Mondays & Public Holidays)

Venue: Artist Commune, Unit 12, Cattle Depot Artist Village & open space of Cattle Depot Artist Village,

Address: 63 Ma Tau Kok Road, Kowloon, HK

Artists:

anothermountainman, Chan Kwong Wah, Cheong Chi Ping, Chow Shun Keung, Patrick S. Ford, Fung Lik Yan, Ha Bik Chuen, Ho Yuen Leung, Hui Chui Hung, Jean Christophe Scolari, Kum Chi Keung, Kwok Mang Ho, Lam Laam, Lam Yuk Lin, Lee Chin Fai, Lee Chun Fung, Lee Kwok Chuen, Leung Kui Ting, Li Wei Han, Li Yuen Man, Liu Ming Wai, Lo Sze Lim, Man Fung Yi, Man Po Fai, Mok Yat San, Ng Ka Fai, Ng Ting Ho, Siy Tak Yin, Szeto Hoi Ling, Tai Sheung Shing, Tsang Cheung Shing, Wong Ho Yin, Wong Kwok Choi, Wong Tin Yan, etc

Presenter: Artist Commune

Co-organizers: Hong Kong Sculpture Society, CreativeKids

Supporting Organizations: Munsang College, Pottery Farm

Enquiries: (+852) 2104 3322 / m63@artist-commune.com / www.artist-commune.com

Free broadband internet terminals are available at the following MTR stations.
You can access the world-wide-web, check and send web-based e-mails and surf the Internet for free.

1. Central Station Platform 3
2. Prince Edward Station Concourse
3. Wan Chai Station Platform 1
4. Tsuen Wan Station Concourse
5. Kowloon Tong Station Concourse
6. Kowloon Bay Station Concourse
7. Causeway Bay Station Concourse Exit B, C