The last day of July marked the beginning of another exciting journey. It was a special journey for us as my elder daughter-in-law’s parents also joined. Our destination was the United States, but before reaching there, we had an interesting decision to make—choosing the best transit route.
Several options lay before us: Dubai, Kuwait, London, Paris, Amsterdam, and a few others. After comparing flight schedules, costs, and convenience, we finally settled on a route through Hong Kong. Little did we know that this choice would reward us with an unexpected bonus—a full day to explore one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.
What roaming packages to take for long-stay travel—
Before leaving India, we activated international roaming on both our Indian SIM cards—Airtel for me and Jio for my wife.
For my Airtel number, I opted for the ₹4,999 international roaming plan. It included 7 GB of overseas data and, as an added benefit, one year of validity in India with 2.5 GB of high-speed data per day. Since I travel abroad for extended periods, this plan suited my needs perfectly.
For my wife, we chose Jio‘s ₹951 international roaming pack, which provided 4 GB of data with 11 days of validity. This package was more than sufficient for our Hong Kong trip and proved to be a cost-effective option for a short overseas visit.
If you are planning an international trip, you can select a roaming plan based on the duration of your stay. For a brief vacation, an entry-level package is usually adequate, whereas frequent or long-term travelers may find a higher-value plan more economical in the long run.
Since we have Wi-Fi at our home abroad, most of our internet usage and voice calls are handled over Wi-Fi. The roaming packs are mainly useful while traveling, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for navigation, messaging, online bookings, and emergencies without the hassle of searching for local SIM cards.
About Hong Kong, I found very interesting facts, like that it was gifted to the British by the Qing dynasty after their defeat in the 1st Opium War.
Hong Kong has been part of China since 200 BC and was ruled by successive Chinese dynasties from Qin to Qing. The British had their eye on Chinese tea, silk, and porcelain, but the Chinese Qing emperor only wanted silver in return. To balance trade, the British started exporting opium to the Chinese, which was produced in India. In return, the British also got silver from the Chinese addicts. This policy was opposed by the Qing ruler, and he destroyed British ships, which the British took as an attack on their commercial interests, triggering the First Opium War (1839–1842).
Qing was defeated, and so part of Hong Kong was handed over to the British in 1842. Till now, Hong Kong was neglected, but the British immediately recognized the strategic value of its magnificent natural harbor and began developing it into a naval base and trading port. In 1898 some more parts, like Kowloon, were handed over to the British in 1898.
Following the Chinese Civil War in 1949, thousands of entrepreneurs, skilled workers, and refugees fled from mainland China to Hong Kong. Their arrival fueled rapid industrialization, and the colony emerged as a major manufacturing center, producing textiles, garments, electronics, watches, and toys.
Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 on the promise that it would be under the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” for the next 50 years.
Budget
The package trip ex HK International Airport costs US $1000 for a full-day tour for 4 persons. Uber is available, and you can cover these places in US $750, also including food.
Before leaving India, we had completed the Hong Kong Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR) online in just 10 minutes. The process was remarkably quick and took only a few minutes. However, one point deserves special attention: every detail entered in the application must match the passport exactly—letter for letter. Particular care should be taken while entering information such as your father’s name, place of birth, passport number, and other personal details. Even a small mismatch can lead to complications during the application process.
Sometimes the best travel experiences are the ones that are never part of the original plan. Our long layover in Hong Kong turned out to be one such pleasant surprise.
We had booked through a travel agent named ‘Hongkong Yatra.’
Our flight landed on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, at 10:50 a.m., about an hour behind schedule. Fortunately, we still had enough time to explore some of Hong Kong’s major attractions, as our connecting flight was scheduled after 15 hours at 1:15 a.m. for San Francisco. Immigration formalities took only a few minutes, and we were soon outside the airport, where our driver was waiting.
Our first destination was the Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha), the most visited tourist attraction in Hong Kong. The magnificent bronze statue was completed in 1993 by the Po Lin Monastery, inspired by monks who had visited the great outdoor Buddha
The ride takes about 25 minutes one way and offers views of the South China Sea, Lantau Mountains, the airport, and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. The Crystal Cabin (glass floor) round trip costs US $48.
statues of Japan. Standing 111 feet (34 meters) tall, the statue was cast in sections in mainland China before being assembled on Lantau Island. It is a symbol of harmony between humanity, nature, and religion.
From the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, we enjoyed breathtaking panoramic views of Lantau Island. In the foreground were the lush green mountains of Lantau and the cable cars gliding silently over the landscape. Stretching across the sea in the distance was the spectacular Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB).
The 55-km Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge links Hong Kong with Zhuhai in Guangdong Province and Macao, making it one of the world’s longest sea crossings. The project consists of a series of bridges, a 6.7-km undersea tunnel, and several artificial islands. The undersea tunnel allows large container ships to navigate the Pearl River Estuary while road traffic passes beneath. The bridge has reduced travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from about 3–4 hours to just 30–45 minutes. It is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious civil engineering projects ever built over the sea and stands as a remarkable example of China’s engineering capabilities.
From the Big Buddha, we drove to Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island and the city’s most famous viewpoint. The breathtaking panorama from the summit is truly unforgettable. From here, one can witness a remarkable meeting of nature and modernity—the deep blue sea, lush green mountains, dense forests, and a forest of gleaming skyscrapers rising from the waterfront. The view instantly reminded me of Manhattan in New York. Yet Hong Kong possesses a charm that Manhattan cannot match: magnificent mountains encircle the city, creating a stunning natural backdrop that enhances the beauty of its world-famous skyline.
Our return journey was equally memorable. We descended aboard the historic Peak Tram, which has been carrying visitors up and down the steep slopes since 1888. As the tram glided downhill, it offered ever-changing views of the skyline and Victoria Harbour, making the ride itself one of Hong Kong’s classic attractions.
The great thing is that free restrooms are available at all tourist spots, unlike in Singapore or Western countries. Also, no shop or ticket counter accepts US dollars. You must keep HK dollars or some credit card.
From Victoria Peak, we made our way to the Kowloon Peninsula. We purchased tokens for the legendary Star Ferry and crossed the sparkling waters of Victoria Harbour. Although the ferry ride lasted barely fifteen minutes, it offered some of the finest waterfront views of Hong Kong’s iconic skyline and remains one of the city’s most enjoyable and inexpensive experiences.
On reaching Kowloon, we strolled along the bustling waterfront, visiting several of its best-known landmarks, including the historic Clock Tower, the celebrated Avenue of Stars, and the scenic promenade overlooking Victoria Harbour. As evening approached, the glittering skyline reflected on the harbor waters, creating a picture-perfect finale to our brief but unforgettable visit to Hong Kong.
Where to eat
There is one Indian restaurant on the site of Big Buddha and a few Indian restaurants in the Kowloon market area.
The average cost of one South or North Indian food item is HK $110, fruit juice costs about $45, and tea is $25. Water is a costly resource in Hong Kong and is to be purchased everywhere, like in Singapore.
Epilogue
Hong Kong may not have a very large number of tourist attractions, but its uniqueness lies in the extraordinary harmony between modern architecture and nature. A city of magnificent skyscrapers, huge office complexes, and carefully planned urban spaces has been built amidst the sea, mountains, and plains. Despite being compared with Manhattan in New York or Singapore, Hong Kong still feels close to nature because its greenery, islands, and landscapes have been beautifully preserved.
Although Hong Kong appears extremely crowded, only about 25% of its land is developed. Mountains, country parks, forests, and water bodies occupy a major part of the territory. Most urban development is concentrated around Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and parts of Lantau Island and the New Territories.
Large areas remain undeveloped because of steep hills, high construction costs, and the need to protect forests, wildlife, wetlands, water catchment areas, and biodiversity zones. Government regulations restrict large-scale development in these environmentally sensitive regions, allowing Hong Kong to remain a rare combination of a modern megacity surrounded by nature.
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