Little Adventures in Hong Kong with Daisann McLane
eat, walk, drink, explore
Daisann McLane
Daisann McLane fell in love with Hong Kong's streets and food in 2002, when she came here to study Cantonese at the Chinese University of HK. The celebrated travel writer and photographer writes an award-winning column for National Geographic Traveler. She's also an expert on city's culture and politics, with articles in the New York Times Magazine, the International Herald Tribune and Slate.com. McLane consults and provides cultural orientation services to corporations and executives in Hong Kong. If you are a traveler who wants a sophisticated, informed and culturally savvy immersion in Asia's most fascinating and cosmopolitan city.(and some great Won Ton noodle soup, too!).look no further: Daisann is your Hong Kong connection.Become a Fan!
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Little Adventures in Hong Kong--Private Walking and Food Tours
More than a Tour: Your Personal Hong Kong Connection
You've decided to come to Hong Kong. Or perhaps you're living here already. You've read all the guidebooks, thank you. Maybe you've even joined a tour or two. But now you're looking for something more than a sightseeing trip. You're looking for someone to help you experience--and understand-- all the flavors of Hong Kong.
You might be a food writer, foodie or culinary professional who wants to get straight to the best Cantonese food, and to the restaurants, noodle shops and street stalls that Hong Kong locals cherish. Or you might be a business person or executive contemplating a move to Asia, and you want on the ground insights into the history, architecture and politics of Asia's most multicultural and cosmopolitan city.
You'd like to experience the authentic Hong Kong that tourists miss, get the inside lowdown on Hong Kong's society, arts, culture and politics. You want to get to know Hong Kong's modern architectural gems, and walk through ancient walled Chinese villages that remain standing among groves of urban high-rise apartments.
Maybe you just want to find out, for once and for all, what are all those strange dried things on sale in the Chinese market.
Well, you've just found your local connection.
Our director, Daisann McLane, has spent more than 7 years writing award winning articles about Hong Kong's politics, culture and food. Her 2011 article, "Ghosts of Hong Kong" in National Geographic Traveler won top prizes from both the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Association of Travel Journalists.
Daisann explains Hong Kong to you. How it works. Why it is the way it is. With a sense of magic and wonder and enchantment that's earned her loyal readers worldwide.
With Daisann's help, you'll discover a Hong Kong you'd never find on your own. An art deco tenement flat hidden behind a wall of skyscrapers. A politicial demonstration. The only courtrooms in China where the judges and barristers wear horsehair wigs. Regional Chinese cuisines you've never heard of before. The authentic 100 year old village hiding behind a touristy strip of restaurants.
Hong Kong has an endless variety of amazing food that you'd have a hard time finding or ordering on your own if you don't speak or read Chinese. Everything from braised goose webs (they are yummy!) to a cake made of a "thousand" delicate layers of tofu skin, to soup made of, yes, snake meat.
There are secret trails, high above Hong Kong's skyscrapers, cut by Chinese pirates in the 1800s who would sit up there and watch the comings and goings of the boats in the harbour. There are mountain paths leading to splendid Buddhist temples. Little ferry boats that head off to tiny, off-the map islands. Old coffee shops straight out of a Wong Kar-wai movie, and hidden restaurants that sell the best borscht this side of Moscow.
Start Planning your Little Adventure in Hong Kong
If you are planning a trip to Hong Kong--or if you are already here and settling in--and want to find out how to dig more deeply into this amazing city, pop us an email.
We'll send you some ideas and sample itineraries. If you decide to work with us, we'll follow up with more detailed and customized suggestions, so we can start planning your tailor-made Hong Kong experience, incorporating your interests and goals.
Our programs are all private--we don't put together mixed groups of strangers. We accept a maximum of three people in our client groups, to ensure the highest quality experience and personal attention.
Email us today to start your own Little Adventure in Hong Kong with Daisann McLane:
RealTravelHongKong (at) gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you.
We Win Prizes
Just as we were running out to eat dim sum today, we got word that "Ghosts of Hong Kong"--our March, 2011 National Geographic Traveler article about walking the back streets of Hong Kong--was awarded a Gold Prize in the annual competition of the Society of American Travel Journalists.
It's always great to win a prize, but we're especially happy about this one, since this article is based on one of the most popular walking tours we give to our guests, around the back streets of Central Hong Kong.
From the judges' comments:
It is easy for the unknowing to reduce Hong Kong to simply a former British colony or modern-day banking and financial center, but that would be a mistake. “Ghosts of Hong Kong” tells us why the city is much more than skyscrapers and glitter and what the future may hold for older neighborhoods. Paragraph by paragraph it is simply excellent writing about culture and travel and enchantment.
Those of you who've been out walking with us know that these old parts of Hong Kong are threatened by commercial development. (That's a really good reason to book that trip to Hong Kong sooner rather than later!)The lovely, evocative old Chinese neighborhoods are slowly disappearing.
Little Adventures in Hong Kong began because of a wish. We wanted to help save these areas by passionately introducing them to others.
Winning a prize for something we believe in is a great gift, indeed. But our best prize is the thrill of hearing our clients say to us, as we slip into a smoky temple, or duck down a back street fragrant with musky herbs and dried fish smells, "Amazing! I had no idea this was what Hong Kong was like!"
We hope that we'll be able to introduce you to some of these extraordinary old streets and neighborhoods the next time you come to Hong Kong.
To find out more about "The Ghosts of Hong Kong" and our other private walking and food tours, email us anytime:
realtravelhonghong (at) gmail.com
Hong Kong, Your Way
Hong Kong is a city with so many different sides! And when you come with us on a Little Adventures in Hong Kong private walking and food experience, we promise you'll discover the side of Hong Kong that's most interesting to you.
That's the beauty of our private, personalized programs. We don't force you to tag along in a group of strangers. (In fact, we don't do tour groups at all! We limit our walks to two guests at a time, max. And we guarantee that our Hong Kong walks are whistle, pennant and microphone-free!)
We can help you experience Hong Kong in a way that's perfect--for you.
Our director, Daisann McLane, has been eating the great food and poking around the evocative back streets of Hong Kong for more than 7 years (in between her travels around the world as a columnist for National Geographic Traveler magazine and The New York TImes.)
Daisann writes about her Hong Kong experiences in articles like this recent one for National Geographic Traveler, "The Ghosts of Hong Kong".
When you go on a Little Adventures in Hong Kong private tour, we want you to feel like you are walking into your own Hong Kong story.
Do you want to eat the best won ton noodles? Visit little villages, just a stone's throw from the urban skyline? Learn what all those strange dried things in the Chinese herbal shop are?
We can help you do that, and more. We've steered our clients to some offbeat and unexpected glimpses of Hong Kong life and society. We've introduced American lawyers to the be-wigged barristers in Hong Kong's High Court, taken doctors to see a traditional Chinese medicine practice, and even accompanied a famous British mix-ologist through the wet market to help him search for ingredients to make the ultimate Hong Kong cocktail.
Let us help you create your own special Hong Kong story. Email us today for more information about our private Hong Kong walking, food and cultural programs:
realtravelhongkong (at) gmail.com
Luxe Loves Us, and We Love Luxe!
Our 2011 season is underway at Little Adventures in Hong Kong , and we're having a busy one. In no small part due to the wonderful mention we've received in the latest edition of the Luxe Guide to Hong Kong.
Of course you know Luxe...they're the pocket-sized accordion leaflet travel guides that are de rigueur for all sophisticated modern nomads who want to get the most out of any city. Smart travelers look to Luxe for the tips that will get them into the most fascinating places, and give them the most memorable experiences.
That's exactly what we do here at Little Adventures in Hong Kong. So we are, naturally, absolutely thrilled to be in their Little Red Book.
Do you want to savor authentic, amazing Hong Kong Chinese delicacies in little restaurants waaaay off the beaten track?
Then email us today about our personal, private, food experiences in Hong Kong!
realtravelhongkong (at) gmail.com
Spring 2010 Newsletter: Hot off the Press
A few days ago we emailed our Spring newsletter out to all our Little Adventures in Hong Kong friends. It features, in text and (kind of gorgeous, we think) photos, the highlights of our fabulous first season of privately hosted walking and food tours of Hong Kong.
Like this one:
We're quite excited about some of the new programs that we'll be offering. We're also announcing a special discount too. Find out more in the Spring 2010 newsletter.
What, you didn't get a copy in your email yet? Maybe you're not on our list. Just send us your email, and we'll be happy to send you a copy toot sweet.
(By the way, if you sign up, we promise not to add to your mailbox clutter. We're quite busy with our on the ground research of Hong Kong's best food and most fascinating hidden neighborhoods. So the Little Adventures in Hong Kong newsletter will appear sporadically, occasionally, intermittantly and every once in a blue moon. Translation: 2 or three times a year.)
Hong Kong: Expect the Unexpected
Here at Little Adventures in Hong Kong, we love to surprise the clients who come on our private walking and food tours, by taking them to parts of Hong Kong they never imagined existed. You might wonder: How do we find these places? Answer: we hit the road.
Well, okay, we don't always climb all the way to the top of the famous New Territories mountain ridge Pat Sin Leng in search of new Little Adventures in Hong Kong. Sometimes we just take an unexpected turn down the stone steps of a neighborhood alley. But in any case, we're always on the lookout for new places, so we can treat and delight the guests who come along with us on our personalized walking tours of Hong Kong.
What can you expect on a Little Adventures in Hong Kong tour? Expect the unexpected. Hong Kong is a dynamic, ever-changing unpredictable place. That's what keeps our programs interesting. We don't follow any scripts. We custom-design every walk to your interests, whether it be food, architecture, history, or a bit of everything. The one thing we do guarantee is that after you've walked with us, you'll feel like you've really experienced a slice of Hong Kong life. And tasted it too!
Yum! This weekend, after hiking on the trail, we grabbed a bite to eat at the famous roast goose restaurant, Dai Lok, in Tai Po. This is a place that's become well-known since Anthony Bourdain featured it on one of his programs. I've long been curious to check it out, and finally I got a chance to do that.
As you can see from the plate, we ordered a combo--roast goose (siu ngo) on the bottom, and suckling pig on top. Both were pretty darn tasty--the goose was the standout. It's juicy, and the crust is crispy but not dry, and not too sweet either.
But does it taste better than the roast goose at the fabled rival downtown, Yung Kee Restaurant?
Email us today for our Hong Kong goose tips--and to learn more about how we can maximize your food experience (and your cultural understanding!) in Asia's most delicious city. We look forward to hearing from you--and to steering you in the right direction!
Help for the Hungry in Hong Kong
What's the biggest obstacle faced by a food loving foreigner in Hong Kong?
Ah, the mysteries of the Chinese language menu. You go into a restaurant that smells good. The food on everyone's table looks fantastic. Using the finger pointing "I'll have what they're having" method, you manage to get yourself a tasty meal. Yet...
You wonder what else is on the menu. What are the specialties of the house? What am I eating, anyway? And perhaps you wonder about the history of the restaurant, the characteristics and flavors of the various Chinese cuisines. You want to do more than just point and chow--you want to be a connoisseur.
Well, you've come to the right place. Little Adventures in Hong Kong now offers personalized eating help for foodies, custom designed for you. We will help you sample all the tastes our great food city has on offer. We know where to find the best congee, fish ball or wonton noodles, the tastiest do fu fa. And we know how to read the specials on the wall, so you can be sure you won't miss anything.
Hong Kong food, of course, is more than just noodles and snacks. We have the world's highest concentration of top flight Chinese restaurants. But we know that even with an English menu translation, many of these restaurants are difficult for the non-Chinese traveler to navigate.
That's why we've launched our new Eating Concierge Service.
We consult with you to help you choose a great Chinese restaurant that fits your taste and budget. Then we help you create a well-balanced Chinese multi-course meal, the way that a local Hong Kong person would. We scope out the restaurant's specialties, find out what's in season and what's not, and alert you about any dishes that need advance requests.
Our Eating Concierge Service doesn't end there. If you'd like, we can also come to dinner with you, and be your personal resource. We'll explain each dish, give you the lowdown on the culture of Hong Kong's Chinese restaurants, and answer any other questions you might have about Hong Kong, too. (And, after dinner, if you'd like, we might take you on a little walk to grab some tong seui.)
Want to find out more about our Hong Kong Eating Concierge Service? Email us today:
realtravelhongkong@gmail.com
Hong Kong, 2010
May 2010 be the year you have your Little Adventure in Hong Kong!
Make the resolution to do this in 2010. Give yourself a little adventure in Hong Kong. Email us now:
realtravelhongkong (at) gmail.com
and in the meantime, join us at our Facebook page where we post a new Little Adventure in Hong Kong every day!
A Hong Kong Christmas
It's a great time of year to be walking in Hong Kong. We do Christmas here in a big way. Trees, lights, tinsel. Choirs sing carols in the malls. The supermarket muzak in Park & Shop has got "Jingle Bells" on continuous loop. My building's door lady has taken to wearing a pair of antlers. And down on Ladder Street, the vendors are cleaning up with the Santa suits.
Our snow may be fake, but our warmth is jan-jing-- that's Cantonese for the real deal. We're even roasting chestnuts--not over an open fire, but in huge black woks on streetcorners. (We're roasting purple yams on the street, too--that's not exactly traditional Christmas fare, but, hey, they're really tasty!)
Perhaps you are running around now, elbowing through the Christmas crowds, fretting about the gift you need to choose for a certain special--but picky-- someone.
May we make a suggestion? Why not give Hong Kong for Christmas.
That is to say, why not give that hard-to-please person a Little Adventure in Hong Kong? We will be happy to wrap up one of our special, personally-hosted 3 hour walking, food and cultural tours in a bright red bow for you.
And if you book now, we'll throw in a bag of those wonderful Hong Kong roasted chestnuts, too.
email us today:
realtravelhongkong (at) gmail.com
Happy holidays from Hong Kong!
Only in Hong Kong
Yesterday, 1:30pm, on Lyndhurst Terrace I see a guy pushing a cart. On the cart are two huge roast suckling pigs.
He's holding the cart steady with one hand, waving his other arm out in the air at the passing traffic.
"You mean you're going to take the pigs in the taxi"? I said to the guy in Cantonese, a little shocked.
He shrugs, like this is something he does every day, and says, "Haih la." That's right.
A taxi whizzes by, ignoring him. "Hmm," I say, "Looks like nobody wants to ride with roast pigs."
The man scowls and mutters. Then he lifts his hand to the next oncoming taxi, holding two fingers in the air. It's a signal: "I'm offering him 20 dollars extra!"
The next taxi swerves over and pulls up to the curb. stops. I wait and watched as the guy loads the two greasy, fat-dripping red be-ribboned and cellophane-blanketed pigs into the grimy trunk, heads facing out.
He slams the trunk lid down, hops into the back, and they're off.
Just another lunch hour little adventure in Hong Kong.
I may never eat roast pig again.
*****
I can't promise that you'll meet a couple of roast pigs dolled up for a party when you come on one of our Little Adventures in Hong Kong walking tours.
But here's one thing I know: in this city, you never know who--or what--you might bump into on the taxi queue.
Email us to start your adventure:
realtravelhongkong (at) gmail.com
"You mean you're going to take the pigs in the taxi"? I said to the guy in Cantonese, a little shocked.
He shrugs, like this is something he does every day, and says, "Haih la." That's right.
A taxi whizzes by, ignoring him. "Hmm," I say, "Looks like nobody wants to ride with roast pigs."
The man scowls and mutters. Then he lifts his hand to the next oncoming taxi, holding two fingers in the air. It's a signal: "I'm offering him 20 dollars extra!"
The next taxi swerves over and pulls up to the curb. stops. I wait and watched as the guy loads the two greasy, fat-dripping red be-ribboned and cellophane-blanketed pigs into the grimy trunk, heads facing out.
He slams the trunk lid down, hops into the back, and they're off.
Just another lunch hour little adventure in Hong Kong.
I may never eat roast pig again.
*****
I can't promise that you'll meet a couple of roast pigs dolled up for a party when you come on one of our Little Adventures in Hong Kong walking tours.
But here's one thing I know: in this city, you never know who--or what--you might bump into on the taxi queue.
Email us to start your adventure:
realtravelhongkong (at) gmail.com