Little Adventures in Hong Kong with Daisann McLane
eat, walk, drink, explore
Daisann McLane
Daisann McLane has been walking and eating in Hong Kong since 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 food, 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!). Daisann is your Hong Kong connection.Become a Fan!
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Real Travel Hong Kong--Walking and Food Tours
Private Tour: Your Personal Hong Kong Connection
Our private walking and food tours of Hong Kong are designed for a special kind of traveler.
You've come to Hong Kong. You've read all the guidebooks already, thank you. What you are looking for is not in the guidebooks. You are looking for something--and someone--to help you get straight to the heart of the place.
You want to eat at the best Cantonese restaurants. Not the over-hyped and pricey hotel restaurants that everybody knows, but the ones that locals cherish. You want an on the ground insight into the history, architecture and politics of China, and Asia's most multi-cultural and cosmopolitan city.
You'd like to visit the authentic and out of the way places that tourists haven't overrun, 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.
Here's why we're different:
There are lots of private tour guides and companies in Hong Kong. But only at Little Adventures in Hong Kong can you explore Hong Kong personally with an internationally respected travel journalist. Our director, Daisann McLane, has spent more than 7 years writing award winning articles about Hong Kong's politics, culture and food. Daisann doesn't just show you Hong Kong--she explains it 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, you'll enter a Hong Kong you'd never find on your own. She'll take you to a politicial demonstration or a visit to the only courtrooms in China where the judges and barristers wear horsehair wigs. Shop for Chinese porcelain dishes and ebony chopsticks in Hong Kong's oldest department store. Slip past a touristy market into the authentic village hiding behind its facade.
Hong Kong has an endless variety of amazing food that you'd have a hard time 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.
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
Here's how it works. If
you are planning a trip to Hong Kong, and want to find out more, pop us an email atRealTravelHongKong (at) gmail.com
We'll send you some sample itineraries, and if you decide to book, we'll ask you to tell us a bit about yourself and what you're interested in--food, culture, language, architecture, history.
We'll send you some ideas to get you started, then together we'll start planning a tailor-made Hong Kong itinerary, based on your interests and travel schedule.
Our tours are all private--we don't do mixed groups of strangers--and personally hosted by Daisann herself, not by assistants. We accept groups of up to three people, maximum.
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 on tour 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 Hong Kong visitors.
Winning a prize for something we believe in is a great gift, indeed. But our best prize is the thrill of hearing our guests 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
competition.
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 tour, we promise to take you to see the Hong Kong that's most interesting to you.
That's the beauty of our private, personalized tours. We don't force you to tag along in a group of strangers. (In fact, we don't do groups at all! We limit our tours to three guests at a time, max. And we guarantee that our Hong Kong walking tours are whistle, pennant and microphone-free!)
Whether you want to do a whirlwind tour through Hong Kong's most famous tourist sights, or dig into Hong Kong neighborhoods where we'll be the only travelers in sight, we can help you put together the Hong Kong tour experience that's perfect--for you.
Our director, Daisann McLane, lives in Hong Kong. She's 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 do that, and more. We've taken our clients to some amazing and unexpected Hong Kong places. We've escorted lawyers to see the be-wigged barristers in Hong Kong's High Court, taken doctors to see a traditional Chinese medicine practice, and even guided a famous British mix-ologist through the wet market in search of 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 tours:
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 travelers 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 walk the best back streets? Eat authentic, amazing Hong Kong Chinese delicacies in little restaurants waaaay off the beaten track? See Hong Kong like a traveler, not a tourist?
Then email us today about our personal, private, walking and food tours of 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 tours that we'll be offering. We're also announcing a special tour discount--and a great new destination, 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 tours and 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 guests 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 tours 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 is it better than its famed rival, Hong Kong island's Yung Kee restaurant?
Well, when you come to Hong Kong, you can decide for yourself--we can take you on a whirlwind Little Adventures in Hong Kong "Roast Meat" tour that takes in both places, with some walking in between, of course.
Our walking tours are usually three hours long, but we can customize a program to fit your needs. Do you want to walk, then go for some of Hong Kong's best dim sum? Do you want to photograph traditional markets and old fishing villages? Do you want to immerse yourself in Hong Kong places that haven't changed for 50 years? We can take you there.
Email us today to learn more about how we can maximize your travel experience in Hong Kong. We look forward to hearing from you--and to steering you in the right direction!
On Tour With Little Adventures in Hong Kong!
We haven't been posting so much recently--sorry! It's only because we've been so busy showing lots of you around Hong Kong on our personally hosted walking and food tours.
We're having a blast. Each walking tour holds new surprises, because our privately guided custom tours are a bit different every time. At Little Adventures in Hong Kong, we take our cue from Hong Kong's best food stalls--you know how each one specializes in a single great dish, be it congee or fish ball noodles or wonton noodles? Well, we specialize, too--in serving up a Hong Kong experience that's made to order, just for you.
Speaking of congee, here are a couple of bowls we shared recently with Steven and his friends from Adelaide:
Mmm. Yue pin juk. Fish fillet congee. This is Little Adventure's "secret place" in Sai Ying Pun, and we're never disappointed here: it really serves up some of the best congee in Hong Kong, creamy and full of fresh ginger slices. The yauh tiu--fried dough sticks--at this neighborhood place are particularly delectable, especially when you tear them up into little pieces and mix them into the congee.
Steven only had one day in Hong Kong before he had to catch the Air Asia flight back home, so he asked us to give him a full on, great food experience in Hong Kong. We aim to please. From congee, we wandered down into Sheung Wan to sample some Chiu Chow oyster and rice soup, and of course, the famous Chiu Chow "lo seui" marinated goose. In this particular eatery, the broth for the "lo seui" has been bubbling continuously for 60 years!
(It's kind of like sourdough in San Francisco. Every day, the restaurant saves the previous days broth to start the next day's).
We sampled some barbecued pork at one place, and then off to another noodle shop for some seui gau--"water dumpling"--which Steven pronounced "fantastic".
(We thought it was fantastic that Steven was still ready for more Hong Kong tastes at the end of our second meal! This is what we live for here at Little Adventures!!!)
One final stop: dessert! No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a stop at the Yee Shun Milk Company.
This may be the most sublime food memory you can take away from Hong Kong: delicately steamed fresh milk, warm and quivering, and laced with a pungently sweet fresh ginger syrup. Move over Proust! This packs more punch than any madeleine possibly could!
We hope our new friend Steven, now back home in Adelaide, has a moment or two of sweet Hong Kong deja vu from time to time.
And we look forward to launching some memorable Hong Kong food expeditions for some of you, too!
Get started on your delicious adventure today. Email us at:
RealTravelHongKong (at) gmail.com
(By the way, we completely understand if Hong Kong food is not at the top of your must-do list. That's why we keep a file with dozens of different Hong Kong adventures in our back pocket. So if you want to explore cool old neighborhoods, ride a tram to the end of the line, slip into the smoky back room of an old Chinese temple, or shop for things you can only buy in Hong Kong, don't hesitate to give us a shout.)
Help for the Hungry Traveler in Hong Kong
What's the biggest obstacle faced by a food loving traveler 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 tours, 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.
It works like this. You tell us when you are coming to Hong Kong, how many people are coming with you, and what you would like to eat. We consult with you to find a great Chinese restaurant that fits your taste and budget. Then we go to the restaurant, meet with the manager, and design 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 take care to order 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 your group, 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
We've Got Mail!
This past two months at Little Adventures in Hong Kong we've been very busy! We've made lots of new friends who've come with us on our personally hosted walking and food tours of Hong Kong. And a few of them have sent us letters that, to be sure, are making us blush!:
"I am back at home at my desk, and thinking about my marvelous trip to Hong Kong. Certainly the highlight of this trip was our walking tour with you, and seeing things that I had missed in past visits--usually just around the corner from a place I have been many times. That is part of your talent--walking around with your eyes open. Plus, I give you an A for being not just an informed and interesting guide, but a thoroughly professional one. That day was just a complete pleasure. ....It was such a delight to discover so many new and interesting things last week--thanks to you!"--Ann, USA, January 2010
"We will hold our memories with you as a highlight of our many travels. You have a unique ability to personalize professionalism in a manner that ensures the kind of connection that makes experiences meaningful and rewarding.
You are a rare gift to the traveler and to the many cultures that seek to understand each other. Thank you for sharing that gift with us."--Marlene, USA, December 2009
"We sincerely had a great time with you on both of our little tours. You know HK and we will spread the good word if you don’t mind."--Steve, USA, December 2009
"Thanks for my best night in Hong Kong—ever (and that comprises two visits and about eight days!). The place came to life in your hands and what seemed to my unfocused eye a tough, commercial engine rather than a three-dimensional city began to bounce to your beat....." --Marty, New York City, July 2009
Thanks, everyone, for your compliments and support. We hope to see all of you in Hong Kong again, soon.
And for those of you who are planning a trip to Hong Kong, we hope you'll choose to spend some of your time here walking and eating and getting to know the city's culture, life, and "beat" with us.
Email us today for more information about our private, individually-designed tours:
realtravelhongkong (at) gmail.com
Hong Kong, 2010
May 2010 be the year you have your Little Adventure in Hong Kong!
And whatever brings you to Hong Kong this year, be it work, love, or wanderlust (or all of the above!) we hope you will drop us a line and arrange to take one of our private, hosted walking tours.
We'll watch priests sing to the ancestor spirits at a hidden neighborhood temple.
We'll hop on a sampan and take a spin around Victoria Harbour.
We'll wander through a tiny lost-in-time fishing village at the edge of the sea
We'll shop for shiny woks, gorgeous handmade cheongsams, fine oolong tea
We'll dig into the world's best noodle soups.
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!