7 things actually worth doing in Hong Kong

I'm not one of those people who'll rave to the masses about everywhere they've been: while I strive to get the most out of each new place I visit, I'm always honest about it. If I love it, great; if I don't like it, it's not the end of the world - there are generally a few pleasures to be squeezed out of even the most dire destinations and if not, well, odds are I'll be moving on in the next few days anyway.

Having been to my fair shares of cities this year, I can safely say that Hong Kong is not among my favourites. There are several reasons for this: it's absolutely manic, packed with (frustratingly slow moving) people, incredibly short on space, very claustrophobic and not particularly easy on the eye - thank the vast quantities of building sites for that. It probably doesn't help that I was ill and didn't get a lot of sleep in the first few days, either. 

Chasing Chinese white dolphins in Lantau Island

As many of you will know by now I'm sure, a trip à la Jen is not complete without a wildlife excursion of some kind, be that whale watching in Santa Barbara, going on a full-blown safari in east Africa or - something I can check off my list as of today - spotting endangered pink dolphins in Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong - a visitor's perspective

End of day 3. Reckon this gives me the authority to dive into a brief low-down of Hong Kong: my first stop on a 3 month trip around Asia. 

The people

Maybe it's because the last place I was in people on the street weren't so nice (see my crime dodging in Cape Town post), but Hong Kongers are super friendly: strangers say hello and goodbye to you in the lift, people will punch in the code to a door if they see you hovering & they are more than happy to give you directions - look lost enough on Hong Kong Island and a European expat will come to your aid unasked in mere seconds. 

23 signs you were born to travel

Here's one I made earlier...

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennymaclean/23-signs-you-were-born-to-travel-1260g

Image credit: http://permanentplastichelmet.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/lg-promo-art-attack-1.jpeg

5 reasons to consider packing a travel buddy

Rare. adj, exceptional, infrequent. 

Few and far between, scarce...however you want to phrase it, the fact stands that good travel buddies are not that easy to find. 

How likely is it that someone in your close circle of friends wants to travel at the same time you do? To all the same places? With the same budget, spending habits and interests? And even if they tick all these boxes, could you stand them - or could they stand you - for 24/7 for months on end?

With ample criteria to fill, qualifying as a travel companion is no mean feat, which is why so many people end up doing a RTW trip on their own. There are advantages to both: while I'm 100% behind solo travel (see my previous post to find out why), here are 5 reasons to consider taking a pal or partner with you on your adventures - even if it means making a few compromises along the way.

5 reasons you should travel alone at least once

When I went into Nationwide to upgrade my savings account last week, I (inevitably) ended up talking about my travels with the lady who helped me out. Once I'd outlined my plans for the next 18 months, she asked who I was going with, to which I answered: "myself". To which she responded: "Oh, bless you!"

Eh? Hang on a tick - why the sympathy? Travelling solo is one of the best decisions I've made! Maybe it's because I'm small and look about 5 years below my real age; maybe she thought I had no friends; or perhaps she was vocalising worry for my welfare overseas. I appreciate the concern but it's quite unnecessary: once you get used to requesting a table for 1 in the evenings, going it alone is not only a breeze but also heaps of fun and often ten times easier than gallivanting around the globe with someone else in tow.

In pics: What I miss on the road

Or, more correctly, what I realise I missed when I get home after a few months away. I don't have a particularly strong yearning for any sort of home comfort when I'm travelling (except for tea, obviously) - you learn to make do with what you have and what's at your disposal in a new city or country, and generally it's enough to see you comfortably through your visit.

However, there are always a few items that get reluctantly left behind or are simply impossible to take with you on your travels. Here are some of the things I make a beeline for when I touch down on home soil: