Passing the day in HK before our flight home! - Spent a lovely day with Linda and driver who showed us places we had never been to. She also organised a delicious lunch. Dropped off at the airport for the long flight back to the UK - a great way to pass the day at the end of our cruise.

The Hong Kong we wanted to see - We booked this after a recommendation from another guide who was fully booked for our day. It turned out to be a great experience. Our guide, Pearline and her driver (I forget his name) did and absolutely amazing job showing us around the Hong Kong we wanted to see. Their planning and execution of the itinerary was spot on. They knew where and when to pick up and drop off and were totally professional. Pearline never seemed to stop talking and smiling the whole day and made the tour just great fun. Not the cheapest but you do get what you pay for. Thank you Jacky. 👍🏼

Don’t just visit Hong Kong. Live like a local for a day, or two, with Jacky and Liz from This Is Asia Tours! - Don’t just visit Hong Kong. Live like a local for a day, or two! So lucky that we booked private tours with This is Asia Tours for two amazing days in Hong Kong and Lantau Island. Our first tour was going so well that we booked a second one for two days later midway through our first day. Guided by Jacky and Liz, our group really experienced the best the city had to offer alongside a local guide. So much fun “Hong Kong hopping” as we explored so many different neighborhoods, markets, historic sites and local hangouts. Loved seeing the real Hong Kong off the typical tourist path. Definitely two of the best tours that we have ever booked. After being picked up at the cruise terminal, our history and culture lesson started as we headed up to Victoria Peak. Along the way we learned about how and why the British came in 1842 and started to understand the complexities of the housing issues in Hong Kong. Visited St. John's Cathedral which is the only freehold land in Hong Kong and the oldest Anglican Church in the Far East. Then it was off to the bank. The story of HSBC really explains the story of Hong Kong. From simple beginnings to World Wars through turmoil and progress, it was so interesting to see and hear the history that Jacky shared. Really fascinating. Man Mo Temple. Nan Lian Garden. Chi Lin Nunnery. So many beautiful temples and gardens in Hong Kong. How do you choose? Loved being able to really enjoy the peace and tranquility of these sacred spaces against the frenetic hustle and bustle of the city. The gardens were so perfectly manicured. The temple and nunnery fed your soul. So many markets. Sneaker Street. Ladies Street. Goldfish. Bird. Flower. Wan Chai. Temple Street. Aberdeen fishing village. Each so different and unique. Fresh fish at the Wan Chai wet market. Loved the hawker stalls and fresh fruits along Fa Yuen Street. So many orchids and bonsai at the Flower Market. The puppies, bunnies and colorful fish were so cute at the Goldfish Market. Hungry? Loved the introduction to Hong Kong bakeries, steamed buns, roasted goose and dumplings by Jacky from This Is Asia tours. We had the most delicious treats (including Michelin) along the way. Loved trying mochi, vegetarian dumplings, banana cake, pineapple buns with and without cold butter, hot and cold Hong Kong Milk tea, French toast filled with peanut butter, egg tarts, turtle bread, rice and chicken, chicken tarts and much more in Kowloon and the Wan Chai District. Pineapple Buns. Egg Tarts. Cocktail Buns. Pineapple buns have no pineapple. Instead, these pillowy soft buns are topped with a beautifully cracked crust that resembles a pineapple. Eat them on their own or stuffed with a slab of cold butter. In the late 1940s, Hong Kong-style cafés called cha chaan tengs were both popular and competitive for customers. A baker was inspired to turn a savory dough into a sweet treat. He mixed flour, sugar, and ammonia to form a dough and baked it on top of bread. The resulting product, the pineapple bun, was born. This fragrant, crunchy and sweet treat is a Hong Kong staple to this day. The Cantonese cousin of English custard tarts, egg tarts come in many delicious variations. These yellow gems originated in Guangzhou in the early 20th century, when Chinese interaction with Britain grew. Egg tarts are a combination of steamed egg pudding and puff pastry. They graced Hong Kong in the 1940s, but initially were only served at high-end restaurants. Their popularity spread and egg tarts are now part of Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage. Love the Hong Kong cocktail buns. These soft, buttery brioches are stuffed with a sweet coconut filling and sprinkled with sesame seeds. It's suggested that the sweet filling was inspired by leftovers. In the 1950s, a cha chaan teng owner didn't want to waste food so he crushed up some leftover bread together with sugar to make a filling. Since the mixture consisted of many different types of bread, it reminded people of a "cocktail." Today, the filling includes shredded coconut and butter, definitely a Hong Kong favorite. So delicious. Try them all. A sweet taste of Hong Kong's history. On the way to the airport two days later, our group met Liz for a tour of Lantua Island. What a treasure! Loved exploring the Tai O Fishing Village. Stilt houses. Bridges. Kwan Tai Temple. Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Pomelos for a Happy New Year. A boat ride to see the pink dolphins unique to Hong Kong. Liz said that we were so lucky to see so many on our boat tour. Since This Is Asia Tours have permits to drive on Lantau Island, we saved so much time. Nice to be able to drive directly to the gates leading to the Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. Climbed up and down 280 steps to get to the Buddha. So beautiful and the views are stunning. Took the Ngong Ping 360 Crystal Cable Car back down the mountain and then had a 15-minute drive to the airport. Two amazing five-star days with Jacky and Liz. Don't think. Just book a tour for the best day, or two, in Hong Kong!!