Text: Marcella van Alphen
Photographs: Claire Lessiau & Marcella van Alphen
One of the most densely populated places in the world, Hong Kong is an urban jungle to explore. From luxury brand flagship stores to vibrant markets, from high-end hotels and spas with exquisite restaurants to Michelin-star local dim sum eateries, from mountainous parks with stunning vistas to exotic beaches, from traditional temples and authentic fishing villages to modern architectural marvels, from Chinese medicine stores to trendy art galleries, the city is full of contrasts!
Paradise for shopaholics, hikers, beach goers, architect lovers, history buffs, night owls, and foodies, Hong Kong has something to offer for everyone. So just take your pick amongst the following photographs and get inspired!
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Best regards from far, 
A grand range of photos — love the little things (laundry, markets) as much as the majestic buildings and lights.
Thanks for your comment. Hong Kong is definitely a city of contrasts and it makes it fascinating! Hoping to go back soon…
Wow! Nice! I studied 6 months in Shanghai, China when I was a student. I wish I had gone to Hong Kong, but I had a limited budget, so I preferred going to Chinese cities in the North. It looks like a wonderful place.
I often speak with my former schoolmates about how great living in China was: they all look me with a kind of astonishment when I say this. But damn, I quite liked the fast pace I could find in Shanghai. And Hong Kong is said to be even better.
Hi, happy you enjoyed the photos. I haven’t been to China yet and it is quite high on the list. Must have been a great experience to study there for 6 months. Where do you live now, if I may ask?
Claire
I live in Paris, now 😉 Well, it’s kind of a journey in its own way, since I come from Lyon, and Paris is quite different, but nothing like going to Asia. I also lived 6 months in Varanasi, India, as a student once again. Though the first time I went to Asia, it was quite by happenstance, I’ve learned to love it. It’s so rich I guess it’s understandable people who’ve never been there can’t fathom how disorientating Asian countries can be.
I’d love to travel more, but there’s a part of me that would be so disappointed not to be able to live in a place for more than 3 months that I’m not traveling as much as I wish. India took me 2 months to get a bit more accustomed to, and China 1 month. But when I managed to overcome my initial kind of disorientation, both countries brought me a lot. I hope I can do it again.
I hope you’ll get to China! A bit like India, my feeling with this country is you could spend a life there, and yet not have seen the half of it. Makes you think about the world in a totally different way.
So we are neighbors now 😉
Living abroad is so much easier as a student that it is a fantastic opportunity. Great you could also experience India: such a varied country.
I agree with you re: Asia and how disorienting it can be, which I love as it shakes your bearings.
I hope you will have the opportunity to experience another country for an extended period of time. Being able to spend several months in a country and actually live there is a true luxury that is so enriching (and also makes you appreciate “home” better).