“An urban explorer is someone that takes in every aspect of the city, and truly listens to what it communicates with you – through your daily interactions with its people, its history and culture.”
Dare’s Travel Itinerary
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Hailing from the Big Apple, our urban explorer and Founder of Soho Printing Press Mr. Dare Koslow has lived in Hong Kong for over 25 years and truly calls this city his home. His love for story-telling and historic preservation is what started his journey in collecting old tong laus. As he scours the city to find those rare gems, he discovers how rich and culturally diverse this city really is. Join him on his day out on the town as he explores Hong Kong. The full itinerary can be found here.
Hike from Mui Wo to Tung Chung
Take the ferry from Central Pier to Mui Wo. Then hike from Mui Wo to Tung Chung for several hours, where you can find yourself surrounded by some beautiful old villages along the way.
Discover the Remote Villages in Lantau
Approximately a 30-minute drive from Mui Wo, this beautiful area is past the well-recognized villages of Pui O, both Upper and Lower Cheung Sha, Tung Fuk, and Shui Hau, as well as past two prisons and a reservoir (but just before Tai O). Just after the road turns sharply right, there is a narrow one-lane road to the left that you will definitely miss if you do not pay attention. The road weaves back and forth down a hill that gives no trace of anything possible being at the end. However, as the road comes to an end it delivers you into a sleepy little village with a mix of well-preserved older buildings and very formulaic and predictable modern village houses. Beyond the cluster of homes is one of Hong Kong’s best beaches with a seemingly endless sandy beach. It is the kind of place where the sky kisses the sea on the horizon. Other than the occasional ship in the distance, it is just sky and sea for as far as the eye can see. Dare reckons that if ever needs to hide, this is the place he would run to. For sure, you will find a sense of calm here.
Take a Day Trip to Cheung Chau
Although just a short boat rides away from Central, Cheung Chau feels as though you have travelled back in time. It has this “time stood still” feeling to it. Once you break away from the ferry pier and walk across the island, you arrive at a very long beach that is fairly empty on weekdays, except of course, on public holidays. From there, follow the trails while your senses are being constantly treated with the smells of fragrant flowers, sights of beautiful vistas, and, eventually, the rare sound of no one around…just birds singing, dogs barking, and the light breezes from atop the hills. Although Dare has visited on many occasions, he would still love to spend a bit longer in this part of Hong Kong and explore more.
Explore Tsim Sha Tsui To Yau Ma Tei
Head back into the city and explore the cultural gems that the districts of Tsim Shai Tsui all the way through to Yau Ma Tei have to offer. You can find everything from large retail department stores to mom-and-pop shops selling electronic gadgets and trinkets.
Dine at a Dai Pai Dong
For dinner, go to Sheung Wan district for some authentic, delicious Hong Kong-style dishes at dai pai dong (open-air food stalls)
