Hong Kong Day 5: Hong Kong Park & the Museum of Teaware

After lunch in Lan Fong Yuen and exploring more of Central on foot, we took a cab to Hong Kong Park and enjoyed a lazy midday stroll along this compact, but no less relaxing, park.

The park was quiet and served as a perfect retreat not just for Hong Kong’s urban dwellers and workers but also for us travelers as well. It looked like it was in the heart of Hong Kong’s central business district so we saw several locals in business attire eating their lunch on the park grounds.

It also was the perfect vantage point to actually see the famous Bank of China Tower (almost) up close. So far, we’ve seen this distinctive diamond-shaped Hong Kong landmark only from afar.  This time, it was just in the very near background.

When traveling, I love visiting parks. For one, they’re free—you don’t need to pay to experience a break from the urban landscape and it gives you a chance to experience how that city has planned for rest and recreation for its population (if at all). And much to my regret, I also really like visiting parks abroad because Manila is lacking in parks and little pockets of greenery. Sad but true.

While in the Hong Kong Park grounds,we also made it a point to visit the former Flagstaff House, the oldest colonial style building in Hong Kong, and which now houses the Museum of Teaware. As lovers of tea, we really appreciated the museum’s collection on everything from the history of Chinese tea, to the different kinds of teas and tea sets from ancient to modern.  I especially appreciated a video presentation on the art and ceremony in making gongfu tea.  While we weren’t allowed to take photos of the exhibits on the first level, we were allowed to photograph the tea sets exhibit on the second level. After our visit to the Museum of Teaware, we went around the park some more.  Along the way, we saw a photographer who had a kick-ass equipment and who looked like he might be birdwatching.

It was really the perfect place to just sit around and experience slow travel, slow time.

Fabulous travels! Cheers! Hong Kong Park Opening hours: 6am – 11pm 19 Cotton Tree Drive, Central  Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware Opening hours : 10:00am – 5:00pm (Closed on Tuesdays and the following public holidays : Christmas Day and Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and the first three days of the Chinese New Year)