Before the trip, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what Hong Kong was all about — thanks to all the Hong Kong dramas I had watched. I imagined it would mostly be about city life, shopping, and maybe some dim sum.
Luckily, WeirdKaya was invited on a 4D3N trip alongside the Watsons Member winner, and I got to explore Hong Kong together with my friend.
At first, I was a little concerned that my Malay friend, who didn’t grow up watching Hong Kong dramas or knowing much about the culture, wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I did. But I was completely wrong — he ended up loving it even more than I did!
Here are some reasons why:
1. Not just about skyscrapers
Yes, Hong Kong’s skyline is iconic, as it should be. But beyond the towering buildings lies a city rich in history, character, and charm.
We took a free-and-easy night stroll around Tsim Sha Tsui, and on top of the gorgeous city view, we got to experience the truly mesmerising vibe of the place. The area was buzzing with energy — neon lights, fast-walking pedestrians, and an incredible city night view that made every photo feel Instagram-worthy.
Even the train stations were lively at night, with locals and tourists moving in and out, like a city that truly never sleeps.
One of our favourite spots was the Avenue of Stars, where we saw a statue of Bruce Lee standing tall — a tribute to his legacy and a reminder of Hong Kong’s cinematic roots.
2. More than enough Halal food to fill you Up
One of our biggest concerns before the trip was food. Would it be difficult to find halal meals in a city known for pork and seafood?
Turns out, it’s totally doable — and delicious, too.Our first stop was the Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre, which is not only located in a Masjid which comes with a prayer area but also serves authentic halal food like dim sum, and Chinese cuisine!
We also found this famous beef restaurant called Islam Food, a halal-certified local favourite packed with Hongkongers. Just look at how many people are lining up for it!
Their beef patty pancake was so juicy and flavourful, and honestly, it was one of the best bites we had all trip long!
There’s more to explore if you dig a little and many spots are listed on Hong Kong Tourism website. Suffice to say, my friend was never hungry at all.
3. Finding our inner child at Ocean Park
As I got older, I found myself less excited about theme parks as I figured they wouldn’t be much different from what we already have.
But wow, was I proven wrong. And I’m glad I was.
One of the biggest highlights at Ocean Park was the grand aquarium, which felt like stepping into an underwater dream. The lighting, colours, and incredible variety of fish had us both completely mesmerised. It was peaceful, magical, and strangely therapeutic.
Right next to the aquarium, we even spotted pandas — our first time ever seeing them in real life! They were absolutely adorable. According to our tour guide, one of them is affectionately known as “Big Sister” and the other as “Small Brother.”
Another thing that surprised us? Just how huge the park is. We had to take a cable car across the mountains to reach the other side — and the views along the way were breathtaking.
On the other hand, it was pure adrenaline. From roller coasters to water rides, Ocean Park definitely knows how to deliver thrills.
There were also polar bears and penguins on this side as well! I especially loved the penguin exhibit, where it had mazes and tunnels connecting different areas and allowing the penguins to swim freely all around.
We laughed, we screamed, and somewhere in between, we reconnected with our inner child.
4. Seriously underrated museums
I’ll admit it — as non-regular museum goers, I wasn’t expecting much from the museums.But both the M+ Museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum blew me and my friend away.
At M+ Museum, we saw thought-provoking modern art that made us stop and reflect. Most of the art pieces came with explanations and they weren’t too hard to understand.
While each piece had a lot to express, they were simple enough to grasp, and powerful enough to make you stop and think.
One of our favourite pieces showed a single grain of sand etched with the tragic story of an ordinary man, reminding us how small and overlooked individual stories can be in a big, busy world.
The Palace Museum was a different kind of awe-inspiring. With exhibitions from the Forbidden City in Beijing, it was like walking into ancient China itself.
It has multiple floors, grand halls, and priceless artifacts. So if you’re into history, this is your paradise.
5. Watsons flagship store
Here’s a bonus that caught us both off guard — shopping at the Watsons flagship store in Causeway Bay.
As part of the Hong Kong Watsons trip, we received HKD 200 in credit to shop around and ended up spending nearly two hours inside. The store has three floors, plenty of staff ready to help, and even on-site medical professionals for skincare and medical advice.
But the real surprise? Their Hong Kong-themed face masks! We’re talking scents like ice lemon tea, instant sesame noodles (麻油即食面), and even ice cream. And yes, they smelled exactly like the real thing.
I expected Hong Kong to be cool, but my Malay friend walked away completely obsessed. From its halal food scene and cultural landmarks to unexpected thrills and quirky shopping, Hong Kong has a way of sneaking up on you and making you fall in love with it.
Planning your trip there soon? Don’t sleep in the museums. And definitely bring a camera along as Tsim Sha Tsui at night is something else.
Want to join a trip like this? Don’t forget to join Watsons Club and you might just be the next lucky winner packing for your next adventure!
For more information, follow Watsons on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
You can also visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board website to find out more about Hong Kong!
