Room to breathe

A highway running over Kwun Tong Pier in Kowloon. Pedestrians can catch a ferry every half-hour or so.

The opportunities for getting out into the great outdoors abound in Hong Kong. Remote beaches, mountain trails and serene islands are just minutes away. Even in the thick of the city there are subtle opportunities for getting a break from the teeming crowds. I have touched on the Star Ferry but should also mention the Fortune Ferry Co. Finding myself near the end of the green line in Kwun Tong one evening and dreading the MTR at rush hour, I looked for an escape hatch and Fortune smiled on me.



Another chance to feel the breeze on your face is to climb aboard one of the historic double-decker fixed-rail trams on Hong Kong Island. The windows are wide open and by riding on top, you are blessedly separated from street level. These are affectionately known here as the "Ding-Dings."

Ding-Ding on Foo Ming.

I suggest sitting up top for a different perspective on the city. If you're not in a hurry, the Ding-Dings are a great way to go.

Ingenious advertising art camouflages this tram. Axe Brand is a topical oil used for relief from "giddiness," among other things.

At the end of the line in Happy Valley, it's time to climb down. You pay when you disembark.

A cheap, relaxing way to get your bearings in central Hong Kong. Fares are 30 cents USD, regardless of distance.