Hidden treasure
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 5/31/07
I was born and raised in Hong Kong, but have been living in USA since 1975. Stanley to me was a remote area that was known for its correctional facilities. When I went home in 2005, my brother in law suggested Stanley as a place to visit, and to my surprise, it is a very quaint, relaxing, and yet having all convenience you need.
To start off, you have all kinds of dining, from traditional dim sum to exquisite Italian cuisines. Alright, there are a few pubs for the thirsty ones along the way.
One does not need to drive to get to Stanley; there are multiple means of public transportation that can take you there at a very reasonable price.
A must see is Murry House on the bay front, the majestic building that people in Hong Kong conserved and moved stone by stone from Central Business District to Stanley. One can�t help but marveled at the effort it stands for. It now houses different restaurants and gift shops.
If you walk along the sidewalk towards town, it takes you by a few pubs and restaurants operated in small original beach houses, very enjoyable experience in the evening sipping wine in sea breeze. After a couple of turns on the road, you come to a entirely different setting; it becomes a shopper�s paradise. Stanley central market has all the making of the famous �Ladies� Market� at a comparable pricing structure. One loses track of time going through all the bargains.
If there is a down side to Stanley, it has to be the traffic around Central Market. Since the market is built about the old town, the roads are narrowed and curvy. There are no sidewalks (or very little sidewalk) in some areas, and one must pay attention to little ones, or other big ones as a matter of fact.
But in all, Stanley is a must see spot when one visits Hong Kong.