8 Years
In April 2017, my whole family immigrated to Australia. As it turns out, that departure lasted eight years — it wasn’t until May 2025 that I once again set foot in Hong Kong.
During the first few years after moving, I had no urge to return. Everything in Australia was still fresh and new to us, and with the constant need to care for my frail, often-sick child, there was neither time nor mood to think about going back to Hong Kong. By the time our family had finally settled down, COVID arrived. Hong Kong shut its borders — and stayed closed for three whole years. The mandatory 14 to 21 days of hotel quarantine, combined with extremely strict “anti-pandemic measures” in the city, made returning to Hong Kong an exhausting, unnecessary, and frankly impossible mission.
It wasn’t until January 2023 that Hong Kong slowly began lifting its entry restrictions and quarantine policies — more than a full year later than much of the rest of the world. I also had to work around school holidays, so it wasn’t until November 2024 that my wife and daughter finally had the chance to visit her elderly parents and our relatives and friends. As for me, I planned a solo trip back to Hong Kong for May 2025.
But is it really “going” or “returning”? To me, this concept has become rather blurred. Hong Kong was once my home — but now, Melbourne, Australia, is truly where my home is. So perhaps “going to Hong Kong” and “returning to Australia” is the phrasing that best reflects how things stand for us today.
For this seven-day trip, I carried a mixed feeling of “returning to my hometown” and being a tourist. I wanted to revisit familiar sights, return to my old home (though it now stands empty), and catch up with friends I hadn’t seen for many years.
Another important part of the trip was to enjoy some comfort food — true “taste of home” dishes. Melbourne does offer some decent Hong Kong-style food, but there are still certain things that can only truly be found in Hong Kong.
For this trip, I chose to fly with Singapore Airlines. Since there are no direct flights, I had to transit in Singapore. The total flying time was around 8 hours plus 3.5 hours, and including the layover, the entire journey took about 13 hours. The ticket cost was A$913.
The last time I took an international flight was eight years ago, when I moved to Australia. Like a country bumpkin in the city, I was surprised to find that planes now offer free Wi-Fi and a huge selection of movies and entertainment.
I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport at around 6am local time and spent some time browsing the shops inside the terminal.
Double-decker bus — it’s been a while.
Everything felt familiar, yet somehow unfamiliar.
It’s been a long time since I last saw a double-decker bus. Hong Kong is one of the world’s double-decker bus capitals — you can spot them on almost every street. Taking the bus from the airport to my hotel in Jordan was definitely the most convenient way to go.
As a bus enthusiast (a true “bus geek”), there was no way I’d miss the chance to snap some photos of the buses.
Comfort Food
One of the comfort foods I really wanted to eat was Teochew-style beef brisket noodles and crispy fried fish skin. I’ve never seen these dishes in Melbourne before. Maybe they’re available somewhere in the CBD, but I definitely haven’t had them in the eight years since I left.
Congee and Zaa Leung (cheong fun with fried dough sticks) — classic Hong Kong dishes, and definitely on my must-eat list. I can make congee at home, but Zaa Leung? Besides Chinese dim sum restaurants, it’s pretty rare to find in Australia .
But when it comes to the Zaa Leung, nothing beats Yuen Long’s Fat Kee. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try it on this trip.
Good Japanese food in Melbourne doesn’t come cheap. The Sushi you usually find in Melbourne shopping centers is really hard to recommend. But Sushiro offers decent quality at a reasonable price.
Actually, these are just very ordinary, simple foods — but somehow they’re the comfort foods I crave the most. Some are available in Melbourne, but most I haven’t had in ages. Every bite carries a deep, heartwarming flavor.
Shopping
Another highlight of my Hong Kong trip was the ultimate snack hunt. Just wandering around Don Don Donki with its addictive “Don Don Don” jingle playing on repeat was enough to put a smile on my face. Sure, you can find many of these goodies in Melbourne’s Asian supermarkets—but be prepared to sell a kidney for the price! Plus, a bunch of snacks are Hong Kong exclusives. I used to munch on these treats for years without a second thought, but moving overseas made me realize: good luck trying to get your hands on them without a snack-sized treasure hunt!
So many different flavors — there’s just no way to find them in Melbourne. 
HKD620 !!! 
The big bus models cost HKD $400–500 each — way too expensive. The mini versions only go for about $100. 
Same numbers, totally different values — HKD vs. AUD! 
Cherry Shrimp, Melbourne 賣每隻 AUD$3. 這裡幾十隻都只是HKD50 
水草MELBOURNE 賣AUD $20一紮. 香港也是$20 
Wow! Must be a mistake! So cheap!" Only to remind myself, “Yeah, Australia sells it for the same number — but in Aussie dollars!!
Monrning Hong Kong
There’s a two-hour time difference between Hong Kong and Melbourne. Don’t underestimate those two hours. In Hong Kong, I was waking up almost every day around 4 or 5 a.m. In Australia, I usually get up around 6 or 7 a.m., which is equivalent to 4 or 5 a.m. Hong Kong time. Plus, the hotel’s “hard bed” didn’t help — that’s another reason I was up early.
By 6 a.m., Melbourne’s streets are already bustling, and cafés open around 6 or 7. But in Hong Kong, people usually start their day around 7 a.m., and most shops don’t open until after 10. So my early mornings gave me a chance to experience a different side of Hong Kong.
No matter how crowded Melbourne’s city center gets, it can’t compare to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong at 7 a.m. But at night, the difference is worlds apart.
世界級屏風樓
Hong Kong’s “wall effect buildings” really are a world wonder. Having lived in Hong Kong for decades, I always thought it was normal. Spending over ten million Hong Kong dollars on a tiny little cell felt like just the way things were. It wasn’t until I came to Australia that I realized how astonishing that lifestyle truly is.
Construction contractor: China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)
Steel manufacturer: Jiangyin Xingcheng Special Steel Co., Ltd. 😒 1
Tuen Mum
One day, I went to Tuen Mun to catch up with relatives. The familiar ding of the Light Rail brought back a flood of memories. I worked in Tuen Mun for 10 years, and hearing that “ding” and the familiar stop announcements unexpectedly stirred up so many memories.
Kwun Tong
Another day, I went to walk around Wo Lok Estate in Kwun Tong, wanting to see my old home and soak in the memories. My father has been gone for three years now, and there are new tenants living there (I’m pretty sure they’re new Hong Kong residents—I heard a Mandarin radio program playing inside). I moved here in 1984 when I was six years old and left at the end of 2001, living there for about 17 or 18 years. I have many unhappy childhood memories tied to that place.
Yuen Long
Another day, I took a stroll around Yuen Long. After growing up, I moved to live in Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, and stayed there for over ten years. I also took the chance to visit my wife’s parents. Yuen Long hasn’t changed much — many of the old shops are still there. But the surrounding areas seem to be seeing constant new development.
My old school
I spent my entire seven years of secondary school at Choi Hung Estate Catholic English Secondary School (Choi Kee), located in Choi Hung Estate. For decades, Choi Hung Estate has pretty much looked the same. Interestingly, it’s recently become a tourist attraction, thanks to mainland Chinese visitors using it as a photo spot.
Unfortunately, Choi Hung Estate is slated for demolition in 2028. Luckily, my alma mater won’t be affected. Despite that, I made a special trip here to take some photos. It’s a shame I couldn’t get inside the school itself.
Ever since the 2019 social movement events, I haven’t been able to freely enter my alma mater, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Now, I can only take photos at the main entrance.
I will come again !!
My 7-day trip flew by so quickly! It was wonderful to return to Hong Kong and see all the familiar sights and sounds. Catching up with old friends, chatting about everything under the sun, and reminiscing about the past was truly delightful. I ate constantly, four meals a day, and even had hotpot twice! I’m pretty sure I gained at least 2kg. 🤣
We’ve decided to visit Hong Kong roughly every few years to see our family and friends.
Hong Kong, see you next time!”
