Lights, camera, Hong Kong!

Take this quick, impromptu quiz:

• Do you like movies?

• Do you like checking out film locations?

• Do you like Jackie Chan?

• Do you like to have fun?

If I’m right about most people, the answer to all the above questions would be yes. I would have to answer in the affirmative, too. And if I may add – yes, I did check out some film locations, I did see Jackie Chan and did have a whole whale of fun recently when the Hong Kong Tourism Board invited The Philippine Star to an exclusive Hong Kong excursion like no other. Having settled in my elegant room at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile, I braced myself for the ultimate Hong Kong experience.

Nope, Ocean Park was not on our itinerary. Instead, I had a four-day fascinating tour of various film locations, celebrity hangouts as well as the newly opened Avenue of Stars. Indeed, Hong Kong is fast becoming the "Hollywood of the Orient" and, with stars in my eyes, I saw for myself why. For starters, Hong Kong movie stars have carved a niche all over the world, especially in Mainland China, Southeast Asia and North Asia. More, no less than action star Jackie Chan is Hong Kong’s tourism ambassador. Yep, you read that right and, without a doubt, Jackie is proud of this new role, which he takes very seriously. Promoting peace in a troubled world is a challenge the spunky Jackie Chan will not run away from. He went on to prove this when he decided to bring over 120 Buddy Bears that caught his eye while filming in Germany.

Buddy Bears were created in 2002 by German Dr. Klaus Herlitz and his wife Eva. They believe that people all over the world share a fondness for bears so it would be a perfect symbol of peace, solidarity and understanding among nations. These "multi-racial" bears were designed by different artists from different countries. Jackie Chan was so bear-y impressed that he decided to bring some Buddy Bears home. I and STAR photographer Manny Marcelo were among the guests at the unveiling of these awesome bears last May 15 at the Central Lawn of Victoria Park. Standing two meters tall, the bears were so lovely and huggable, each one unique in design from the other. I bet a lot of people would have loved to design a Buddy Bear themselves, as 12 local artists did. Although these artists were all from Hong Kong, no two bears were alike, reflecting the creative concepts each had in mind.

As if that wasn’t enough visual treat, we were off to start checking out film locations – of both international and local films – as well as places to see and be seen in around Hong Kong. For dinner, we went to Tai Ping Koon Restaurant, where it’s easy to spot celebrities. Entering the rather cozy restaurant, I understood why it’s such a popular choice. Though quite small, the resto has an elegant ambiance. More popularly known as TPK, this restaurant has been around since the early 1930s. Its popularity spread by word of mouth – contented mouths, that is. Probably as famous as its celebrity clients is TPK’s chicken wings in Swiss sauce, which leaves the tongue with a tender and sweet experience. Other must-try dishes are such specialties of the house as: TPK fried noodles with beef, prepared in a sweet soy sauce mixture that blends well with tender, moist slices of beef; and TPK style roasted pigeon, served with a soy sauce with some foie gras in it. As good as these are, I would advise that you leave some room for dessert, especially if you decide to have the TPK baked soufflé. It’s a souffle beyond compare, served family style and piled up in a huge serving dish. A server would then divide it among the guests. Unlike the ordinary soufflé, this one is made by not completely folding in the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. The result is that a part of it is foam-light, with a nice cake-like brown skin and the yolk part resembling a rather dense pudding. This soufflé is sooo good even the weight watchers would gladly break their diet for a bite or two or more.

And there’s no better way to cap a good dinner than to experience one of Hong Kong’s premier night spots, Lan Kwai Fong. It was here where a scene from the Hong Kong movie Chungking Express was shot. What sets Lan Kwai Fong apart is its landscape. It seemed like a small mountain was laid with concrete walks for this spot to be built. The result is a hilly row of bars and restaurants that cater to everyone who simply want to dance in the streets, meet other people, have a good drink, enjoy good company or unwind after a long, hard day. Should you decide to order a tall bottle of the popular Tsingtao beer and just walk around, there are also some shops along the row for those who can never get enough of shopping, Hong Kong style. If you think you’ve had too much to drink, you can always drop by Starbucks for a sobering cup of your favorite coffee. Or if you feel like snacking, there’s KFC, Hagen Dazs or a healthy café named Kosmos. No wonder Lan Kwai Fong is so famous even among Manilans.

The following day was packed with excitement. We visited the newly opened Avenue of Stars at the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade, quite accessible by Star Ferry or MTR. It’s also near other interesting places like the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (venue of the world-class Mamma Mia! the musical starting this June), Hong Kong Space Museum and Hong Kong Museum of Art. It’s the perfect place to witness the Symphony of Lights, a multimedia show that lights up the Hong Kong skyline every night at 8 p.m. But now, we were simply starstruck as we awaited the arrival of Jackie Chan along with the rest of the media delegation. It felt quite like Hollywood when Jackie, dressed in a light green long-sleeved Chinese polo shirt, walked over to his plaque and made a palm-to-palm touch with his set of handprints in the scorching summer heat. After doing a series of poses, Jackie headed inside Towngas Avenue, with us in tow, to entertain questions from the media. When I asked Jackie what makes Hong Kong so special for him, he said that aside from the fact that he was born in Hong Kong, he also believes that it is a city that never sleeps. It was easy to believe him, after my experience at Lan Kwai Fong the night before.

The Avenue of Stars is said to measure around 440 meters. Similar to that famous avenue in Hollywood, it hosts various plaques of different Hong Kong personalities. Each of these plaques shows the name, handprints and autograph of the celebrities. There are nine pieces of milestones, which provide some remarkable facts about the 100-year development of the Hong Kong movie industry. The place also features a six-meter-tall statue of the Hong Kong Film Awards. To add comfort to your stroll along the Avenue of Stars, three kiosks have been set up for snacks and drinks. These kiosks also offer some movie-related souvenirs so you can bring a piece of your Hong Kong movie experience home.

Walking along the avenue was such a delight as I got to see the handprints of some of my favorite Asian celebrities and discovered new ones. Celebrity plaques include that of, of course, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. There are also plaques of some popular local celebrities like Maggie Cheung, Chang Cheh, King Hu, Leonard Ho Kwong Cheong, Patricia Lam Fung, Loke Wan Tho, Tony Leung, Leslie Cheung, Connie Chan, Sir Run Run Shaw and Butterfly Hu.

After the walk down the Avenue of Stars, we went to the Sculpture Walk in Kowloon Park to watch kung fu and tai chi performances in the appropriately named Sunday Kung Fu Corner. For such a small spot in a park, I was impressed to see quite a huge crowd gathering to watch the two-hour performances. The performance started with a ceremonial drumming that was very Chinese in rhythm. Thereafter, a series of lion and dragon dances delighted the audience. I was impressed to see children under the dragon costumes. At such a young age, their dancing skills are really exceptional considering that it’s not easy for two dancers to coordinate to make the animal move in just one direction. Even more impressive was the time when two male dancers got the dragon to roll over to the beat of the drum.

Then it was time for some tai chi demonstration. Sometimes referred to as shadow boxing, tai chi is an exercise of both body and mind. It is a very popular exercise among the Chinese who also do it to de-stress. Dressed in loose cheongsam blouses, women and men, both young and old, expertly displayed their tai chi prowess much to the delight of the crowd. What followed was a series of kung fu performances that seemed very physically demanding. I was awestruck to see an old man do some kung fu moves expertly well. Equally fascinating were the kung fu performances done using swords, spears and Chinese fans. Indeed, Chinese martial arts performances are amazing to watch. Overall, it was a great way to gain an insight into the Chinese culture, which has been around for centuries.

After that, we were hauled off to a police station. No, we did not commit any crime. We just couldn’t pass up the chance of seeing the place where Jackie Chan shot a scene in his hit movie Rush Hour 2. The police station is located in Yau Ma Tei. From the outside, it looks very old and is painted completely in gray. Just a short walk away is the Cinematheque located inside a local cinema. Situated in a far corner of the building, the store boasts an impressive collection of movie posters, both old and new. You can even find posters of Elvis Presley, along with those of famous old Hong Kong stars.

Having been physically worked up at the Kung Fu Corner, I was ready for some action – shopping action, that is. I followed the trail of Infernal Affairs star Tony Leung to Ap Liu Street, where you can find just about any electronic product bargain imaginable. Just like Tony did in the movie, I visited a shop located up a steep stairway to see some of the most impressive music players I’ve ever seen and probably heard – their sound quality was simply awesome! Back down to the street, I went from one shop to another only to be overwhelmed by an amazing display of TVs, DVD players, cellular phones, CD players and digital cameras offered at rather low prices. There are both second-hand and brand-new units that cater to different kinds of budget. Looking for the latest in electronic products? The small shops along Ap Liu Street would most likely have it. What’s more, you’re sure to go home with more than loose change because of the relatively low prices offered.

More shopping trips followed as I stopped by the Bruce Lee Shop. This small shop has an impressive array of Bruce Lee-inspired stuff – from jackets to postcards, to Bruce Lee dolls as well as newspaper clippings of Bruce Lee, dating back to the 1960s when the actor was just starting in the movies. To have access to these records though, you must be a member of the Bruce Lee Club, which requires a membership fee of HK$200 per year. I was amazed to see decades-old newspaper clippings so well-preserved. Among these clippings was one published on that ill-fated day Bruce Lee died back in 1973. Along with 500 members throughout the world, Bruce Lee Club president W Wong maintains a deep admiration and respect for Bruce Lee who I believe, will always be his No. 1 idol.

Shopping trips can be so addicting. Once you start, you can’t seem to stop. Thus, I simply gave in to my shopaholic urge and did some more movie-related shopping. I went down Canton Road, where films like Comrades and Almost A Love Story were shot. I also checked out some shops at Ocean Terminal, where Andy Lau proposed to Sammi Cheng in the romantic comedy Needing You. The terminal is connected to Harbour City, the biggest mall in Hong Kong. Finally, I traced the steps of actress Sandra Ng down Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard, where she got trapped overnight in an ATM booth in the movie Golden Chicken.

As any shopaholic knows, shopping can be quite exhausting, especially if you walk around a lot. It works up quite an appetite, too. Logging enough shopping mileage to last me a lifetime, I decided to call it a day. I and my companions capped the day with a a sumptuous meal at Club Havana, just like what the stars of Magic Kitchen had. Club Havana is located along the sophisticated restaurant row of Knutsford Terrace. It’s a popular hangout due to its cozy ambiance and affordable prices. To prove, one can have a filling pasta buffet for only HK$99 that is offered daily from 6-9p.m. Aside from the pasta, equally delicious are the ribs, seafood dishes, sashimi and some Thai dishes. Dessert at Club Havana is also pretty good, with its wide assortment of sinful pastries and various slices of fru it for those who want to keep it light. I also recommend that you try its drink called "Sweetheart," which is a mixture of strawberry puree, fresh banana and bloody orange juice served in a margarita glass and topped with a strawberry. At only HK$48, it is a truly delightful and healthy accompaniment to a good meal.

Yes, Hong Kong is one place that never sleeps. This time, we went to a tony bar and restaurant called Felix, located at the 28th floor of the ever grand Peninsula Hotel. Not surprisingly, this was the place where Jackie Chan and Shu Qi dined in the movie Gorgeous. Located way high up, Felix is a perfect place to see the Victoria Harbour at night. Stepping out of the elevator, I walked into a tunnel-like structure made of dark brown walls. At the end of it was the first level of the restaurant, evoking a feel of effortless sophistication. A see-through glass window surrounding the place allows diners to take advantage of the spectacular view of Hong Kong at night. Meanwhile, a silver and white motif flows throughout the dining area. I went up the winding silver staircase and headed for the bar. Once on the 2nd level, I was greeted by a whimsical peach couch surrounding a crisp white marble bar table, where two bartenders were busy concocting some sensuously delightful cocktails. I happily settled on the couch and enjoyed the spectacular view of the Victoria Harbour at night. It didn’t take long for me to find a perfect nightcap. My drink of choice was a cocktail called "Jade," a mixture of lychee vodka, blue curacao and apple juice served in a martini glass with a cherry in the middle. The lychee vodka gives this refreshingly light drink a special touch, similar to how Felix delights its diners.

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Next week, join me as I get out of the bustling city of Hong Kong and visit a spectacular island as well as some more film locations, and do some more shopping!