New to kayak camping? This guide is for you, especially if you're a beginner with no roof rack, no idea where to start, and maybe a dog in tow. I'll walk you through choosing your first boat (inflatable or otherwise), picking a beginner-friendly destination, packing your gear, getting your permits, and what to actually expect on the water. Tex came on all three of my trips, so yes — we cover bringing your dog too!

The first day of Lunar New Year, my dad drove us to Tai Mei Tuk for lunch - the same place where I learned to ride bikes as a kid. The hill that used to feel impossibly steep didn't look steep anymore.

A few days later, I got on a bike in Hong Kong for the first time in over a decade and rode 26 miles from Tai Wai to Sam Mun Tsai. Protected cycle paths along Tolo Harbor, mountains rising across the water, fishing villages backed by forested hills. I caught up with my sister at Science Park, refilled my water bottle in Sam Mun Tsai, and realized something: you can come home and still discover new ways to explore.

This is a complete guide to cycling one of Hong Kong's most scenic routes - including MTR access, bike rentals, what to see along the way, and what it meant to ride in the place I grew up after years of grinding up Seattle's hills.