The Corona Diaries - Don | Hong Kong Tour Guide
It is time, once again, for another Corona Diary from our Hello! Hong Kong Tours team. We aim to give you a sneak peek of our guides lives in the midst of the Pandemic. Don was one of our first Hello! Hong Kong tour guides. Originally from Melbourne Australia, he came to Hong Kong with his wife and they both instantly fell in love with the city.
Don, or The Don, as we call him will make you fall in love with Hong Kong too! He makes sure that all of his guests see the “real’ Hong Kong by showcasing the culture and local foods. We had a short interview with him and below he shares his COVID-19 diary.
Hello! Hong Kong tour guide Don (middle) enjoying a Cheung Chau Bun.
On a normal day, you are usually out on the streets showing our guests the beauty of Hong Kong. Given the travel restrictions imposed by several countries. How are you spending your time now?
I have volunteered for an NGO Board role in Hong Kong which has been really challenging and engaging and has kept me very busy. It's been great to spend time with my wife Mini as she normally travels a lot. We chat, watch shows together, cook (well I cook) and we signed up to Aaptiv an online exercise App and we have actually lost weight which was surprising!
We know that you also suffer from wanderlust. When this Pandemic is finally over, and you can go anywhere where will your wanderlust take you and why?
India is my favourite destination and I am really missing it at the moment. When you travel to India you have some sights in mind but it is always the interactions with the people that are the most valuable and memorable. It is the journey on the inside and what you learn about yourself that is so unexpected and I enjoy the most. Kerala state in India is leading the world in its humanitarian handling of Covid-19 -amazing people and a great place to be in a crisis!
After the world comes out of this dark time and that everyone can travel to Hong Kong again what is the first thing or place you are most excited about showing our guests and why?
I love to enjoy Hong Kong from the water. Even if it is a simple crossing on the Star Ferry, the Hello Hong Kong boat tour or a trip to an outlying island-like Cheung Chau it's a completely different aspect that has to be enjoyed! The picture is of me is enjoying a Cheung Chau Bun even though the festival was pretty quiet this year the buns are always popular.
What is the one thing that you this very unfortunate event has taught you and why?
I found more organizations are providing a lot of information and learning free now online and I am a big fan of free education so I hope that will continue.
Don’s message to everyone
To all our guests, keep positive and we look forward to welcoming you back to Hong Kong. This city is super resilient and we’ll be back providing wonderful experiences in no time!