| Jun 21, 2012
“Polar Adventure” at Ocean ParkHang out with penguins, walruses, arctic foxes, snowy owls and spotted seals at Ocean Park’s new polar exhibit set to open on July 13; or take a ride on “Arctic Blast,” a roller coaster that simulates sledding.
Aberdeen, 3923-2323, www.oceanpark.com.hk.
The 70-foot Ping Nam falls are part of a series of cascades that includes the eye-catching Hula Skirt Falls and Twin Falls as well as the Old Dragon Pool and Nine Pools. Take the MTR East Rail to Fan Ling station, then take minibus 56 to Nam Chung Road. Walk along Cheng Uk Village toward the dam, then down the path on the right-hand side for about 45minutes.
Strap on a helmet and see how far you get through typhoon winds. (Not endorsed by the Hong Kong Observatory.)
Beat the heat by totally avoiding it: Airport Express to IFC, MTR to Pacific Place, underground tunnel to Star Street, refreshing mojito at 1/5 Nuevo.
9 Star St., Wan Chai, 2529-2300.
The Cheung Po-Tsai Cave in Cheung Chau is probably the most famous cave in Hong Kong, once serving as the hideout of local pirate Cheung Po-tsai. Get off the ferry and turn right, walking along the coast towards the very southeast corner of Cheung Chau. Before reaching the Tin Hau Temple on Tsan Tuen Road, there will be a Cheung Po Tsai Road sign on your left hand side that takes you to the cave.
Take a trip over to Macau and peruse the artistic ice sculptures at the Venetian's Ice World. Take it from us, it's freakin' freezing in there. Coats provided—really.
Estrada da Baia de N. Senhora da Esperanca, Taipa, Macau, (+852) 2882-8888, www.venetianmacao.com.
Stage a hostile takeover the upper deck of a bus and luxuriate in a long ride from Central to the New Territories and back again.
Prices for traditional red-sailed teak junk Aqua Luna range from $3,800-5,000 per hour (depending on the time) for up to 80 people. Departs from Pier 9 in Central and Pier 1 in Tsim Sha Tsui.
2854-1813, www.aqua.com.hk.
Head straight for the mine car roller coaster in the brand-spankin'-new Grizzly Gulch section opening July 14, and ride it over and over until your face freezes. Or get wet on the tamer jungle river cruise.
Lantau Island, 1830-830, park.hongkongdisneyland.com.
Hello, fountain in Hong Kong Park—you’re mine. :)
This is probably a roundabout way of cooling off—but take some helicopter lessons and get that cool breeze all up in your face.
2713-5171, www.aviationclub.hk.
Guitarist Craig Ogden, with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, performs a number of works with a hint of the Mediterranean on June 29.
$120-300 from www.urbtix.hk.
Manny, Diego and Sid’s glacial adventure continues in “Ice Age 4: Continental Drift,” which opens on July 12 in all major cinemas.
The best-selling Irish-Scottish alternative-rock quintet will play at AsiaWorld-Expo on August 4.
$580-780 from www.hkticketing.com.
California’s iconic pop rockers are on their 50th anniversary tour. Don’t miss Brian Wilson’s mellow sound on August 25 at HKCEC.
$588-1,888 from www.hkticketing.com.
Start a really "cool" indie band and release a "mix tape." That'll show ‘em. All those people with tape players.
From June 25 to Sept 3, guests at Mandarin Oriental can book a two-night Summer Luxury Break and receive daily credit to use at any of the hotel’s restaurants or at the hotel’s top-notch spa.
5 Connaught Rd. Central, 2522-0111, www.mandarinoriental.com.
18. Wash Your Hair (Really)Hop into the shower with Origins’ Clear Head Collection's mint shampoo and conditioner to get your scalp tingling. The shampoo and conditioner are $120 per 250ml. Shop 1079, 1/F, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Central,
3188-1826, www.origins.hk.
Forget steaming your pores open—plenty of faces benefit more from cold water or even ice. Book a "Your Facial" at the Four Seasons Spa (dependent on your skin condition), which runs from $1,400 to $3,100.
8 Finance St., Central, 3196-8888.
Buy a Smirnoff Ice and “ice” someone with it. (Note: this only applies to the class of ‘12.)
As the London Olympics take place from July 27 to Aug 12, go to The Globe to watch the games while enjoying their great selection of ice cold beers.
G/F, Garley Building, 45-53 Graham St., Central, 2543-1941.
W Hong Kong is bringing the splashes back to its rooftop pool. Every month till the end of September, there will be a pool party featuring DJs, games and Absolut signature cocktails.
1 Austin Rd. West, West Kowloon, 3717-2222.
It’s this really fun game that everyone is playing these days. Try it. On unsuspecting persons. In the middle of LKF. Everyone loves it.
Those bemoaning Balalaika’s closing (and its icy cold vodka room with it), take heart: a new contender is in town. Bordeaux Cellar and Bar's -20°C Siberian Vodka Room has 60 different kinds of vodka to choose from.Bordeaux Cellar and Bar, Shop D, G/F, Welcome Mansion, 58-64 Paterson St., Causeway Bay, 2577-9302, www.kingparrot.com.
Mixing vodka and homemade tea with cordial and soda, the Oolong Tea Collins—one of the signature cocktails at newly opened Quinary—is a perfect summer drink.
56-58 Hollywood Rd., Central, 2851-3223.
Try a bowl of gazpacho, a traditional Spanish vegetable soup served cold.
20/F, M88, 2-8 Wellington St., Central, 2900-2009.
Expect the freshest froyo at Red Mango along with a huge range of (unlimited) toppings.
G/F, 71 Wellington St., Central, 2907-1199, www.redmango.com.hk.
XTC has a variety of 
unique gelato flavors to choose from, such as Hong Kong milk tea and tofu cheesecake.
Various shops including Shop B, 45 Cochrane St., Central, 2541-0500.
Choose from signature shaved ice flavors and toppings, like the intriguingly named "chocolate snowy."
Various shops including 99 Hak Po St., Mong Kok, 2866-6380.
At Taku, inaniwa udon noodles (a thinner version of your typical udon) are imported straight from Tokyo.
35 Elgin St., Central, 2545-9966, www.taku.com.hk.
Italian small-plates restaurant Papi has introduced a new seafood summer menu.
Shop R011, 3/F, Roof Garden, Elements, 1 Austin Rd. West, West Kowloon, 2811-2681.
Rich n' creamy—and you’ll probably be hitting your required daily fruit intake, too. (Win/win.)
81A Electric Rd., Tin Hau, 2578-6162.
In lieu of taking a junk trip, why not learn how to navigate the waters yourself? Yachting Ventures offers courses for people of varying skill levels.
9333-8084, www.yachtingventures.com.
All junk trips worth their warm beer have some dude tied to a plank and attached to a speedboat. Learn how to do it in style from the instructors at Wakesurfection.
9402-2260, www.wakesurfection.com.
Explore Hong Kong’s many sea arches, caves and sparsely inhabited islands; Long Coast Seasports offers equipment rental by the hour as well as campsites.
29 Lower Cheung Sha Village, Lantau Island, 8104-6222, www.longcoast.hk.
Enjoy a beginners' class at the Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre at $1,500 per person per day, or $1,100 for a group of three to five people.
1 Hai Pak Rd., Tung Wan Beach, Cheung Chau, 2981-2772, www.ccwindc.com.
Get down in the Sai Kung waters—Splash HK provides scuba diving courses and also arranges private diving trips locally and internationally.
G/F, 168 Che Keng Tuk Rd., Hong Kong Marina, Sai Kung, 9047-9603, www.splashhk.com.
It’s never too late to take up an oar. (Hopefully a spill or two will tip you into the cool water.)
Kong Paddle Club, Victoria Recreation Club, 710 Island Rd., Deep Water Bay, 2812-2565, www.hkipc.com.
Head over to Mega Ice where you’ll be greeted by an international-sized rink—the largest in the city.
Unit 1, 10/F, Mega Box, 38 Wang Chiu Rd., Kowloon Bay, 2709-4023.
Play has two fully automated ski slope simulators, each with a total surface area of 500 square feet.
1/F-2/F Kras Asia Industrial Building, 79 Hung To Rd., Kwun Tong, 2797-9323, www.321play.com.hk.
Sign up for a group fishing session and set out to catch your fill of pelagic fish. No experience required.
9122-0695, www.hongkongfishings.com
For $750-$850 per hour, you and two friends can hang on for dear life as you bounce through rocky waters.
7 Mo Tat Wan, Lamma Island, 2792-8307, www.sai-sha.com.
Unfortunately, in Hong Kong you can’t just rent a jet ski and jump on. First, you need to license the vessel and pass an examination. Oh, and acquire third-party risk insurance for at least $1 million.
Visit the Marine Department at www.mardep.gov.hk or call 2852-4941.
In Australia’s capital Canberra, enjoy the winter with cool-climate wines, hot stone massages, oven-fired pizza and pottery demonstrations on wood-fired kilns.
Find out more and make bookings at www.firesidefestival.com.au (throughout August).
With temperatures ranging from 6 to 14 degrees, summer in Alta, Norway is still on the icy side. Sorrisniva's igloo hotel is unfortunately closed till winter, but settle for fishing trips or riverboat rides instead—you'll still need to wear a fleece.
For more information, visit www.sorrisniva.no.
Watch YouTube videos of ice melting.
Hikers can check out the offerings in the Daisetsu mountains in Hokkaido, Japan (non-hardcore folks can take a cable car some of the way up); there’s also a super, super northernmost island called Rebuntou.
For more information, visit en.visit-hokkaido.jp.
Go trekking, horseback riding or bird-watching and other nature-loving activities in Patagonia, Chile.
For more information, visit www.explora.com. Book flights through LAN Airlines (www.lan.com).
According to travel agency Flight Centre, some of the best places for summer skiing in New Zealand are Cadrona Alpine Resort and Treble Cone Ski Resort.
For more information, visit www.cardrona.com or www.treblecone.com. To book packages, visit Flight Centre at 49 Caine Rd., Mid-Levels, 2830-2810.
One classic way of keeping cool is to wave a frilly Chinese fan in your face like it makes any difference, and complain loudly to all within earshot.
