Hongkongers love to fly; it is both a habit and a part of their culture. However, air travel has a high carbon footprint, and it is one of the lifestyle choices that ordinary people can most easily adjust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The British often say, “You don’t have to fly to travel.” In fact, in this island nation, stunning scenery is all around. The rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, the tranquility of Loch Ness, the wildness of Snowdonia, and the charm of the Lake District are all world-class destinations. From London or Manchester, one can reach these places without boarding a plane, relying instead on trains, buses, or electric vehicles. Slowing down allows for a deeper and broader appreciation of the surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If one wishes to venture to the European mainland, flying is not a necessity either. The Eurostar provides direct access to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, and high-speed trains can take you further into the continent. Many believe that rail travel is time-consuming, but from another perspective, sitting in a carriage while enjoying the scenery and experiencing the rhythm of cities is the essence of the journey. For those with limited time, a compromise is possible: fly to the destination and take the train back. This halves emissions while still offering a rich travel experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Driving an electric car adds even more freedom. The Eurotunnel connects Folkestone to Calais in under 40 minutes, while a ferry from Dover to Calais takes just two hours. From there, one can head northeast to Estonia, southeast to Greece, or southwest to Portugal, embarking on a classic European road trip. Compared to waiting in airport lines, the autonomy and flexibility of driving are more suitable for family travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those staying in Hong Kong, travel does not have to equate to flying. The density of country parks in Hong Kong is rare among major global cities. Sai Kung Bay, the sunset at Phoenix Mountain, and the tranquility of South Lantau are all within an hour’s drive. For cross-border travel, the Greater Bay Area along the high-speed rail line, as well as Zhaoqing and Guilin, are popular destinations with distinct local cultures and expansive views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When flying is necessary, it can be approached more strategically. Instead of flying four times a year for one week each time, consider flying twice a year for two weeks each trip. The total holiday time remains unchanged, but flight frequency is halved, reducing emissions and saving on airfare. The journey becomes more immersive and, consequently, more enjoyable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of travel is to see the world, not to accumulate flight miles. Flying is not a sin, but it is indeed one of the behaviors that individuals can change most effectively. The world is vast, and we can explore it in a more thoughtful, relaxed, and responsible manner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hong Kong residents are accustomed to flying, but air travel has a high carbon footprint. By reducing flights and opting for deeper travel experiences, we can explore the world more responsibly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1855,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hk-affairs"],"yoast_head":"\n