Shop the other ladies' markets

Rain might make Mongkok's outdoor Ladies' Market less attractive as a shopping destination, but there are plenty of other bargain shopping options situated indoors -- Hong Kong isn't known as a shopper's paradise for nothing. There's the Argyle Centre, a 1970s-era mall that is the pulsating heart of Hong Kong street style, or hop on the MTR to Kwai Fong station where Kwai Chung Plaza is. A maze of little clothing shops await with their cheap-as-chips goods at this shopping mall. You'll find trendy clothes for women and children, many are copies or direct imports of the latest Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese styles. 

If you are a truly dedicated bargain hunter, then head straight for the motherload at Cheung Sha Wan's Hong Kong Industrial Centre where most of the clothing boutiques in Hong Kong buy their stock wholesale. Some of the shops here sell individual pieces to lay shoppers, but it will take the dedicated and tireless to go through the countless shops and hunt for suitable pieces.
Argyle Centre, unit 2, 9/F Austin Plaza, 83 Austin Road, Jordan, Kowloon; Kwai Chung Plaza is located next to the Kwai Fong MTR station; Hong Kong Industrial Centre, 489-491 Castle Peak Road, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. Also see Hong Kong's most unforgettable shopping malls.

Bank on staying dry

The Bank of China Tower is one of Hong Kong's most recognizable skyscrapers and the small observation deck on the 43rd floor is a great place to sit out the rain. As you watch the sky open over the harbor you really do feel as if you're in the eye of the storm. Fittingly, "water" means "money" in Cantonese slang and is symbolic of wealth in feng shui. So while we might never earn the salary of a banker, we like this rainy day activity for aligning two symbols of wealth (banks and money) and hopefully some good feng shui will rub off on us too.
Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road, Central www.bochk.com

Transcend this watery world

When the heavens open, and all hell breaks loose outside, one of the most peaceful places to be is inside a place of worship, even if you're not religious. Top of our list is a visit to St John's Cathedral, an oasis of calm in the middle of the city. The Cathedral is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for quiet prayer and meditation. Check out the meditation room at the back, it's a perfect place to ponder the world. 

Chi Lin Nunnery is another top pick. Watch as the rain falls onto the beautiful Chinese gardens and ponds filled with lotus flowers. Feeling adventurous? Head over to Lantau Island and walk from Discovery Bay to Mui Wo. On route, stop off at the old Trappist Haven Monastery. The scenic hike and its peaceful location should leave you feeling zen-like (if a little soggy).
St John's Cathedral: 4-8 Garden Road, Central www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk; Chi Lin Nunnery: 5 Chi Lin Drive, Diamond Hill, Kowloon www.chilin.org; Trappist Haven Monestary: Tai Shui Hang, Lantau Island www.hiking-hong-kong.com   

Book a spot on the second floor

Causeway Bay and Mongkok, two of the most densely populated shopping districts, demand crazy-high rents for their street-level shops, thus many proprietors locate on the second floor of buildings in these districts. These above-ground shops sell some of the most interesting and niche products in the city, turning the second-floor into a symbol of Hong Kong's indie, off-beat, quirky side. Hide away in second-floor specialty bookstores like People's Coffee & Books or lose sense of time browsing at Wanta, the sex shop located above People's. Cafes on second floors often offer free WiFi, balconies for smokers, and boardgames, like Painkiller Boardgame Cafe.
People's Coffee & Books, flat E, 2/F, Percival Building, 83 Percival Street, Causeway Bay, tel 2881 1215; Wanta, www.wanta.net; Painkiller Boardgame Cafe, unit 2, 9/F Austin Plaza, 83 Austin Road, Jordan, Kowloon, tel 2377 0227. See more kooky cafes in Hong Kong

Tour the harbor front... museums 

Tsim Sha Tsui's harbor-front promenade features two of Hong Kong's best museums. And museums are, after all, made for rainy days. The Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Space Museum are connected by sheltered walkways and best reached by MTR -- a short walk from exit J. Situated right on the harbor promenade, from these museums you can glimpse the cloud-shrouded towers of Hong Kong across the water between downpours. The Hong Kong Museum of Art is home to an ever-changing collection of historical paintings, Chinese ink paintings and contemporary Hong Kong art. For something less static, walk less than 50 sheltered metres to the dome-roofed Space Museum. Besides interactive scale-model rockets and authentic astronaut suits, it screens cosmic and natural history documentaries, some in sensaround. www.lcsd.gov.hk

Get drunk on beauty

We have learnt to admire the beauty of a rainy day, even a typhoon, here in Hong Kong, provided we are inside, dry, and looking out at the wet weather. A good strong storm imbues the Hong Kong skyline with a wash of moody gray, while occasional lightening slashes across brightly. Such a dramatic scene is best admired from Hong Kong's glamorous harborview bars. Naturally, the more we imbide, the prettier things look.
Check out Hong Kong's best harborview drinking spots. 

You might also want to read What to do in Hong Kong when the API hits 500 to find out about Hong Kong's indoor sporting activities, including golfing, flying and skiing.