is there is many pickpocket here?

is there is many pickpocket here?


I have been living in HK for more than 20 years, but never get robbed so far. So no need to worry about that

Thanks.ive arrived safetly at hk airport.quite impressive.I'm speechless.what is the best activity to do tomorrow?are anybody have an idea?

It depends on how long you are going to stay in HK

is there is many pickpocket here?

hong kong is safe with very little pickpocket.

but you still should travel smart. don't leave your bags unattended, don't show off the valuables, or leave your wallet and passport hanging around.

i went to oceanpark and it was amazing..the park was really awesomeand the ride was super cool..just a few park staff behave so arrogant,i can see them yell to tourist,i hope the staff will be more polite and friendly ..i love dragon n the flash..really enjoy all the ride.i can see they build up a new ride?when that project will expect to fully complete?im planning to holiday to hk again !

where can i get the cheapest souvenir?

walking at the waterfront last night..

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee482/aismanggo1/DSC_7147.jpg

when i can see light n sound?is it every night or certain night only?and what time is the schedule?

i went to oceanpark and it was amazing..the park was really awesomeand the ride was super cool..just a few park staff behave so arrogant,i can see them yell to tourist,i hope the staff will be more polite and friendly ..i love dragon n the flash..really enjoy all the ride.i can see they build up a new ride?when that project will expect to fully complete?im planning to holiday to hk again !


I'm glad to hear that you did enjoy your time in Ocean Park, but to be honest, I don't think it's a good time to visit Ocean Park as the aquarium there has just been demolished, the bigger aquarium and other brand new facilities are scheduled to open on Jan.27, so you missed one of major attractions today.

Followings are the promotion videos of the project.

全新香港海洋公園 It's TIME to NEW OCEAN PARK
6dgFesUc6KI

雙龍奇緣預覽版 Symbio Show Preview
2Xq-LGC9nQ4

Information of the Light Show "A Symphony of Lights"

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/canada/attractions/kln-symphony-lights.html


Suggestion of your trip

http://www.np360.com.hk/html/eng/front/index.asp?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=np360

does anyone know how i can withdraw money from maybank and where is maybank hongkong located?is it possible for me to withdraw it or should i register first before using plus and cirrus?

oh..ok..thank for the info but last night they perfome the preview of symbio..it was amazing and awesome..all those foutain,laser projection,firework,sound,and water!

does anyone know how i can withdraw money from maybank and where is maybank hongkong located?is it possible for me to withdraw it or should i register first before using plus and cirrus?

there is no maybank in HK, but you can probably withdraw money through the cirrus, master, or visa network at most ATM machine in hk with a service fee per withdrawal.

Hello HKers!

I'm returning to Hong Kong and will be travelling around SE Asia in the next few months. I was hoping somebody could help with a small translation. I have a food allergy and was hoping one of you could translate it into these four languages (Chinese traditional and simplified, Vietnamese, Thai). Since it's pretty serious, I don't entirely trust online translation services. Send me a private message if you'd be able to.

Thanks much for your help.

Cheers!

Hi everyone,

Where do you recommend to have photos printed poster-size and/or on canvas?

I'm hoping to have a number of photos printed when I'm in HK next month (for 5 days, so not too much time).

Cheers :)

Will

Here you go: http://www.poster.com.hk/

In case if you want more choices: http://timway.com/hk/Service/Marketing/Ad_Products/Poster_Banner_Production/
:cheers:

Hong Kong a fusion of East and West
Gleaming metropolis in tropical setting has lots to do and it's easy to get around

BY SARAH TRELEAVEN, POSTMEDIA NEWS

Hong Kong is a glorious fusion of the foreign and familiar, Western and Eastern, bargains and splurges, fine dining with starched linens and street food served on plastic tables. It's a gleaming metropolis with a lush tropical backdrop, with something for everyone. Getting around is easy: In addition to a first-rate subway system, there's the Star Ferry between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Cabs and public transit are cheap and efficient. Here's how to make the best use of 48 hours.

DAY 1

8 a.m. You'll find any number of coffee shops and Chinese bakeries in the Tsim Sha Tsui neighbourhood. Kee Wah Bakery (Shop A1, 25-29 Hankow Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui; 852-2199-7606) offers traditional sweet and savoury buns at bargain prices.

9 a.m. The Peak Tram (33 Garden Rd., Central; 85225220922), a slow crawl to the best viewing platform of Hong Kong's glistening skyscrapers, bustling harbours and forested hills is a must-do on a nice day. At the top, you'll have your pick of Western vendors such as Starbucks.

11 a.m. Man Mo Temple (Hollywood Road and Ladder Street, Western District; 852-2803-2916) reveres the gods of war and literature. Duck inside to catch a glimpse of fruit-and flowerladen shrines and giant incense coils bringing luck to local families. There are also several rituals involving luck or prognostication, such as fortune-telling and the writing of a letter to your birth god, that are fun. Continue down Hollywood Road to browse the mix of high and low antiques and tchotchkes. (Chairman Mao bookends, anyone?)

1 p.m. On your way to the Soho neighbourhood, stop at Kung Lee Sugar Cane (60 Hollywood Rd., Central; 852-2544-3571) for fresh sugarcane juice, then wander through the Graham Street wet market for eels thrashing in buckets and plenty of unrecognizable produce. Lunch at one of the small streetside establishments that serve up cheap Cantonese fare to locals. Have a herbal tea at Good Spring Co. Chinese Pharmacy (8 Cochrane St., Central; 852-2544-3518.

2 p.m. Soho's streets are lined with quirky boutiques, and you'll find plenty of unusual styles. (I came away with a pair of highheeled brown shearling boots for HK$650 ($84). Hard to picture? That's because they're completely ridiculous.) Fang Fong Projects (Shop 1, 69 Peel St., Central; 852-3105-5557) has fun leather purses and asymmetrical dresses. Message Fashion Shop (Shop A, 34 Staunton St., Central; 852-3101-8123) has girlish tops and lovely boots and shoes. To satisfy more conventional tastes, head down the world's largest outdoor escalator for shiny malls, expensive brand-name boutiques and old favourites like Marks & Spencers (28 Queens Rd., Central; 852-2921-8059). And then head back to Soho to join expats with generous expense accounts as they spill out of bars for happy hour.

8 p.m. Enoteca (47 Elgin St., Central; 852-2525-9944) for a round of tapas. The flash-fried lemon squid with harissa aioli, Moroccan spiced-lamb cutlets with coriander humus, and marinated goat cheese are delicious. Another great option for dinner is Branto (9-11 Lock Rd., Tsim Tsa Sui; 852-2366-8171), which serves no frills but delicious vegetarian Indian fare.

10: 30 p.m. Finish off the night with drinks at the colonial Foreign Correspondents Club (2 Lower Albert Rd., Central; 852-2521-1511, call ahead if you're not a member) or hit Dragon-I (The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St., Central; 852-3110-1222), one of HK's hottest clubs, for a night of dancing, fancy cocktails and (probably) feeling unhip.

DAY 2

9 a.m. Head to the Mongkok Markets (Nathan Road and Argyle Street, Mongkok) and wander through the flower market, wet market, goldfish market, bird garden and surrounding shops. Check out the Jade Market (Kansu Street and Battery Street, Yau Ma Tei) for more than 400 stalls of affordable jewellery and good luck charms. (Tip: Barter gently.)

11 a.m. Dim sum is to Hong Kong what fondue is to Switzerland. Causeway Bay West Villa Restaurant (Shop 101-102, 1/F, Lee Gardens Two, 28 Yun Ping Rd., Causeway Bay; 85228822110) has a tasty selection; the sugared BBQ pork buns and whole roasted pigeon (eating the head is optional) are outstanding. If you're looking for dessert (or just a laugh), drop by Modern Toilet (Shop 4E, 4th Floor, Capitol Centre, 5-19 Jardine's Bazaar, Causeway Bay; 852-2895-6288), where diners sit on toilets, eat over wash basins and stare at shower heads adorning the walls. It's not cheap, but how do you put a price on watching teenage girls eat an ice cream sundae out of a small bidet?

1 p.m. Spend your afternoon wandering around Wan Chai, a mix of local boutiques and a mishmash of architectural styles, or head back to Tsim Sha Sui to check out the Hong Kong Museum of Art (10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui; 85227210116), Hong Kong History Museum (100 Chatham Rd. S., Kowloon; 852-2724-9042) and wander through the sculpture garden and aviary at Kowloon Park (22 Austin Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui). Or have high tea at the Peninsula Hotel (Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; 852-2920-2888).

5 p.m. If you've stayed in Wan Chai, drop by The Pawn (62 Johnston Rd., Wan Chai; 852-2866-3444), a hip second-storey space carved out of a the remains of a pawnshop, for drinks. Or, if you're back in Tsim Sha Tsui, embrace that pirate spirit with a harbour cruise on the Aqua Luna (Pier 1 in TST; 852-2116-8821), one of the last junk boats in HK.

8 p.m. Dine at Hullett House (2A Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui; 852-3988-0000), a hotel and topshelf entertainment complex lovingly converted from the Marine Police Headquarters 1881 heritage building. Red lanterns in the courtyard take you back in time, and five restaurants offer everything from steak to elegant Cantonese cuisine.

10: 30 p.m. Finish the night with fancy cocktails on the outdoor patio at nearby Busy Suzie (Shop 209, 2A Canton Rd., Kowloon; 852-2369-0077). The muddled ginger Champagne is sharp and delicious, and it will help keep you on your toes for late-night foot reflexology. Tai Pan Reflexology and Foot Spa (Basement, 83 Nathan Rd., Kowloon; 852-2301-1990) isn't fancy, but it's comfortable and cheap and you might even find yourself nodding off as the knots are worked out of your feet.

Sarah Treleaven was a guest of Cathay Pacific, the Intercontinental hotel and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

http://www.timescolonist.com/travel/Hong+Kong+fusion+East+West/4429654/story.html

THE ASIA ISSUE: 36 HOURS
36 Hours in Hong Kong

By NAOMI LINDT
Published: March 17, 2011

IN Hong Kong, that most cosmopolitan of cities, contrasts abound. Ladies toting Gucci handbags wait two hours in dingy alleys for a coveted bowl of noodles. Incense-filled Buddhist temples fight for space with gleaming new high-rises. Cutting-edge art galleries share a block with junk shops. Always reinventing itself — a recent example being the rebirth of the former marine police headquarters as the 1881 Heritage, housing a luxury mall and boutique hotel — Hong Kong is a city of constant change. Its coiffed, work-hard-play-harder professionals attract the world’s most inventive chefs to their city, while the nonstop shoppers — soldiering on, late into the night — get first shot at the latest in fashion and design. Somehow, over seven million residents have managed to carve out a niche in this buzzing, compact, vertical city.

Friday

5 p.m.
1) START WITH ART

Hong Kong has lagged behind places like New York and London when it comes to the arts. But recent high-profile arrivals like Ben Brown Fine Arts and the Gagosian Gallery, coupled with the city’s plans to develop the West Kowloon Cultural District over the next decade, signal a creative awakening. Head to trendy Sheung Wan and its independent galleries to see the latest in contemporary international art. For photography, try the Upper Station (22 Upper Station Street; 852-3486-2474; theupperstation.com), known for work that examines Hong Kong’s changing identity. The nonprofit Para/Site Art Space (4 Po Yan Street; 852-2517-4620; para-site.org.hk) hosts exhibitions that often feature political or social commentary by emerging artists from places like Indonesia and Thailand.

8 p.m.
2) CULINARY RENAISSANCE

Following a $65 million renovation involving designers like Colin Cowie and Charles Allem, the 50-year-old Hotel Miramar in Tsim Tsa Shui was reborn as the Mira Hotel in late 2009. Not only are the rooms getting raves, but its Cantonese restaurant, Cuisine Cuisine (118 Nathan Road; 852-2315-5222; themirahotel.com), scored two Michelin stars this year under Ken Yu, known for his use of fresh ingredients and exquisite homemade sauces. Dishes like honey-glazed barbecued pork (130 Hong Kong dollars, or about $17 at 7.6 Hong Kong dollars to the U.S. dollar) and pan-fried cod with pomelo sauce (240 dollars) are served under a ceiling of suspended glass balls.

10:30 p.m.
3) SING IT OUT

Karaoke bars come in all shapes and sizes on Kowloon, but to see fashionable 20- and 30-somethings in full crooner mode, head to Cloudnine on Minden Avenue’s night-life strip (No. 8; 852-2723-6383). In the dimly lighted back room, the casual cool crowd — men in designer jeans and sneakers, women with blunt bangs and in miniskirts — share bottles of Johnnie Walker and tackle syrupy Cantopop ballads while lounging on velour couches. For a breath of fresh air, head across the street for a glass of wine (66 Hong Kong dollars) on the leafy terrace at Courtney’s (No. 7, the Minden Hotel; 852-2739-7777; theminden.com).

Saturday

9 a.m.
4) TRADITIONAL TRACK

For over 100 years, compact double-decker trams (hktramways.com) have been rumbling back and forth across Hong Kong Island. They still provide one of the cheapest and most scenic ways to experience the city’s daily life with a bird’s-eye view. Hop on anywhere along the line, grab a seat on the upper deck and watch the colorful panorama unfold — outdoor markets spilling over with choy sum and bok choy; storefronts strung with glistening Peking duck; old-school barber shops; and high-rises budding from the hills. A one-way ride is just 2 Hong Kong dollars.

11 a.m.
5) NOODLE MANIA

Disembark near the Central MTR station and walk toward D’Aguilar Street to partake of another Hong Kong obsession: Butao Ramen (11-12 Wo On Lane; bowl of soup from 75 Hong Kong dollars). Hong Konger Meter Chen sampled more than 800 bowls of ramen during his 15 years in Japan before convincing his favorite Tokyo chef to join him in opening this tiny 15-seat dining spot last October. Devotees wait in line for up to two hours to slurp one of the day’s 200 bowls, which are filled with a salty pork-rib-based broth, thin noodles and finely sliced barbecued pork, ear mushrooms and scallions.

12:30 p.m.
6) THE BRITISH ARE COMING

The British fashion designer Gareth Pugh opened his first store in the world last year on Ice House Street (No. 10; 852-2801-5332), sharing the block with Comme des Garçons and Ann Demeulemeester. His goth-rock designs — cropped tops made of safety pins; second-skin leather pants — are housed in a creepy, cavernous space. A short walk away is Rupert Sanderson’s first flagship outside of Britain (8 On Lan Street; 852-2530-3391; rupertsanderson.com), where you’ll find patent oxfords and sky-high python-skin platforms.

3 p.m.
7) TEA TIME

Wind your way through pond- and bird-filled Hong Kong Park to reach the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (10 Cotton Tree Drive; 852-2869-0690; hk.art.museum; free), which chronicles over 3,000 years of Chinese tea drinking. Housed in a 167-year-old Greek Revival mansion that was once the residence of the commander of the British forces, the collection includes intricately designed tea services with flourishes like mother-of-pearl inlay and hand-painted fish and swallows. Afterward, sip a perfectly steeped cup (from 38 Hong Kong dollars) at the adjacent antiques-filled Lock Cha Tea House (852-2801-7177; lockcha.com).

7:30 p.m.
8) CHEF’S TABLE

In response to astronomical rents and ruthless landlords, chef-run private kitchens — speakeasy-like restaurants in residential buildings — have taken Hong Kong by storm. A noteworthy newcomer is TBLS (31 Hollywood Road, seventh floor; 852-2544-3433; tbls-kitchenstudio.com), where the young Vietnamese-American chef Que Vinh Dang prepares a six-course set menu (580 Hong Kong dollars) that changes monthly. The open kitchen takes center stage in the minimalist space, producing dishes like cassoulet pot pie with homemade sausage, tomato-basil alphabet soup with a wagyu beef sloppy Joe, and “instant sangría”: macerated fruit, homemade rainbow sorbet and red wine. To secure one of the 26 seats, book at least a month in advance.

10 p.m.
9) SHAKE IT UP

The cocktail revolution has hit Hong Kong’s shores, led by year-old Lily & Bloom (33 Wyndham Street; 852-2810-6166; lily-bloom.com). The New York firm AvroKO (the Stanton Social, Public) designed the brasserie-meets-supper club space — black banquettes, wrought-iron chandeliers, vintage glassware — and the Milk & Honey alum Christy Pope consulted on the menu, which includes the Old Cuban (120 Hong Kong dollars), made with 23-year-old rum, mint and lime; and a blackberry-pineapple sidecar (110 dollars). At boudoir-themed Varga Lounge (36 Staunton Street; 852-2104-9697; greenflashgroup.com.hk), sip signature tipples like the absinthe-and-pineapple Green Fairy (70 dollars) among images of ’50s pinup girls and retro furniture.

Sunday

10 a.m.
10) HOT BUNS

Scoring a seat at the dim sum house Tim Ho Wan (2-20 Kwong Wa Street; 852-2332-2896) should be your main mission of the day. The chef Mak Pui Gor left his post at the Four Seasons’ three-star Lung King Heen in 2009 to open this crammed, hole-in-the-wall, which received its own star soon after opening. Everything is amazing here, but the sugarcoated baked barbecued pork buns (14 Hong Kong dollars) are superb. Waits can be as long as four hours and you’ll need to be pushy — don’t hesitate to repeatedly show your number to the gruff lady who runs the show and demand an update (you can ask for a wait estimate and return later). It’s worth it.

1 p.m.
11) SPIRITED GARDENS

The tranquil, bonsai-filled grounds and lotus ponds at Chi Lin Nunnery (5 Chi Lin Drive; 852-2354-1888; chilin.org) are a welcome respite from the urban bustle. Founded in 1934 but rebuilt in the 1990s, the wide-eaved Tang Dynasty-style wooden pavilions that make up the elaborate temple complex were built without a single nail. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the shorn, brown- and gray-robed nuns placing orchids and bowls of fruit at the feet of gold-cloaked deities, just as they’ve done for decades.

IF YOU GO

The sprawling minimalist rooms at the Upper House (88 Queensway; 852-3968-1111; upperhouse.com) in Pacific Place, by the Hong Kong interior designer Andre Fu, offer commanding harbor and mountain views coupled with king-size beds, light wood paneling and limestone-clad baths. Doubles from 3,300 Hong Kong dollars, about $432.

Cherry red and lime green Arne Jacobsen Egg chairs punctuate the muted, technologically thoughtful rooms (in-room PC, Blu-ray player, mobile phone for guests’ use) at the design-savvy Mira (118 Nathan Road; 852-2368-1111; themirahotel.com), located among Tsim Sha Tsui’s many shops and restaurants. Doubles start at 1,615 dollars.

Occupying the top 16 floors of a 118-story building, the city’s tallest, the Ritz-Carlton (1 Austin Road West; 852-2263-2263; ritzcarlton.com) is making a triumphant return to Hong Kong. Introductory rates from 4,088 dollars.

A version of this article appeared in print on March 20, 2011, on page TR12 of the New York edition.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/travel/20hours-hongkong.html

The Irish Times - Saturday, March 26, 2011

Hong Kong where the boom goes on

TAKE A TRIP back to the recent past, when the economy was booming and restaurants were opening instead of closing. Visit Hong Kong where shopping is an obsession and the traditional greeting, “Neih sihk jo faahn meih a?” means “Have you eaten yet?”

Hong Kong is a city on the up and a great place to visit if you’re nostalgic for boom times. China is now the world’s second largest economy and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

Plan your visit carefully and you can enjoy colonial-era luxury with 21st-century convenience and, of course, the best dim sum in the world.

You may have to brace yourself for boomtime prices in the fancy places and, if you want fine dining on the 30th floor with a view of one of the most dramatic harbours in the world, you’ll need your flexible friend.

Hong Kong, including the Kowloon peninsula and the New Territories, has a population of seven million busy, commercial souls, but the original Hong Kong island squeezes just over a million people into a high rise strip facing Kowloon across the bay. The built-up area is not much broader than Dún Laoghaire though, of course, a lot taller. This is where you want to be.

YOU CAN’T HELP having a high time in Hong Kong. Half a dozen of the world’s tallest buildings stick up like space rockets around the harbour and light up like roman candles at night. The most modest apartment blocks are all more than 20 storeys, but at street level the shops, stalls, old Toyota taxis and rattling trams are of very human dimensions.
Everyone speaks some English, especially if they think they can sell you something. Official China, in the People’s Republic, uses Mandarin, which they call Ponghua, but in Hong Kong, known as the Special Administrative Region, the locals use Cantonese and capitalism runs pretty rampant.

Efforts at speaking a few Cantonese phrases are met with good humoured indulgence. They do tend to swap the consonants N and L so, instead of greeting them with “Neih hou ma” (Are you well?), as the guidebooks suggest, you’re better saying “Lei hou ma”, to which the response is “Lei hou”. And if you look for something stronger to drink in a local tea house you’ll generally get “Lo beer” in reply.

We booked into the Mandarin Excelsior through Travel Republic and got an excellent deal that worked out at €50 per person per night. You can spend a lot more but you won’t get much for much less, unless you’re in the first flush of youth and happy in a hostel. The Hong Kong dollar is worth about 10 cent, so conversion is easy – just move the decimal point one place and it’s almost right.

The Excelsior was great, from the affable Sikh doormen to the band from Detroit in the cocktail bar on the roof but, with breakfast at HKD170 (€16) and buffet dinner at HKD450 (€41) before you have a glass of wine, we tended to start the day in a Starbucks, move on to dim sum for brunch and then take our pick of the bewildering variety of restaurants around the city for dinner.

The high point of our dining was undoubtedly Hutong, part of the Aqua group, at 1 Peking Road, where the picture windows on top of the skyscraper displayed the futuristic cityscape, while our expert waiter gently guided us through the Pekinese cuisine, explaining why we were ordering too much, and withdrawing some dishes when we began to appreciate what we had taken on. As we alternated the obligatory tea with a cool Gewurztraminer, vertigo mingled with hilarity on one of the most delightful meals we had ever shared.

You can have a lot of fun for a lot less money. There are plenty of Buddhists in Hong Kong and you can find excellent vegetarian restaurants where they can make tofu into bizarrely faithful replicas of roast goose, duck and beef, Tastier than the real thing and cheaper too. Greenfeel in Mong Kok is a brilliant example. Mong Kok is an area in the Kowloon where prices tumble and street markets multiply. It’s still all tower blocks, but they have a more lived-in feel.

On Hong Kong island, where everything is shinier, we had classic dim sum in the Merchants Wharf opposite the Macau Ferry terminal in one of the few red-bricked warehouses to survive the march of the skyscrapers.

With fine cotton table cloths and politely formal waiters, in a room overlooked by a cast-iron balcony, it was a delightful combination of the old Shelbourne hotel and the English Market in Cork. The food came in waves, as it does, so we had dim sum and dim sum more, the way you do.

Guidebooks will tell you to have afternoon tea in the Peninsula Hotel, but the queues can be horrendous. How can you enjoy a cucumber sandwich under the resentful gaze of hungry tourists in steaming sweatpants? Pop round to the Langham Hotel in Tsim Sha Shui, just 45m away, and relax in cosseted obscurity on voluptuous furniture, while the classical violinist plays charmingly and the tiniest cream cakes in the world, and the most sublime jasmine tea, are offered for your amusement.

YOU CAN EASILY take a train to see the Big Buddha in Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. Like everything else in Hong Kong this is a very modern institution. The giant figure of the Enlightened One only went up in the past 25 years.

Nonetheless, they are sincere in their faith and the whole place, from the veggie tea house to the stairway to heaven, has an atmosphere of calm reflection. The most spectacular aspect is the cable car ride, which doesn’t just go straight up the mountain but loops over peaks and valleys in dizzying swoops.

When we hung, like a bird on a wire, a thousand feet above Tung Chung, where the skyscrapers were children’s blocks and the hawks hovered far below us, it felt about as much like nirvana as I ever expect to experience on a holiday.

Hong Kong isn’t like anywhere else, and it isn’t for everyone. But if you want to see the smile on the face of the tiger, and feel the giggling contentment of people who like to shop for bargains at two in the morning and are prepared to toe the government line, so long as they can do it in Jimmy Choos, then Hong Kong is an adventure that you will enjoy and a memory you will always treasure.

Hong Kong where to . ..


3 places to stay

Value : Bishop Lei, 4 Robinson Road, The Mid-Levels, 00-852-2868-0828. Floor-to-ceiling windows in a nice clean hotel run by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Just behind the towering Two International Centre and across the road from the cheap and cheerful Star Ferry Pier. Check out the outdoor aviary in Hong Park on the hill behind. Doubles from HKD900 (€81).

Mid-Market: The Excelsior, 281 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, 00-852-2894-8888. Great views of the harbour, especially from the ToTT bar on the top floor. The rooms are spacious, especially for Hong Kong, and quiet. If you want a bang, the Noonday Gun is fired just across the street at, you guessed it, 12 noon each day. The underground MTR is just around the corner, as is the Victoria Park and public swimming pool. Doubles from HKD1,180 (€106).

Upmarket : The Peninsula, Salisbury Road, Kowloon, 00-852-2920-2888. When you see the row of Connaught green Rolls Royces parked out front you know what to expect. This place has been pampering potentates since 1928. The queue for afternoon tea is insane. Check out the Felix cocktail bar instead for sensational views and some serious splashing out. Doubles from HKD5,000 (€450).

3 places to eat

Value : Greenfeel Vegetarian, 145 Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon, 00-852-2393-8012. Excellent vegetarian restaurant in a budget area of Kowloon where you can find fantastic bargains in the street markets. They do the strangest things with tofu to make it taste just like famous Chinese meat dishes, only better. All the tea you can drink but no alcohol is served. If that sounds dull, trust me, the food is hilarious and ludicrously good value.

Mid-Market: Peak Lookout, 121 Peak Road, Victoria Peak, 00-852-2849-1000. Go for the location. After you have queued for the funicular tram and schlepped around admiring the view, this is the perfect place to recuperate. The leafy garden setting is like something transported from Tuscany. The food is good, if not particularly local, and they have a full bar and friendly staff. An unbeatable lunch spot.

Upmarket: Hutong, 1 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Shui, Kowloon, 00-852-3428-8342. The cuisine of northern China is the speciality here. Thats Pekinese to me and you. Less spicy than Szechuan and less hearty than Hong Kong. The duck, of course, is sensational. So is the service, the view and the funky furniture, resembling something from an emperors tomb. Its part of the Aqua group, which also has a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant upstairs. Pricey, but youre worth it.

Shop spot

Shopping is the opium of the people in Hong Kong. from the boutiques of Causeway Bay to the flea markets of Kowloon. Ignore the guys selling fake Rolexes and go to Raja Fashions at 34C Cameron Road, off Nathan Road, to get a handmade suit for reasonable money. The best shops we found were in the Citygate Outlets, 20 Tat Tung Road in Tung Chung. This isnt actually in Hong Kong, but on the nearby Lantau Island, where you go to see the Big Buddha. You can reach it by MTR in half an hour. All the big brands, lots of big discounts. They even have a wine bar where you can park the husband when he loses the will to live.

Night spot

The Chinese would sooner shop than drink, so the expats who want to party, cluster in Lang Kwai Fong on Hong Kong island, where the bars stay open late and the staff are broadminded. Its like Temple Bar, but not as messy, and the vibe is nice and mellow.

Get there

British Airways (ba.com), Qantas (qantas.com) and Virgin Atlantic (virgin-atlantic.com) fly from London Heathrow to Hong Kong

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/travel/2011/0326/1224293086402.html

I'll be visiting Hong Kong in early May for a few days (madly in love with the city, and have visited a few times).

I was wondering whether anyone knew any good paper/stationary stores? A friend wants me to bring back some fine paper as she makes books for a hobby.

I did a quick Google search but couldn't really find anything.

Thanks, everyone.

88 things to do this summer in Hong Kong
May to August are arguably Hong Kong's best months -- here are 88 reasons why
By Daniel Pordes 15 April, 2011

Hit the beach

1. With more than 100 beaches in Hong Kong, it is possible to go to a different one for every day of summer. Start with 7 of Hong Kong's best beaches.
2. After hibernating all winter, you may want to get some pre-tanning action in rather then turn up for the first beach day of the season looking like an under-cooked sausage. Bronze it up at Califonia Beach Club.

3. Or fake it like a pro at Om Day Spa.

4. Your tan is great, but the love handles less so. Milk the various summer promotions at the gym for a few less tyres around your middle. Try any of the giants for a good deal, such as Pure, California Fitness, Fitness First, Physical, Action Waterfall.

5. Or take advantage of the big natural gym: the great outdoors. Tackle a killer hike like the Dragon’s Back, which has spectacular views and ends at Big Wave Bay, one of Hong Kong's best beach.

6. Loving the beach but not the hike? Shek O is reachable by public transport and is a great place to indulge in low-impact activities like people watching, general lazing about, and a barbecue. See Hong Kong's best public barbecue sites.

7. When we can’t bear to leave the seaside after just one day we rent a beachside apartment in Cheng Chau and spend the weekend exploring.

8. A beach without its beachside drinks shack feels incomplete. Check out the awesome smoothies at Ooh La La on Pui O beach, or anything at one of Hong Kong's best beach bars.

9. Cross your fingers that Tai Long Sai Wan, Hong Kong's last pristine area, will be developed responsibly.

Jump in the water

10. Hit the waves at Tai Long Wan or Big Wave Bay for some gnarly (ish) board action. It’s not the peak season for big waves in Hong Kong, but it’s a helluva lot warmer.
11. When surfing alone is not enough of a challenge, head over to the Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre, where gold-medalist Lee Lai Shan was coached.

12. Already a baron of the board and a wizard at windsurfing, then maybe kitesurfing is the challenge you need. Check out Shui Hui Bay and Pui O in Lantau for the best sites.

13. Watch the pros at the Hong Kong Wakeboard Open Championship in August (date TBC).

14. Actually see some of the sea-side scenery, rather than whizzing through it, by renting a kayak for some leisurely paddling.

15. If you want to tackle something bigger than a canoe, you can also try your hand at sailing. Aberdeen Boat Club offers instruction and rentals.

16. Take a junk trip. Hong Kong's de rigueur summertime activity. Watch out for Kinky Ginko's annual Mega Junk party where around 400 people take a junk trip together.

17. Or do it low-key and catch a sampan ride around Aberdeen harbour during a warm summer night.

18. Realise that sedate seafaring is just not pushing your buttons and charter the “Black Mamba” Power Boat for a full-throttle adventure instead.

19. Go diving in Hong Kong and discover that it’s not actually that polluted underwater after all.

Get some action

20. Cycle around Plover Cove reservoir in the quiet and scenic area of Tai Mei Tuk. Or try any of Hong Kong's scenic cycling tracks.
21. Learn to paraglide. All together now, “I believe I can ...”

22. Throw a line out and dangle your rod and tackle in the hope of a bite. That’s fishing, of course, not Lan Kwai. Head out to the oil rigs for deep sea fishing or to the fresh water reservoirs -- but get a license first.

23. Cheer on your district at the third annual Hong Kong Games from May 14-June 5.

24. Take on the hills and paths of Tai Lam Country Park with some off-road mountain biking. It is Hong Kong though, so naturally you’ll need a permit.

25. See if the 500 tonnes of imported Zhuhai sand made a difference to Repulse Bay Beach and take on all comers in a beach volleyball marathon. Check out the Hong Kong Beach Volley Ball League for games and lessons.

26. Haul yourself up a sheer face. A heartbeat from Central, and thus close to much-needed refreshments following the climb, is the recently developed Central Crags. Beginners should check out the course (ask for Sammy Lee) at the YMCA in King's Park first.

27. Enjoyed watching the Hong Kong Sevens but not ready to actually get slammed by an overgrown gorilla? Try touch rugby instead. All the fun of the game, without the brutal violence and crippling injuries. The season runs from May to July, with courses for beginners taking place in August.

28. Make friends while defying death; join up with an extreme sports group like Project X and Adventure Spirit.

29. Bring out your Inner [pre-sexting] Tiger Woods, and head out to the driving range.

30. Watch the stars of tomorrow and the masters of yesteryear kick a pigskin around a pitch, while expats who should know better sing too loudly and drink too much at the Soccer 7s on May 13-15.

31. Jump off a cliff at Sheung Luk Stream. Or stumble across the secret waterfalls and go for a swim in the rock pools in Tai Tam Country Park.

32. Watch the stars of right now, as premier league clubs Chelsea, Aston Villa and Blackburn take on the HK League Champs (either Kitchee or South China) in the Barclays Asia Trophy at Hong Kong Stadium, July 27-30.

Contemplate nature

33. Jump on a dolphin watch tour and search for Flipper's pink cousins.
34. If you prefer your fauna in a controlled environment check out Hong Kong Park's aviary and botanical gardens, or the Yuen Po Bird Garden for a Hong Kong-style man and animal connection.

35. Stand on the High Island East Dam in Sai Kung and wistfully ponder the mystery of the sea. Not for those who suffer from vertigo or hydrophobia.

36. Take otherworldly photos in nearby Hong Kong National Geopark; get worryingly twitchy about the lack of 7-Elevens.

37. Get as far away from the city light as possible (try Lantau or Sai Kung) and go stargazing. The Perseid meteor shower is worth staying up for, starting end of July and peaking in mid-August.

38. Hunt for fireflies along the Tai Po Kau Nature Trail. Evenings at the end of August are the best time, and fast-flowing streams along the trail the best place to find the little lovebugs flickering away their affections.

39. Meet the monkeys of Kam Shan. Just don’t carry food with you: these macaques are descended from formerly caged pets from the 1920s which makes them kinda like ex-convicts, and therefore bad asses.

Escape the heat

40. Go ice skating in Festival Walk. For those who hate the humidity, or just love irony.
41. Splash down the Raging River ride at Ocean Park. Along with the new Rainforest zone opening this May, they’re also bound to have other water-related fun for the summer months (date TBC).

42. Check out the "Rewind" treatment at the Mandarin Oriental for sunburnt skin and increasing the longevity of your tan or the cucumber oil wrap at Let's Spa for sun damaged skin.

43. Escape the outdoors by hiding in a cinema for the Hong Kong Summer Film Festival (date TBC).

44. Freeze in the ice bar at Ivan the Kozack and drink delicious spirits to warm the belly.

45. Stroll along the upper reaches of Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest point. Check out Ng Tung Chai waterfall while you’re there.

46. Take a dip at the rooftop pool at the W Hotel for amazing panoramic views. Or take the kids to Tsueng Kwan O or Tsing Yi Swimming pools and play on the water slides.

Quench the thirst

47. ‘Tis the season to sit inside hiding from a typhoon. Be bold and go for a walk during a T-8, or preferably drink one.
48. Enjoy a sunny afternoon’s coffee (or something stronger) at relative newcomer Eye Bar, on top of iSQUARE, with panoramic views of the Hong Kong Island skyline.

49. Or see the harbor with a lychini in hand at any of Hong Kong's best harborview bars.

50. Have brunch under a pagoda atop a floating Chinese boat. Top Deck takes the outdoors opulence to a new level with lobsters aplenty and an evening hangover-ensuring all-you-can-drink on champers.

51. If you want the view but have change left over from a HK$100 bill, the public areas outside RED bar are the choice. Free to you and your brought-from-home beverages, as are the top of the Pawn and the outside area of Dragon-I.

52. Join those in the know at open air beer-shack Beer Bay, next to Discovery Bay pier on Tuesdays when it is extra affordable.

53. Breathe in the buzzy, scuzzy scents of Mong Kok and people-watch while chilling with a dai pai dong drink or two along the night markets.

54. Drink up at the Lan Kwai Fong Beer Festival (date TBC).

55. Corks out and glasses raised for the Time Out Wine Walk on May 7.

56. Queue for a bubble tea at the many Taiwanese drinks stands around town.

57. Mourn or celebrate the last of the season’s horse races in Happy Valley in June. Toast with Château Lafite or a can of Skol depending on that final bet.


Get cultured

58. Finally make the trip to the Big Buddha for his big day on May 10, as Hong Kong celebrates his birthday. No need to bring a present, just try and be nice to all things that day. Even mosquitoes.
59. If blowing out candles for Buddha ain’t your thang, then you try heading to the eastern district of Shau Kei Wan for lion dances to celebrate Tam Kung’s birthday, the patron deity of fisherman and sailors. His b-day is also on May 10, so better bake two cakes.

60. Or just grab a few lucky buns at the Cheung Chau Bun festival, which is also on May 10. Talk about fixture pile-up.

61. On June 6 celebrate Tuen Ng Festival by cheering on the dragon boats at the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Regatta. Or just get involved in the good-humored rowdiness of the spectators.

62. Find a use for that impulse-bought beret and dust off your high school language skills for Le French May.

63. Show your respects at the Victoria Park candlelight vigil on June 4 to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre.

64. Head over to Man Mo Temple on June 26 and pay tribute to the colourful statue of Kwan Tai on his birthday. Find out that he’s the god of the triads and feel guilty about the copy DVDs you bought last week.

65. Join the march for democracy on Hong Kong Establishment Day on July 1.

66. Get overwhelmed as Asian bookworms unite to takeover at the Hong Kong Book Fair on July 20-26.

67. Let the inner geek out and hang with gamers, fan boys and leng mo supporters at the Ani-com and Games Fair, July 29 until Aug 2.

68. Burn some joss sticks and incense on Lovers’ Stone on Bowen Road in Wanchai for Seven Sisters Festival on August 6. It’s mainly for unlucky-in-love singletons, but it’s always good to keep your bases covered, right?

69. Sit back with a couple of classic Hongkie ghost flicks "The Eye" and "A Chinese Ghost Story" during Chinese ghost festival (Yue Laan Festival) on August 14.

70. Even in you don’t know your Picasso from your elbow, it’s still worth checking out ART HK 11, the most important trade show for Asian art on May 26-29.

71. Slinking off for a weekend in Macau usually involves playing a few hands, but when the Adult Asia Expo is on August 19-21, there might be a few empty seats at the casino for once.

72. Spend the weekend watching some classic films al fresco at the open air cinema events (date TBC).

Surrender to the groove

73. Although we can add a beach to our bands -- you can’t really go wrong with the free three-day Silvermine Bay Music Festival (date TBC) boasting the best local musicians ready to rock your swimsuits off on the last weekend of August.
74. Punk or Pop Diva, Princess or Sk8ter Girl, Avril Lavigne is still one of the biggest names around, and she’ll be on our stage and in our ears on May 7.

75. Be-lieb it. The Bieb is coming on May 13. Prepare for tween screams to hit record highs at Justin Bieber's concert in Hong Kong.

76. Tippy-tappy toed dance supergroup Riverdance will be skipping their way through HK performances on their farewell tour at the Lyric Theatre May 3-15.

77. Missing this band will take its toll on you. Maroon 5, with guitars and falsettos in tow, are in town May 21.

78. Cool Indie poppers from New York, The Drums, perform their tambourine-waving show to Kitec on May 26.

79. Bikini-clad booty shaking commences on June 11 at Hed Kandi's pool party at The Venetian Macau.

80. But if you prefer clicking your fingers over wiggling your hips, the Hong Kong Summer Jazz Festival at the end of May could be a better bet (date TBC).

81. While we don’t have the music festivals to rival some of our neighbours, Summer Pop (date TBC) is getting bigger each year; more than 80 artists from all over Asia performed in 2010.

Pig out

82. It's the optimum time to feast on festive dragon boat dumplings, a ball of glutinous rice, belly pork, and salty egg yolks artfully wrapped in bamboo leaves.
83. Load up your trolley and fight off the crowds for free samples and snacks aplenty at the Food Expo 2011 on August 11-15.

84. Pick strawberries from organic farms in Kam Tin or Yuen Long and then gorge yourself on the fruits of your labour.

85. Time to try durian. Check out the durian tofu pudding at Auntie Sweet, which managed to convert WOM guider Samantha Pong into a durian lover.

86. The various watermelon and mango desserts at Hui Lau Shan are the default summer sweet treats for youngsters. Partly because they are yummy and partly because Hui Lau Shan always has the craziest airconditioning.

87. Make a trip to Yuen Long's Kei Kee Dessert for B Boy herbal jelly. The jelly is said to have cooling properties and helps balance the body's yin and yang and various elements. Its also a big enough portion to replace dinner.

88. Yellow oil crab will be in season. The summer months' delicacy is always in high demand -- try it at East Ocean Seafood Restaurant or down in the fishing community at Lei Yue Mun.

Read more: 88 things to do this summer in Hong Kong | CNNGo.com #1 http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/play/88-things-do-summer-654587?page=0,4#ixzz1JYOSKVyV

Why is ICC not lit at night? I thought the lighting scheme would be completed by now.

I have been in HK for a week now (and used this thread for some planning advice), but have a question. Today, I saw lots of people camping/picnicing in Central, does this happen every sunday?

I have been in HK for a week now (and used this thread for some planning advice), but have a question. Today, I saw lots of people camping/picnicing in Central, does this happen every sunday?

All I know is that the Filipinos always camp under the HSBC headquarters.:banana:

The domestic maids have Sunday's off work. Yes it happens every Sunday.

Ah, thanks. That sit-in beneath the HSBC building was particularly interesting to see.

Hi (:bowtie:), I'm planning on visiting HK with a bunch of friends in January (having lurked and looked at all these crazy photos), and I was wondering about the cost of say a "standard" meal at a restaurant or a fast-food chain, can anyone help?

Hi (:bowtie:), I'm planning on visiting HK with a bunch of friends in January (having lurked and looked at all these crazy photos), and I was wondering about the cost of say a "standard" meal at a restaurant or a fast-food chain, can anyone help?

McDonald's in HK is cheaper than in the West.

Local fast food joints charge about HKD 30-40 for a basic rice or noodle dish in the city centre districts, and in the suburbs can be about HKD 10+ cheaper, although depending on how fancy it is, can quickly reach double that.

By the way, I managed to find a HK McDonald's menu: http://www.mcdonalds.com.hk/english/food/evm.htm

Browse around the right side bar and there will be pricing for each item.

Thanks! Looking forward to the trip haha.

Hey guys,

I'm going to be in HK for roughly 2 weeks with a friend. We're staying at his aunt's place, so lodging is free. We're also planning on going to Macau and maybe a mainland China tour (already have my visa).

Would $650 USD be sufficient for this time period for food/travel expenses?

KdYIjfIaf6k

Thinking of flying in to HK to celebrate NYE. Which hotels offer unrestricted skyline views? Thinking of the Intercon but I cant seem to book a room there on that date. Will basically fly in 31 Dec, fly out 1 Jan.

I needed a good harbour view (I guess) with views of the fireworks. I don't want to take the photos from the deck with a million other people. Please PM me if any of you guys can. Thanks!

Thinking of flying in to HK to celebrate NYE. Which hotels offer unrestricted skyline views? Thinking of the Intercon but I cant seem to book a room there on that date. Will basically fly in 31 Dec, fly out 1 Jan.

I needed a good harbour view (I guess) with views of the fireworks. I don't want to take the photos from the deck with a million other people. Please PM me if any of you guys can. Thanks!

The best is the either The Peninsula or The Renaissance Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. But these are expensive.

The best is the either The Peninsula or The Renaissance Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. But these are expensive.

I heard about the Renaissance but not the Pen. I think 600-700 USD for a night would be fine. We will be in HK only just for NYE fireworks. :)

If you want to book a hotel for the harbor views, you better hurry.
Tried the Peninsula yesterday and seemed like the hotel had been completely booked.

You can try the new Ritz Carlton on the ICC aka as highest hotel in the world.

Expect to pay no less than 1000 bucks for a room with a skyline view, though.

I heard about the Renaissance but not the Pen. I think 600-700 USD for a night would be fine. We will be in HK only just for NYE fireworks. :)

HK is one of the most vibrant cities in Asia. It would be better to make use of your time and explore the city other than just watch fireworks.

If you want to book a hotel for the harbor views, you better hurry.
Tried the Peninsula yesterday and seemed like the hotel had been completely booked.

Yeah, seems like all of the harbour rooms are fully booked, I am 'on request' atm.

I'll check the Ritz but 1K for a night might be too much of a stretch, but we'll see. The Ritz is on Tsim Sha Tsui?




HK is one of the most vibrant cities in Asia. It would be better to make use of your time and explore the city other than just watch fireworks.

I don't have enough time to extend it unfortunately, because I will be travelling to India and Nepal a few weeks later after HK.

Yeah, seems like all of the harbour rooms are fully booked, I am 'on request' atm.

I'll check the Ritz but 1K for a night might be too much of a stretch, but we'll see. The Ritz is on Tsim Sha Tsui?






I don't have enough time to extend it unfortunately, because I will be travelling to India and Nepal a few weeks later after HK.

As long as you have a great time that is what matters

I got a Deluxe Harbour View Room at the Intercontinental Grand Stanford. Is it any good? It's quite cheap. No breakfast tho but free pickup at the airport.

I am concerned about taking photos of the skyline from that hotel.

Just found a pic of the deluxe harbor room from the hotel:
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/e4/55/e1/intercontinental-grand.jpg

Seems to be pretty good. It is a five star hotel so I think it should be pretty good.:cheers:

Just found a pic of the deluxe harbor room from the hotel:
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/e4/55/e1/intercontinental-grand.jpg

Seems to be pretty good. It is a five star hotel so I think it should be pretty good.:cheers:

Fantastic!!! :) Looking forward! :) The fireworks will be on that skyline yes?

Yes, it'll look something like this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/IFC_Countdown_Spectacular_2009.jpg/800px-IFC_Countdown_Spectacular_2009.jpg

^^ That was what I want to capture. :D I am just waiting for last minute details from my travel agent before I pay.

Last question PHL passport holders do not need a visa for 14 days in HK yes?

Yes, you are right.
http://www.visarite.com/hong_kong_visa.htm

Yes, you are right.
http://www.visarite.com/hong_kong_visa.htm

Excellent. I am excited! :) I've been to HK already but only on transit. Okay last question, do you think I can get a prepaid SIM at the HKG airport one which I can use for Blackberry? I dont want to turn on my international roaming...

Excellent. I am excited! :) I've been to HK already but only on transit. Okay last question, do you think I can get a prepaid SIM at the HKG airport one which I can use for Blackberry? I dont want to turn on my international roaming...

You can but you can get them cheaper at World-Wide House in Central. This is where most of the Pinoy community hang out.

You can but you can get them cheaper at World-Wide House in Central. This is where most of the Pinoy community hang out.

Prepaid BIS? Which telco? Any links please because all over online, it says that HK do not have Prepaid BIS...

Prepaid BIS? Which telco? Any links please because all over online, it says that HK do not have Prepaid BIS...

Its SMART PINOY :D

http://www.pldthk.com

http://www.pldthk.com/images/header_sim_02.jpg

^^ Oh, it doesn't say on their website however that you can access BB or is it automatic? I can get it right at the airport right?

any cheap & decent hotels in HK on the kowloon side ?

please recommend. thanks ~

^^ Oh, it doesn't say on their website however that you can access BB or is it automatic? I can get it right at the airport right?

I always use that when I'm in HK. It is like a typical prepaid card similar to the ones we use in The Philippines.

You can't get them at the airport, only in Filipino specialized shops such as those in Worldwide House.

any cheap & decent hotels in HK on the kowloon side ?

please recommend. thanks ~

I would recommend Kowloon Panda Hotel in Tsuen Wan.

http://www.pandahotel.com.hk/en/index.asp

I got a Deluxe Harbour View Room at the Intercontinental Grand Stanford. Is it any good? It's quite cheap. No breakfast tho but free pickup at the airport.

I am concerned about taking photos of the skyline from that hotel.

Intercontinental Grand Stanford is a good hotel in a good area. Nice views, but not the 'traditional' harbour views, hence why it's so cheap.

any cheap & decent hotels in HK on the kowloon side ?

please recommend. thanks ~

Hotel IBIS in North Point is pretty okay.

Guys, hope you can help me.

I'm looking for online shopping in HK, mainly for electronics. I assume that they're cheaper. Last time I was in HK I must say the shops (Computer Town etc.) were not really cheap.

In Europe I would look at ebay, price comparison websites, amazon etc.

Where to look in HK??

Hi folks,

I will be backpacking in HK for 6 days in December/January on my own and I was wondering what to do on New Year's Eve. I suspect the Symphony of Lights is a must, do you have any other ideas? Are there any activities going on in the city during the day? What about bars, do you recommend any?

Thanks a lot for your help! :cheers:

Guys, hope you can help me.

I'm looking for online shopping in HK, mainly for electronics. I assume that they're cheaper. Last time I was in HK I must say the shops (Computer Town etc.) were not really cheap.

In Europe I would look at ebay, price comparison websites, amazon etc.

Where to look in HK??

Try Apliu Street:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apliu_Street

Hi folks,

I will be backpacking in HK for 6 days in December/January on my own and I was wondering what to do on New Year's Eve. I suspect the Symphony of Lights is a must, do you have any other ideas? Are there any activities going on in the city during the day? What about bars, do you recommend any?

Thanks a lot for your help! :cheers:

You can check out the various Christmas decorations at the malls, such as the outdoor display in front of Harbour City next to the Star Ferry in TST. For the actual countdown, there have been special versions of the Symphony of Lights with fireworks. Try the West Kowloon Cultural District for a less crowded countdown with a view.

Tree Cafe Horizon Plaza (http://limfong.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/the-tree-chill-out-cafe-horizon-plaza-hong-kong/)

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6226/6396958231_2af960b918.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6396958979_fcbdfd11c9.jpg

looks nice isnt it?

Intercontinental Grand Stanford is a good hotel in a good area. Nice views, but not the 'traditional' harbour views, hence why it's so cheap.

When you say not 'traditional views' what does that exactly means? Trip is coming up and I am excited. I think I paid 650 USD for 1 night in the harbour view room. I am not sure if I can call that cheap (I guess it's cheap since I booked months ahead).


Oh yea, 2 more questions:

1. I wanted to buy clothes for my 2 cats (1 is 9kg and the 2nd cat is 5.5 kgs- cant find good quality clothes for my boys here in Hanoi and winter is coming). Any good pet supply stores I can check out near my hotel? Cant find any websites...

2. Any H&M stores nearby as well? I need to get new winter jackets. :D


Cheers and thanks in advance!

When you say not 'traditional views' what does that exactly means? Trip is coming up and I am excited. I think I paid 650 USD for 1 night in the harbour view room. I am not sure if I can call that cheap (I guess it's cheap since I booked months ahead).


Oh yea, 2 more questions:

1. I wanted to buy clothes for my 2 cats (1 is 9kg and the 2nd cat is 5.5 kgs- cant find good quality clothes for my boys here in Hanoi and winter is coming). Any good pet supply stores I can check out near my hotel? Cant find any websites...

2. Any H&M stores nearby as well? I need to get new winter jackets. :D


Cheers and thanks in advance!
1. Try Sai Yeung Choi and Tung Choi Streets north of Mong Kok Road - there are a lot of pet stores there.

2. Plenty of info at : http://www.hm.com/hk/en/store-locator

1. Try Sai Yeung Choi and Tung Choi Streets north of Mong Kok Road - there are a lot of pet stores there.

2. Plenty of info at : http://www.hm.com/hk/en/store-locator

Thanks!:cheers:

Hey guys! Please tell me what is best for tourists to do on a weekend in your beautiful city? I know that at this time is better not to go to the Ocean Park, Macau or Disneyland, etc., as so many people out there. What do you suggest? (sorry for my english)

Hmmm... seems I don't get an answer before I left ... what a pity :(

Hey guys ( sorry if this has been asked before ) me and my gf is planning on taking the bus to Wetland park - it'll be a little over 40 $ for us both and we don't have Octopus cards, so as a Hong Kong bus virgin I'm curious if we can pay with bills/notes or only coin?

( from the net I can see we need exact change - I'm hoping we can pay with notes, so we don't need to accumulate a ton of coins before going )


Thanks in advance guys :cheers1:

Hey guys ( sorry if this has been asked before ) me and my gf is planning on taking the bus to Wetland park - it'll be a little over 40 $ for us both and we don't have Octopus cards, so as a Hong Kong bus virgin I'm curious if we can pay with bills/notes or only coin?

( from the net I can see we need exact change - I'm hoping we can pay with notes, so we don't need to accumulate a ton of coins before going )


Thanks in advance guys :cheers1:

The Wetland Park is closed temporarily due to a bird flu scare. A carcass was found to have been infected.

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201202/14/P201202140437.htm

You can pay cash (notes or coins) on the bus. The buses are equipped with cash fareboxes.

^ thanks a bunch mate for the info - you just saved us a LOT of time and dissapointment!

^ thanks a bunch mate for the info - you just saved us a LOT of time and dissapointment!

You can get an Octopus card at the airport from the Airport Express/MTR ticket counter. You can add money at any of the MTR stations or convenience/health&beauty/supermarkets (Circle-K, 7-Eleven, Watsons, Mannings, Park 'n' Shop, Wellcome).

^ thanks a bunch mate for the info - you just saved us a LOT of time and dissapointment!

"The outdoor section of the Hong Kong Wetland Park (HKWP) and the Aviary Pagoda of Yuen Long Park, which were temporarily closed to the public for 21 days in mid-February following the detection of the H5N1 avian influenza virus in dead birds found in the vicinity, will be reopened from tomorrow (March 7)."

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201203/06/P201203060326.htm

Thanks for the info - but since I'm back in Denmark we missed it this time around, but just as it wasn't my first visit to Hong Kong it will surely not be my last either :)