Hong Kong

I have been to Hongkong for about 20 times.

This is the first time I went there for travel. A 3 days trip is just nice for this little city. Due to the expensive cost of hotel there, me and my friend decided to join a cheap tour that included so much and charge so little. We will know the reason why the trip can be so cheap later on.

1/1/2009 I decided to start my new year by travelling, good start. But I didn't expect so many people had the same thought like me. Travelling with mainland China people is not my first time, seeing them travel is not my first time too, but each time I was amazed by just how many people in this land, 1.3 billion people, this land hold 1.3 billion people and all you have to do is having 1% of them spend 100 dollar at your shop and you don't have anything to worry for 10 generation.

Each day, China tourists bring millions of cash to Hong Kong, and is good to see some improvement about how they carried themselve ourside of mainland China. They are not just gaining respect by spending a lot of money there, but also people pick up slowly and adapt slowly to a different world.

The reason I join this trip is first, cheap, second they have a whole day free activities we can just do whatever we want to do, third, they got us hotel room at high peak season! I always know you don't expect good food by joining tour, but I didn't expect it can be so bad.

The local food wasn't fantastic either, is just like one of those HongKong cafe that I rarely go in Los Angeles. That's why HK people are all skinny I guess, too much walking and too little good food.

I went to the famous Ocean Park, I knew this place since I started watching HK drama and finally I am here to experience it myself. The place is pretty old already, but there's still some good part of it you don't want to miss. The pandas and the gondola ride. Is always good to see panda and Ocean Park has 4 very active pandas, they don't just sit there and eat all the time, they actually walk around and entertain people.

The gondola is tiny and has a nice view of South China Sea, nice breeze and fresh air on the mountain, I like the fact that you can actually open the windows so you can get a better view, don't have to see it through the window. Then I lined up for roller coaster, try to pretend I don't have a phobia about it. Surprisingly, I really don't have a phobia about it, maybe it was just a small ride with 2 turns of 360 degree spin, or maybe skiing has train me to enjoy speed more.

We stopped by some spots along the trip, the beach, where I found my favorite Cheetos Puff at the 7-11 there. The Hong Kong Beverly Hills, where inspire me not to be a rich in HK because you won't have big house eventhough you are Jacky Chan. The night view from the highest mountain in HK island, which remind me of how much better the night view in Chicago compare to this. The cruise ride along Victoria Bay, which make me think of the Xmas light at Union Square in San Francisco.



The hotel is tiny, but bigger than the one that I lived last time I stayed in HK. One jump from the door you will reach the bed, but it was clean and comfy and I got the bay view from my room, what more do you expect? A cheap hotel in HongKong cost you abot HKD500, I will spend 2 nights at this hotel, and my whole trip including 5 meals, cruise ride ticket and Ocean Park admission only cost me HKD 900.

The next day I went to the famous Wong Dai Xin temple and got out with ashes everywhere on me. I am not fancy about temple usually and the architecture of it is not interesting at all, so I spent sometimes reading stuff about those anti-communism group outside the temple. These Fat Lun Gong people camp at every spot that the China tourists visit. I don't have any comment about it but I guess eventually they will become one of the must see in HK.

Then that's the part that why my trip is so cheap, 5 hrs of shopping at these jewelry and watch stores, then the DFS. Our tourguide and driver will get commision for every bucks you spent at these palces. Every single person in my bus bought something, except me and my friend. There's really nothing to buy except branded stuff like Rolex, Omega, LV, Gucci... is year end sales and I must say, the tax free in HK really make a different for these expensive brand pricing, try go there at the end of the year or at the end of the summer, you might find some really good deal like a medium size Gucci purse only HKD3000, a big Tod's bag only HKD 6000 plus, Bally last season purse HKD4000 plus, but avoid US brands, they still cheaper in US.

Finaly come to my night life experience in HK, which is also a disappointment. First of all, the subway stop running at 12am and they don't have any 24hrs transportation besides taxi. Taxi is not cheap, but you don't have other choices. Bars close at 1am some later at Lam Kwai Fong, Karaoke close at 5:30am. Subway will run again at 6am. A pro will be the freedom of drinking on the street.



To sum it up, there's nothing to shop besides branded stuff, but if you never shop in China before, HK can be a shopping paradise, is relatively cheaper compare to Malaysia and has a lot of independet fashion stores. But those fashion accessories or clothes are all come from Guangdong China. A sweater cost about RMB30 bucks will be sold in HK for 100 or more. Try to rent an apartment in HK for your staying if possible, to live in a tiny place might be quite an experience. Check out night view of the city along the bay, can skip the mountain view and cruise. Join a tour eventhough their food sucks, but it save you a lot of money at hotels and transportation, but make sure your tour allow you to go back on your own and have days for free activities so it will be more flexible.

For couples out there, I didn't find HK romantic, because this place is too small for too many people and tourist.

So far HK is ok for me, but I guess I will just go there for business trip like I always do again.