Off to Hong Kong :D

Combat squirrel

Combat squirrel

Combat squirrel

Soldato
Joined
7 Aug 2004
Posts
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As title, going on a random road trip, takin a backpack and camera, anyone been? any pointers?

Got my passport, upto date injections, anything else I need to know ?

OCUK your global intelligence is required. :D
 
My family live out there and I've been quite a few times. Avoid stuff that is made in China, the manufacturers often put things in products or pre-process food in a way that it is toxic.

Some examples:
-Using used surgical cotton and other similar stuff for pillows and duvets
-Bleaching rice to make it look whiter thus more appealing
-Selling poisonous baby milk (quite recent)
 
Be prepared for how cheap everything is :-) .

Make sure you take the tram to the peak for some great photos of the whole city and a visit to MongKok is definitely something else to see!
 
This trip will bring you one step closer to knowing real love.

Other than that. Enjoy it looks amazing! One day I hope
 
Would love to know how you get on Combat squirrel, planning on doing somthing like that this year. Hong Kong or USA are the choices atm, think it would be more fun going solo to Hong Kong though.

Have fun and take lots of pictures :D
 
Have fun - not as cheap as it used to be though with the currency rates at the moment.

Make use of the cheap ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong island , do you have a Visa for China? If you do, can hop on the train to Shen Zhen if that interests you. Go to Victoria Peak on a clear day for a great view ,once in the day and once when it is dark, never actually used the tram as the queues have always been huge , used a taxi or bus myself.

Make sure to head over to Lantau island as well, got some nice beaches and much quieter than the busy city!
 
You don't really need injections for Hong Kong, its not the 3rd world, its like going to NYC.

When are you going anyway? I am off on there too in April.
 
I love hong kong. Brilliant atmosphere, amazing food (best TGI Friday's I've ever been to........ ;) some American, philistine, ****er colleague made me go there), just a great city to drag yourself around.
 
Octopus cards are great (pretty much the same as Oyster card in UK) you can also use them in 7-11, and if I remember rightly in Mc Donalds as well. You can even get on the train to Shen Zhen with one, but doesn't work in SZ unfortunately!

Oh yeah can't forget the food - eating out in small local places is great, and cheap. There's a restaurant hidden on every small street, no need to go to TGI Fridays ;)
 
Oh...go to "Happy Gathering", i think its call that...or it may not.

It is basically a fast food place for Chinese food, but its not fast food as such, more like your regular dinners ! and so cheap !
 
Will try that when I'm there , not heard of it before

The fast food place we usually ended up was Cafe de Coral which isn't bad and quite a bargain , also Yoshinoya , even though that's Japanese

Sushi is also a must, much fresher than back here and you can actually eat enough to fill you up without leaving broke , I got funny looks last time as my pile of plates was higher than the sushi train :o
 
Quick question, how to those that have been to HK find the language barrier (if their is one).

Had some bad experiences trying to talk to be fiendly to some german/french/not english skiers ontop of a mountain in swizerland whilst skiing and felt like a muppet....never again:(
 
Nico_Joey said:
Quick question, how to those that have been to HK find the language barrier (if their is one).

Had some bad experiences trying to talk to be fiendly to some german/french/not english skiers ontop of a mountain in swizerland whilst skiing and felt like a muppet....never again:(
Click to expand...

Most younger people have understanding of English, it can be a bit difficult at times but to be honest most of the times I was with locals which helped.

Last time I was there I was trying to top up my local HK SIM card at several different 7-11 stores where the staff didn't speak any English, I was trying to explain to them what I wanted by pointing at a bank note then my phone. At the third or fourth shop the girl spoke english and pointed out I had RMB not HKD in my hand .... no wonder that didn't work :p
 
None...I speak Cantonese and English :p

Though Hong Kong is now a Tri-lingual society, get on the train and you'll hear the announcements in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Every kid at school, up to High School level has to pass all 3 languages, they call it "Read 2, Speak 3" (crudely translated), so any kid should be able to communicate in English, Hong Kong University lectures are taught in English (apart from Chinese obviously).

The only problem is if you go more up north, that is when you might run into trouble, but even old ladies in market stalls should be able to handle basic things regarding selling and buying.
 
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