REVISED(1/7)-HK info for travelers-Beware, it's long!
Written: May 29 '00 (Updated Jan 07 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Food, shopping, sightseeing, nightlife, etc
Cons: Dirty, crowded, smog
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| maceyr's Full Review: Hong Kong |
Hong Kong is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is also one of the most populated and polluted cities in the world. Hong Kong is a shopper's paradise, boasting a large assortment of the latest designer fashions and apparels (and cheap imitations), latest design electronics and gadgets you can't find in North America, and open air market shops that sell everything from t-shirts to cheap bootleg CDs. It is also a food connoisseur's paradise boasting quality, authentic food dishes from all over the world, sweets and delicacies such as fresh Chinese donuts and deep fried fish balls found at the individual push cart vendors found all over HK, and of course, North American fast food such as KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc. Nightlife is abound in HK, with a few well known and populated bars in the Lan Kwai Fong area on HK island. Once Happy Hour arrives at 4pm, the pubs are jammed with people. This is one place where you can hardly ever be found alone anywhere, except in the very early hours of the morning. There is pretty much no such thing as "downtown" in HK, except in the further stretches of New Territories.
Hong Kong consists basically of the island of Hong Kong, the mainland region of Kowloon and the surrounding areas of the New Territories and islands. The majority of tourists and visitors explore the areas of Hong Kong island and Kowloon and maybe the surrounding island such as Lantau Island. I will not spend the time to discuss the sightseeing places to go as you can find info on the net or in the other reviews. I will discuss other information with regards to HK.
Transportation is not a problem in HK. Choices for getting around include subway, train, bus (single and double deck), taxi, electric tram (on HK island), minibus, harbour ferries, and the Rickshaw. As Hong Kong is jammed packed, sometimes it is easier and more economical to walk and do some shopping. With the saturation of transportation available and the intricate traffic regulations and signs (not to mention the taxis out on the roads), it is not necessary to rent and drive a car in Hong Kong. You will need to obtain an International Drivers Permit to operate a car in Hong Kong. Parking spaces are rare on the streets and parking lots are expensive and hard to find. Most cars found on the streets are taxis and Benzes, for people who can afford to own a car such insurance is very expensive. Also, there are many areas where it's illegal to even "stop" for taxis, regular cars, etc never mind stop. There are so many street signs all over that unless you're a resident and know the regulations of the road, you're better off not bothering with it. Due to limited space in HK, the lanes of the streets are impossible to figure out. You can drive on the same lane as tram tracks as long as the tram isn't there. Taxis, buses, minibuses and others constantly compete against each other on the road, passing each other without signalling. It can be a horror experience for the tourist. And, don't even think that you can give a street address to a taxi driver because most places in HK don't even have one. No one operates on a house or building number. Everything is by name: Jardine House, Lan Kwai Fong, etc.
I find that Harbour ferries are the least expensive way to get across from HK island to Kowloon or vice versa with the famous one called the Star Ferry from Tsim Tsa Tsui (pronounced Chim Sa Chui) to Central. There are others but their departures are less frequent. They are a bit slower than buses, taxis or subway, but you don't have to pay for the underground tunnel toll which you do if taking the taxi and indirectly for buses and subway (the fare reflects the toll charge for cross harbour trips) and I like the scenic and tranquility of taking a ferry. On the Star Ferry, you have the choice of taking the upper level or lower level with the upper level costing a bit more than the lower. The upper level has roll up windows to block out the wind and is cleaner than the lower deck. The lower deck is cheaper, windier and dirtier than the upper deck. Also, there is more of a tendency to be able to smell the burning exhaust of the ferry's engine on the lower deck. Personally, I prefer the lower deck for the cheaper price, the feel of the wind against my face and in some ways, a better view of the harbour and the skyline than on the upper deck. I feel that the feeling of riding the ferry somehow gets lost when travelling on the upper deck. I guess you should try both decks to get a feel of it. And besides, on the lower deck, you get a better view of the ferry crew tying up the ferry and unloading the platforms, something you don't get to see much in North America.
Buses are relatively inexpensive for getting around but you'll need to know the bus routes and stops. The numbers and letters of the routes don't really mean much. So, don't think that 2A and 2E pretty much go to around the same area. Drivers speak very little if any English and most times you are prohibited from speaking to the drivers. Fares are clearly indicated at the bus stop and by the driver once you get on and you're expected to pay then. Exact change is required so make sure you have adequate change. Fares decrease in price as the bus continues along its route. When taking the bus across the tunnel, especially during rush hour, pay the extra fare for an air conditioned bus (regardless of the weather). If you get stuck inside a non-air conditioned bus in the tunnel, you'll be sucking in the car exhaust as the tunnel's circulation isn't all that great. Double decker buses are great to travel in for those who has never tried it. The buses tend to go quite fast and at first, you may have a heart attack as it almost seems like the building's signs are barely clearing the top of the bus. And, try sitting at the front the top deck of a double decker bus when going down from the hilly streets in HK, I can guarantee you'll have a heart attack, thinking that the bus will tip or fall over. Talk about a thrill ride.
Minibuses should be taken by those who can speak Chinese because the drivers don't speak much English. They are all over HK and have destinations stated on a white plastic sign on their windshield with the price. Unless you're going to the destination on the sign (it does have the English name), you most likely won't be able to tell the driver to stop at the next corner or block. They are a good alternative to taxis as they are sometimes cheaper and stop almost anywhere (with exceptions) along their route.
Taxis are great for getting around as the drivers know where the popular tourist destinations are. They don't speak much English but will probably understand if you speak slowly and clearly and indicate your destination on a pamphlet or brochure of where you want to go. They are operated with meters.
The electric trams are only operated on Hong Kong island and go mainly from the east (Shaukeiwan) to the west (Kennedy Town). There is a tram loop that goes around Happy Valley (horse racetrack). Each tram is double decked and quite old and thus supplies no heat or air conditioning. The signs at the front of the tram will indicate the main route or stop before it goes back the other way: Shaukeiwan, Sai Wan Ho, North Point, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, Western Market, Whitty Street, Kennedy Town. They are very inexpensive and definitely worth trying for the experience. Sitting on the top deck of the tram with your camera or camcorder is the best as you can take in the vibrant activities of everything around you while relaxing in a relatively slow moving tram. The fare is HK$2.00. You get on from the back of the tram and exit at the front, paying exact change as you leave. If you ever get the chance to do so, take a tram that takes you to the end of the route (Shaukeiwan or Kennedy Road) and watch how the tram gets turned around the other way along the tram tracks. I would highly recommend taking the tram as almost the highlight of many HK tourists' experience.
The subway or metro is fast and gets you there in a flash. But it costs a bit more. You can buy pre-paid reusable transit cards in specific denominations (HK $50, HK$100, etc) and each time you take your trip, the card readers at the turnstiles will determine and subtract the cost of the ride. Once the remaining credit is used up, the card will be automatically collected. A lot of people collect and use the remaining credit for those more expensive trips like crossing from HK to Kowloon. They are available at each subway station and sold at the manned booths that give out change for the ticket dispensers. You can even ask to buy a tourist souvenir card. The designs change frequently and once it's used up, you can keep it as a souvenir.
As you are practically constantly at shoulder-to-shoulder with other people, the potential for pickpockets are huge. It is strongly advised to wear special waist belts to hold cash and credit cards and never carry more than you need. Travelers checks are a good idea and do not use credit cards at less than reputable dealers for fraud prevention. A good tip is to keep your cash at different places on yourself. Keep smaller denominations easily accessible and the larger denominations hidden. Also, make sure to photocopy your passport documents, leave the originals in a hotel safe and keep the photocopies with you (especially Asians) because you may be asked for id on the streets by police to check if you're an illegal alien from China or Southeast Asia. And, keep everything in direct sight of you, never below, behind, etc because it may be gone in a flash. And, always be aware of your surroundings and be cautious. Many cons can easily spot a tourist and can easily distract you while they steal your valuables.
Since it's almost impossible for any tourist to not buy anything in HK as there is so much stuff and it's so cheap, here's a tip. Don't buy the first thing you see. Although it's cheap when converted to your own currency, you will most likely find it cheaper elsewhere. You might want to keep a notebook of things you see, its location and its price so that you can compare and buy where it's cheapest. And, bargaining is the norm in Hong Kong. The locals do it all the time. The thing to note is to look like you're not interested in the product and bargain at a price lower than what you're satisfied with. The vendor will come back with a higher price. You can either take it at that price or leave it. And be prepared to leave if they don't give you the price you want. You'll probably get it cheaper elsewhere. Personally, I'm bad at bargaining so I usually either buy it or don't. One note to keep in mind is that it's expected that there are all sales are final. So make sure you examine your products carefully before paying.
One last note, always keep a pack of pocket tissues on yourself as most restaurants and other public restrooms (except for hotels) do not supply toilet tissue. It may sound bad, but it's the truth. They are sold virtually everywhere at newstands, drugstores, etc. And don't be surprized to find the utter disgusting sight of public restrooms, even in what is seemingly a nice restaurant. Expect the bathroom floor of just about every place you go to be wet as most places hose the floor down to keep it "clean". And of course, you'll most likely have to hold your breath or breathe through your mouth as the smell is less than pleasant in most places. A good idea is to make sure you "go" before you leave for sightseeing or only head for the hotels.
And, also, make sure you have adequate change on hand (literally) when you are going to the washrooms of nice restaurants (from hotels, Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, Jumbo floating restaurants, etc). Why? Because most likely, there will be washroom attendants to keep the bathrooms clean and dry and most importantly pass you a paper towel or cloth to wipe your hands. And, they expect you to pay them HK$5 or at least some money for their "services". So, don't say I didn't warn you.
HK is a great place to visit as there are many things to see, do, buy, and most importantly eat. It's hard to resist not buying any fresh Chinese donuts or other sweets as you pass by a street vender. The best periods to visit HK are from late September to February when the weather is at its best. Summer in HK is quite unbearable due to the heat and the humidity, compounded by the extra heat from all the air conditioning around. And, when the sun is shining, the air quality diminishes due to the smog. So, it's a good idea to go when the weather is bearable. And, always bring an extra piece of clothing like a sweatshirt with you because the air conditioned buses in HK are turned up full blast! On a warm day, you will quickly find that you can suffer from sudden changes in temperature from the streets to buses to hotels. Having a sweatshirt (although you may look stupid) will help your body deal with the sudden temperature changes. One last thing. Don't drink the tap water unless it's boiled. Better yet, go to your nearest 7 Eleven or Circle K or corner store and buy a bottle of water. Don't buy local bottled water brands like Watson's because you don't know how clean it is. Spend the extra money and buy Volvic or Evian or others imported from elsewhere.
You will need about two weeks to truly enjoy HK for all it's got to offer due to the jet lag from long hauled flights and the time difference. As accommodations are very expensive, it might be a good idea to book a package that includes some accommodation or try to look for hostels before going. Hotels on the island (Hong Kong) costs more than those in Kowloon (on mainland China). All in all, I would recommend HK as a great place to visit.
Please stay tuned for more reviews on HK when I come back from my trip in February.
Thanks for taking the time to read and rate my review.
Recommended:
Yes
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maceyr
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Location: Canada
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I hardly have time for Epinions anymore but do try to read and rate.
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