OT: whats good in Hong Kong

[hemi770]

the words to say in HK if you catch trouble is pronounced something like "Ho Sharm".

i remember a hella roller coaster there, and vestigial riceboys, lol

[smellytofu]

Originally posted by psssi98
Asian bogans - what do they look like?? Are they similar to our Aussie Bogans? Do they have ugg boots, XD Falcons, flannel shirts and smoke Winnie Blues while drinking a VB?

Believe it or not, I have seen an XD Falcon there. They do have AU wagons as taxi though. You'll probably find the Crown Comfort actually ride better than the AU (or for that matter, the LTD here). I did have a photo of the AU in the HK taxi colours but too lazy to dig it out of my CD collection.

Forg,

I've seen Holden Premier in movies from the 70's so it's not unusual to see Aussie cars up there.

Merli,

Maybe I am not a tourist when I go to HK (coz I go there so often), but I don't find Kowloon to be any more of a pain in the ass to get home than I would if I lived on the Island.



Back to the question....

Avoid the "Lan gwai fong" pubs on the HK Island. It's a hang out place for ex-pats at night and whilst you may feel comfortable, esp the pommy boys and girls might feel the need for some roudy behaviour. I had a guy grab my ass!!! and no I am not of that persuasion!!!

Steer clear of the traditional touristy places. I think that is not the true HK as the locals see it like the Stanley markets. I went there once many years ago and it was the most sickenning place I ever been to.

A must do is to catch the tram from one end of HK Island to the other. Only cost HK$2.20 (divide that by 4.8 for A$). Just don't catch it during peak hours as the trams do get packed. Also catch the star ferry to cross the harbour. That's also HK$2.20. MTR and buses cost triple - quadruple that for the speed to cross the harbour.

MTR closes a tad past midnight so your only option is bus, mini bus or taxi. All those are cheap compared to Australia's public transport fares. Shops mainly open at 11am to noon and close about midnight so waking up early to make the most of you day won't give you much shopping time. Just don't sniff too much of the main roads coz you'll cop a lung-full of diesel though it's much better now than it was 5 years ago. They've at least discovered LPG.

Places like Mong Kok (where you can get great car bits .. mainly ricey but there is a Tom's store there) and also Shum Shui Po in the next suburb is cheap for electronic gear like mobile phones, MD player etc. English title CD (original stuff) isn't that expensive so rather than risk getting pirated ones, you might as well go for the real stuff but just don't get them from HMV even though they look inviting. Mong Kok and those tiny plaza is the place to get them.

The temple in Lantau Island would be a great place to go to and The Peak (Bus or Mini bus (i.e Toyota Coasters)). There is also the Kowloon side which gives just as specatular views but you need a car to get up there as there is no public transport. Place is called "fei ngor shan" and the nearest MTR station is Choi Hung. Below is the view from there where you can sorta see "The Peak" in this picture.





This may be a bit far for you but this is a popular wishing tree in the New Territories called the "Lam Tsuen wishing tree". Made popular from the TV shows but it's really great to go to. Below is the tree and the girl throwing the orange on a string and rolled up paper (where you write your wish on).



Enough ideas?

[smellytofu]

Originally posted by LV
the words to say in HK if you catch trouble is pronounced something like "Ho Sharm".

Sorry.. maybe I don't get it... but what it that?

[Evo_Lee]

Definitely alot more rice over there, I had to make a stop over in HK with some Japanese colleagues on our way back to Japan last Dec. While walking the streets they were laughing their ass off at all the riced up cars there...especially at a Pajero parked out front of the hotel with Mugen stickers plastered on both sides. I've been there many times and nothing really changes. So the places others have all mention are pretty much the go & no go places.

T

[smellytofu]

Evo_Lee, you forgot the Fujiwara tofu shop (private use) sticker on everything from Hiace to Civics... i.e. the sticker that is on the Initial D AE86.

I think the HK car scene is more stickers than performance though stuff like the Evo, Type R etc are more common than they are here. Also the fact that cars cost so much to keep, the $$ that's suppose to go to to pay for mods are gone to pay for the parking fees. Some I've seen for a dodgy open air dirt patch for A$1000/month.

[Che Castro]

yeah last time i went there... rice rice baby, too cold too cold...

bring a camera to take photos of the rice

[Type-R]

fark..those pics makes me wanna go right now

i don't think they allow ppl to bring BB guns anymore. my cuz wanted too but the customs stopped him. tight security i guess.

as for cars, what you see in japan you most prolly see it in HK as well.

as for porn, yea sino centre is great. theres even snakes, dogs etc beastiality shit. thats a turn off tho. lots of j-porn with schoolgirls (over 18 of course)

smelly: i know what he's saying but dunno how to translate back in english. something along the lines of 'self pity'. to say it properly it would 'ho charm'

about pirated stuff, i recommend you take them out of their plastic sleeves and place them into a cd folder. then send your covers via post. i think its just a safer way getting past customs. you don't really have too. my frens have come back unscathed. but it better to be safe.

you will always see rice, HK is like the largest market for japanese products outside of japan. especially for cars and electronics. whatever the trend is in japan, hk will follow.

do they still use Octopus for travelling? last time i went was '99 and i spent almost HK$1000 on travel during the one month i stayed. the great thing about it is that it works on ferries, trains, bus and country trains. its like the travelten here in sydney but you get to refill it everytime its empty. its like an electronic pass people use in apartments. theres no slot for you to stick it in, you just leave it in your wallet and swipe it across the sensor. i recommend you get one, it'll save you time lining up for tickets and getting money ready for buses.

oh and portland street, famous for what we have in Kings Cross :D

[Evo_Lee]

Smellytofu: In Japan we call that Sticker Tuning...really don't know why its still so popular there. But you right about cars being expensive there...which is why exotics makes them drool. Like the time I felt rather uncomfortable and slid down in to my seat at the lights to to avoid occupants in a Civic and WRX checking us out...head glued to their window. I was riding in my mate's F355 :D rich bastard...his bro drives a 911 turbo and his dad owns a Bentley...ouch!

T

[hemi770]

I would add that travel to Asia generally is not advised at this time.

[Iruka]

U guys must be confusing him so much!
U need a summary of the places u NEED to go in Hong Kong.

1) Mong Kok - I used to live here for a few years
Car Parts/Accessories anything from intercoolers, turbo kits, suspension, Power FCs, etc, and also 20-30 shops selling CHEAP but real Nike/Reebok Runners all on the same two parallel streets. Non of these are fakes so shop with confidence as does everyone else in HK. And believe it or not on the same street, they sell the cheapest Cameras/Vids in town - either HK versions or Japan versions (this is cheaper due to lack of HK warranty). Remember to haggle down about $100 or so. DON'T SHOP AT BROADWAY ELECTRONICS or FORTRESS as they have 3-4 shops on the same street and but its expensive. Go to Mongkok Camera Shop (right next to Runners shops on one end) if u could find it, they're honest and cheap.

Sino plaza on Nathan road for DVDs and CDs, Best Motoring Vids, Porn, Music and Movie CD/DVD is also in Mongkok, only 2 minutes walk from above when its not crowded. Yes everything is cramped into Mongkok - its means Busy Corner literally in Chinese.

In between Sino plaza and the Car/shoes/camera Street (30 seconds from shoes st), there's a Mongkok Computer Plaza that's 3 stories high but has small entrance. I doubt u'll be able to find it easily, so ask around. Its right next to Ladies Market St, another 30 seconds away - its like a Flea Market.

There's heaps more other stuff in MK, Clothing, food, clothing, lipstick, clothing, mobile phones, toy air guns, anime, PS2, XBOX games, sourvenirs, mobile phones, clothing and mobile phones!!!! it'll take u about 3 days to finish the whole area, but I promise u won't as u'll get sick of it :D


Oh and Portland street, where the brothels are is also u guessed it, in Mongkok. Mongkok is equivalent to Shinjuku of Tokyo I think just more disorganised!


2) Causeway Bay used to be a MUST visit as its most likely the 2nd busiest place in HK, and unfortunately my main house is there and have been for ages! My advice - don't go there right after going to Mongkok or u'll throw up due to being too cramped.... They used to host the biggest Japanese departments stores there, but they all closed or only the name remains. Its mainly food and clothing, no car stuff, no computer stuff.


3) Central Station - many offices, but also many shopping areas and its where Mandarin Oriental is. Lan Kwai Fong (need to go up hill by foot, just ask how to go) is a pub place so I don't know why someone told u not to go there, its my favourite place to chat up people in the 20-30 or so bars and restaurants. U won't regret going there to have dinner. SOHO area for dinner is also around there, but good luck finding the place - but its good stuff.


4) The Peak - in HK - is a beautiful place at nite. Go there if u want to take photos of HK, also its not like a normal mountain as they have 2 large shopping centres up there. Its crazy beautiful up there... but try to take the cable tram from below, its next to the Triangular Silvery building called China Bank!


5)Tsim Sai Tsui - This is the equivalent of Causeway Bay in Kowloon but its where the Ferry is. A MUST VISIT FOR FOREIGN TRAVELLERS. Its actually on the same Nathan road as Mongkok, just about 5 kms away, and right opposite the harbour is Central in HK. Highly recommended to come here and go to the shopping arcade right next to ferry pier.... I've never seen a bigger shopping centre in my life and for the first time in HK I got really lost!! But there's heaps more here, like Space museum, Cultural Centre, etc. DON'T BUY ANY ELECTRONICS AND WATCHES from shops on NATHAN ROAD in this area, u'll be ripped off by 100% minimum. Pls, just window shop there, buy the same stuff in Mongkok for 1/2 the price.

6)For more computer, PDA, printers, etc stuff, u go to Sham Shui Po. FULLSTOP. Nothing beats that place for prices and variety.... It always full too. Get an 15" LCD monitor for about AUD$400. 17"s are about $750-800. Also can buy digital cameras here, but its best to buy in Mongkok.


Have fun!


:D

[smellytofu]

Originally posted by LV
I would add that travel to Asia generally is not advised at this time.

HK is not seen as a threat to foreigners....

[smellytofu]

Just a point about buying Electronic gear (mainly anything that's not computer parts) ... make sure you have warranty when you bring it back here. You need to request/ask that when you buy them or else you have to send them back to HK for warranty stuff. You'll pay a little more unless you are willing to forego that.

I know digicams now have international warranties because I am getting my new digicam from HK soon.

Point 5 from Iruka (you can see The Peak in this pic)



Evo_Lee,

I'm sure you'd get heaps of people looking. Imports are not as common as they are here so I guess it's understandable that people have a look look.

Also that sticker engineering is cheap and easy. Looks is important to a lot of Asias as a way to express themselves rather than thru "invisible" mods like a bigger turbo etc.

[nic_wa]

thanks heaps guys,
mongkok, a junkboat ride and 'the peak' will all be on the to do list.
Shopping wise, I will be investing in PS2 games and DVD's. Will these all work on a standard PS2 or will i need a chip? A digital camera could also be on the cards.
Are electrical goods extremely cheap, or would i be better off buying duty free?

[Jim]

Originally posted by Forg
be alert but not alarmed.

Carry your fridge magnet with you at all times

[old baggins]

man this all brings back some cool memories!!!

Hong Kong rocks, it is sensory overload, I walked around dazed for days on end, brilliant.

You will have a ball, I will be going back to vist HK again for sure.