Finally Hong Kong
I had two stays in Hong Kong on this trip though I did not stay there on my way to Hua Du only changing planes at that time, but a condition of my Visa was that I could not stay in China for more than 60 days at a time, so while there I was forced to leave China even if only for an hour or two, I chose to go to Hong Kong for a weekend to buy another lens for my camera.
The shop I had researched that sold REAL Nikon lenses at a good price was in Mong Kok not far from Kowloon so I found a cheap hotel in that area (NOTE my tips at the end) staying only one night, it was also handy to where the bus from Hua Du ended, so on that score it was excellent but only for that reason, I will not stay there again!
Kowloon 2008 Gallery Mong Kok
My second stay was on my way home and I had more time this visit and having learnt from my Cheap hotel experience I looked for a better class hotel on Hong Kong Island (Island Side) which proved to be a much better experience (again see my tips at the end) as it was much closer to those things I wanted to see!
Island Side 2008 Gallery
From here I also went to Disney Land but for those photos you will have to wait as I am choosing to include them in the Hong Kong 2015 visit
Hong Kong Tips!
- Before you do anything read ALL of these tips
- Do your home work make a list of the highlights and plan your visit.
- Book a hotel ISLAND SIDE making sure it is at least 3 star anything cheaper may not be clean enough for you. Look for places like Mid Levels, or these places which are all on the Metro or MTR: Sheung Wan, Admiralty, Wan Chai or Causeway Bay.
- Take the BIG BUS tour VERY early in your visit as you may like to alter your list of things to see you can find it at the Central Ferry Terminal
- Do not think you can see all of Hong Kong in just a few days, on our 2nd trip to Hong Kong in 2015 we were there for 2 weeks and did not see every thing
- Include Macau in your stay but allow more than just a day (see out 2017 China trip for why)
- BUY AN OCTOPUS card as soon as you can BEFORE leaving the Airport (If you are over 65 show them your passport you will get cheaper fairs except for the airport express) add $300KH in Value you will use $100 each way on the airport express the rest can be used on the Buses, MTR, the Local Ferries (not to Macau), the Peak Tram (a must) and in some shops, top ups can be made at any 7/11 store and when you leave HK you can refund any balance if Value at the airport where you bought the card (Use it much like our OPAL card)
The MTR is very efficient and easy to use you never have to wait very long in-fact if you miss one the next is in less than 5 minutes and it is cheap
- Look for the FREE hotel Shuttle bus to take you to your hotel once you have reached the end of the Airport Express train ride (Hong Kong Station)
- Haggle at the markets!
- When you leave HK do not worry about an early hotel check out, no matter when you flight leaves HK instead, once toy have checked out of your hotel take the same free shuttle you took from HK Station at the end of the Airport Express train back to the airport express station and enter the station as if you were going to the airport then DO NOT board a train but look for the Airport Check In Counter and Check into your flight as if you were about to board your plane, here they will take your bags, and even issue you your boarding pass, now you are free to finish exploring Hong Kong with only your hand luggage, and you have already booked in with your airline!
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Welcome to Herman and Carolann’s Travels to Asia
China 2008