Saturday, August 22, 2009
...Hong Kong Summer Studies Part III
Places for Tourist
(Quick Info: The main part of HK is made up of New Territories, Kowloon and HK Island(this is like our CentralBusinessDestrict in SG).Also, in HK, MRT is call MTR.)
1) Lantau Island is the home of the famous Giant Buddha and Tai O Fishing Village; the island is also 1/3 the size of the main part of HK so its quite a big place. As mentioned, every saturday the school had organised cultural tours for us exchange students(included in our school fees so must go!)
First Stop...Tai O Fishing Village
Doesn't this remind you of our Pulau Ubin?
The village was quite small but it had many alleys, so you can actually get lost.
Yes.HSBC is everywhere in HK, even in ulu pandan villages.
Didnt buy much in Tai O because most stalls were selling the same stuff- salted fish and dried seafood. I did bought an umbrella (S$3!)over there. Also tried the village's street food such as fried yam and beancurd. I must say they were tasty, but not cheap for a village.
Next stop...Big Buddha and Monastry
We had really nice Vegeterian lunch which cost about S$8 per pax. But obviously the angmohs sharing our table didn't like it(except for my Norwegian friend she's vegeterian).
From ground to the top is actually high. The temperature difference was like 30(ground) and 18 deg C(top). My head was in the clouds(literally) when i got to the top.
Misty and windy. Nothing like the summer-ish HK down there.
When Buddha is beside you
2) Jade Market is situated in YauMaTei (aka 油麻地). As its name suggests, every single stall in it was selling jade stuff. After one round in the market i got really sick of jade.
Didn't manage to take any photos of the stalls as it was quite dark inside the market. Don't worry, it's not a black market...
3) Temple Street is also in YauMaTei.
There were also many other streets like Flower Street, Ladies Market, Prince Edward Street etc all along Nathan Road. The total distance is equivalent to walking from Orchard to City Hall. By the way, all these streets/markets are actually HK Pasar Malam Stalls. To me, Temple Street was the more tourist-ish one.
Totally disgusted by the Obasa sellers trying to bully the tourists. Jack up the price(i'd done my research before buying)and still acted pitiful like they not earning. Yucks:(
Prince Edward Street. where clothes are cheaper and non-tourist-ish.
4) Ocean Park(aka 海洋公园)is a famous theme park in HK. Paid like S$40 for the entrance quite ex but theme-park ma, expected.
Queuing for a roller coaster ride. Waited like 1hr...not worth.
One of the more erm..relaxing rides...
One of the 2 very precious pandas in HK..only in Ocean Park
Overall the trip to Ocean Park was quite worth. It took up the whole day, we didnt even cover all attractions. But if the sun wasn't that fierce and the indian girl hadn't vomitted on my shoes, the trip would have been really memorable for the correct(or rather good) reasons.
4) Central even though it is more of a CBD area, it also has many high-end malls(if you intend to buy branded stuff) and Clubs/Pubs at SOHO and Lan Kwai Fong(aka 蘭桂坊）. Avenue of stars and some museums are also located in Central. So it's quite a happening place.
Thanks to Raymond(CUHK senior) who brought us out for the night
Me and Shaun(also my projectmate for my course in CUHK)
A street in Lan Kwai Fong
Somehow in HK, shops of famous brands are very very big..like they can take up the whole building.
Bvlgari...how do you actually read this?
Prada
This was outside a Louis Vuitton Building. Finally(after my trip to LV exhibition...intro later) i know how to pronouce 'Louis Vuitton' correctly!
Saw a Harry Potter Ad at the bus stop..strange to see it with Chinese words.
Still haven't watched it:( anybody want to watch it with me?
Victoria Harbour..something like our Singapore river
The not so Tourist-ish places
Mong Kok(aka 旺角）is the place i LOVE most. I went there like 9 times, please. Argyle Centre was where i got all my S$2 tank tops:)Got most souvenirs from here too..
Mad cheap clothes..no need to bargain somemore
My lugguage exceeded by 0.4kg...luckily the counter ppl still let me pass(so its 20.4kg total excluding hand carry)yea!
TaiPo Market and Sha Tin's New Town Plaza were the nearest market places from my school. Because the cost of a meal in HK was quite high(average S$5 per person), i often shopped for some microwavable food or got canfood and fruits from the Supermarket.
HK wetmarkets open until ard 8pm. In SG wetmarkets close earlier (most stalls are closed by late afternoon)
A hawker centre at the top level of Taipo Market building
Seafood that were quite cheap and fresh but i can't cook in hostel. What a waste!
Wong Tai Sin is a famous temple place where people can pay to have their fortune read(heard its quite accurate). Went there with friends just to pray though.I am quite superstitious so NO fortune telling for me.I know i will freak out if the teller says sth bad will happen..choi!
Quite a small place can finish in an hour
Tmr i will be ending my HK post with the Louis Vuitton Exhibition i visited and the Anti-Government Protest i went in HK. BYE!Labels: Luu--ee Verr--torn...not Luu-is Vuu--tern
