Several people recently wrote me asking for travel advice re: Hong Kong since they will be traveling there in the near future. To make things easy for me (because I'm such a lazy arse), I'm just going to write my thoughts and such on this entry. For those who don't give a crunk about Hong Kong, mosey on please. Before I begin, please note that I am NOT a tour guide and I don't claim to be an authority of all things Hong Kong. These are just my own opinions on places, things etc. and if you have better opinions on HK and what to do there, then by all means share it with me via email or on your site. But since some of you asked, I'm gonna share it here with everyone. Hope you won't find it impersonal since it's not meant to be -- it's just easier than retyping the same thing in a zillion different emails. And plus, I'm sure someone will ask me the same questions again in the future sometime. ;D

What is there to do in HK if I only have 1 day there? (most popular question)

Hong Kong looks small on a map but there is enough to do there to occupy you for a few years. I don't think 1-2 days can even justify what HK has to offer. But if it was my first time in HK and I want to see some cool stuff all in one day. Then this is probably my agenda:

Being a tourist, you would most likely be staying in Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui) somewhere or in Hong Kong Island (Central). I would first grab some breakfast at a dim sum place. Go and try out some local dim sum -- there are restaurants on Nathan Road (also known as The Golden Mile) and such to choose from. It's ok if you don't know Chinese, just go try things out and be adventurous. Ask your hotel concierge where there's a dim sum place close by to you, although some may not open till 11am, there are some that open at 7:30am but those are probably really local places (even better!). It's better than eating bacon and eggs or one of those tasty Continental breakfast danishes. *bleech* If you don't like dim sum, you can grab some congee with a Chinese style fried churro or a bowl of ham and macaroni in a chicken broth *so hknese* and a pineapple bun from a stall-like (dai pai dong) eatery but these folks really won't know any English, and you might be afraid of what you see there (i.e. uncleanness, phlegm, cigarette ash falling in your food). OR you can hit one of the chain eateries like Maxim, Fairwood etc but I really don't like those places at all.

Next, I would go to the Star Ferry Terminal on Tsim Sha Tsui side and take a ferry ride across the bay to Hong Kong Island. I think the Star Ferry is one of the best bargains HK has to offer because you see Hong Kong Island and Kowloon from the boat and it's truly amazing. You can snap photos from the boat and it will truly epitomize your HK trip in every way. Be sure to take the boat to Central since I believe there is another boat that will take you to Wan Chai also.

Once you're on the other side at Central, you're in the heart of the HK financial district with its massive skyrises and such. Snap some photos and dwell a bit there if you want. It's interesting. There's a HKTA office in the Jardine House if you want to pick up some touristy maps etc. You can also check out the view from Victoria Harbour while you're at Central. I would then begin my ascent toward The Peak Tram.

The Peak is one of Hong Kong's most famous places to visit and if you're never been there before, I think it's a must (even if it is kind of touristy). But the view....the view...is amazing. You wanna know where all those views of HK that you see on tv and movies come from? It's The Peak baby! I definitely think this is a must see. The tram will take you both up and down the Peak because there's no way you can walk it. :P

After you come down from The Peak, it should be nearing lunch time. If you want a bit of HK nostalgia, hop on one of those electric buses and head towards Causeway Bay while cutting through famous Wan Chai. Those electric buses/trams are double deckers, so you can catch some great street life views of HK from atop while letting your feet rest a bit. Once you get to Causeway Bay, alight and grab some grub. Is there any particular place you have to eat at? Well, if you're going to be in HK for one day, I think seeing the sights is more important than the food although it would be good to indulge in both. You can stop by KFC and grab a por-tart if you want. :D Once you're in Causeway Bay, you can check out Times Square for food, shopping etc. It's a pretty large structure with 11+ levels of shops. OR if you want, take the HK Subway aka MTR to various locales for shopping.

On the HK side, I think the best shopping malls are: Pacific Place in Admiralty or Times Square in Causeway Bay. But I am personally fond of Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong. MTRs will take you directly to the shopping center itself. After getting off the MTR, just follow the signs -- you're lucky Hong Kong uses alot of English because there will be signs everywhere. Hong Kong in general has a ton of great shopping places in small little shopping centers such as in Mong Kok but to explain it here would cause me to have a migraine and besides you will never find it. :P So I'll stick to the big guns. Festival Walk has a ton of great stores -- call it a mall if you want but there are certainly things there that you can't find in the US. Their Shu Uemura store is great!

After some shopping, I think it's time to head back to Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon for afternoon tea at a posh hotel overlooking the fabulous view again. HK still has all the flair of old British traditions such as having high tea. Most big hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui or Tsim Sha Tsui East will have awesome views from their lounge areas -- indulge in finger sandwiches, fruit tarts, scones and some tea for a bit of nostalgia. The Peninsula has great tea but no view. Boo. I personally think the Regent has a better view than the Shangri-La hotel but you can also have tea at The Omni, Grand Hyatt or the Mandarin Oriental. Or back to your hotel to get some rest if you're too tired. I don't know about you but I'm tired just from typing all this stuff. :P

Hong Kong to me, is best seen at night, when all the blaring neons light up like fireworks. I don't think there's any other place that will take the place of what HK looks like at night -- not even Tokyo or Times Square in NYC! For dinner in HK, I personally would indulge in the buffets that many hotels offer. You can say it's not as "Hong Kong" as going to that Jumbo Restaurant in Aberdeen but then again, we only have one day right? The buffets in Hong Kong are unreal and have such a vast variety of great foods both Chinese/Asian and Western and you don't have to worry about hygiene as if you're eating at a street stall. Because we all know the last thing you need is diarrhea on this trip. Check with your concierge on which buffet is good. OR my other choice would be to have a good Cantonese meal at a nice dining establishment. And try out some HKnese cuisine while you're in HK.

After dinner is the best time to mesh with the crowds on the sardine packed streets of Hong Kong. At night, I think the best thing to take in is the Temple Street Night Market in Jordan/Yau Ma Tei. You should be careful for pickpockets there so be on your guard. The Temple Street Night Market is filled with knockoffs, doo-dads, a flea marketesque array of goods for locals and tourists alike. You can bargain shop for all sorts of goods there. There's a lot to see even if you don't buy anything. Further north lies Mong Kok and it comes alive in a dizzying splash of colors from all the signs hung up overhead. Clothing chain stores, beauty supply stores are all littered throughout the streets. There's a Ladies Market area in Mong Kok that sells shoes and other clothing items covering several blocks and that's always an interesting place to be at night. Regardless of whether it's a week night or not, Hong Kong always looks like a weekend place with so many people out and about.

After taking in some of those areas, I would head back down to Tsim Sha Tsui along Nathan Road (take in the sights, sounds and smells) and head towards the HK Cultural Center at the very end tip of Tsim Sha Tsui (across from the Peninsula Hotel) where you can walk along the edge of a Promenade area and take in the view of HKIsland across the bay in all its neon splendor. The Promenade winds East towards the other grand hotels of Tsim Sha Tsui East.

If you have more than one day there -- you may be interested in going to Repulse Bay on Hong Kong Island by taking a bus there. You can stop there for lunch/tea etc. and then head further down to Stanley which has a touristy market area. The other end of the Hong Kong Island lies Aberdeen where the famous floating Jumbo Seafood Restaurant is. You may also want to take a trip to Lantau Island and visit the Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha. The other outlying cities like Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan, Taikoo Shing etc all have their own shopping centers and such but probably nothing much for tourists to see. There are also a ton of Temples, in particular Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road or Wong Tai Sin Temple. Lai Chi Kok has a Sung Dynasty Village and Lei Yue Mun is most popular for their seafood dining.

Time to answer some questions:

I was wondering about the safety in Hong Kong. Common sense would be not to walk around at night by myself in an unfamiliar place. Are taxis expensive to use?

Safety should always be first when you're traveling, especially alone. Hong Kong is relatively safe but you should use street smarts also and not go in any particular area that doesn't seem safe. Stick to the main drags and the brightly lit roads and avoid small dark narrow alleys. In Hong Kong you can be on a loud and bustling street one moment and turn the corner into a dark empty alley, especially in Jordan/Yau Ma Tei/Mong Kok area. There are alot of petty thefts and possible groping in crowds. :P And watch out for flying phlegm and hacking coughs. Taxis are not really cheap but definitely cheaper than Japan. However you wouldn't need to use a taxi if you're staying in the heart of the main tourist areas. You can utilize the MTR subway to your advantage and travel the local way, plus save money. Taxi drivers may not know English and if you were to use Taxis, have your hotel address and name written in both English and Chinese to show your driver.

I was also wondering about getting around from the airport to Kowloon. The travel agent told me about a train that runs from the airport to Kowloon. Do you know how much it would be and about how long it would take?

At Chek Lap Kok Airport, there is an Airport Express subway operated by the MTR that will take you to and from the Airport to Kowloon/Hong Kong/Tsing Yi. Check out their info here and here. Several friends who have used it in the past have expressed great satisfaction with it. I hear it's fast, cheap and the best way to go. :) Taking a cab from the Airport to Kowloon/HK is very very pricey.

Is English pretty prevalent everywhere?

English signs are prevalent and commonplace at most places except for a lot of the local eateries (don't expect your menus to be in English if you go to a hole in the wall place). People who work at shopping malls and touristy places will all know some English to help answer your questions. Although their command of it may not be as verbally fluent as yours, they are taught to read, speak and write English in schools and should know it. Just don't talk as fast as we do here but no need to talk louder (as if!) :P

If you can recommend any good spots for lunch or shopping or quick sightseeing, (as well as how to get there).

See above. I would go get a MTR map and kind of familiarize yourself with it before you start your journey. And perhaps get yourself a compact HK Guide so you can plan out your day if you have limited time there. It's best to plan ahead and get to know your whereabouts before walking around and looking like a tourist and an easy prey. ;P Try to make the most of your time while you're there since traveling to and from places may take some time, especially if you get lost.

Is it comparatively expensive as Japan?

Definitely not as expensive as Japan but you'll spend money on transportation via MTR etc. and food and shopping of course! And since HK money comes in various shapes, colors and sizes -- you'll think it's play money! But then again, you end up spending it more freely and without guilt. ;P

Helpful Reminders:

MONEY - You will all need money and money is best exchanged at well known banks such as Hang Seng Bank or Wing On Bank, Wing Lung Bank etc. Banks usually don't make a commission but will charge a nominal service fee. I usually take travelers checks and exchange for HK$. Don't get suckered in and go to a cash checking place in touristy areas because they will ALL take a bite out of you by charging a percentage for commission. Get the most for your money folks by going to a respectable bank. Once you're in the bank, there is always a man/woman standing there to assist with whatever transaction you need done and will direct you to the right counter.

TIPS - Tips is another question people always ask about. In HK, tips are already added to your bill at larger dining establishments. It's called "added 1" which means they have already added 10% to your bill for tips. You can leave it at that and not give any more or if you wish, when they bring back your change, you can leave them a lil bit more. Whatever you like to do. And if you happen to be in a nicer lavatory, there is usually an attendant in there handing you a towel etc -- feel free to drop them a tip on their tray on the sink counter. $2 HKD is enough.

TAX - Tax is not a problem because there is no tax in Hong Kong with the exception of the Airport Departure Tax. ;P

ID - Identification should be carried with you at all times and although the thought of carrying my passport with me is a bit iffy, beware that police may stop anyone on the street and ask for proper identification. This is especially true for folks who look like non-Chinese (doh!) I've seen it happen to folks who are of South East Asian descent and it's nerve wracking.

ATTIRE - Two words: comfy shoes. There's a lot of walking and for most folks in LA, that's not something we're used to. I also would not suggest skirts for women either. Pants would be the best and layered tops and a lightweight jacket/sweater is ideal since some A/C is absolutely frigid there - so you can have the option of layering on or off. Carry a bag that you can have easy access to and one you can keep your hands over when you're in crowds to protect from pickpockets etc.

TISSUE - Huh? Yeah, you read it right, tissue. In HK you can purchase (or if you want to purchase before you leave for your trip) packages of tissue to keep in your bag (Tempo is my fave brand in HK :P). The reason being in many HK lavatories, there are no toilet paper and it's not easy to wipe your ass without some sort of papyrus. Secondly, many restaurants don't give out napkins or tissue during your meal, so it's best to be prepared with your own. Thirdly, you may want to wipe the sweat from your brow since you're not used to walking so much.

EMERGENCIES - With everything going on in the world right now, one can never be too sure about one's safety. Find out the phone number of your country's consulate in HK before you leave for your trip. You never know when you may need some assistance. Also, the emergency number in HK is 999.

Useful Links:

Hong Kong Tourist Association [best tourism site for HK. loads of info and searches for shopping, dining, sightseeing]

Hong Kong Airport [all you need to know about the hk airport]

MTR - HK Subway [your best mode of transportation]

Airport Express [to/from the airport via this method]

Festival Walk [links to other Swire Properties Shopping Centers at the drop down list on the bottom - Pacific Place, CityPlaza etc etc check it out!]

Feel free to email with questions or comments. There's really too much to cover but this will have to do for now. Hope this helps you all.

I'm out.