June 1, 2007 - Hong Kong
We have been here for three days now. Arrived on Wednesday, took the Airport Express train which is the most convenient way to get to and from the airport, within 24 minutes were arrived in Kowloon and took the K3 free shuttle bus to our hostel.
Our hostel is in the middle of Nathan road next to the Holiday Inn Golden Mile hotel. It is located in the Mirador Mansion - really a ratty looking building with lots of guest houses and apartments. The owner of the guest house did a "bait and switch" tactic with its customers. Since we booked for the $14.95 twin bed room with bathroom we were shown the room before we signed up. It's their way of selling us the more expensive room, about $6 more per person/night. Well, it's only a place to crash and at least it has its own airconditioning which is what we need at this moment.
The weather here in Hong Kong is just like Manila, very hot and muggy. On our first night here we went to the promenade to watch the permanent light show surrounding the harbor. This was the place where you can feel some kind of breeze albeit warm. The promenade stretches the entire harbor overlooking Hong Kong Island. The show was spectacular.
The next morning we went to the China Travel Service located just across from our hostel. Very convenient and there wasn't a very long line. TIPS: go early, bring cash or credit card (charges 3% more), and 1 Passport photo. When filling out form make sure to avoid putting "church worker" or employed by a church in the employment and employer because they might not allow you to get a visa. Fortunately for me I was already granted one previously so they didn't question it. We got our visas at 5:30 p.m. the same day. Paid about $300 for a double entry for Peter and myself.
I had a sinus migraine that afternoon due to the humid weather and the rain approaching. Peter too had some minor headache. Adjusting to the weather took time. We only went to Hong Kong Island to check out food areas which was so hard to find without a guidebook to let you know where things are.
Here in HK you definitely need a guide and meandering will just cause you to go hungry - especially in the culinary capital of the world.
Peter and I had succumbed to eating a McDonald's because we didn't know where to eat, and if we found a place everything was in Chinese, no translation whatsoever. It will really be ironic if we went hungry in a place like HK.
This morning we went to the Peak, where I am posting right now at a Cafe (where it's free usage for patrons). We bought out guide, finally, and now feel more confident that we can eat some good Chinese food while here.
BTW, it is a bit hard to post where we are so I might have to post every time I find a place like this. So please bear with me.
Peter and I are find now. We will be going down to Causeway Bay for lunch so I'll try to find an Internet cafe later.
We have been here for three days now. Arrived on Wednesday, took the Airport Express train which is the most convenient way to get to and from the airport, within 24 minutes were arrived in Kowloon and took the K3 free shuttle bus to our hostel.
Our hostel is in the middle of Nathan road next to the Holiday Inn Golden Mile hotel. It is located in the Mirador Mansion - really a ratty looking building with lots of guest houses and apartments. The owner of the guest house did a "bait and switch" tactic with its customers. Since we booked for the $14.95 twin bed room with bathroom we were shown the room before we signed up. It's their way of selling us the more expensive room, about $6 more per person/night. Well, it's only a place to crash and at least it has its own airconditioning which is what we need at this moment.
The weather here in Hong Kong is just like Manila, very hot and muggy. On our first night here we went to the promenade to watch the permanent light show surrounding the harbor. This was the place where you can feel some kind of breeze albeit warm. The promenade stretches the entire harbor overlooking Hong Kong Island. The show was spectacular.
The next morning we went to the China Travel Service located just across from our hostel. Very convenient and there wasn't a very long line. TIPS: go early, bring cash or credit card (charges 3% more), and 1 Passport photo. When filling out form make sure to avoid putting "church worker" or employed by a church in the employment and employer because they might not allow you to get a visa. Fortunately for me I was already granted one previously so they didn't question it. We got our visas at 5:30 p.m. the same day. Paid about $300 for a double entry for Peter and myself.
I had a sinus migraine that afternoon due to the humid weather and the rain approaching. Peter too had some minor headache. Adjusting to the weather took time. We only went to Hong Kong Island to check out food areas which was so hard to find without a guidebook to let you know where things are.
Here in HK you definitely need a guide and meandering will just cause you to go hungry - especially in the culinary capital of the world.
Peter and I had succumbed to eating a McDonald's because we didn't know where to eat, and if we found a place everything was in Chinese, no translation whatsoever. It will really be ironic if we went hungry in a place like HK.
This morning we went to the Peak, where I am posting right now at a Cafe (where it's free usage for patrons). We bought out guide, finally, and now feel more confident that we can eat some good Chinese food while here.
BTW, it is a bit hard to post where we are so I might have to post every time I find a place like this. So please bear with me.
Peter and I are find now. We will be going down to Causeway Bay for lunch so I'll try to find an Internet cafe later.
posted by Mimi | 5:07 PM
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