Another one of those "Anyone been to" threads.

Ok well very possibly within the next 7 days I will be popping over to Hong Kong. Mad when you think that the visit is for the purpose of visiting a bank to sign some papers.(You might be correct in assuming that a little more than a small overdraft facility is involved here!)

Well I dont know the place and in truth plan to be there as short a time as possible as a further trip to NYC will be required almost immediately.

So any heads up of a few things to maybe check out when there? Baring in mind my sheltered convent upbringing that sees me a shy and retiring type. Therefore input by Tim Wilky passing on his rather unusual knowledge of things Far Eastern, is to be discouraged.

What a well travelled bunch we are then, HK obviously not been part of any ride out route!

I wonder where that nice chap El Boca is, I know he's been there.

Chuckle, sorry, sticking to the advice of "if you can't say anything intelligent keep your mouth shut"

Heard it's a bit pricey over there, but I doubt I'm telling you anything new Have fun anyhow

EDIT: Has anyone thought of just faxing the papers over? I know you get less AirMiles that way, but still, think of your carbon footprint, won't somebody please think of the children?!?!

[Biker Biggles]

Well Ive been there but it was a long time ago and things have changed beyond recognition.Its Chinese now instead of British for starters,and I daresay all those Timwilky type places have been shut down by the new regime,not that you would have been at all interested.Make a trip of it and enjoy.

[TEC]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

....and I daresay all those Timwilky type places have been shut down by the new regime...

I believe there are more now

Get yaself down the Wanchai though there are a few other places worth the visit, you have 5* days so enough time to do all the tourist stuff assuming you're not working 24/7. If the weather is ok (should be this time of year) then try and get up to Victoria Peak at least once. Re weather, its a bit warmer than the UK but not that much, beware it cools in the evenings but no need to pack loads of clothes, buy them there, made to measure suit about HK$50 and made in 24hours (assuming the regime still allows this sort of practice), pretty good suits as well

*You wont know what day/time it is the first 24hours and the following day after the Wanchai visit will be a blurr

Went to HK in May to visit some friends so:
1) Go up to The Peak on the tram - get good views of HK from up there.
2) Go on the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui (the other side of the harbour off Hong Kong Island). There's a f-ing massive mall there too.
3) Go to Kowloon and Mong Kok and visit the Ladies Market - get loads of fake/stolen/aquired things there like Rolex etc - haggle like hell by the way, should be able to get at least 1/3 off. If you see people with catalogues of stuff, they'll invite you to follow them - it's daunting as you go up through metal doors, past 'massage' parlours, so it's up to you if you go or not, esp if you're on your own.
4) Just off the road with the Ladies Market on, there's a shop called "Chopstick Gallery" which suprisingly enough sell loads of chopsticks - great for getting presents for people back home.
5) Hong Park is nice too
6) Go to Lan Kwai Fong for bars. Up some steps is a Russian vodka bar which was good.

All these places quite close together and really easy to - the MTR (underground) is great for getting around, and it's cheap too. You can also use this to get from the airport to Central HK.

If you want to go a bit further afield, there's Stanley and the Big Budda on Lantau Island. Taxi's are fairly cheap and efficient for getting to these.
Hope this helps

Firstly, stay on Hong Kong Island, not Kowloon. Don't know what your budget is but the prices range from vast to pretty reasonable....I stay near Causeway Bay/Victoria Park.

HK is a more of an "ambience" place than a "sight-seeing" destination - and more "shopping" than anything! - but there are some things you should do:

Recommended are Kowloon harbour-side on Saturday night, to watch the laser show and walk along their version of the LA "Walk of Fame". Also a must: go up the Peak in the Tram....go there just before sunset, and ideally eat in the Peak cafe (great oysters). If you like architecture, stroll around the Central area to take in the skyscrapers and also to marvel at the underground shopping city in the MTR area!

For "tacky" shopping, visit Mong Kok Ladies Market, as Matt says. For "swish", go to Admiralty and visit Pacific Place (and Hong Kong Park). For middle-of-the-road, Times Square and Lane Crawford or Sugo in Causeway Bay. There are bargains to be had in HK....just not at the level they used to be I suspect. Shop with care and look out for some of the specialist areas: glasses in Times Square, electronics in Tsim Tsa Shui, trainers in Mong Kok.

For fun, go to the races at Happy Valley (Wednesday eves and Saturday afternoons), or drink with the expats in SoHo (quite ghastly, dahling!). It's halfway up the hill but easy access thanks to the handy escalators and travellators all the way from Queens Road.

Further afield, Lantau Island has some nice sights, Ocean Park is great on a Sunday. Don't bother with Disneyland.

Sundays is "Au Pair Day".....it's when the wealthy Chinese throw the Phillipino maids out; they congregate in all the parks, walkways, shopping malls. Nice. But if you just want to stare at 'uggins of very pretty, charming, trendy girly-girls, go on the MTR for an hour; it's good value. If you want something a bit more hooky, Wanchai - and wear a blindfold. And a penicillin patch.

Eating out is either very cheap (go where the locals go) or blooming expensive (go where the expats go). But the choice and range is HUGE - Chinese mainly use their homes to sleep in: the majority of their eating is in cafes and restaurants.

Finally, travel by taxi is not too expensive, but MTR and Tram is always cheaper and often quicker.

PM me if you need more.

I tend to stick to the New Territories, and haven't got anything to add to what they said. As Ol Boc say Ocean Park is a nice theme park, they do shows with their dolphins and sealions.

Here's some help for business travellers though.

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/...ss/index.jhtml