Hi northasian,

Can you pls enlighten me, what's the name of the island that is with 3 big chimneys? Is it Lamma Island?

I chanced upon a very nice sunset at The Peak Galleria, at Victoria Peak, with a reservoir(? Pok Fu Lam reservoir) in the foreground and further away, there's this island with 3 chimneys...

Ami

@takki87

IMO, you should try to use "ding ding" as a form of transportation, rather than purposely go and take it, so that it won't be a waste of time lor...

Using "ding ding" as mode of transportation, for eg after visiting Ocean Park, go to Causeway Bay, from there "ding ding" all the way to Central.

Take "ding ding" from the terminal station to secure the front seats on the upper deck...

Hong Kong is very public-transport-friendly. But many a times, a lot of travellers just rely on MTRs and taxis. From my experience, do a bit of homework and it is easy and fun to travel by bus, "ding ding" and star ferry.

- MTR is convenient, but sometimes need to walk quite a distance to find the station's entrance. At times, even after you found the underpass, still need to walk some 100 metres to the station. Also, need to find the correct exit to minimise the walking distance to the final destination.

- Bus, sometimes the bus stop is just right in front! Search the bus route from the HK bus web. The fare, the route, the journey time, places of interest that's near to the bus stop and even the picture of the bus stop is shown on the page. I print out the route and was able to follow through the bus journey and alight at the correct bus stop. When not sure, just ask the friendly driver. I've taken the green minibus too.

One thing to take note, bus fare is calculated from the point of boarding to the end terminal, even if you were to take only a few stops. So, choose the bus that is going towards nearer the end terminal for minimum fare. Eg, for the same destination, bus A might be ending soon after there but bus B might still go a long way before ending. So, cheaper bus fare for bus A.

- Star ferry, good way of transferring between TST and HK Island. Eg, from TST to Wan Chai, nearer distance to walk to the Golden Bauhinia Square. Or from Central Pier (maybe after visiting Cheung Chau, or bus after the Peak), take Star ferry across to TST, so much nearer than to walk from Central Pier to Central MTR station to catch a train back to TST.

- The tram, aka "ding ding", from east to west or west to east on HK island, great way for transfer and sightseeing.

- Taxi, use taxi if you are dead tired and lazy to walk any further. Taxi fare is metered, so no worries about taxi scam.

All information re transport, ie MTR, bus, star ferry, the tram, taxi and other ferries are available from the net.

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Nov 6 2009, 02:19 PM

@takki87

I think you've confused yourself with the Peak tram and the "ding ding" tram liao ah?

The Peak tram is something like the one going up Penang Hill, but very much faster. (the Penang Hill's one is going to be upgraded)

The "ding ding" tram is the what we called "dian che" ("electric car")..

This is the HK tramway's site, you can click on Tram Route Map to (East Bound or West Bound) to see the tram stops:
http://www.hktramways.com/en/service/index.html

Then you check and match the location on Google Map to have an idea how to go from one place to another, which tram stops etc.

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Added on November 6, 2009, 7:19 pmOh, I forgot...

I suggest you Google or Wikipaed for some famous building on HK island, see the pictures of the buildings. Then you can recognise them and use them as landmark.

For eg:
Bank of China Tower - the one that looks like bamboo, with sharp edges/point, er bad fengshui...

Hopewell Centre - the only one cylindical builiding, with a revolving restaurant above

Cheung Kong Centre - rectangle shape, like a match box. Garden Road is in between Cheung Kong Centre and BOC tower.

Two IFC - the tallest building

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Nov 6 2009, 07:19 PM

Oh, ya, unfortunately, Google Map does not show the tram track. I used it to "agak agak", matching the road names with the tram route. I know it's a bit seeing stars ah... I try to explain..

Example, going to the Peak tram station at Garden Road:
- Use Google Map, locate Garden Road.
- Check the tram route (eg from Causeway Bay, so the West Bound), and match with the above map, nearest tram stop would be at Bank Street.
- Take note that it's 2 tram stops after Admiralty MTR station (get ready to look out and alight)

This following map shows the track but no detailed map, it's in Chinese:
http://www.chinatouristmaps.com/travel/hon...s-stations.html
Also, the tourist maps collected at the airport show the tram track. But tram stops are not shown, coz they are quite near to each other, about 250m apart.

Btw, bus no 15 goes all the way up to the Peak, no need to take Peak Tram. It's a scenic bus ride. Going up the Peak, take the front seat, right hand side, upper deck.

If you happen to visit Stanley or Repulse Bay before the Peak, can take bus no 6 from Stanley/Repulse Bay and catch bus no 15 along Stubbs Road (alight no 6 after the small round-about and cross the road to take no 15).

Depends where you take the bus from la... Refer here for bus route, time and fare, click on the magnifying glass at bus stop no. to see description and photo of the bus stop:
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/routeinfo...ype=D&company=7

Scroll to the very end for total distance and total journey time..

It's up to you, whether to take bus all the way up to the Peak, or walk from Garden Road to peak tram station to take the Peak Tram, or take bus 15C that just bring you to the peak tram station at Garden Road then take the Peak Tram..

Can take bus go up, sure can take bus come down la... aiyo...apala..

Bank of China Tower observation deck, just +/- option, if you happen to walk along Garden Road, and got time, can go up to the 43rd floor and have a look. Small place nia, 5-10mins stop will do, view not bad, and can collect free, very nice brochure about the building there.

the answer is in the bus web la...

it depends on which day and what time... 7-15mins wait, not bad wor..

It's pitch darkness, and crowded during the fireworks display, and it's not at the castle, but quite a distant from front of the castle. Also, you need to "yell out" your question, coz fireworks display is accompany by music and songs..

If I may suggest, book a dinner table at Main Street Cafe(good atmosphere there, reasonable priced) for after the fireworks display. Very friendly waiters/waiteress there, might help you to surprise your GF...

Dragon hostel is at Mongkok, over at Kowloon side, TST would be near.

No 1 is at Hong Kong Island. So, take the No 2, to TST, from there, just take a cab if you don't want to walk with your luggages.

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Nov 11 2009, 04:39 PM

I strongly recommend book your own flights and hotels.

I was told by a person who works in a travel agency - DIY if you have time and know how to search online. It's the "same thing" that the travel agent does. They themselves check online, find the best deal, book and sell to you on a higher price.

The crystal cabin is so cool.

Here's one tip to overcome fear of taking cable car:
once in the cable car, take out your camera and start snapping. I bet once you are busy taking pictures, sure "forget" to be scared.

For those who have "cablecarobia", there's an option of getting to Ngong Ping Village by the New Lantau Bus. Previously, there's promotion for unlimited all day bus rides.

@moody5
there's this chairlift in China, go across the valley, with legs half hanging in the air, once reach the other side, must get ready to jump off the seats.. more scary ah..

Same like the one in Guilin (I took that too), that's the chair lift. Although it says Cable Car Station. Basically, just a chair, and you need to standby in position, wait till the chair arrives then sit on it (more like the chair scoop you up, lol) and the staff then swing the bar down to block you in front. Later, upon reaching, there's a signboard asking you to lift up the bar. Then get ready to jump off the seat. The chairs just move continuosly without stopping. The one over the valley, is at Kunming. Kena hiked up many steps to see the cliffs/caves then the return trip is to take the chairlift.

Btw, if want to compare, though I'm not scare, I'd say Ocean Park Cable Car is scarier than the NP360. I felt that the Ocean Park Cable Car swings more, coz of the strong wind from the open sea at one side. The NP360, only the first part is to get across the sea, after that it goes gradually up the hill. And if look down, seems quite close to the ground and can see the hiking path.

I have stayed at Dragon Hostel before, would highly recommend the place. Travelling next Oct? Not necessary to book so early, can book by Aug/Sept.

I was told by many people, including the local to stay away from Chung King Mansion, as well as the nearby Mirador Mansion.

Well, the problem is, how big is the hotel room, is the room big enough to accomodate > 2 persons?

Ha ha, unless you want the FREE tissue paper, otherwise, no need to buy newspaper also...

There are FREE newspapers, English and Chinese, being distributed at the MTR stations and certain designated points in the morning!

My parents would pick up the free copies on their way to the Dim Sum Restaurant, order their tea and read newspaper. Me, wake up a bit later, then go and join them for breakfast..

Since Citygate is very near to the airport, you may go there after you check out the hotel on Day 5. Then you can go somewhere else on Day 3.

Sport shoes street = Fa Yuen Street, Mongkok

Yup, 8nights in Dragon Hostel last year, would recommend the place. Friend and 73yo mom stayed there last month, they were happy too.

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Added on July 30, 2010, 10:07 pmUSA hostel, at Mirador Mansion, TST, bad reputation -for what you booked is not what'll you get, there have been incidents that one is made to pay more upon arrival to get what you saw on the web. It is also known to have diverting the guest to it's lesser known "sister hostel" that are under the same management.

Basically, try to avoid hostels at Mirador Mansion and Chungking Mansion, the area is "complicated".

This post has been edited by Ami Tsun: Jul 30 2010, 10:07 PM

There's a "journey planner" in MTR's web, very useful to find out the fare and journey time from one station to another, it also shows which station to interchange.