Northasian, The prohibition had been lifted on the same day China lifting their ban on RMB. ....I just changed all my leftover MOP to M'sian Ringgit at Macau airport. I dun think, it a problem changing RM in HK too since it is acceptable in Macau airport If I'm not mistaken, I saw I money changer even displaying RM rate @ Mongkok


This post has been edited by stimix: Dec 10 2008, 04:13 PM

@Techhooi
Yeap, M'sian need Visa to enter China. U can apply the VISA at Wisma OSK (China Bank) @ jln Ampang. Only RM30/pax but that's for single entry only i.e u can enter once & once u are out from China, u cannot use it again. For multiple entries, they have 6mth to 1 year validity meaning u can go in & out many times..not cheap, I think >RM150/Visa....U can opt for fast service if u dun want to wait 4 days for the VISA but need to add~RM50 or more for express processing.

If u have time, dun go only to Shenzhen. Go further to Guangzhou & thereafter to Zhuhai & Macau b4 bck to Hong Kong again...Although I do agree Guangzhou is abit boring, but the experience going to a new city is worth-it..furthermore Guangzhou is the 3rd largest Chinese city after Shanghai & Beijing...In Guangzhou, probably u should skip the boring Teemall & Grandview mall - Nothing interesting there!!) Infact shopping at shenzhen, Hong kong & Zhuhai is more interesting than Guangzhou....I missed the Nanyue King mosoleum museum, 6 banyan tree pagoda, Guang Xiau temple, Chan Clan house & more....So if u are in Guangzhou try visit those interesting places rather than Tianhe area.

BTW, soon to be the icon & tallest Buiding/tower in Far East..The Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing tower (610M-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou_TV_&_Sightseeing_Tower ) now reaching the top oledi without the pinnacle..Managed to catch this tallest tower in Guangzhou on the way to the bus station. At current height it's taller than KLCC!!:



By going in circle. u visited more cities (I visited 5 cities within 4 days), Saving on expensive Hotel stays in Hong Kong/Macau# & getting a better standard hotels at cheaper price in China..However spending more on transport cost (1 hr Speed train- RmB75.pax ) & VIP bus to Zhuhai (2.15hr RMB75/pax too). Also cheaper food too in China!!

U can't believe that my dinner @ Shenzhen wth the Sang yee (Toman/haruan/snake head fish) at only RMB28 (RM15) per serving. In M'sia, Sang Yee is very expensive! the RMB28 San Yee:


--------------------
#p/s: I got my hotel in macau cheap from a fourmer here at RM150 only otherwise, the actual price of New Century Casino hotel in Taipa will cost me >RM300/nite

This post has been edited by stimix: Dec 10 2008, 09:19 PM

I Think so too...I was shock actually to see the prices of food at Mongkok no change or even lower than the prices during my 1st visit in 1995! Imagine getting at HK$15 wanton mee compare to HK20 in 1995

Wondering whether we can see this trend in M'sia

Yeah-loh, I thought I got the cheapest Wanton mee at HK$15 ..Nevertheless, the same restaurant (Q-Kei) is also offering fish ball noodle at HK10 only ...Damn cheap comparing wth the price in KL! i.e almost similar price oledi!

This post has been edited by stimix: Dec 12 2008, 10:08 AM

Ok I was just about to post how cheap are the goods in Tung Choi St /Lady st. Well, certain thing it's cheap but certain things more expensive...My daughter was the one really happy wth what she got there

B4 the trip she almost wanted to buy those decorative paper punchers. Saw the cheapest in M'sia ~RM15 for medium size and a box for ~RM110...I was searching for this "toy" from Zhuahai, Guangzhou & Shenzhen since it's made in China...So dissapointed bcos what selling in China is more fashions, shoes & ladies acc....until she found what she wanted in Lady St!! & abundance.. Price? 50% of M'sia prices...We managed to get the same box set in Lady st for only RM50!! & those single set for only RM6 each!!

T-shirt is not really cheap but of higher quality HK100 for 3 or about RM17/each. One probably around RM20 ..U can get those souvenir T at Petaling st for RM5/each

For food, go further to the 3rd st from Nathan road (Fa Yuen st) Lotsa restaurants there....& not far from HSBC & K-mini mart is the nice Q-Kei restaurant wth HK10/bowl fish ball noodle. HK15 is for Wanton mee/Ngow lam mein. This restaurant was recommended by one of the Lady st seller that I bought my daugter's toy

Ehhh..I think u can get cheaper here:

http://www.agoda.com/asia/hong_kong/hong_k...gkok_hotel.html
http://www.hoteltravel.com/hongkong/kowloon/mongkok.html
http://www.hk-hotel.com/
http://www.all-hotels.com/hong-kong-hotels.htm

However, If u thinking of even cheaper option & intended to stay in Hong-Kong only 1 day...Goto Shenzhen..cheaper & spacious hotels there infact even cheaper than 3 star hotels in KL!

Overlooked your post...from Guangzhou to Shenzhen, no need bus. use the speed train instead...u will reach shenzhen much faster than taking bus...Bus 2 hr+, train only 1 hr at the same price..which one u want to choose? BTW, the train is suprisngly quiet & putting ERL to a shame..Avg speed ~160km/hr & on certain straight rail, speed reaching the max of 200km/hr.

Price RMB75 from Guangzhou East railway station. & once u reach Sheanzhen railwau station, just walk abit to the border & at HK side, use the MTR to your destination in HK...very easy...

---

Added on December 13, 2008, 9:17 pmYeap...The wanton is much better quality wth mixture of fresh prawn & meat..KL no prawn one if wth wanton mee, but Prawn wanton only available on the Ipoh style hor fun soup. Previously during my 1st trip in 1995, I specifically asking the seller for dry wanton mein & the result was bad wth 5 big wanton (OK) but just topped wth Qyter saurce & w.out char siew..giving me a bad memory of HK wanton mein without knowing that the actual wanton mein is actually soup & not dry type as what in M'sia

On the punchers.... ...I though I got the best price oledi

This post has been edited by stimix: Dec 13 2008, 09:17 PM

Yeap that's my 1st impression on HK Wanton noodle....In my mind..How come so expensive wth 5 big wanton & oyster saurce... now I know that the dry type so pricey..

Wah very brave..no need sweater ...Day time probably can tahan but at nite...freezing cold..On my 2nd last day & last day, temperature during the Morning dropped to 14C...for sure colder than the coldest Genting/Camero Highland

Read my earlier posting and I',m only on 4D3N and the best part was I managed 5 cities in 4D3N!! Your 9 days will probably brings u more cities or longer stays in certain cities...

Although shopping in Guangzhou is not interesting (bcos lack of electronics...shoes, shirts, pants & etc....no electronics!!) compare to Hong kong/Shenzhen & even Zhuhai, it's still worth for such a long period...places of interest in Guangzhou (I missed few bcos of my stupid idea of experiencing the lousy but touted as 1 of the largest mall in the world at Tianhe area!!)

1) Nan Yue Kingdom Mosoleum museum (The famous jade covered mummy King)
2) Xiuyue park wth the Guangzhou 5 ram statue
3) Guanxie temple
4) Chan Clan resident
5) Ancient mosque (Can't remember the name)
6) Beijing Lu shopping street (A must to visit the excavated ancient road at Beijing Lu)
7) San XIa Jiu Lu (Up Down 9 road) - shopping haven
8) Samilan island (Foreigner enclave b4 WW2 - yeah part of Guangzhou also occupied by foreigner b4)
9) Fooshan - Home of Wong fei hong)

Zhuhai has less attraction but they hv an interesting street mall an Lian Hua lu beside the Bus terminal opposite Gong Bei Border complex..Infact the underground Landmark Shopping complex at Zhuhai is another attraction by itself as this underground complex link to the opposite shopping streets & bus terminal, Other than that Zhuahi is famous for it's beach overlooking Macau (Hehe..currently highrises in Zhuhai already surpassed Macau!!), The lady statue further from the town & on my way to Guangzhou, seeing nice island gates & gigantic fishermen port about 10km from Zhuhai

This post has been edited by stimix: Dec 21 2008, 09:41 AM

Aha Leather clothing...Lotsa those thingy in Zhuahai, Guangzhou & abit in Shenzhen...dunno why but i think Chian side really game into it...That's why I said shopping in Zhuhai/Guangzhou is abit boring..shops full of leather clothing, jackets & high heel leather shoes..but lack of gadgets thingies

Just to add to what stomchaser said...Not really hard to find pork here. It's available everywhere in Chinese community. But not those Western restaurants such as Mc Donald, Burger King, & etc....to cater to the multi racial mix ..no prok served..The same in Singapore..all Mc D, Burger King in Singapore also Halal & no pork....so It's really an achievement to try McD pork burger in HK or China ..well I luv McD prok burger too...much better than the pork free here in Malaysia & Singapore.

Have-lah...:



http://www.turbojet.com.hk/eng/schedule/prd.html

BTW..Hong Kong so cold this Morning...8C!!...

This post has been edited by stimix: Jan 12 2009, 10:16 AM

Hehe..seriously Northasian is a HK resident & having her own hse/apt in HK...I dun think she is the right person to check...bcos why should she stay in HK hotels? The best to ask this is from returning tourist to HK not resident of HK..She might be able to describe the location & also where that location is good or not but dun think she knows the room conditions..

Just like if u stay in KL, someone ask me hei what is the condition of the room at Tune or stayorange.com...I just can tell both also good within public trpt & lotsa food...I can't really know the condition of the hotel or the room quality..never even step into..

I'm not sure where is the location of dragon hostel but for sure if u take the train from Mongkok east..it will be a direct train all the way to the last station at Lo wu. no need to change train at Kowloon tong. Otherwise if u take from Mongkok station, u need to change.

At lo wu station, u can't change train. Everyone hv to go down & enter the gigantic immigration complex at the border, fill up the white card & thereafter walk to Shenzhen railway station in front of the complex. from there u can either use the shenzhen metro line to whever in Shenzhen or use the Guangzhou speed train to Guangzhou ..

Eh..I just guessing only based on mt past experience... The LYN admin probably keeps it..till dormant for more than 6mths...thereafter probably purged. I'm not sure myself..I have posted my query on the moderator forum but yet to get any reply....

One eg is the Chiangmai thread. I have posted lotsa pictures & tips there but recently someone created a new Chiang Mai thread & as usual, I will search & merged two threads....Too bad the existing ChiangMai thread wth all my tips & pictures..no longer there ..So start fresh..

On Hong Kong probably Northyasian will explain later.. ..For your queries below my answers are in blue

For Hong Kong & china, not sure whether enough or not but I used up all RM1500 + 2 CC swiped of RM300 there...so avg ~RM600/pax for my 4 days there...For sure it's the most expensive trip!! compare to Bali or others!

The railway station hotel as mentioned is on top of the centre railway station fronting Lohu gigantic shopping mall & beside the HK/Shenzhen border gate...just a mere 100-200 walking distance to HK last MTR station at Lo hu also.

The shopping district is at Dong Men (I din go there in both my trips!!..haizz..) it just 2km North of the border...u can take the Metro or if weather is OK..just walk.

Windows of the World is Very far from Shenzhen town ctr...during my 1st trip, It took me >1hr by bus to there...Now wth Metro railway, u probably reached there within 30min? - It's located on the last Metro stop at Shiejiechichuan station (Window of the world station)...u can find the shenzhen metro line maps here:
http://www.urbanrail.net/as/shen/shenzhen.htm

You can find the info via the pinned Passport & Visa topic above.

Yes u need a VISA. u can apply from the China Consulate office located on L1, OSK Building Jln Ampang (On top of Bank of China). For single entry, Official rate is RM30. meaning u can enter once & once u are out from China, u have to apply again. Multiple unlimited entries wth valididty for 6 mth & a year also available but >RM200 (If I'm not mistaken).

The VISA is valid for 3mths from the date of application (If ! still can recall) so if u are going nxt mth, now is the best time. Don't apply 3 mths ahead of time bcos it will expired on the date u plan to go!!

BTW, pls bring 2 passport size photos as well bcos the photograher counter there is just like blood sucker! (RM18 for 2 photos!! ). U can also arrage agent to apply for you for a fee of RM80!! another ....But FYI, the Que sometime get very long and lotsa jumping que incidents!! & the best part..They allow this activities!! ..If u willing to pay xtra #ahem#...they will allow you to jump que & also process your VISA earlier than others sometime on the same day instead of 4 days!!...the #ahyem# can be >RM100!!

I hv posted my bad experience at the office here:
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=20259761

This post has been edited by stimix: Mar 11 2009, 10:00 AM

H1N1 is not only in HK but also in malaysia-lah..just go saja-lah if booked..unless u willing to forfeit the tickets...everywhere u go also having risk..no risk no gain!


Wah July will be super Hot in HK-loh..hot summer...