Hong Kong in Sept 08

SATURDAY, 6th September

Last week, it was my first ever chance to work in Hong Kong and I was so excited about it because I get to visit Hong Kong for the 3rd time and Hong Kong always use to be a place which actually brings me alot of memories because I grew up watching TVB drama series and those gangster-gangster and Stephen Chow's crappy nonsense and entertaining movies from Hong Kong.

Nathan road

My first trip to Hong Kong was with tour and because of the packed schedule, I only managed to visit the Ladies Market (Tung Choi Street), Sport Shoes Street (Fa Yuen Street), Avenue of Stars and Disneyland. It was more of a "touch and go" trip because we were at Shenzhen for few days before the Hong Kong trip. My 2nd trip to Hong Kong in Dec 2006 was a memorable one as we celebrated New Year's eve at HK Disneyland (will blog about it when I am really free).

California fitness centre along Nathan Road

As my client is only paying for accommodation from Sunday onwards and the fact that I wanted to explore HK abit, I took a flight on Saturday, therefore I have to find my own accomodation. During my 2nd trip to HK, I stayed at ChungKing Mansion at Tsim Sha Tsui because that's where the cheapest hostels are. You can find these hostels at AirAsia's website. This time, I stayed at Vincent Guest House at Mirador Mansion, somewhere near the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station which is also very convenient for backpackers.

Upon reaching the Hong Kong International Airport, I was deciding whether to take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui or be adventurous abit to take the bus. Let's check out the fare first. Taking the MTR will be HK$90 (RM40.14) and the bus will be HK$33 (RM14.72). Of course, I will take a bus, save some money and eat something nice, rite? For those who wanna take bus to Tsim Sha Tsui, take the A21 bus and trust me, you won't be lost because there is computer screen which actually displays the next stops etc.

Dodgy..Dodgy..



If you are planning to stay at these places, make sure you remember the building's name and the hostel that you are staying. Because there are alot of con-man hanging around the streets nearby these buildings and they will approach you (if you are carrying luggage bag) and tells you that you got the wrong address and they will take you to somewhere else if you fall for their trick. Just be brave and go ask the security guards in blue uniform about the address if you are not sure.

Super tiny bathroom


My small little room, cost only RM61 per night.

Without wasting time, I checked-in and dumped all my luggage in the room and head straight to the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station to start my adventure in Hong Kong.


Anyone wanna guess what MTR station is this?

First stop will be Sham Shui Po MTR station which are 4 stations away and it costs HK$4 (RM1.78). At Sham Shui Po MTR station,look for Exit C2 and head towards Apliu Street Flea Market because the street is well known for selling bargain-priced new and second hand electrical devices and electronic products.

While walking around the street, this stall caught my attention. This stall sells roasted chicken, roasted pork and roasted goose. It's the same as those chicken rice stalls in Malaysia but these stalls are different because of the varieties they have. Don't expect a packet of chicken with roasted pork and rice to be RM 4 or RM 5.

If I am not wrong, a packet can cost up to HK$20 and above.


The amount of people lining up to buy from this stall is unbelievable.


This place is like our very own Plaza Low Yatt, just that this place is more cramp and packed.

My first meal for the day in Hong Kong.


Instant noodle served with fried egg and pork chop and ice milk tea, HK$23 (RM10.25).


One of the shopping centres in Sham Sui Po.

Second stop will be the famous Mongkok MTR station (Exit D3), whereby Ladies Market and Sports Shoes Street are located. At the Ladies Market, you can find bags, accessories and inexpensive women's clothing. There are also toys and souvenirs such as T-shirts etc for sale. As a general rule, if you are interested in an item, you can ask for about price and when please think twice before you counter offer. I had a friend who offered to buy a pair of shoes at a price and when the seller agrees, she changed her mind and decided not to buy. She was scolded by the auntie and I thought it was really funny the way she "scolded" my friend.

Ladies Market (Tung Choi Street)


Krispy-Kreme for donut lovers.

The Sports Shoe Street is actually beside the Ladies Market street so once you see a street whereby all the shops are selling sports shoes, jerseys, sports accessories and etc, you know you are at the Fa Yuen Street. Make sure you get yourself a few pairs of shoes here because its cheaper compared to the shops in KL and there alot more choices. All genuine stuff. Can't bargain unless there isn't any price tag around the product. Besides that, you can find alot of restaurants and stalls selling interesting food.

Sports Shoe Street (Fa Yuen Street).

I bought myself a pair of Nike shoes at HK$ 341 (RM 152) and when compared to the price in One Utama yesterday, they are selling for RM 199.00



Next, I walked from Mongkok and all the way to Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui for about 30-45 minutes. For those who don't know how far, you can click here.


Andy Lau's handprint


Avenue of Stars

It was around 11pm by the time I reached back the hostel and I grabbed a quick supper at a nearby McDonald restaurant and starts planning for tomorrow's journey with all the tourist booklets I got from when I reached the airport.

SUNDAY, 7th September

As I need to check out by 12pm, I woke up around 930am to take the MTR to Jordan Station from Tsim Sha Tsui. Take the Exit A and look for G/F, 63 Temple Street where you can find this famous Mido Cafe, which has retained its interior design and furnishings for 60 years. If you can't find this cafe, ask around or find the Tin Hou Temple and its just beside the Mido Cafe.

Mido Cafe


Try their famous egg tarts, milk tea and coffee, baked rice with pork ribs, and iced red bean and lotus seed drink as those mentioned above are all its signature dishes. Do come early as places are limited unless you don't mind waiting.

Hot bun stuffed with Butter (Bor Law Yau)


The Baked Pork Rice

I forgot how much was my breakfast but its defintely not cheap too, but worth giving it a try for a local breakfast "feel". Right across the Mido Cafe, this is the Tin Hau Temple I was talking about.

Where the senior citizens compete with each other in a "bloody battle" of chess games and catching up sessions..

After checking out, I took a 15 minutes walk to the Star Ferry Pier for a ferry ride to Wan Chai. My destination is actually to the Park Lane Hotel which is located at Causeway Bay but if I were to take the MTR straight to Causeway Bay, I will need to pay HK$10.50 (RM4.68) and since I have the time, I decided to walk to Star Ferry Pier and take a 10 minute ferry ride to Wan Chai which only cost HK$2.20 (RM1.03) and along the way, I saw the Clock Tower..




Star Virgo..


Star Ferry Pier

Ferry ticket vending machine


Picture taken from the waiting hall and that's the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.


People rushing to get into the ferry


Air-conditioned room at the front of the ferry.



Upon reaching the Wan Chai Ferry Pier, you will see the bus terminal. Those who want to go Shenzhen, you can take a bus here. As for me, I went straight to the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre and Golden Bauhinia Square to snap some pictures.


Golden Bauhinia Square. Click here for more information on the GBS.


There are only a few ice-cream vans of this kind left in Hong Kong. Famous for their super soft ice-cream (HK$7 or RM 3.12)

After snapping some pictures around, I was on my way again to the Wan Chai MTR station to take a train to the Causeway Bay (HK$4). Along the way, I saw this famous 3 letter words..


Lee Kum Kee, the famous oyster sauce.

When I came out from the Causeway Bay MTR station, I was so shocked to see the streets at Causeway Bay packed with Indonesians and I suddenly felt like I am in Jakarta as I could understand their language as I walked past them.



Sunday is actuall their day off and these Indonesian maids are out meeting their friends and doing some shopping in Sogo and Times Square or have picnic at the Victoria Park.



Weather was freaking hot and it was a good sweat out session. After I checked-in into my hotel, I was too lazy to go out again and decided to rest awhile until my stomach feels hungry.


The view from my hotel room.



Around 5pm, I went out to explore the area around my hotel until I saw this small little restaurant which this famous traveller ate at this restaurant before..


Let's give it a try


Wan Tan Mee with "ping pong size" Wan Tans (HK$28 or RM 12.49)

After the meal, I took another few steps and I saw this bakery shop selling fresh egg tarts.. Should I buy?




Of course, I should buy

Super delicous HK$5 (RM2.23) egg tart.

Watching movies at cinema ain't cheap too, the price is about HK$70 (RM31.22) and early birds need to pay about HK$40 (RM17.84) on weekdays. For the remaining hours of the day, I met up with my client and another colleague and we had dinner at nearby Japanese resturant and walked around before taking an early rest so that we don't feel tired at work the next day.

MONDAY, 8th September

Our office are located ontop of a shopping complex called the CityPlaza One at TaiKoo Shing. Having lunch here and almost everywhere is crazy, you have to make reservation and if you don't, be prepared to stay back for OT because I am pretty sure you will be back late into the office after lunch. The 3 of us had our early lunch around 1155am and ate at a Chinese restaurant which the bill comes up to HK$440 (RM 196.24). We had claypot chicken, dim sums, fried rice, vegetables and some pork meat.

As for dinner, we had


Porridge with alot of oysters..


Hong Kong kai-lan


Not chicken or fish fillet




Squid actually...taste damn bloody good


Recycled chicken head...

Dinner was HK$215 (RM 95.89) , so you judge for yourself if the food is expensive or not.

TUESDAY, 9th September

Since one of my colleague has never been to Hong Kong, I took her to Avenue of Stars to watch the Symphony of Lights before going to the Mongkok for dinner. At Mongkok, we had Wan Tan Noodles again.


HK$20

After our dinner, we walked around the Ladies Market and Sports Shoe Street before going into this famous dessert shop called Hui Lau Shan.

Coconut with bird nest...HK$48 (RM21.40)




My Mango Pudding in Mango Juice with extra Mango..HK$30 (RM13.38)

WEDNESDAY, 10th September

Lunch was at Food Republic and I had roasted goose with roasted pork


HK$40 (RM17.84)

For dinner, we had ramen at Crystal Jade in Times Square and after that, we went to somewhere nearby where its famous for the..


Crispy bun with condensed Milk (Around HK$ 11 or RM 4.90)


Crispy pork chop bun (HK$22 or RM 9.81)

Very good stuff. Sorry, I don't have the address :P

THURSDAY, 11th September

Dinner was at Mongkok this time. We went to this special restaurant called the Modern Toilet Restaurant. This restaurant resembles a washroom, having ice cream served in a container shaped like a squat toilet or brownie and spaghetti served in a container shaped like a wash basin.

At Mongkok MTR Station, look for Exit E2.


Ask around for Room 3B, MPM, 240-244 Portland Street, Mongkok.


Everyone sitting on toilet bowls.




Tadaa~~~my "Spare Ribs in Wuxi Style".


Black Tea with Ice Cream


Fried Chicken Wings..HK$25 (RM11.15)


Seafood Steamboat..HK$82 (RM36.57)

On our way back, we went to KFC as their egg tarts are also highly recommended by one of my client's staff. And she wasn't lying, this egg tart really taste damn good.


HK$5.50 (RM2.45)

FRIDAY, 12th September

Before leaving for the Hong Kong International Airport, I bought 48 egg tarts from the Macau Restaurant and each egg tart costs HK$7 (RM3.12) before heading to Central's IFC Mall to take the Airport Express train to the Airport. One way is HK$100 (RM44.60).


I "lup" the egg tarts :P