|
|
| Friday, 14-Dec-2007 12:21 |
Email | Share |  | Bookmark |
|
Aina 2 and half years old
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Friday, 26-Oct-2007 10:28 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Eid Celebration 2007 - Linggi, N.Sembilan
|
|
|
Went back to my wife's kampung for Raya. It was a short trip back to Linggi, after a hectic month in Hong Kong. Went back to Bangi on 1st Raya nite. 2nd Raya dah ronda KL and the best thing was, the road was clear!
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wednesday, 10-Oct-2007 03:21 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Ronda-ronda at Dongmen, Shenzhen
|
|
|
Dongmen is a major shopping area within the Luohu district of Shenzhen.One of the oldest parts of Shenzhen, the Dongmen area was established about 300 years ago, leading it to be alternatively known as "Laojie" (or "Old Street").Dongmen is accessible from exits to the Laojie metro station and lies just north of Shennan Dong Road. "Dongmen" usually refers to more than just "Dongmen Road", encompasing the entire series of connecting commercial streets. These streets were closed off to automobile traffic in 1999.The variety of shopping in Dongmen is wider than Luo Hu Commercial City, but has a similar focus on Chinese-made and counterfeit goods. Beauty parlor services are very popular in Dongmen and the department store Maoye has locations on both ends of the road. Despite being limited to pedestrian traffic, Dongmen can become very crowded on nights, weekends, and holidays, giving it a similar feel to Nanjing Road in Shanghai.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tuesday, 9-Oct-2007 08:10 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Trip to Shenzhen, China
|
|
If you have a spare day in Hong Kong and shopping is your thing then think about taking the train to Shenzhen for some serious retail therapy. The prices in Shenzhen are incredible and the people are friendly and approachable and bargain in a friendly, non aggressive way. Note. The best days to avoid crowds are Wednesday and Thursday. Don't even consider public holidays!
If your hotel is on Kowloon side get yourself to the Hunghom terminus of the Kowloon Canton Railway (KCR) and stay on all the way to Lo Wu. If you are staying on Hong Kong Island catch the MTR, get off at Kowloon Tong and follow the signs for the KCR. On your right you'll see the ticket office. The fare in standard class is $66 HKD return. A bargain as the first class ticket is $66 one way. Don't bother, standard class is clean and the journey is only about half an hour or so. You want to get off at Lo Wu.
Lo Wu is a border crossing and Customs and Immigration controls are in force. You must bring your passport! Get off the train and follow the crowds down to the immigration hall. The visitors stream is on the far left adjacent to the police post. Don't worry about visa's yet! You need to fill in a H.K immigration departure card and present it with your passport at the desk. Take a pen and fill it in whilst waiting in the queue, don't waste time, there's serious shopping to be done!
O.K. Now you've cleared Hong Kong, go around the corner and look for the yellow sign hanging from the ceiling regarding travel documents a.k.a passports. Another left turn and you go up the escalator to the second floor and the visa office is on your right. The application forms are on your right in the corner. Fill it in and hand it over to the surly man behind the counter . He in turn passes it to his equally surly partner who takes your $150 HKD and returns your passport with visa stamped inside. (Note: this tourist visa is only good for a five-day visit and is valid only within the Shenzhen Economic Zone. That is, if you plan to go beyond the Shenzhen border you need another visa!) The process takes about five minutes depending on the crowds.
Go back down the escalator and follow the path to the visitor queue for Chinese immigration. Once again fill in your arrival form in the queue. Hand it over with your passport and pass through. Now you are in the Peoples Republic of China! Go down another escalator and out the door. Ignore anyone offering you anything, you aren't in Hong Kong anymore. Watch your belongings like a hawk and if some one bumps into you or brushes against you clamp your hand over your wallet! You are not in any physical danger, but pickpockets are rife. Read and believe. You will be spending the next few hours looking at an amazing array of goods and it is very easy to let your guard down. While you are bending over a fabulous array of must have items, someone is rummaging through your backpack. The safest way is to invest in a thin pack that slips under your shirt. Keep your passport and cash and cards in it. While we are on the take notices, into your backpack should go a bottle of water, a pack of tissues, some headache tablets, a couple of 'blocking' tablets for diarrhoea and a pad and pen.
Out the door and on your right you'll see a big modern shopping centre, the Lo Wu Commercial Center. That's your target! Go over the pedestrian bridge and inside. Here are the facts. You can pay for everything in Hong Kong Dollars and receive change in HKD. The exchange rate you'll get is one to one with the Chinese Renmimbi. You'll get a fractionally better rate if you change your money, but any advantage is lost in the frustration ensued. Don't bother. Just pay in HKD. Trust me on this one.
How to Bargain...
Ask the price. Then offer one third of that sum, no more. The vendor will smile and shake their head. Wait. Examine it again. If you want it, offer $5 more. Now you should get a lower price punched into the calculator for your perusal, but still higher than yours. It's crunch time. Do you want it? If yes, pick the middle ground with finality. They should come around as you are still paying a foreigners price! NEVER EVER pay more than 50% of the original price offered. One third to one half of the original price is about right. Please keep in mind that it is their livelihood though, and a fair price is the best price, if you quibble over a dollar you are missing the point. Bargaining in Shenzhen is fun, no one gets aggressive and all is done with a smile and lots of woeful head shaking!
One other thing, all that Chanel and Gucci you can see is fake. The authorities are starting to tighten up on the trade in pirate goods and it is not a good idea to come back to Hong Kong with loads of fake Chanel handbags! One or two maybe, but not too many. It's up to you, I'm sure that 99% of the time nothing will happen at Hong Kong customs, but there's always that one time ah?
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Friday, 5-Oct-2007 14:58 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Finally...
|
|
|
Finally, wifey arrived today, and I was really happy that she could joined me here in Hong Kong. Ronda-ronda to Ladies Market after berbuka, tak beli apa-apa coz tmrw we are going to Shenzen, China. May the force of shopping spree be with us....
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Friday, 28-Sep-2007 04:45 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Factory Outlets in Tung Chung, Hong Kong
|
|
Went to Citygate Outlets in Tang Chung, near Disneyland. This place is similar to McArthur Glen Designer Outlets in the UK. Prices here are really cheap compared to those in the highstreet. I bought myself a Samsonite computer bag which as a bargain.
How to get here: Take MTR to the last station towards Disneyland, go to exit E, then you will find Citygate Outlets just beside the MTR station. And also from here, you can actually tak a bus directly to the airport for $3.50.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Thursday, 27-Sep-2007 04:32 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Halal Food in Hong Kong
|
|
Finally, I managed to find so far 4 Halal Food dining place in HK. All are located in Tsim Sha Tsui. Most of them serve Pakistan/Indian or Arab cruisine. The nasi beriyani was the best so far, which cost me $48. Even better than the one in Zam Zam Restaurant in Singapore. Price of food ranges from $18 to $100. There is also the Kowloon Masjid in TST area where we solat Magrib, Isya and Terawikh.
Anyway, my reconmendation here would be Shadowman Cybercafe, in Ashley Road. The owner is a Muslim from Singapore, En Abd Kadir and the food is really tasty & nice. Siap ada tulis ditanggung Halal kat depan kedai.
You can find the list of Halal Food at this link:
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/gourmet/dining/images/gp_pdf_hala.pdf
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Thursday, 27-Sep-2007 04:04 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Stanley Market, Hong Kong
|
|
Stanley Market is a street market in Stanley on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The street is a typical example of a traditional old open-air market in Hong Kong and has since become a major tourist attraction, well known for its bargains. Many of the stalls or shops in Stanley Market sell Hong Kong souvenirs as well as clothing - particularly silk garments and traditional Chinese dress - toys, ornaments, luggage, souvenirs, and Chinese arts and crafts. The market grew out of Chek Chu Tsuen, a village nearby.
There are several small Chinese restaurants in the marketplace and a small old Dai pai dong, one of the few left in Hong Kong.
The nearby Stanley Main Street offers many larger restaurants, both Western and Chinese, and is a popular spot to see and be seen on the weekends.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Thursday, 27-Sep-2007 01:24 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
Temple Street Night Market, Hong Kong
|
|
Temple Street is a street located in the areas of Jordan, Yau Ma Tei in Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is well known for its night market and the busiest flea market at night in the territory. The night market is in the Yau Ma Tei, Jordan areas of the street and not the Mong Kok area of the street. Popular with both tourists and locals alike in the evening, it is common to see the place crowded at dusk. It sells cheap merchandise and food items. The place is sometimes known as Men's Street.
The place is sometimes known as Men's Street as it is very popular for men's fashion. The market starts at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, but is lively at dusk daily. Traffic is closed on the street at that time, and visitors swarm into the street. There are more than hundred stalls with colourful lights in the market. There are carts bulging with goods from clothing to mobile phones and watches. Stalls have items mainly for men, jeans, t-shirts, pants, lighters, shoes and men's accessories. Cheap merchandise is common in the night market. Cheap second hand goods such as cassettes, video tapes, old newspapers, antiques are also sold there. Like in Mainland China, prices can be negotiated by bargaining. This is very common in the night market.
If one has to buy merchandise in Temple Street, one has to hunt for shops hidden in streets behind the stalls rather than looking in the stall themselves. This is one of the uniqueness of Temple Street Night Market.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Monday, 24-Sep-2007 04:40 |
Email | Share | | Bookmark |
|
1st Day in Hong Kong
|
|
|
Arrived in Hong Kong Airport 23rd Sep 2007 around 2pm. Took the Airport Express Train to Kowloon, then change to MTR to Mongkok. Stayed at Langam Place Hotel, which has a very nice view from my room at the 25th floor. Ronda2 a couple of blocks from the Hotel, went to Ladies Market. Anyhow, ronda2 looking for halal food restaurant tapi tak jumpa, end up berbuka at Delifrance makan roti & tapau Mc D for sahur. Food is relatively expensive here, compared to Malaysia.
|
|
|
|
