Share with you my experience and itinerary of my recent Christmas trip to Hong Kong.
More photos at http://benghooi.blogs.friendster.com/photos/hong_kong_2007_christmas_/index.html
http://profiles.friendster.com/20074278
Experience/ Tips/ Itinerary:
Hong Kong was known for having the best and strongest Christmas celebration atmosphere.
There are 2 ferry services commuting between Macau and Hong Kong, the New World First Ferry and TurboJet. The New World First Ferry docks at Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon while TurboJet docks at Hong Kong Island. The ferry ticket for Turbojet is slightly cheaper and has shorter traveling time of 1 hour compared with New World First Ferry that takes 75 minutes to travel. If you are traveling at midnight, Turbojet is the only option. Tickets can be bought in advance.
If you are in Hong Kong for few days and traveling on public transport, you definitely need an Octopus Card which is available at MTR stations. It is similar to Ezlink in Singapore It is more convenient and much cheaper than buying single trip ticket. It is sold at HKD 150, inclusive HKD 50 as deposit). You will be charged HKD 7 processing fee when you return the card for refund.
It is better to have free and easy trip than engaging tour guides so that you can spend more time at destinations like Disneyland, Ocean Park and Victoria Peak. Allocating only 4-5 hours at Disneyland and Ocean Park is definitely not enough… And you may not enjoy both day view and night view of Victoria Peak if you follow tour guide.
At Hong Kong Disneyland, Fast Passes (FP) are available for certain popular games (Games with Fast Passes available are shown in the brochures/ map). Get your Fast Passes to avoid long queue.
If you have to choose between Disneyland and Ocean Park, I prefer Ocean Park. One gets to see pandas, stunning jelly fish, and 4 storey aquarium besides various performances by dolphins, sea lions and birds. I believe Ocean Park is more attractive than Disneyland to both adults and children.
Various special seafood and many seafood stalls and restaurants available at Lei Yu Mun. Nice to see and nice to eat but a bit expensive. A bit of tidbit, plain water and plain rice alone will cost you more than HKD 100, not to mention the 10% service charge.
Hong Kees are not as rude as seen in TV dramas. At least during my trip there, I find them rather friendly.
The Dim Sum in Hong Kong is expensive. Didn’t took much but spent about RM 50 per person at Luk Yu Tea House which is famous for Dim Sum. I still prefer the dim sum in Ipoh. More variety, more delicious and cheaper.
Visiting Victoria Peak to catch the day and night panoramic views of Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour, the busiest harbour of the world, Kowloon Peninsula and row upon row of skyscrapers is a MUST!
My Itineraries:
Day 1:
Took AK50 to Macau.
Bought the best Portugese Egg Tarts at Margaret Café and Nata near Sintra Hotel. The shop is not so noticeable as it is located at a back lane.
Took ferry to Hong Kong.
Visited Victoria Harbour and Clock Tower at Tsim Tsa Tsui.
Checked in to hotel (the room is so small, only 100 sq feet!).
Street shopping along Bird Garden (Yuen Po Street), Flower Market (Flower Market Road) (a must for ladies who like flower), Goldfish Market (Tung Choi Street), Woman Street (Tung Choi Street), Shanghai Street, Jade Market and Temple Street. All these are connected to each other in above order and within walking distance. Spent at least 3-4 hours strolling along the streets.
Tried some local delicacies. Fish balls, Woon Cai Ci 碗仔翅(Shark fin bowl, but actually no real shark fin), 车仔面，Stinky Taufu 臭豆腐, Tai Pai Tong etc.
Day 2:
Visited Wong Tai Shin temple, then headed to Disneyland. Watched “Let it snow” Christmas parade and Fireworks.
Day 3:
Visited Lantau Island 大屿山. The Ngong Ping 360 cable cars were under maintainance. Took bus to Po Lin Monastry. Took vegetarian lunch. Visited Tai-O waterfront fishing village. Tried malt biscuit 麦芽糖饼 cycled around the village.
Fantastic seafood dinner at Lei Yu Mun 鲤鱼门. Took Alaska crab, shell fish and oyster.
Day 4:
On the day of Christmas, took Dim Sum at Luk Yu Tea House, 24-26 Stanley Street, Central. “The abruptness of the staff is legendary. So much so that some wags claim the “L” in the name is pronounced like an “F”. Helpfully, all the waiters have a number scrawled in red marker pen on the breast pocket of their white jackets, so you can keep notes on which one is the rudest. My vote goes to number 23!”.
Took the 800m long hillside escalator. Strolled along the streets of Centrals, Soho, Lam Kwai Fong, Cat Street, Ladder Street, Mun Mo文武Temple.
Took tram to Victoria Peak in the afternoon. Visited Madame Tussauds Wax Musuem. Stayed till evening to catch the night panoramic view of Victoria Harbour and skyscrapers from the Viewing Terrace at Peak Tower nad Lion Pavillion Lookout.
Catched Light Symphony at Stars of Avenue, Tsim Tsa Tsui at 8pm
Day 5:
Took famous Wan Tan Mee at 77, Wellington, Central. Very delicious, springy, crunchy and fresh prawn dumplings, worth eating.
Went to Repulse Bay for sight seeing after breakfast and spent the rest of the day at Ocean Park.
Day 6:
Took AK51 back to KL, Malaysia
