A few other Ingenuity kids have had a similar love affair with Hongkong.
We hope more of our teammates get to go to HK to have the most fun of times and get to see and experience this very wonderful place. :)
For now, though, almost everyone on the team will be flying out to Boracay in the last weekend of September to do a bit of R&R and attend the most-awaited nerd convention to ever grace our shores, the Geeks on a Beach event! But that's another blog post altogether.
Lemme just leave you with HK Tips if you're planning to go there anytime soon:
1. Buses don't give out change. Make sure to break your monies (or have the exact amount handy) before you ride. Drivers are grumpy and would not think twice to yell at you (or worse, deny you entry), so don't even try to argue!
2. In Disney, if they cause you just a bit of inconvenience, NEVER throw a hissy fit. Instead, smile and be nice to the (harassed) attendants. They will give you free stickers for your patience!
3. Gate prices for Ocean Park, Disney, and even the Macau ferries are more expensive if bought on the spot (Ocean Park $320, Disney $450, Macau ferry one way $135-$185 depending on sailing time). Google and buy elsewhere before going. Chances are, the tickets being sold outside are waaay cheaper than if bought at the gate. We bought our tickets at a nearby hostel and was only $400 for Disney, $250 for Ocean Park, and $270 roundtrip for the Cotaijet to Macau!
4. Bring comfortable shoes and/or slippers! HK means walking! It wouldn't be a righteous HK Trip if there's no walking involved.
5. If you can, fit into your budget the Ngong Ping Cable Cars to the Giant Buddha (when they are operational) and the Peak Tram (RTrip $40) because if you go to these places by bus, it would take you at least 45minutes to 1 hour! Talk about a "long cut."
6. Weekdays in the malls have relatively fewer people than on weekends. It is best to visit malls then especially when they had just opened for the day - the shopkeeps give out samples of their merchandise! This was how we ended up sampling decadent Godiva chocolate in Harbour City!
7. Stay always on the RIGHT SIDE of escalators or walk-a-lators. HK is a right-hand drive city, and their left lanes are considered fast lanes. If you're slow moving or inert, keep out of their way! They will not hesitate to bump you aside if you're blocking their progress.
8. In Macau, the hotel shuttle buses are free and would take you from one point to another whether you are a guest or not. The trick is to know which hotels are nearest the place in Macau you would want to visit. Remember: Google is your friend.
9. It is perfectly okay to haggle in the night markets (Temple Street and Ladies). Beware, though, of overzealous shopkeepers who would not relent and would continue to badger and follow you around (even pulling at your shirt sleeves!) until you buy something from their shop. To avoid this, tell them firmly that you are just "looking around, thank you" and walk away. Do not hesitate! They smell fear.
10. When you get to the Peak and you wouldn't want to pay the $40 entrance fee to the viewing deck, you can go to the rooftop of The Peak Galleria - it's free and it offers almost the same view! (It's a shorter building though, but it's ok. Their telescopes are free for use as well!)
11. In Macau, the street going to the Ruins of St. Paul is lined with shops left and right selling beef and pork jerky. The shopkeepers give out samples of everything. Go knock yourself out!
12. HK's transportation system is very efficient so there's almost always no need for cabs. The MTR is easy to figure out. If it's your first time, the self-service ticketing counter has a trick: it is touch screen (or panel - as it has a different display monitor). Touch the light of the destination of your choice and the monitor instantly displays the fare amount.
13. HK food is quite expensive, as everything else in the city. But their servings are large and can be shared! This is also the time to taste real Cantonese food, so if you're not such a picky eater, dai pai dongs are a dime a dozen on each street corner and they sell really tasty treats, so don't forget to try!
14. If you need to exchange your pesos into HK dollars, a lot of shops have Pinoy attendants and would give a slightly higher value to your peso. We recommend Ate Nora at the Forex Exchange shop in Chungking Mansions (after the entrance, go straight, it's just beside the first column on the right side with the green signage), or the Standard Money Exchange at Mirador Mansions. The shopkeeps there are pure Chinese but have lived in the Philippines and know a bit of Tagalog.
There are a lot more things great, small, and quirky about this city. But don't just take our word for it, pack your bags and travel!!!
