Posts from the ‘Asia’ Category
Eight ways to say happy birthday, Hong Kong style
April 8 is my sister’s birthday, and I wanted to mark the occasion with eight memories of my month (June 2012) with her and her husband in Hong Kong.
Why not the number four for April? Among Chinese, there is general consensus of an “unlucky” use for “four”, as the word “four” (四) sounds very much like the word for “death” (死). That’s the case in Cantonese at the very least.
On the other hand, the word “eight” (八) rhymes with “success” (發), a word which is used prominently in a New Year’s greeting to express “congratulations and be prosperous” (恭喜發財).
The following are a few photographic examples of memories representing my time in Hong Kong, and of things likely to be seen only in Hong Kong.
Happy birthday! 生日快樂,啊妹!
Except the final photo from my sister, I made the other photos above in Hong Kong between 6 and 21 June 2012. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.
In-town flight check-in at MTR Hong Kong
Chep Lap Kok airport, otherwise known as Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), opened for service in 1998, replacing the smaller Kai Tak Airport in Kowloon. HKIA operates 24-hours, and is one of the busiest airports in the world by passenger numbers, aircraft movements, and cargo traffic.
As the airport is located over 30 kilometres (over 20 miles) from Hong Kong’s “Central” business district and city centre, transport options include taxis, buses, coaches for major hotels, or the MTR.
The MTR (Mass Transit Railway) Airport Express route is a reasonably quick and inexpensive choice with trains running every 10-12 minutes between the city of Hong Kong and the airport in a one-way trip lasting under 30 minutes. As of posting, the cost for one adult is HKD$100 (less than USD$13) for a single journey, same day return ticket, or with an Octopus card; additional information about fare-, ticket-, and travel-options with the MTR Airport Express can be accessed here.
Upon landing in Hong Kong, one of the first things I’d highly recommend is purchasing an Octopus card with which many retail transactions can occur, including fast food, cafés, shopping, and local public transport. The card can be recharged at one of many 7-Eleven or Circle-K convenience stores in Hong Kong or with an automated machine at any one of the MTR stations throughout the region.
But now you’re leaving and flying out from Hong Kong airport, and you’ve got luggage to check for your flight. Is there any way you can check in before arriving at the airport?
The answer is “yes”!
Depending on the airline, there is In-Town Check-In service at the airline counters on the ground floor of MTR Hong Kong station. Check-in for flights can occur from 90-minutes to one full day before the scheduled flight.
For example, I flew Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and I checked into my flight at MTR Hong Kong station well before the scheduled departure time. I received my boarding pass; my luggage was checked, tagged, and on its way to the airport. It felt a little unusual not having my luggage with me on the train, and at the airport, I had to remind myself that not only did I have my boarding pass, but that my luggage was also on its way to the plane’s cargo hold and onwards to Saigon airport.
MTR Hong Kong station is located below the IFC Mall linking to 1IFC and 2IFC buildings. There are two MTR stations in the same vicinity: “Hong Kong” and “Central” which may be confusing to visitors.
MTR Central is a station on the Island train-line and the southern terminus station for the Tsuen Wan train-line. MTR Hong Kong station is the eastern terminus station for the Tung Chung and Airport Express train-lines; to avoid confusion, these two lines are accessed on two different floors in the station. An underground passageway links “Central” and “Hong Kong” stations, and the walk between stations is less than ten minutes. Location maps and physical layouts for each station are located here. The area also includes Exchange Square or Hong Kong Station Public Transport Interchange, providing connections to local and regional bus services; and Central Ferry Piers at the harbourfront, providing ferries to Kowloon and the outer islands in Hong Kong.
Even with a myriad of transport options, leaving Hong Kong for the airport doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult.
As the Airport Express line makes one of two intermediary stops at “Kowloon” station, the same check-in policy also applies at Kowloon station if you’re staying on the north or mainland side of Hong Kong harbour.
I made the photos above on 18 June 2012. Acknowledgements go to Amos Struck who recommended I write this post which naturally appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.
Happy Wednesday at HKG’s Happy Valley Racecourse
There are plenty of activities to keep one entertained in Hong Kong. But if you find yourself at a loss, particularly on a Wednesday night, you might consider going to Happy Valley for Happy Wednesdays at the horse races.
Established in 1845, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) rebuilt the Happy Valley Racecourse in 1995 to its present-day facility. Horse racing at the Happy Valley Racecourse occurs Wednesdays, and is open to both public and members of the HKJC.
Through the help of contacts within the organization, we obtain a couple of passes to the air-conditioned venue “Adrenaline“. As the weather in mid-June is already hot and moist, the evenings also become unbearable in the humidity. Being inside “Adrenaline” complete with some nibble and drink provides big relief from the sticky evening outside.
I’m admittedly not much for gambling, although cheering for an “underdog” and watching that horse come from behind for a photo-finish win is a lot of fun. There’s a lot of betting money here, and I imagine it’s related in a way to how casinos in nearby Macau make several times more money in yearly gambling than Las Vegas’ annual take. Aside from the people’s insatiable desire for instant fortune, I think what’s particularly telling is that on the racecourse’s concourse level there are queues for the ATM/cash machines near the betting counters.
But in all, it’s a festive atmosphere. For those who can’t go up “on deck”, there’s music, food, and beer, naturally at the beer garden at track-level. There are a lot of people here on Wednesday evening having a good time, drinking some beer, shooting the breeze with friends, and occasionally bet on a horse race. In many ways, it reminds me of what a baseball game can be like in North America: go out to the stadium with friends, have some beer, shoot the breeze, and occasionally or diligently follow the game. Coming out to the horsetrack is a lot of fun, especially getting to hang out in the cooler confines of “Adrenaline”.
The Happy Valley Racecourse can be reached with a 20-minute walk from MTR Causeway Bay station, or by tram.
I made the photos above on 20 and 24 June 2012. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.
Disclosure: No Connection, Unpaid, My Own Opinions. I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein (cmp.ly/0).
Food tally, 3rd-quarter 2012
After spending the month of June in Hong Kong, I visited Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia between July and September in continuation of the year 2012 around-the-world. I kept at finding a lot of food, and it still hasn’t stopped me from wanting more.
Come, look, salivate, and wish for the noms …
I made all of the photos above with a 4th-generation iPod Touch. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress (fotoeins.com).
To check out more delicious consumption in the first half of 2012:
• Food tally, 1st-quarter
• Food tally, 2nd-quarter
• Hong Kong, the food score in June (2012)
Disclosure: No Connection, Unpaid, My Own Opinions. I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein (cmp.ly/0).
Dining magic at Tung Po, Hong Kong North Point
If you’re in Hong Kong, one thing you should do is make reservations at Tung Po in North Point (北角) for a truly local dining experience. Reservations are especially recommended as the place is packed solid by 7pm.
Why should you care?
As a “dai pai dong” which has moved indoors into the Java Road Cooked Food Centre, Tung Po Kitchen has excellent fresh seafood, is recommended by many, and frequented by locals. The place opens for dinner between 530 and 545pm, and within an hour to two, the floor is full of people, the noise levels are so high it’s hard to hear the person in front of you, and the food keeps coming and coming and coming …
You should care, because this is a place where locals come to eat.
I care, because my sister had been to Tung Po before, and she satisfied my request to dine at this well-reviewed joint.
We decided to keep things “light” by ordering only the following four items:
• black squid-ink noodle,
• oyster omelette,
• deep fried spicy prawns with garlic, and
• soup with Chinese zucchini, green pea vermicelli, chinese mushroom, dried shrimp, and ginger.
To reach Tung Po in North Point, take the MTR to North Point station on the Island line, follow the signage for exit A1, head up and out to street-level, walk across the street to the Java Road Municipal Services Building, go up to the 2nd floor, and look for signs to Tung Po Kitchen (東寶小館).
For tips to three more places to eat in Hong Kong, click here.
My sister and I made the photos above on an iPhone and iPod Touch, respectively, on 22 June 2012. This post appears on Fotoeins Fotopress at fotoeins.com.
Disclosure: No Connection, Unpaid, My Own Opinions. I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein (cmp.ly/0).
