Hong Kong Day 5 (Last Night) - Night View from Avenue of Stars 港岛夜景

Remember my first day? Hong Kong island night view from HK Cultural Centre. This one is even better! This is from another angle, night view from Avenue of Stars (星光大道). Avenue of Stars is within walking distance from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR and East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR. I am not so interested on the stars' palm prints, but i just feel great to see the night view.

Taking photos by my mini tripod is not an easy task, i need to find a flat surface with correct height. This photos are taken from the edge of bricks flower vase, near Jacky Chan's print.

Photos can't tell much, must go there personally!

Hong Kong Day 5 - Undiscovered Sha Tin 沙田扑头绑树党

Why is it called "沙田扑头绑树党"? Sha Tin is a place that is seldom get attracted by visitors, that's the reason i decided to explore (also influenced by my colleague Leo and Dennis). Sha Tin is famous for it's violence gangster acts for robbing by hitting the head (扑头 - Bok Tao in Cantonese) and tie victims on the tree (绑树)! Luckily it is happening to proximity to 火炭村 only, scary...

There is a big shopping complex next to the MTR, New Town Plaza (新城巿廣場).

Also, not forgetting the famous roasted pigeon (乳鸽), which I have missed. I also missed the river side, which is walking distance from the plaza. These are the interesting point of Sha Tin which told byLeo, but I just forgot to go. Will have chance next time.

Hong Kong Day 4 - Sleepless Causeway Bay 铜锣湾不夜天

It is another "Mongkok" at HK island. Busy street and packed with people. Sogo shopping centre just on top of the MTR, MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) to Causeway Bay (铜锣湾) is HKD 10.50, very convenience. Time Square is another new shopping centre nearby (10 mins walk from MTR). You can view TST night view from the bay near Noon Day Gun (午炮) - I did not go as I will still have chance next time. Somemore, i think it is nothing if compared it to HK island night view.

For food, there are a lot of underground restaurants (from Mid-class to High-class).

Overall, you can experience "highier" class Mongkok, but there are not much things interests me there. Just walk around and feel the environment.

Hong Kong Day 3 - One Nite In Mongkok 旺角黑夜

After a busy day at office, i decided to go further explore HK at night. Dennis recommended me to go Mong Kok (旺角), a favourite spot at Hong Kong with its highest population density in the world. Been to the well-know Sai Yeung Choi Street (西洋菜街), Tung Choi Street (通菜街, 也是女人街) and Fa Yuen Street (花圆街, 也叫波鞋街). It was really busy streets and packed with people. 西洋菜街 is a street with mainly electronic item shops, food, and fish ball stores (鱼蛋). 女人街 is like Malaysia's Pasar Malam, selling cheap stuffs, sovenirs, etc. 波鞋街 selling mainly sports shoe.

It was a great experience walking together with the multi-national people as people thought I am Hongkies, haha. (with the help of my faded Cantonese).

Hong Kong Day 2 - Night View from The Peak

Really appreciate the full-day training provided my Regional colleagues. People are friendly and we are like a big family.

After work at 7pm, started my journey to the "Peak". Took MTR to Central (中环), J2 exit, walk for about 10 minutes. Ticket for the tram and viewing terrace is HK$ 48.

On the peak, I viewed the night view of HK island together with Kowloon night view, opposite direction of the view i saw yesterday. It's nice one, but to take photos without people behind you, it's almost impossible, except that you took the photographer service provided on the terrace.

Hong Kong Day 1 - Exciting Night View of Hong Kong Island

Reached Hong Kong airport at 5.20pm by SQ Boeing 777. 1 word to describe this SQ experience I have on this flight, "EXCELLENT". This is so much different from my "not-so-good" experience with them on my previous trip from Bangkok to Singapore.

Hong Kong International Airport was opened almost at the same time as KLIA. But it looks a bit "old" compared to KLIA or Singapore airport (not to offend any Hongkies, this is my honest feeling). Another bad thing was the custom officer that threw my passport back to me after stamping. Yes, he did that, threw with no smile. What a bad impression I have.

After all, I managed to find my hotel's counter and the guy can speak good english and friendly. Reached hotel about 1 and half hour after landed due to late shuttle bus.

Firstly, I must survey the way to MTR from Gateway Hotel for my next day business journey. Also, must understand how the auto ticketing machine works. The Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) MTR station is the nearest. Walk along Haiphong Road (海防道) for 5 minutes, I reached the MTR station, very convenience. After spent some time at MTR station, I was confident enough.

Took my "dinner" at road site, Haiphong Road. Haiphong Road is quite a happening street.

Another road that full with food stores are Lock Road (乐道), price is reasonable, HK$ 5x is normal for 1 person per meal.

I decided to walk to HK Cultural Centre (文化中心) and it took me about 15 minutes. This is a MUST-DO task. The magnificient night view of Hong Kong Island from Cultural Centre (in my photos), wow...

Departing to Hong Kong

At Changi Terminal 3 now, departing to HK by SQ866. First time business trip to oversea, will miss my family so much.

 

Now, connecting via Wireless@SG, signal not bad. Have tried to connect other wireless service, all are not free, except this.

Yunnan Trip - 玉龙雪山 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, LiJiang 6 Apr 2009

This is a must-go place in LiJiang, experience the snow!!!

Yunnan Trip - LiJiang (4, 5, 10 Apr 09)

Yunnan Trip - Dali (3 - 4 Apr 09)

云南香格里拉(中甸), 诚实,可靠的司机 - 冯六三 (鲁珥初称)

在香格里拉, 我们包他的面包车, 一共两天半, 从香格里拉玩到丽江, 途经白水台, 在虎跳峡山白脸客栈过了一个美好的晚上.

六三是个可靠的司机, 对香格里拉很熟悉, 我推荐.

他的联络号码:

+86 1398 8713 882

车牌: 云R01038

Yunnan Itinerary （云南自游行） 02-04-2009 till 13-04-2009

02-04-2009 (第一天) -昆明
昆明站 (巴士车站, 买去大理的客运车票)
东西塔寺
古城门 (近日楼)
金马碧鸡牌坊
南屏街
参观老建筑屋 (谢郭大姐, 没法去的地方也能到)

03-04-2009 (第二天) - 大理
大理市 (就是 “下关”，新大理) – 没真正走过 ，长途客运车停在下关，搭的士去古城，一人一元，住古城外，walking distance
包车
喜洲，白族文化-三道茶表演
苍山，天龙洞，洱海远眺
夜游大理古城
洋人街区

04-04-2009 (第三天) - 大理 / 丽江
Morning
早逛大理古城
包车去丽江
远眺崇圣寺(三塔)
下午到丽江的拉市海，骑马，坐船，一人两百RMB
束河古镇，篝火晚会，夜宿

05-04-2009 (第四天) - 丽江
坐面包车去丽江古城,一人三RMB
四方街
黑龙潭公园-步行从丽江古城,15mins
坐的士去丽江新客运站，一趟八元。买去香格里拉的客运车票
逛古城外围，逛超市

06-04-2009 (第五天) - 丽江
包的士去玉龙雪山，来回一百元。
大索道
白水河
买去昆明的机票
晚上休息

07-04-2009 (第六天) - 丽江 / 香格里拉
包车，700 RMB 包到丽江
蓝月山谷 （石卡雪山），山上有雪，但缆车坏了，只在入门处逛逛
纳帕海，就在蓝月山谷一带，徒步草原，走了大半小时，还去不到真正的纳帕海，折回
松赞林寺
藏族家访，酥油茶，清科酒

08-04-2009 (第七天) -香格里拉
包车
普达措国家公园 - 硕都海（徒步40分钟） ，碧塔海（徒步2小时）
回丽江
白水台，受污染了，no maintenance, 真可惜
傍晚到虎跳峡（下虎跳），住“山白脸”客栈

09-04-2009 (第八天) - 香格里拉
包车
徒步从下虎跳到中虎跳，3小时多
坐车到上虎跳
长江第一弯，没买入门票，外面小贩告知水退了，买票也看不到什么
傍晚到丽江

10-04-2009 (第九天) - 丽江
玉龙雪山-印象丽江
逛古城
木府

11-04-2009 (第十天) - 丽江 / 昆明
内路航班飞昆明
拜访邵大姐的新家

12-04-2009 (第十一天) - 昆明
石林 （跟团，一人150 RMB，全包）

13-04-2009 (第十二天) - 昆明 / 新加坡 (回家)
鲜花市场
Carrefour
飞Bangkok then Singapore

We are back from Yunnan - Completed 12-days trip with lots of fun!!

从香格里拉回到丽江。。。

在香格里拉，玩了石卡雪山及蓝月山谷，普达措公园内的属都湖及碧塔海，昨天傍晚到了鼎鼎大名的虎跳峡，夜宿山白脸客栈。今天徒步玩了虎跳峡。傍晚到了丽江，入住古城鹏晨客栈。

 

从香格里拉包车一直玩到丽江，真是个美好的回忆。

束河古镇

昨晚在丽江的束河古镇，错不了客栈过了个很寒冷的晚上，温度7℃ - 10℃。

 

今早还下着小雨呢，打算逛逛古镇，过后就进军丽江古城了。

Departing to Kunming

We are at Changi Airport Terminal 2 now, taking a light breakfast at Robert's Coffee.

Yunnan trip is very very near, really exciting now...

Need China Visa Before Visit China

Apply China Visitor Visa in JB (Type L), Single Entry.

If you want to do it on your own, you need to go Kuala Lumpur China Embassy. Seems it is not so feasible. Another option is to go China Embassy in Singapore.

I did it by tour agent, Sin Chung Tours at Taman Pelangi (Tel: 07-335 5860).

Express (within a day) - Within a day only if you are in KL. By the time your passport reaches JB, it will be another day. E.g. Give passport to agent on Thursday, you can only get it back on Saturday morning. Total cost is RM 250. (Go by your own is RM 30 + RM 140 = RM 170).

Normal (1 week) - RM 100 (Go by your own is RM 30).

By the way, I need to submit a passport size photo (any colour background, e.g. white or blue)

Pick A Seat!

You can pick your own seat in AirAsia plane from 17 Feb onwards.

RM 5 for standard seat, RM25 for hot seat.

Temperature of ZhongDian (Shangri-la), Yunnan, China in April

Base on searched results on Internet,

Highiest: 13°C
Lowest: -2°C
Average: 5°C