Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lulu144]

I'm looking for a good hostel to stay at.... preferably on the Kowloon MTR line...... or does anyone know of a good one anywhere in hongkong> I'm looking for one close to a/the foreigner district... if that exists... and maybe close to shopping.

I also have a day before i'm meeting my friend... any recommendations of what I should do??

thanks!

- i'm going this weekend

[ajgeddes]

All of Hong Kong is good for shopping, seriously, it is rediculously awesome. There are foeigners everywhere, but there are even more foreigners on the island. I don't know about hostels, when I went I stayed in a hotel. Just walk around the island on your free day and then head over to Kowloon to watch the light show which starts at 8PM everyday. Just stand on the shoreline and look at the island.

[ella]

Disneyland.

[Dazed and Confused]

I've always stayed at the YMCA. I've stayed in their dorm rooms and their hotel rooms. Both were comfy and reasonable prices for what you got. The book store isnt' half bad either.

[Smee]

Well, you could try "Chungking Mansions," on the tip of fKowloon. I forget what subway stop it is. THe first floor and basement are shopping areas, and the other floors are hostels and low-rent apartments. A little shady---there are positive and negative reviews online---but it's a cheap option. I guess it's become more famous since the movie "Chungking Express."

Check out the bird market. Also, Won Tai Shin temple is pretty interesting. There's a couple of structures and a pretty large garden. If you're spending more than a day there, check out some stuff in the New Territories. The Temple of 10,000 Buddhas is an interesting experience. Also, you should definitely check out the skyline from the tip of Kowloon. It's hard to miss, I guess, so the recommendation is a little redundant. You can take the ferry across Victoria Harbor. Check the skyline out both in the day and the night. Each night there's a light and sound show, where many of the skyscrapers will light up in different colors and patterns.

I guess I was really hyped up after watching a lot of movies set in Hong Kong, but I just enjoyed wandering around. The English level isn't as high as I expected, but it was still easy to get around. Enjoy yourself!

[Hotpants]

There are umpteen budget options along Nathan Road which is stretched between Tsim Tsa Tsui subway station and Mongkok station (refer to online map). A lot of these are really trashy, cramped, noisy shared rooms. Mirador Mansion, just one block up from Chungking (at the lower end of Nathan Road) is margainally better as the cheapest of the cheap options (from HK$60 per night). At Chungking, you just get harassed by curry and tailor touts. For location, these 2 places are perfect as main shopping areas are on your doorstep.

Forget the YMCAs, as one of them is always booked out, and the other is too expensive.

I personally always stay in 'China Hotel'. This has a private room with washroom for $HK300 a night. This is close to the intersection between Jordan Road and Nathan Road, down a side street opposite the 'BP International House' hotel. (on 2nd floor - can barely spot it from outside).

If shopping is your priority, then in one day, you can start at Harbour City which is the world's largest indoor shopping mall - just 15 mins walk from Chungking or Mirador. Then, you can make your way up Nathan Road via the Jade Market and up to Mongkok Market. Or, you can opt to travel over to Stanley Market on Hong Kong Island which has some cheap touristy Chinese trinket style markets/shops which would consume half a day.

Sorry above poster, but forget Wong Tai Sin temple. This is not a priority for a short term stay.

Top 3 favs:
The Peak (tram up, bus down)
Shek O beach (south-eastern point of HK island)
Tai O (Hakka fishing village on Lantau island)

[brento1138]

Everyone talks about the shopping in Hong Kong. What's so great about it? Is it cheap?

[poof]

Shopping in HK?? Shops are everywhere...all the designer boutiques, all the Western brands, all the markets, all the knock-off brands from China, jeans sold for as little as $1 (although these are always those darn petite sizes), all Western imported groceries, quality tailors, restaurant fare from all corners of the globe...for most women, this is paradise!!! Electronics bargains have had their hayday in HK, though.

[Keepongoing]

If you are outdoorsy like myself, I would suggest the following:

Maclehouse Trail that runs from Sai Kung to Tuen mun--100 kilo's with 20 peaks--I did it in 35 hours.

Wilson Trail on Kowloon side and the Hong Kong Trail on HK's side.

Lantau Island: great trails and quaint villages: go to Tai-o

Cheung Chau Island

Lamma Island

Sai Kung is a must for quaintness and relaxation


Beaches: Clear-water Bay, Shek-o, Silvermine Bay in Lantau. and a few others. My favorite beach is Shek-o

For city life: in the mid-levels they now have little Soho(great for night life and good restuarants and then there is Lan Kwai Fong.

In Wanchai is Lockhart Road; some nice bars and a few restuarants, but this is the area of Suzy Wong and waS known in the past as a red light district for US servicemen taking RR from Vietnam. Oh, it still is a red light district, just with a different clientele and lots of Filipinas.


There is some nightlife in Tsim Sha Tsui as well.


Shopping:

Causeway Bay side streets. They have lots of shops with overstocked export goods. You can get some good quality clothes quite cheaply.

On the Kowloon side there is "Ladies' Market" in Mong Kok. This is a night market. In Yau Ma Tei, n next to Mong Kok is Temple Street. another night market.


Places all tourists go: Stanley Market, Victoria Peak (great view if not smoggy).


The one thing you must do at night, and the cheapest. Take the Star Ferry across the harbour. It is one of the most awesome sights ever.

You can take the KCR to Lowu and walk across to Shenzhen and be in Mainland China. About an hour trip.


Food: I love Cantonese cuisine and the restaurants with the best tasting food would like shocking to most Westerners. Usually they are in semi-covered areas. The kitchen area will have years worth of grease everywhere. The cook will probably be cooking over a WOK while smoking and of course, sweat will be drippping off his face. I am not exagerating. But it will have the most awesome Cantonese cusine and will be cheap.

I can add a lot more, but I have class.

One more note: On Sundays in a part of Central around City Hall, they close off all the streets and you will see thousands of Filipinas sitting all over the place.

Hope this gives you picture of the vastness of the place.

[tzechuk]

Dang... this thread makes me want to go home..

[ajgeddes]

[brento1138]

[tzechuk]

[lulu144]

Just got back from HK and it was soooo great!!
wow.... I did soo much in 3 days.
first night stayede in the sketchiest hostel EVER!!.... the reviews on hostelworld.com... LIE!
Then I stayed in a super classy hotel after...
haha anyways....
went to the the night market, ladies market... times square... did a harbour cruise....
DISNEYLAND!!! it was soo great... 30 degree weather and christmas music playing.... couldn't have been better,
the foreigner bar district... ( it was weird to have a last call again though)
Also did a bus tour and saw jackie chans house.... jealous?? haha jk

anyways.... highly recommended! definately go there! I think I would teach there.... maybe.... hmmmmm

[ella]

How was Disneyland? Details, details!