The culture there is like New York, everyone is always on the go and time is money. They don't linger at restaurants like we do. They sit, eat and leave. There is no such thing as savouring a cup of coffee or just resting your legs at Chinese eating places during peak hours; you'd likely to get shooed off once you've cleaned your bowl. If you want that pleasure, the best places are western cafes and Starbucks. But you have to pay for that privilege.
Although, Starbucks prices are pretty standard - it's about HK$25 - 35 for a cup of ice-blended coffee. But juice bars are way more expensive. I paid HK$37 for a medium size cup of banana and strawberry smoothie and HK$15 for a small packet of Maltese. But then it's to be expected as living standards are pretty high in Hong Kong. Apparently, a Giordano sales girl earns HK$7k - 10k a month. I shudder to think of the rent.
The people here, sans salespeople aggresively tries to convinve you to buy their wares, and sans hotel staff, aren't very friendly or receptive to strangers. They are not affected by a stranger's presence in any way. It's like you're a piece of pavement decor. I can imagine that New York would be like that too, as people are too involved and busy with their own lives to look up once in a while to see what and who else is there.
Hong Kong is not a place that I would willingly go on my own. I'm more of a beach bum and water-loving fool than a Metropolitan girl. Getting around alone in Hong Kong wasn't much of a problem though, as I do speak a smattering of primary school Mandarin. (Did I just admit that out loud?) But it's good that I was with my Cantonese-speaking colleagues, as the times when I was with them, I just followed wherever they went lah... So for this trip, it is definitely the company (friends) that maketh the trip and not the place. Goes to show that no matter how sucky the venue, if you have friends, it can be fun. Well, the booze helped a little of course. Haha.
Alcohol is pretty expensive in HK. In one of the night clubs we discovered to our horror that they were charging HK$1500 per bottle of Chivas! This is in one of the clubs at Lan Kwai Fong, an expat clubbing area. Can you imagine how much expats are earning in HK to be able to afford X bottles of Chivas in one night as seen that night at several tables? Most of us stuck to our favourite beers (they were cheaper than our KL prices) and left it up to our kind and good bosses to pick up the tab on the Chivas. *grin* Speaking of beer, I love their home-brewed Lan Kwai Fong beer! It was good! It had a flowery aroma to it and drinking it was a pleasure. Price? Only HK$23 per bottle.
Another thing I don't like about Hong Kong is that there are always dripping water from air-cons every 5 steps or so. Since humidity is around 81%, Hong Kong is a very hot and sticky country, hence the perpetual air-conditioning. So, if you're pounding the pavement in Hong Kong looking for bargains, be sure to be aware of dripping water from above at all times, else you'll end up sticky and wet by the time you walk a couple of blocks. Just look out for wet patches on the pavements and circumvent them, and you'll be fine.
Speaking of walking, I love my Mary Jane Crocs. I had no problem walking around Hong Kong island and Kowloon for 12 hours each day. By the time the sun went down, I'm the only one bounding up stairs... the rest were lagging cause their "walking" shoes were pinching their feet. Haha. Go Crocs!
Despite the walking around the city, I didn't shop much, but I made it up the last day when I bought 3 hand bags in one swoop and a pair of Adidas sneakers at Lui Yang Kai (Ladies Market) and Fa Yuen Street. That's all. I didn't even get any souvenirs or jewelry stuff as all of them were plastic-y and I know I make better ones. It was not worth the money to buy those things... everything was made in China. I went with one luggage, I returned with the same luggage. Good for me and my credit cards. *grin*
Below are some of the pictures from my Company Trip to Hong Kong.
It's called that coz some soldiers managed to repulse invaders there lah... The guide wasn't too sure on this... *shrug*
