I have heard such bad things about HKG. They have given a bad impression of the place and the airport but what I want to know is HKG really bad??? I heard stuff like child gangs, rude people etc and I heard that the taxi cab drivers refuse to drop off passengers at their destinations. Chep Lak Kok looks like a nice airport. What have you experinced in HKG?
Mike
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Hong Kong is quite safe! No reason to avoid it at all. People aren't usually that pleasant, especially if you're white, but they won't bother you. May try to rip you off on something, but that's it! Who doesn't?! Shopping is amazing and the food is spectacular! I can't go even begin to describe its wonders! Hong Kong is a wonderful city and it's one of the few places outside New York I'd be content to live in.
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
I live in HK and there are triads around but in the 5 years of my life here, I've never seen them in action. Hong Kong still remains to be one of the safest city in the world. Just avoid the small alleys at night like one would do in any other city in the world.
There are some rude people in HK. HK's pace is very fast and is full of stress. This may be a contributing factor to rudeness. Some people are very nice however.
The Airport is very airy, big and bright. The only bad thing I can think of is the distace that you have to walk to the immigration if the plane docks at gate 70 and I have never experienced taxi drivers not taking you to the correct destination. It's advisable however to copy down your destination in Chinese and show it to the driver. Some don't know enough English so they may misunderstand and take you to the wrong place. It never happened to me though. They never refuse me to drop me off at the destin.
What you heard is extreme exaggeration about the situation. There shouldn't be any reason to intentionally avoid it.
Pacific
There are some rude people in HK. HK's pace is very fast and is full of stress. This may be a contributing factor to rudeness. Some people are very nice however.
The Airport is very airy, big and bright. The only bad thing I can think of is the distace that you have to walk to the immigration if the plane docks at gate 70 and I have never experienced taxi drivers not taking you to the correct destination. It's advisable however to copy down your destination in Chinese and show it to the driver. Some don't know enough English so they may misunderstand and take you to the wrong place. It never happened to me though. They never refuse me to drop me off at the destin.
What you heard is extreme exaggeration about the situation. There shouldn't be any reason to intentionally avoid it.
Pacific
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
That is what I heard from HKG-SIN Part 2 post.
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- Guest
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Smelly Toufu? Hehehe do you like it Pacific?I tried it and found it tasted like s*it and smelt like s*it.I guess we Singaporeans cant really take smelly food.Mike,no worries,visit Hong Kong,nice place,I enjoyed myself there even though I did not get to go to Ocean Park(raining).Good shopping.If you want Herpa models,go to Sham Shui Po(MTR Red Line).There are a few shops selling them.If I'm not wrong theres one next to the Kowloon Motor Bus No. 2 stop.
Gundu
Gundu
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Tou Fu Fa??? I love them! Great beancurd dessert.
HK's food can be good and bad. It simply depends on the restaurant you're eating at but the majority is very good. We have restaurants selling different kinds of food from around the world as well as Chinese cuisine! Again, no reason to avoid HK.
Pacific
HK's food can be good and bad. It simply depends on the restaurant you're eating at but the majority is very good. We have restaurants selling different kinds of food from around the world as well as Chinese cuisine! Again, no reason to avoid HK.
Pacific
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- Guest
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Smelly toufu hehehe.I remember once a restaurant owner cheated us by saying the price of our dinner was HK$ 200 when it was more like HK$80.HK$ 120 gone for nothing.My parents were very angry.
Gundu
Gundu
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Everyone should add up the price and see how much it would actually cost BEFORE paying. Rip-offs do happen to tourists so one has better be careful.
Pacific
Pacific
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- Guest
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
We calculated the cost and found it to have a large discrepancy.We didn't want to argue with the restaurant owner as we had to rush to "Nui Yan Gai"
Gundu
Gundu
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Mike: Go to Hong Kong. I've been there before and the airport is one of the best in the world, the city is safe (but watch yourself anyway), and above all it is one of the most amazing places on earth. Just beware of the ever-present tourist rip-offs and ppl trying to sell you stuff on the street and you'll be fine.
As Pacific said, the place is very fast-paced, and that may contribute to the percieved notion of rudeness and swindling etc., but that should not deter you from going.
Besides, if you can fly non-rev, what's the point in NOT going??
Aaron G.
As Pacific said, the place is very fast-paced, and that may contribute to the percieved notion of rudeness and swindling etc., but that should not deter you from going.
Besides, if you can fly non-rev, what's the point in NOT going??
Aaron G.
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- Cathay Pacific
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RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
well......i think all cities in the world have its good and bad side....HK is no exception....it all just depends on you 'luck' in whether you cnfront those nice people or bad ones......for me.....i've been living in hk for years......and most of the people i confronted with are quite nice....
word of advice for the tourist......try to speak out...if you think people are ripping you off...or people are rude to you.....don't be afraid.....speak out.....don't show them that you are afraid of them.....if you do they just take advantage of you!!!!
Gundu....you are quite right about the smelly tofu.....hahaha.....i have never been able to have the guts to taste it myself..although my friends kept telling me they taste very nice....but the smell......yuck......
...... but in general..i think HK is a really good place for eating.....they have food from all over the world at various price levels.....if you want up market stuff....you've got Felix, Amigo, ect...if you want cheap and local stuff......you got all those HK style tea house (cafe).....ummm.....yumm.....can't wait to go back in dec!!!!!!! hehehehehe 
last of all.....one really bad thing about HK is their pollution
.....i think they must do something about it!!!!! don't let this spoil a great place!!!!!
Cathay Pacific.......Same Team, Same Dream
word of advice for the tourist......try to speak out...if you think people are ripping you off...or people are rude to you.....don't be afraid.....speak out.....don't show them that you are afraid of them.....if you do they just take advantage of you!!!!
Gundu....you are quite right about the smelly tofu.....hahaha.....i have never been able to have the guts to taste it myself..although my friends kept telling me they taste very nice....but the smell......yuck......
...... but in general..i think HK is a really good place for eating.....they have food from all over the world at various price levels.....if you want up market stuff....you've got Felix, Amigo, ect...if you want cheap and local stuff......you got all those HK style tea house (cafe).....ummm.....yumm.....can't wait to go back in dec!!!!!!! hehehehehe
last of all.....one really bad thing about HK is their pollution
.....i think they must do something about it!!!!! don't let this spoil a great place!!!!!
Cathay Pacific.......Same Team, Same Dream
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Taxi drivers would be more than happy to take you to or from the airport, coz its very profitable, but try to avoid having a taxi to nearby places. I often get scolded by the taxi drivers by doing that. Tell them to give you a receipt if you think they might be cheating you, and if he refuses to give you the receipt, he's probably cheating you and you can sue him.
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
You see? It's not so bad! It's best if you tour the city with a local who knows how to deal with the people. But Hong Kong has much to offer in every aspect of life -- great food, phenomenal entertainment and perhaps the best shopping in the world. You will not be disappointed. Can’t wait for the UAL and CO nonstops to start from NY! Now if only CX would get their act together!
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Hong Kong is simply amazing! I went there for the second time last August and truly enjoyed it. The night time views can't be beat from our 53rd floor hotel room
Great food, great shopping, and I've never encountered rude people during my stay. I have a lot of HK friends and I must say they are really nice too.
Chek Lap Kok Airport I think is the most beautiful airport in the world.
Don't avoid HK, go there or you'll miss one of the best cities in the world!
Cheers,
SIA fan
Great food, great shopping, and I've never encountered rude people during my stay. I have a lot of HK friends and I must say they are really nice too.
Chek Lap Kok Airport I think is the most beautiful airport in the world.
Don't avoid HK, go there or you'll miss one of the best cities in the world!
Cheers,
SIA fan
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- Guest
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
Heh,Oxygen our taxi went by the meter .Anyway,HK is a very beautiful place,with the Repulse Bay ect ect,Aberdeen,JUMBO floating restaurant and good shopping in city part of HK island.You know the Aberdeen tunnel?Our tour guide said that if you drive by at 12 midnight,and lok at your rear-view mirror,you will see an apparition dressed in red as there is a cemetery near the tunnel and the feng shui of the tunnel was destroyed.
Try and take all the public transport,especially the MTR and the HK trams.The trams are really enjoyable but only go at a max. speed of 20 km/h or around 15 mph.
Gundu
.Anyway,HK is a very beautiful place,with the Repulse Bay ect ect,Aberdeen,JUMBO floating restaurant and good shopping in city part of HK island.You know the Aberdeen tunnel?Our tour guide said that if you drive by at 12 midnight,and lok at your rear-view mirror,you will see an apparition dressed in red as there is a cemetery near the tunnel and the feng shui of the tunnel was destroyed.
Try and take all the public transport,especially the MTR and the HK trams.The trams are really enjoyable but only go at a max. speed of 20 km/h or around 15 mph.
Gundu
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
All taxis go by the meter but drivers don't like getting only HK$15 for a hire.
Trams can be faster than buses during the evening rush hour. I've tried it! Absolute max speed of 40km/h can be achived between admiralty and Wan Chai.
Pacific
Trams can be faster than buses during the evening rush hour. I've tried it! Absolute max speed of 40km/h can be achived between admiralty and Wan Chai.
Pacific
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- Guest
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
We went from Central to WanChai and we only hit 20 km/h even though it was evening peak(5 pm).HK$ 15 is only worth S$ 3 here.I wonder what type of drivers would like it.In HKG,the meters go rather fast(like Japan).So SQA340,if you want shopping,I suggest you apply for a Chinese visa to go to Shenzhen(KCR train from Kowloon Tong station to Lo Wu)
Gundu
Gundu
RE: Should I Avoid Hkg?
GUNDU: It never hits 40 eastbound, only westbound just before these trams stop at Admiralty! Taxi metres start at $15 for the first 2 kilometres and then go up by $1.4 (I think) every 200 metres.
SQA340: Just to add that HK is one of the most expensive cities on the world. We have been having deflation for the last year though. In Shenzhen, there plenty of cheap fakes around.
Pacific
SQA340: Just to add that HK is one of the most expensive cities on the world. We have been having deflation for the last year though. In Shenzhen, there plenty of cheap fakes around.
Pacific
Ghosts And Apparitions?
GUNDU,
I use the Aberdeen Tunnel regularly and have yet to see any apparitions!!
That tour guide must be pulling your legs on the "feng shui" part. Sure, the northern entrance to the tunnel is right next to a cemetery, but that is a "Westerner's" cemetery (Isn't "feng shui" a largely Chinese thing?). BTW, that is a really old cemetery, with some of the "residents" having been there since the 1800's.
'949
I use the Aberdeen Tunnel regularly and have yet to see any apparitions!!
That tour guide must be pulling your legs on the "feng shui" part. Sure, the northern entrance to the tunnel is right next to a cemetery, but that is a "Westerner's" cemetery (Isn't "feng shui" a largely Chinese thing?). BTW, that is a really old cemetery, with some of the "residents" having been there since the 1800's.
'949
RE: Ghosts And Apparitions?
Yes the taxis go by meters, but there are some taxi drivers, reffered to as 'Airport Rats', put a special device on the meter so that he can make it 'jump' as many times as he wishes (of course when you are not watching). These drivers often appear at the airport to pick up foreign tourist. So watch out for them.
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