Don't take the E32, but the stops for A31 are closer to where you need to go (Heung Sze Wui Rd @ Cheung Wan St) than the AE/MTR station.

Get off the bus at the Cheung Tsing Bus Terminus (Stop #5 on KMB's site). Walk north through the bottom of the Tsing Yeung House apartment block, then cross the wide Heung Sze Wui Road using the elevated bridge. Total distance just over 1/4 mile, about half the distance from the AE/MTR station.

http://maps.google.com.hk/?ie=UTF8&l...07778&z=17

The Cheung Tsing Bus Terminus is near the bottom of the map, in front of the Cheung Tsing Community Centre. Switch to the satellite mode to see that footbridge across Heung Sze Hui Road.

In fact, in the satellite mode, you can see the buses at the Cheung Tsing Bus Terminus. And all the elevated pathway from the bus stop to across Heung Sze Wui Road next to the Vigor Industrial Building.

Wow, thx a mint rkkwan - details much appreciated! I've gone thru the map in detail with the instructions and will print it out and take it with me.

Glad you pointed out the elevated pathway - altho I could see it I wouldn't have known what I was looking at.

Might be a silly question, but do the buildings generally have English on them too (e.g., will Yeung House be on the building or only the Chinese characters)?

Also, are the elevated pathways generally wheelchair accessible (i.e., do they have ramps or should I anticipate carrying my luggage up and down flights)?

Thx again for any insights - enjoy-la!

English are on all buildings and permanent signs. Only problem is if there are temporary closing and those hand-written signs may not have them. Print out that map. With both English and Chinese on it, you can point and ask people if there's an issue.

I don't know that area personally, but in general, you wouldn't find escalators for those footbridges in that type of areas. But it should be just one flight of stairs going up and one down. Shouldn't be a problem unless you have heavy luggage, in which case, you should take a taxi direct from airport.

Thx again for sharing your expertise, rkkwan!

Enjoy-la!

Back to the question about souvenir, right now the "hottest" things are dairy products that don't use Chinese milk or milk powder as ingredient.

Baby formula, milk chocolate, etc...

:)

Great tip - I'll check and see if she wants anything milk powder-based.

Another question...LOL! I'll be travelling with the usual electronic stuff - digital camera, ipod, etc. that will need to be recharged. Any idea of which type of electric converter is best, what type of plug head?

Thx for any insights - enjoy-la!

220v, UK-style with the 3 big square pegs.

Thx again (=

I plan on spending a day going to Stanley, Repulse Bay and Aberdeen areas. Leisurely pace, if I run out of time, that's fine I will go back on another day to see the rest.

The directions I've read generally start from the Tsim Sha Tsui area. Since I will be leaving from Tsing Yi, should I just take the MTR to Causeway Bay and start from there or is there a better route?

Another day's suggested outing (from one of your PP!) I'd like to make is to ferry to Mui Wo, bus to Tai O, bus to Ngong Ping, bus to Tung Chung and take the MTR back to city. Where does one catch the ferry? Could all this be done in a leisurely day; I'd want to see the Big Buddha and have a vegetarian lunch. Should I bus to Ngong Ping first after the ferry, or just take the MTR from Tsing Yi to Tung Chung?

Also do you happen to know what bus # is the direct ride to Tai O from the Po Lin Monastery?

Thx for any insights - enjoy-la!

Take the MTR from Tsing Yi to Hong Kong. The terminus for #6 bus to Repulse Bay and Stanley is on ground level of Exchange Square, which is the office complex directly to the south of the ifc complex. 6A, 6X and 260 also goes from the same terminus to Stanley, but those three uses the Aberdeen Tunnel. 6 takes you over Wong Nai Chung Gap, and is a little more interesting and thrilling.

Many people have followed my 2/3-day itinerary of ferry/cable-car/subway to Lantau. But they don't start from Tsing Yi. For you, I'd say forget the ferry, as you waste a lot of time, compared to just take the MTR from Tsing Yi to Tung Chung.

For you, you can do it this way:

- MTR to Tung Chung
- #11 bus to Tai O
- #21 bus to Ngong Ping (check timetable at Tai O, this bus is only once an hour. If you miss this bus, take any other bus out of Tai O, get off at the Sham Wat Road junction at the top of the gap - ask driver; then switch to any bus that goes up to Ngong Ping)
- Tour Ngong Ping and lunch
- Cable car down to Tung Chung
- MTR home

If you start late, you can do reverse, and go up to Ngong Ping first. After lunch, then go to Tai O.

Mind you Tai O has severed two serious natural disasters in the last few months - huge landslides and then the worst flooding on record last week during Typhoon Hagupit. If you're going soon, you may want to skip Tai O this time.

If you still want to take the ferry, it departs from Pier 6 in Central, next to Star Ferry and just north of the ifc complex.

The ifc complex is where the Hong Kong MTR/Airport Express terminus is located.

Website for buses on Lantau is here (note spelling, which is correct):

www.newlantaobus.com

Website for ferry to Mui Wo is at:

www.nwff.com.hk

Buses for Hong Kong Island and Cityflyer airport buses and selected cross harbor routes are at: [That includes the 6, 6A, 6X, 260 to Central.]

www.nwstbus.com.hk

Buses for Kowloon, New Territories, selected cross harbor routes, the Airbus airport buses are at [including the A31 and various buses for Tsing Yi]:

www.kmb.hk

One more thing. Whoever you're staying with probably can tell you better, but from many parts of Tsing Yi, it's often more convenient to take a taxi, bus or minibus to the Kwai Fong MTR, instead of going to the Tsing Yi MTR. The Tung Chung MTR line can be fairly infrequent outside rush hour, and requires a change to get to Mongkok and Tsimshatsui.

Thx a mint for your detailed reply - it is very helpful!

Terrible to hear the news of Tai O - I hope there has been adequate support for the residents to recover. I'm going in November but will ask the bus drivers the day I go if it is reasonable to go there.

Good tip about the Kwai Fong vs. Tsing Yi MTR stations. I did notice on the MTR site, it says how long the trip is and the service hours of the stations but not the frequency of the trains.

I will check out the links to plan some routes.

Thx for mentioning all these items.

As you probably guessed, I'm staying in a residential flat but it is currently vacant. If someone is staying there while I am there too, they would be a tourist like me. Hence my many questions here...LOL!

I've read there are vegetarian food courts and lunch at the Po Lin Monastery, are these the same thing? I also read there is a combination ticket to purchase for entrance to the Big Buddha and lunch at the monestary, where does one buy this?

Thx for any insights - enjoy-la!

There's a vegetarian restaurant in Po Lin Monastery, and outside the restaurant they also sell vegetarian snacks and there are tables where you can sit and eat. But it's not like a real food court with many different vendors. Inside the restaurant, there are two levels of set lunches. Not sure the current price, but the cheaper ones should be around HK$80. It includes 4 dishes and soup and rice. Never had the fancier one, but you also get to sit in a nicer room with that.

The set lunch tickets include an entrance to the pedestal of the Big Buddha. Inside that base, there are some exhibits, including a piece of relic of Sakaymuni.

Climbing up the steps to visit the Big Buddha is free, just can't go to those exhibit without a ticket (not sure the cost of separate non-lunch ticket just for the exhibit). If you decide to visit the Big Buddha before lunch, you can also buy your combination ticket at the base of the Buddha, before climbing the steps.

If you are staying at Greenfield Garden or Grand Horizon, there's the 88B Public Light bus (16-seat, green-colored minibus) to Kwai Fong MTR. [If you're staying at Serene Garden or Tivoli Garden, there's the 88D, but that one takes a longer route.]

These routes cost about HK$3.5, and should be very frequent (every 6-8 minutes), as I'd imagine that's how a lot of the residents get to/from their home at those private apartment blocks.

They are a good alternative to walking to the Tsing Yi MTR if you're going to some place not on the Tung Chung MTR line.

Thx again rkkwan. The monastary info is very helpful and I'll check out the 16-seaters for trips on the red line.

I was trying to figure out if there is a better way to get to Ocean Park than Tsing Yi > HK > Admiralty, then Citybus route 629. On the bus links you provided, I can't figure out which one is the Ocean Park route as it needs a District and I don't know what district OP is in. Is there a better bus route from Tsing Yi area to OP?

Also, do you happen to know if Continental arrives in Terminal 1 at the HK airport? I've found an HSBC ATM at Terminal 1. I plan to pull funds from there for my Octopus card, and to get me started.

Thx for any insights - enjoy-la!

The 629 also departs from Pier 7 at the Central Pier, though every 20 minutes and not every 10 from Admiralty. Still that's the best way. Just the Tung Chung line MTR to Hong Kong and then walk out to Pier 7.

"Terminal 2" in Hong Kong is only for checking-in for certain airlines. All arriving passengers to HKG will arrive at Terminal 1. CO's check-in for departure is also at Terminal 1.

There are ATMs of several banks in the arrival hall at HKG. You're not limited to HSBC ones. Yes, go get cash, then go the circular manned Airport Express ticket counter to get your Octopus.

Continued thx, rkkwan. The detail you provide is fab and will make for better stress-free travelling (=

I'd like to take the HK Trams. I've gone to the HK Tramways' website but can't decide which route is best. Would you recommend going east or westbound, and are there any particular stop & starting terminals you would suggest? That is, that have "the most to see". My thoughts are to catch it at Central and ride it up to Shau Kei Wan Road.

I will ride it just to get a flavor of the city and likely hop on & off but was just wondering about your thoughts on this since you are very familiar with HK.

Thx for any insights - enjoy-la!

Well, I have no particular preference of one direction over another, but keep in mind that the tram is slow and it's an hour for the 5 miles from Central to Shau Kei Wan, compared to 20 minutes on the MTR. Unless there's a particular reason for you to go to Shau Kei Wan (like connecting to the #9 bus to Shek O, or visiting the Museum of Coastal Defense - both recommended), you may want to get off in North Point.

Going west from Central, you'll past through the Western District with all the dried seafood and chinese medicine shops. Pretty interesting as well. But no big reason to ride all the way to Kennedy Town for that direction either.

Or you can take the tram to Happy Valley. Not much to see there on a non-race day. Get off and then get on the next departing tram - but check the destinations. They either go east through Causeway Bay, North Point to Shau Kei Wan; or go west past Central to Kennedy Town.

The vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery was HK$60 back in Jan 08 when I was there. That's the regular lunch, not the VIP lunch.

If you're by yourself, you probably will end up with just 3 dishes, rather than 4-5 dishes if you are there in a group. Having said that, it should still be plenty to eat. The lunch also comes with soup and white rice; both of which you can ask for more for free.

Thx for the details rkkwan & yk!

My trip is really coming along now and I'll start stitching together all my research into coherent days/clusters of activities.

I will definitely spend a weekday at HK Disney (I'm a Mouse Fan!). Are there any places that sell discount tickets?

Thx for any insights - enjoy-la!

Hit submit before I added:

I'll just do the regular lunch and I'm sure even 3 dishes and soup will be lots of food. I was talking to someone who said having lunch there was a good way to give back to the monastary. Great to hear it's reasonably priced ~$9USD.

Thx for the details - enjoy-la!

BTW, if it's crowded at the restaurant at Po Lin, chances are you will need to share a table with others. It's pretty common practice though. If that bothers you, you may want to consider getting the VIP lunch, as it's served in a separate room with plenty of seating.

If you go on a weekday, you will likely get your own table. Weekends, share. But you're only sharing the table, not the dishes (unlike in the old days - which yk might not remember :) ). Each party will still get their own 3-4 dishes, and my recent experience is that there's more than enough food.

Yes, the meal service is a way for the monastery to get some money, so you can see it as a donation. But in recent years, I feel that they're running the place more like a tourist destination. In short, they've "sold out". During the past few months, they've torn down their original main buddha hall to build a much larger building. And the fact that they let the government and MTR to build that Ngong Ping Marketplace next door with Starbucks and French restaurant (non-vegetarian!) is pure sacrilege.

While I enjoy the cable car ride, and I still recommend visitors to do that same, after visiting Po Lin Monastery for perhaps 100 times since a kid, my urge to go back has greatly diminished.

Thx a mint for the extra replies.

I'm completely fine with sharing a table (tho relieved to hear that the food is not shared). Actually, sometimes when travelling solo I find it's more interesting to talk to others at a shared table.

Too bad to hear the monastary has become commercialized. I wonder whether the monastary had a choice in "letting" the government build the marketplace or even the cable car? Did the monastary own the land? If the Chinese Gov't wanted to build something, do you think the monastary had enough clout to refuse even if they owned the land? I agree having Starbucks in that location is distasteful.

I've had dim sum many times before but am looking fwd to experiencing it in HK. Of course as a solo traveller, it will not be as much fun since I will only be able to have 2-3 dishes. I guess I will have to go multiple times...do you think seating a single will be an issue? Sharing a table will be fine.

Enjoy-la!

About sharing tables in Hong Kong, it just depends on how busy the place is, and what level is the restaurant. If if it is filling up, and it is not a high-end place, then they will put you at a table with someone, or have someone sit at your table. That won't happen at a high-end hotel restaurant.

As for Ngong Ping, initially Po Lin Monastery objected, but then they changed their mind after realizing how much more tourists the cable car and the marketplace can bring up to Ngong Ping. It has nothing to do with the Chinese government. It is all about the Hong Kong government trying foolishly to do every stupid thing to get tourists (like that white elephant of Disneyland HK). And for the quasi-government MTR Corporation to earn money.

One of the more infamous photo was the opening ceremony of the cable car two years ago. They brought up three huge roast pig for the ceremony, right in front of the Big Buddha. ROAST PIG! In Ngong Ping. That's how culturally insensitive and classless these government and business people are.

If you wander around Ngong Ping outside the Po Lin Monastery area, you'll find that it's a very tranquil place with some hiking/camping facilites as well as many smaller Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. Probably most "sacred" place in Hong Kong.

But Hong Kong is all about money. And the corruption (in a very broad, moral sense) of mainstream Buddhism in China has spread to Hong Kong. The Ngong Ping marketplace is a prime example.

BTW, if you don't have time to visit Po Lin Monastery, you may want to go to Chi Lin Nunnery at the Diamond Hill MTR. Nice architecture and some nice gardens there. They also have a nice high-end vegetarian restaurant at its Nan Lian Gardens.

rkkwan, since you are very familiar with HK and obviously keep abreast of its issues, your insights are particularly interesting. Do you travel there for business? How often do you go to HK?

I can't help but wonder whether the Po Lin monastary really had a choice tho. They can object but if the gov't is going to go ahead with or without their blessing, they really wouldn't have a choice. Of course this is just musing since your post was the first time I'd even heard of the issue. It is very sad to hear that there is/was very little consultation with them at least. One would think that they would be the primary consultant on a Grand Opening, and surely they would have spoke up if they had known about the roast pig. That it could happen is quite shocking.

I will poke around outside Po Lin a bit as I've seen some listings for nature walks, etc.

Your Lantau Island "tour" is something I will definitely make time for. Thx for mentioning the Chi Lin Nunnery - I will check that out as well since this isn't a shopping trip.

I don't plan to do much shopping or much time at malls - I'm not a mall shopper at home either - but will probably visit one or two just to see what they are like. With Harbour City being the largest one and Times Square being the busiest, would you happen to recommend either of them or another one for "the experience".

Enjoy-la!

Oh, I forgot to answer klam_chowder's question in the last post.

I am Chinese and grew up in Hong Kong. When growing up, my parents took me and my sister all over the territory - hiking, biking, etc - (and adjacent Macau) too.

I still have tonnes of relatives and many of my friends there, so I tend to go back around once a year, though more frequent recently.

Here in the US, I read online version of Chinese-language newspapers nightly; and on most days I watch nightly TV news (when I was in Houston, it was through a DirecTV subscription; here in L. A. there's free Cantonese over-the-air channel 18-6). So, I know what's going on over there better than what's going on in Southern California locally.

For the "experience", I would go to Harbour City just becuase it is so so huge you really can't believe it (It is actually two connected malls), I always joke that every outlet of every major and minop shop in the world is located there, and that is really not far from the truth. It is also right at the Star Ferry so it is coneninet to pop in just if you are sightseeing. But it is huge to walk and not set up like a mall you may be used to in the US with anchor stores and atriums, its really several different long somewhat narrow hallways on several floors all full of shops. The Habitu Cafe has outdoor seating and some nice views, and there are other restaurants as well, some of which have harbour views, IMO, Habitu's is probably the best.

Times Square may be a bit more traditional or what you are used to in that is is a big atrium with all the shops around it. It is also not far from the Wan Chai area and you can ride the tram to it (take any tram going east that says Happy Valley on it.)

However, if you really want to see a nice mall with many elegant shops and a number of very good restaurants (some with good views like Lumiere/Cuisine Cuisine), I would suggest the IFC Mall in Central. This is at the Airport Express station and also an easy walk from the Star Ferry pier on the Hong Kong side, or a quick walk from Central, you can also connect to the Mid-levels escalator from the IFC Mall.

Strange - someone had posted about cell phone options before rkkwan's last post but it seems to have been deleted. Didn't know that could be done! I've got my quad band in hand now so I'll be all ready to pick up my SuperTalk card from the airport's 7-11 (=

rkkwan, I didn't mean to ask such a personal question - it's hard to impart tone in e-mail/forums sometimes. I was asking only because of your level of knowledge about the area and its details, and also of its issues. (=

Cicerone, thx a mint for your thoughts on the malls. I think I will enjoy visiting the non-typical mall and I'll check out the ones you listed, with a walk thru and I am sure a snack. Even tho I won't be going into the elegant shops (I bypass the knock-offs on Canal Street - never understood the allure of owning fake stuff), it's appealing to see the fashion trends.

I also wanted to thank you for your many detailed posts, particulary on walks/hikes. I have copied many of them into my trip planning folder; I'm sure like many other posters/lurkers. I'm excited to see which ones I actually end up doing. Your level of description makes me very comfortable that I won't be lost on the back side of a mountain wandering around in circles. (Don't worry, I'll get a map before I go just in case...lol!)

This trip was planned on short notice and I'm really looking fwd to it: flocking to tourist attractions, checking out often-mentioned highlights and just wandering around HK taking in the scenery. Thx a mint everyone for so much help!

Enjoy-la!