Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 6

When is the best time to go to Hong Kong?

Winter Season (December to March) is the most relaxing and comfortable time to go to Hong Kong but besides the weather, there's little else to do since the "Sale Season" occurs during Summer. There are some sales during christmas and chinese new year but 90% of the clothes are for winter. Hong Kong can get very foggy during winter, as such, visit to the Peak is a hit-or-miss affair. A foggy bird's eye view of HK isn't really nice.

Summer Season (May to October) is similar to Manila's weather, very hot but moving around in Hong Kong can get extra uncomfortable because of the high humidity which gives the "sticky" feeling. Hong Kong's rainy season also falls on their summer, July and August has the highest rainfall count and the typhoons also arrive in these months. The Sale / Shopping Festival is from the start of July to the start of September. If the sky is clear, the view from the Peak is great.

Avoid going to Hong Kong when there are large-scale exhibitions or ongoing tournaments like the Hong Kong Sevens Rugby Tournament because hotel prices will be significantly higher.

Estimating Travel Time when using the MTR

http://www.mtr.com.hk/jplanner/eng/planner_index.php

For those planning to do a lot of Shopping

If the thing you are planning to buy is available here in Manila, make sure to check the local price first as a reference point. This way you'll know whether the stores in Hong Kong are cheaper or not.

For those leaving/arriving in HK Past Midnight or Early Morning

There are still airport buses, codes start with N. Instead of A21, it will be N21. Routes are the same.

Places / Things Best Done During the Day

1. Ocean Park
2. Ngong Pin Village + Giant Buddha
3. Nanlian Gardens
4. Disneyland
5. Malls / Markets

Places / Things Best Done During Night

1. A visit to the Peak
2. Strolling along Avenue of Stars
3. A tram ride along HK island (specially Central district)
4. Star Ferry Ride
5. Strolling around Tsim Sha Tsui (Nathan road and the side streets)

Places to Avoid During the Weekends/Holidays (Due to large volume of people)

1. Disneyland
2. Ocean Park
3. The Peak
4. Macau

Average Time You Need for the Famous Tourist Spots

1. Disneyland - At least 6 hours | Recommended = Opening Time to Closing Time to catch Fireworks at 8pm
2. Ocean Park - At least 4 hours | Recommended = Opening Time to Near Closing Time
3. Ngong Ping Village and Giant Buddha - At least 2 hours
4. Avenue of Stars - At least 30minutes | Recommended = 1 Hour
5. The Peak - At least 1 hour | Recommended = 2 Hours
6. Tsim Sha Tsui (Harbour City, et al) - At least 2-3 Hours, also Depends on amount of shopping
7. Mongkok Markets - Varies, Depends on amount of shopping
8. Causeway Bay - At least 2 Hours

Average Time Needed

Airplane Touchdown in Hong Kong until Baggage Claim: around 45 minutes to 1 hour
Airport to Kowloon/HK Island: 45minutes minimum
City to Disneyland by Train: Approximately 45minutes

Where to Buy Pasalubong

Mongkok Ladies Market
Temple Street Night Market
The Peak
Knick Knacks in Citysuper
Grocery&Food Items from Citysuper / Sogo / Wellcome
Hong Kong Egg Tarts
Dimsum
Royce Chocolates from Citysuper*

*Now available locally: Powerplant Rockwell / Greenbelt 5
*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 5

Will our passports receive stamps from the Immigration in Macau?

Yes.

Reaching NWFF/China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui for Macau

Take a taxi from any point in Kowloon.

http://www.nwff.com.hk/upload/china_city.jpg

Scenic Bus Ride to Stanley (via Repulse Bay)

Bus 6, 6A, 6X, 66 or 260 from Central Bus Terminal.

Walking around the Districts

Most districts in Hong Kong like Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok can be strolled on foot. Do not abuse your legs, use the taxi when needed.

For more detailed maps on each district, please visit this link:

http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/facilities/lm.html

Factory Outlets in Hong Kong

Granville Road and Granville Circuit, Tsim Sha Tsui
Esprit Outlet, 4-6 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Citygate Outlet Mall, Tung Chung, Lantau Island

Electric Socket in Hong Kong

All hostels and almost all hotels use this kind of socket. Some hostels provide adaptors but some don't. You can buy adaptors in Mongkok and Sham Shui Po. Or buy a universal adaptor in Manila before going to Hong Kong.



Some hostels like Taisan and Marlboro lend adaptors.

You might need something like this for some accomodations, meron sa CDR-King.



Various Tips from Different PEXers

Tips on planning HK trip:
1) browse and discover HK http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/2) Decide on schedule of visit (via booking)
3) List down costs per person. i.e (50HKD/meal/pax; 150HKD/fare/pax; tickets/pax, hostel/night). always round up for allowance.
4) determine total budget
5) prepare detailed itinerary (transpo/cost per destination; estimated time to spend each location; if possible decide on things and activities to do and places to eat) use MTR and bus websites and MAPSPublish Post6)Printout maps, directories etc and put together your HK kit.

Tip on exchanging money. Do what you think is convenient for you. Saving a few pesos (or even a thousand) is not worth it if you lose so much time searching for the best place and the best way to change your cash. Being too OC about it might ruin your trip. Extra stress pa yan and you don't need that when you are taking a vacation.

Digital Camera Users: The low temperature can cut your battery's life into half. In my case, 1/3 ng capacity ang nawala.

My Almost Rip-Off Electronics Experience: I went inside a store in Wanchai Computer Center to ask the price of the LX3. Nung nakita niyang tourist with a camera, he looked at my dSLR and noticed I didn't have a UV protection. I now realized this is their easiest cheap shot at tourists since I experienced the same exact thing in Beijing. He grabbed my camera and started to clean my lens then got a UV filter. Even without asking me, he started removing the seal/sticker of the product. This prompted me to ask the price immediately, he said it was 150HKD. Eh naresearch ko na yun prices beforehand and it should be around 60HKD only. This pissed me off and i said no, hindi ko bibilhin yan, masyadong mahal. He then said, 100 pero ayaw ko na talaga. He brought it down to 80 but i said i will think about it and got my camera back. Umalis na ako right after. If i didn't stop him from opening the product baka hindi na ako pinaalis without paying the original 150HKD. I bought the exact same thing from Kamfai for 60HKD. 20HKD difference but the point was their cheapshots at tourists. Kahit gawin nilang mas mura hindi ko na sila babalikan. Kamfai immediately gave me the 60HKD price, pinakamababa na agad kahit tourist ako. Kaya Rule #1, know the price range of your product before going to HK.

Sample Pricelist for Pasalubong:
Bossini Shirts - 70-90 HKD
Bosinni Polo Shirt - 125 HKD
Meiji Chocolates - 12 - 20 HKD
Royce Bar Choc- 38 HKD
Royce Nama (Box) - 85 HKD
Souvenirs (Magnets, Key Chains) 10 HKD
Esprit Bag - 59HKd dito P698 (checked sa glorietta)
Giordano Top - 80hkd 



*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 4

Do I Need To Buy Theme Park Tickets Online?

No need. If you want to buy ahead of time, buy in the airport (CTS). 

Lockers

Lockers are available inside Disneyland, Ocean Park and Tung Chung (Ngong Ping 360). Sizes vary.

Do We Need To Pay To See The Giant Buddha / Ngong Ping Village / Po Lin Monastery?

NO. You just have to pay for either the bus ride or cable car ride to reach Ngong Ping. After that, there is no entrance fee.

Are There Places To Eat in Ngong Ping Village?

Yes. Plenty of choices here from low to middle range restaurants.

What Kind of Tickets Do Disneyland and Ocean Park Sell?

Both parks only sell "Ride All You Can" tickets, there are no "Entrance Only" tickets.

Peak Day and Special Day for Disneyland have the same price.

Can Anybody Visit The 2 Disney Hotels?

Yes, non-guests may still ride the free hotel shuttle bus upon reaching the resort proper.

Can You Make Me An Itinerary For Disneyland?

Watch all the shows first then do the rides afterwards. Find a good spot for the fireworks 30mins before it starts.

Can I Bring Food and Drink Inside Disneyland and Ocean Park?

Although we haven't heard any untoward incident regarding this, please avoid bringing rice (heavy) meals. Water and Snack are OK.

Technically you can't bring in food but maybe they are just being lenient so let's not abuse their leniency.

How Much Is A Meal in Disneyland?

Around 50-70HKD per person per meal inclusive of a heavy meal (and drinks).

Where Should I Go For Nightlife in Hong Kong?

Lan Kwai Fong in Central or Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui.

What Time Does Hong Kong "Wake Up"?

Commercial establishments open as early as 8am and as late as 1130am. Shops close near midnight.

Can You Make An Itinerary For Me?

For the clueless when it comes to itineraries please read http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/




*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 3

The Peak: Do I Have To Pay for The SKY TERRACE?

For 1st timers, this is recommended for the best view. For those on an extremely tight budget, you can go to the roof of the Peak Galleria Mall for a free view.

Madame Tassaud's Wax Museum is inside the Peak building.

Wax Museum in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong "Star" Ferry and its Routes

Less than 3HKD per person for the Central - Tsim Sha Tsui route. You can pay using Octopus card.

Star Ferry Piers/Terminals locations can be found in the detailed district maps under District Breakdown.

http://www.starferry.com.hk/services.html

Where Can I Buy Jewelry in Hong Kong?

There are reputable chain stores like Chow Tai Fook but if you have zero background, just buy in Manila's Chinatown (Binondo).

You will not necessarily get a better price/product in HK being a tourist with no knowledge.

What Is The Famous Dessert Chain?

It's name is Hui Lau Shan. Here's a sample of the store:



This can be found around HK, plenty of branches. Easy to find in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok by walking around.

Where Can I Do My Grocery / Buy Daily Commodities Like Water?

Although 7-Eleven is everywhere, it is expensive and should be only for emergency. Do your shopping at Wellcome.

Complete List of Branches: 
http://www.wellcome.com.hk/en/profil...tml?page=store

Tsim Sha Tsui Branches

GATEWAY
Address: Shop 3231-33, Level 3, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Store hours: 08:30-22:00

AUSTIN ROAD
Address: Part G/F & Basement, TAL Building 45-53 Austin Road, Kowloon
Store hours: 08:00-23:00

HANKOW
Address: Shop A, Basement, HK Pacific Centre, 28 Hankow Road, TST, Kln
Store hours: 08:00-22:00

KIMBERLEY ROAD
Address: Ground Floor, Luna Court, Nos 53-59, Kimberley Road, TST, Kowloon.
Store hours: 08:00-22:30

What Can I Buy in ______?

Mongkok - Ladies Market - Souvenirs / Knock-offs / Clothes
Mongkok - Fa Yuen Street - Rubber Shoes
Mongkok - Sai Yueng Choi Street - Electronics

Yaumatei - Temple Street Night Market - A variety of goods similar to 168

Tsim Sha Tsui - Plenty of clothes & apparel

Estimating the Pocket Money / Entrance Fees

Computed per Person:
Food - 100 to 150HKD per day
Public Transportation - 150 to 200HKD for 3 to 4 days (including roundtrip airport cityflyer but excluding taxi rides)
Shopping - Varies

Theme Park Entrance Fees:
Ngong Ping Cable Car 1-Way = 63HKD Adults, 30HKD Kids
Ngong Ping Cable Roundtrip = 96HKD Adults, 48HKD Kids
Ocean Park = 208HKD Adults, 103HKD Kids
Disneyland = 350HKD Adults, 250HKD Kids
Peak Tram = 22HKD Single 33HKD Return for Adults | 8HKD Single 15HKD Return for Kids
Peak Tram + Sky Terrace = 37HKD Single 48HKD Return for Adults | 16HKD Single 23HKD Return for Kids
Madame Tussauds = 150HKD Adults, 80HKD Kids (Discount available when packaged with Peak Tram / Sky Terrace)

Pocket Money Reminder

When it comes to pocket money, don't bring the exact or rough estimate, always bring extra!

For those Travelling with Kids, Elderly or as a Big Group

1. Do not try to fit many things on a single day or your well-planned itinerary will be useless.
2. Prepare for unseen circumstances like tired companions who want to head back to your hotel earlier than planned.
3. Allot 1 day for Ocean Park and 1 day for Disneyland if you plan to visit these 2.
4. To lessen logistic problems, set a strict meeting place and time whenever the group will split up.
5. Set your priorities in case time will not be sufficient to cover anything.


*Content taken from PEX

Frequently Asked Questions for Hongkong PART 2

Where Can I Ride The Open-Top Double-Decker Bus?

Bus 15C from the Star Ferry Pier to the Peak Terminus (and vice versa).

How Many Passengers Can Fit in 1 Taxi?

Maximum of 5 passengers (plus the driver) so a total of 6 people in 1 taxi. 5 big adults might not fit. Adjust as necessary.

How Do I Go To Jumbo Floating Restaurant?

Bus 71 from Central

http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/rou...utedirection=R

Bus 75 from Central

http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/routes/rou...utedirection=R

How Many Trams Are There in HK?

Two. The Peak Tram and the HK Island Tram aka Century Old Tram & Ding Ding Tram.

I Want To Ride The Island Tram, Which 1 Do I Take? Where Can I Find The Tram in HK Island?

The Tram runs on the major roads of HK Island (Des Vouex/Java/Hennessy/etc) and are almost always located near an MTR exit.

Unless you are going to see Happy Valley Racecourse, you can ride any tram except the 1 that says "Happy Valley".

Enter the tram at the rear, exit at the front after placing your octopus card on the reader / paying coins. Fee: 2HKD.

Recommend routes: North Point to Central/Sheung Wan.

http://www.hktramways.com/en/service/routemap.html

When I Ride The Tram, How Do I Know Which District I Am At? Where Do I Alight?

For 1st timers, the catch is, you don't! Riding the tram will be a mix of adventure and finding clues. If you see the famous skyscrapers, then that's Central. If you see the big Sogo and a lot of shops/people, that's Causeway Bay. North Point is mostly a residential area.

Nonetheless, it's still fun to ride the tram and if ever you get lost, just ask around for the nearest MTR exit.

Which Hostel Has A Room for ____ People?

Please go to the hostels' websites and check. We already provided the links to their websites.

Which Hostel Is The Best?

See Above. (Post #2)

Is My Hotel OK?

If you are going to book in a hotel that is not listed above, DO NOT WORRY. Go to Tripadvisor.com to check whether the hotel is good or not. We cannot give a feedback for every hotel in HK since there's just too many of them.

Tripadvisor also provides traveller photos of the hotels. This thread is not an encyclopedia of Hong Kong hotels.

Where Is My Hotel Located? What Is The Nearest MTR Station?

For simple questions like this, please go to your hotel's website and look for the location/transportation section.

How to Know If Your Hotel/Hostel is Highly Accessible

Go to your Hotel/Hostel's website and look for the Location/Transportation/Map Section and check whether there is a nearby MTR exit.
*Content taken from PEX

Tarsier Behaviour

Tarsier Behaviour

Habitat. Tarsiers are arboreal. They live in and around the base of tree trunks and the roots of plants such as bamboo. They can occasionally be found in holes are at the top of trees. In Mindanao, tarsiers appear to thrive best in second or third growth thickets along the coast and in the valleys.


Behavior. The Philippine tarsier is nocturnal. They hunt at night, exclusively for animal prey. At day time, they hide in hollows close to the ground. When kept in captivity, individuals may huddle together or intertwine their tails. They are believed to live in groups, larger than just one male and one female. The female appears to take care for the young exclusively: no male parental care has been observed.


Diet. Tarsiers live exclusively on animal prey. Their diet includes primarily insects such as cockroaches and crickets, but may occasionally be extended with reptiles, birds, and bats. A Philippine tarsier in captivity will eat live shrimp and fish in a bowl of water.


Sounds. The tarsier produces a a number of different calls. The loud call is a loud piercing single note. When opponents meet, they produce a soft sweet bird-like trill. When several individuals communicate, they can produce a locust-like chirping. Females have a specials sound to indicate that they are fertile.


Scent Marks. Male tarsiers have epigastric glands, which they use for scent marking.


Reproduction. Females tarsiers have a prosimian-type uterus but a higher primate type placenta. One unusual feature is that they have multiple breast pairs, yet generally only the pectoral pair is functional. The other ones serve as anchoring points for newborn. The gestation period of a tarsier is about 180 days (6 months), and only one young is born at a time. When a tarsier is born, it is already in a well-advanced state of development. It is born well furred and with its eyes open. The head and body length at birth is 66-72 mm, the tail is 114-117 mm long, and its weight is 25-27 grams. They are able to move about after only two days. The mother carries infants with her mouth or on her belly. No nest is built. The female parks her infant while foraging. A young tarsier can climb after two days and jump after four. After about 19 days, young tarsiers already move around much like adults. It is breast-fed upto about 60 days. Juveniles tend to be more uniformly colored than adults. After two years, young tarsiers become sexually mature. The female has an estrus cycle, or recurring period of heat, of 23.5 days. Mating can take place any time of the year. Tarsiers can become 12 to 20 years old.


Where to Meet the Tarsier


You can visit the tarsier at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, and see it in its natural habitat.


The Philippine Tarsier Foundation,
Km. 14 Canapnapan Corella, Bohol 6300 Philippines
Tel: (0912) 5163375
Mobile: (0918) 6021326
Email: tarsier@mozcom.com
Website: http://www.philippinetarsier.org/.


Please avoid visiting the tarsiers kept in cages along Loboc river. Here, these shy animals have a miserable life, and normally don't survive for long.

Further Reading

Some notes on primates and the place of the Tarsier within the hierarchy of primates can be found on The Primates by Dennis O'Neil of Palomar College.

Another website featuring pictures of a tarsier is http://www.tarsieruk.homestead.com/Home.html.

Condensed from material by The Philippine Tarsier Foundation

PHILIPPINE TARSIER UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

The Philippine tarsier, (Tarsius syrichta) is very peculiar small animal. In fact it is one of the smallest known primates, no larger than a adult men's hand. Mostly active at night, it lives on a diet of insects. Folk traditions sometimes has it that tarsiers eat charcoal, but actually they retrieve the insects from (sometimes burned) wood. It can be found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Mindanao in the Philippines.

If no action is taken, the tarsier might not survive. Although it is a protected species, and the practice of catching them and then selling them as stuffed tarsiers to tourists has stopped, the species is still threatened by the destruction of his natural forest habitat. Many years of both legal and illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture have greatly reduced these forests, and reduced the tarsier population to a dangerously small size. If no action is taken now, the Philippine tarsier can soon be added to the list of extinct species.

Physical Description

General. The Philippine tarsier has a gray fur and a nearly naked tail. The middle finger is elongated. Head and body length are around 118-149 mm; It weighs 113-142 grams. Males are larger than females.

Eyes. In comparison with his body size, the eyes of the tarsier are enormous. In volume, the capacity of the bony eye orbits, or eye sockets, is larger than that of the brain case, and also larger than its stomach. Their eye sockets have post-orbital closure rather than the postorbital bar of the prosimians. This feature keeps the eyeballs from being pressed against by the powerful temporal muscles to their sides.

Tail. The tarsier has a relatively very long tail (232 mm), generally naked except for a tuft of hair at its end. The underside has dermal ridges like those found on human hands and feet. Its tail is used for balancing like a tripod; they prefer an erect posture at all times.

Head. Like an owl, the tarsier has a joint between its skull base and spine to allow head movement of a 180-degree arc. Its upper lip lacks a cleft yet, but still has muscles, so that it can make facial expressions. The adult brain weighs about 4 grams.

Teeth. Tarsiers have sharp teeth, enabling them to catch their prey easier. Unique among primates, tarsiers have only two, rather than four, incisors in their lower jaw. Their dental formula is 2.1.3.3 1.1.3.3 x 2 = 34.

Ankle bones. The name "tarsier" or "tarsius" is derived from the animal's very long ankle bones. The tibia and fibula of the tarsiers are fused in their lower portions, acting as a shock absorber. This is considered a primitive trait, which can normally be seen in quadrupeds. The lower limbs are twice the length of its trunk. These enable the tarsier to leap about three meters from tree to tree. Its movements are similar to that of a frog.

Comparison with other Primates. Tarsiers share some characteristics with both the prosimians and the anthropoids, while they also have some characteristics peculiar to themselves. Taxonomists have classified them as intermediate between both groups and have assigned them to their own infraorder, which contains just one living genus: Tarsius. Fossil records of this genus are found, dating back to the Eocene epoch, from 54 to 36 million years ago.

Like many prosimians, they are nocturnal and have grooming claws and bicornuate uterus.

Like anthropoids, they do not have a tapetum (a reflective layer in their eyes).

In tarsiers, the internal structures of the nose and ears and the blood supply to the brain and to a developing fetus are more like those of monkeys than of lorises. The monthly sexual swellings of female tarsiers are also similar to those in anthropoids.