Category Archives: Hong Kong

Hong Kong Living Ideas

My home - Lam Tin in Hong Kong
My home – Lam Tin in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong you can find a load of really cool places to live. Whether you want a high rise, a small flat or a mansion by the beach it’s a city which clearly caters to everyone and is worth checking out. This will give a good overview into life in the Kong!

All over Hong Kong there are a range of classic studio flats and apartments and you need to know your stuff and be ready for a cool place to stay.

Happy Valley is a quiet neighbourhood on Hong Kong Island that exudes a very suburban and progressive setting. It’s a place where you can look forward to having serenity amidst the bustling scene that envelops it. It’s truly one of Hong Kong’s nicest areas to reside in. You can anticipate the joys of having a temporary abode in the city, without having to sacrifice the home comforts that you’re used to.

Hong Kong can be a dear place so you do need to consider a lot of things if you want to meet your budget. You want a good location as well as cutting your costs.

Self managed apartments are a superb alternative to the usual kind of pricey hotel room accommodations mainly because of the fact that living spaces like these already come with a full range of cupboards, washing machines, settees etc. (i.e. fully furnished and fully serviced units). You can also stay in one for as long as you like, without breaking the bank on most occasions.

These type of serviced lodgings will not only offer you some cost-effective housing options, but the managed flats also offer big spaces – a rarity in Hong Kong to have more space around you. You’ll also love the fact that there will be lots more privacy in your apartment, as room designs and outlook have been well thought out.

Kitchens are usually already installed making cooking and preparing meals really easy and well worth doing. There is also a private bathroom in almost all cases and these are obviously kept in a separate room from the bedroom and lounge giving you a warm cosy home in the Kong.

If you’re looking for a temporary haven in Happy Valley, then there are several good choices in the area. The V Group actually has a splendid serviced establishment in the district that will certainly impress you.

You’ll certainly feel relaxed when you stay in a V apartment because each space already comes fully managed (comes with a commendable set of services) and fully furnished (comes with the latest and finest resources and amenities, just like in a hotel). They definitely have all the things that you’re looking for in a place and more. Once you are settled in Hong Kong, you can check out some good promotions when buying items like blinds, curtains and wardrobes.

You have got to love Hong Kong – this will be a cool place to live.

Watching Music on My Travels: Katy Perry

I love to listen to music on my travels and though it is normally on buses and with the iPod, I can’t deny how much I love live concerts. My boyfriend and I have been to a few music events down the years of travelling. On of our music highlights was that we got to see Katy Perry live in Hong Kong, check out her video here: 

 We found out about the concert through a friend living in Hong Kong and were able to get our Katy Perry concert tickets online before the event through an online ticket site. The tickets were posted out to us. Then we planned a night out with friends. My boyfriend is not from Hong Kong but my friends were so we went along together. I was surprised to see lots of other foreigners there so my boyfriend could talk to others at the gig.

Having a drink before the concert
Having a drink before the concert

We got some beers at the bar inside the venue. For those who don’t know about Katy Perry, here are some of her big hits and information… Katy Perry is from the USA and she rose to fame back in 2008 with the release of her huge single “I Kissed a Girl”.

Katy Perry singing live
Katy Perry singing live

I remember hearing the song for the first time in Lam Tin it was a crazy song “I kissed a girl and liked it, her taste of cherry chocolate”. This had very attention-grabbing and somewhat controversial lyrics. The next song I heard was “Hot n Cold” from her second album, which was an awesome record and was called One of the Boys.

Her third album, Teenage Dream was out in 2010 and was more dancy, and contained the U.S. Billboard Top 100 chart-topping singles “California Girls”, “Teenage Dream”, “Firework”, “E.T.”, and “Last Friday Night” as well as the number-three single “The One That Got Away”. That album became the first by a female artist to produce five number-one Billboard Hot 100 songs, and the second overall after Michael Jackson’s album Bad. That’s some achievement for Katy Perry!

The Hong Kong concert was amazing, Katy played all her bit hits and wore some great outfits. Her next big concert is on the 1st of May, so I’m really looking forward to this one. Anyone else keen to join me there? You can get your Katy Perry tickets here and keep up to date with my own travels on Facebook here!

So I hope to see Katy Perry live again on my travels, she rocks!

Hong Kong for the Native HK Girl

Hong Kong tips from a HK Girl!
Hong Kong tips from a HK Girl!

Living in Hong Kong never grows old. However, for the native girl like me, there are times when you want to break from routine and experience something new. There are also times when it is just good fun to play tourist in your home town. The following five ideas are great ways for native HK girls to relax and play a bit!

1) Shopping in Hong Kong

Sure it’s an old standby, but how long has it been since you’ve been to Mong Kok? Fa Yuen Street is one of the best places in HK to buy sportswear and electronic equipment. If you’re a photographer, you will love the camera supplies that are available at reduced prices. Continue on to the Langham Place Mall just a short distance from Mong Kok’s MTR. Causeway Bay, Harbour City – Tsim Sha Tsui, and Elements Mall – West Kowloon are other great shopping areas for HK natives. Remember not to forget your credit cards for Hong Kong citizens so that you can take full advantage of AMEX discounts and rewards on your purchases!

Shopping in Hong Kong
Shopping in Hong Kong

2) Temple Street Night Market

Take your friends and enjoy an evening under the lights at the Temple Street Night Market. A flea market par excellence, Temple Streets is one of the most exciting places to find real bargains in HK. There’s so much to see and eat! Have your fortune told or purchase a cool new gadget, then stop off for a meal on Arthur Street.

3) Ride the Cable Car and Visit Ngong Ping 360

Be a tourist for a day in HK. Enjoy an almost half-hour cable car trip up to one of HKs most popular visitors’ attractions. Located on Lantau Island, you can visit the Po Lin Monastery and the Giant Buddha. What’s more, you can relax and have something to eat at one of the diners or you can go to the Monkey’s Tale Theatre. Just take the Ngong Ping cable car from the Tung Chung Station and get ready for a day filled with adventure.

4) Hit One of Hong Kong’s Beaches!

Summer is one of a Hong Kong girl’s best friends. It’s possible to visit any one of a hundred beaches. (It may be worth renting an apartment near the beach in Cheng Chau.) Or, ride on over to Big Wave Bay, or Tai Long Wan for a little surfing. You might want to visit the Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre or rent a kayak for the day!

5) Rent a Boat for the Day

If kayaking isn’t quite your style, Aberdeen Boat Club provides sailboat rentals and lessons. Or rent a ‘junk.’ Find a hidden cove and escape for the day, or lease a larger party ‘junk’ for yourself and a couple hundred friends! If you’re into power-boating, check out the ‘Black Mamba’ for the thrill of the season!

If these five suggestions haven’t quite got your attention, maybe a day spa, beach volleyball, a helicopter ride or paragliding are more your style. Whatever you choose, get out there and have some serious fun!

I’m in Guatemala backpacking at the moment by the way and hope to have more stories to come soon!

My Tips For Saving Money on Holiday

Nothing refreshes the body and soul more than an enjoyable holiday, even for a hardcore backpacker like the Travelling Hong Kong Girl.  Even trips to new locations found close to home are rewarding; if not simply for the change of scenery they provide.  Travel opens your mind to new perspectives and exposes you to diverse cultural habits and traditions.  Regional differences between nationals, for example, cannot be fully appreciated without taking trips to the regions that interest you.  While budgeting and cash flow concerns commonly come into play as you plot holiday trips, being short of money is no excuse to stay home all the time.
My home - Lam Tin in Hong Kong
My home – Lam Tin in Hong Kong

The amount of money you spend on holiday is ultimately tied to the activities you participate in and the things you buy while traveling.  Meals, for example, constitute a large share of most vacation budgets; especially when the entire family is traveling together and eating three meals each day.  Similarly, lodging and other holiday expenses can quickly eclipse cash on hand when they are left unchecked.  The good news for holiday planners is that savings exist at every level of leisure travel, so there is always room to trim a vacation budget into affordable territory.

As you set the stage for adventure, advanced planning goes a long way toward saving money.  The ability to take advantage of long range deals and special promotions is a feather in your cap, but even spur of the moment travel can be squeezed to fit your budgetary requirements.

My money saving tips for you today!
My money saving tips for you today!

Track Travel Deals Online

Saving money on holiday starts with information.  Sales, specials, promotions and other offers are the gateway to vacation savings, but you must find them to take advantage of the incentives they provide.  Luckily, the information age furnishes ready access to the alerts you need to save money. Consumers are spoiled, in fact, compared to the way travel planning unfolded for past generations.

Travel agents, for example, once furnished the best access to timely information about airfares, hotel rates, and other vacation planning necessities.  While the industry served a vital role for many travelers, today’s consumers have access to the same information, often within a split second.

Internet resources are valuable tools for tracking air schedules and other fast-changing travel information.  Access to the World Wide Web also opens the door to savings, as vacation planners isolate the best prices on travel.  The technology furnishes up-to-the-minute data about various specials and incentives offered by travel providers.  And booking travel Online also qualifies for additional savings, in some cases, so staying abreast of travel information online pays off in a variety of ways.

My Money Saving Tips for You!
My Money Saving Tips for You!

In fact, the rapid flow of information has made the air travel industry even more competitive than it once was.  Since travelers have access to everyone’s pricing and scheduling information at the same time, side-by-side comparisons are easily executed without contacting each airline individually.  In much the same way air travel providers compete for limited business, other travel services are also subject to market conditions – which can be good news for budget-conscious travelers.

Bundled Travel Deals and Prime Notifications

Depending on the precise travel services you need, buying them as a bundled package may yield significant savings on your next vacation.  To entice travelers, airlines, hotels, ground transportation services and even restaurants participate in joint efforts to furnish services.  Booking your hotel rooms at the same time as your plane tickets, for example, reduces the cost of each one bought on its own.

Some travel deals and bundled packages are reserved for certain consumers, like those who travel frequently or use many hotel room-nights.  By signing up with the providers you use frequently, you might open doors to exclusive money saving offers