Hong Kong during the xmas season

[Kristie]

because he's doing 2 48 hr trips back to back and unfortunately, the 2nd trip ends the day i start working full time....so i can't go on that one anyway.

so he figures trade that trip for something else...maybe something 24 hr so that i can go along.

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by kimlantse

J
You can get incredible knock-offs for cheap in HK too, especially in Ladies Market on Tung Choi Street. Bags, watches etc. You have to ask them to take you to the store room to see the products though, because they get busted if they display them out in the open. Prepare to haggle your socks off!

oooooohhhhhh that's good to know!

one thing i haven't perfected yet is the haggling bit....how do you know what price you should be spending on things, esp when they're in a different currency?

anyone have tips for that?

oh, also, are there any cultural things we should know *not* to do? we don't want to offend anyone while there....

Also looking at departing Dec 1st, 7th or 8th....The Nov 30th loads helped a lot!! Can you loads for the 7th or 8th? out of both LAX and SFO?? we can get to either city and transfer....

Are those loads as *actual* empty seats or seats left to *sell*??

Thanks!!

[kimlantse]

Here are some more loads. They're only for outbound, I didn't know when you were planning on going back home... The figures are seats left for sale.


SFO -> HKG

01 Dec
CX879 SFO 12:05 HKG 18:55+1
1st:5+ Business:0 Economy:50+

07 Dec
CX879 SFO 12:05 HKG 18:55+1
1st:5+ Business:14 Economy:50+

07 Dec
CX873 SFO 00:05 HKG 06:55+1
1st:5+ Business:7 Economy:50+

08 Dec
CX879 SFO 12:05 HKG 18:55+1
1st:5+ Business:0 Economy:50+



LAX -> HKG

07 Dec
CX881 LAX 00:20 HKG 07:45+1
1st:5+ Business:15+ Economy:50+

07 Dec
CX885 LAX 11:20 HKG 18:55+1
1st:5+ Business:15+ Economy:50+

08 Dec
CX881 LAX 00:20 HKG 07:45+1
1st:2 Business:3 Economy:50+

08 Dec
CX885 LAX 11:20 HKG 18:55+1
1st:5+ Business:2 Economy:50+

[kimlantse]

Haggling is dead easy! Just half what they are asking for and that is the approximate "real" price. Your first offer should be under this, so that when they come down in price by little steps, you can go up in little steps. You cannot haggle for smaller priced items because they are so cheap, unless you are buying a batch of them, in which case you can ask for a better price because you are buying 5, for example. If you are buying multiple larger items, you can use the fact that you are buying more than one item to get an even lower price. And, especially if you are buying high price items, ask for freebies!

As for cultural differences, there isn't anything that you can do which will really offend them, because it will be obvious to them that you are not local people! They will be very understanding and not even notice if you do something non-traditional. However, when knowledge of local customs is displayed by a tourist, they are very much appreciated. I think it is more likely that you will be offended by locals doing things that aren't considered rude in this part of the world e.g. pushing into queues...

Here are some examples for you anyway;

When receiving gifts/presents, money, business cards etc. you take it with BOTH hands.

When entering temples, wear modest clothing. Shoulders should be covered.

If you have a cough, cold or sore throat, a disposable paper mask should be worn (remnants of the SARS days!). You will find that if you cough or sneeze, everyone will keep their distance from you...

Can't think of anything else just now... but you'll be OK!

[FedExWife]

Athens is good, but the islands are better. My fave is Santorini (Thira) and having dinner in Oia. At any rate, Greece is better than Hong Kong. Beijing is great and has fab shopping!

[kimlantse]

Nothing is better than Hong Kong!

[Kristie]

well duh.. you LIVE there....you have no choice but to say that...HAHAHA

actually, i'm really looking forward to getting there. We're either going to come out from Dec 1 - Dec 5 or Dec 8 - Dec 12

Wanna meet up for lunch or dinner or something? I still have to book hotel (see if we can get a crew discount somewhere) and figure out metro/maps etc...not quite sure what hotel would be good that would also be near a metro station... i figure cabs would be too expensive...so that's my project for the day!

Since loads are so open getting there, this could now possibly be reality! I'm SOOOO excited....

[Kristie]

Just a quick update... It looks like we're going to do Frankfurt first because i really want to hit the christmas markets in Frankfurt, Mainz, Heidelberg and Stuttgart and the loads are actually pretty sticky

So we'll hop over there around the 7th of December...

[kimlantse]

The Hong Kong metro, called MTR, is a breeze. It only has 6 lines (if you don't include the Disneyland line) and it's really simple to follow. HK is tiny, remember! You can buy single journey tickets or you can purchase something called an Octopus card. The Octopus card is like carrying cash stored inside one card. You can top it up with money whenever you need to. When using it, you just place the card over a reader (you don't even need to take it out of your wallet or bag, the reader can still sense it) and the reader will deduct the appropriate amount. You can travel on any public transport (except taxis) with it, so that includes MTR, KCR (trains), buses, trams, ferries - you name it. You can also buy McDonalds with it, pharmaceuticals, newspapers, groceries... I can't function without my Octopus!! It's handier than carrying loose change.

Bearing in mind I'm from the UK, I consider the taxis in HK to be dirt cheap. It is entirely possible to taxi everywhere relatively inexpensively. It only costs a bit more for tunnel tolls e.g. crossing from HK to Kowloon. To give you an idea, I once took a taxi ride that was the equivalent to driving from Edinburgh to Glasgow and it cost around HK$350 (around £22 or US$44). Every journey starts at HK$15.

Meeting up for lunch or dinner sounds good, let me know when you're in town and free. Which reminds me, I absolutely have to tip you guys off about a fantastic dinner buffet you can get at Langham Place in Mong Kok. For around HK$300 per person you can eat as much as you want of anything (the only thing not included in the price is drinks). This includes lobster, Alaskan crab legs, steak, ribs, sushi, sashimi, oysters, Chinese cuisine, Korean cuisine, Indian cuisine etc. Not to mention their desserts... including not one, but two chocolate fountains, one milk chocolate, one white chocolate, with an array of fruit, marshmallows, waffles etc. to dip in. Starve yourselves beforehand!

German Christmas markets! Wandering around looking at hand-made trinkets, sipping on a mug of Glühwein... Ooh, I miss them My DH is in Frankfurt right now, and I'm a tad jealous...

[amsy]

hi guys!! anyone planning on coming to Hong Kong during the X'mas season?
Anyone with questions about flight loadings or events in Hong Kong...feel free to ask!!

by the way KIM! that is an awesome picture!
hope to see you all around soon!