1 FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 2 Need to Know First Time in … · 2013-09-09 · 1 FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 2 When to Go • High Season (Oct to mid-Jan, May): Oct through Jan is the

FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 21

When to Go• High Season (Oct to mid-Jan, May): OctthroughJanistheperfecttimetovisitwithclearskiesandtemperateweather,gettingslightlycoolertowardsDec.TheMayholidayperiodisanotherhigh,butaccommodationpricesareatapeak.

• Mid Season (Mar to Apr, Sep): Thewarmerdaysinspringarenottoobad;rainsrecedeinSep.Accommodationpricescanpeakduringspringasbusinessconventionstendtopickupbeforethesummerheatandrainssetin.

• Low Season (Mid-Jan to Feb, Jun–Aug): JanandFebarethecoldestmonths.JuntoAugishot,wetandhumid.HongKongemptiesoutduringChineseNewYear(mid-JantoFeb,dateschangeannually)andshopskeeperraticopenandclosingtimesthen.

Quick FactsLANGUAGESCantonese,MandarinandEnglish.

TIME2½hoursaheadofIST.

CURRENCYHongKongdollar(HK$). We have used $ to refer to Hong Kong dollars in this book.

VISAVisaandpassportareessential.AlsoneededforvisitstomainlandChina.Seehttp://www.immd.gov.hk

MOBILE PHONESInexpensiveSIMcardscanbeboughtat7-Elevenstores.

INTERNET ACCESSWi-fiiswidespreadandfreeinmanyplaces.

TOURIST INFORMATIONHongKongTourismBoardwebsite:www.discoverhongkong.com.

Need to Know First Time in Hong Kong• Passport: You’llneedittoenterthecountryandtoregisterathotels.Mustalwayscarryforidentification.

• Visa:Youmaygetavisaonarrivalforavisitupto14days.Applyforavisa4weeksbeforeyoutravelforastaythatislonger.

• Travel Insurance: Essential.

HEALTH & SAFETY

• Theoccasionalavianorswinefluoutbreaknotwithstanding,healthconditionsintheregionaregood.Travellershavealowriskofcontractinginfectiousdiseases,apartfromtravellers'diarrhoea,whichiscommonthroughoutAsia.

• HongKongisgenerallyaverysafeplacebut,aseverywhere,thingscangoawry.Althoughitissafetowalkaroundjustaboutanywhereintheterritoryafterdark,it'sbesttosticktowell-litareas.Intheeventofarealemergency,ring%999.

ADVANCE PLANNING

• Three months before Startshoppingforyourflight,andinthehighseason,bookyouraccommodation.

• One month beforeCheckvisarequirements.

• One week beforeOrganiseyourcurrency,startpacking.

WHAT TO PACK

• Money beltPettytheftisariskincrowdedstreetsandmarkets,especiallyontheKowloonside.

• Comfortable walking shoesEssentialforexploringthecityonfoot.

• Light sweater/shawl Air-conditioningremainsfull-blastindoors,allyearround.

• Cantonese phrasebookForaskingdirectionsandtoorderfood.EnglishisnotaswidelyspokenoutsidetheCentraldistrict.

For detailed information, see Travellers' Helpdesk on p235

The Tian Tan Buddhatowers above the treetops at Po Lin Monastery,Ngong Ping, Lantau

Dos and Don’tsBeontimeforappointments,

meetings,ortouristexcursions.

Exchangepapermoneyor

businesscardswithtwohands

–usingonehandisrude.

Removeyourshoesbefore

enteringaChineseperson’s

home.

Stayawayfromreligiousand

politicalarguments.

Checkonwarrantiesforany

goodsyoupurchase.

Makesureyourtaxidriver

turnsthemeteronforthefare.

Leavealittlebitoffoodon

yourplatetoindicatethatyou

havefinishedyourmeal.

Drinkbottled,filteredor

boiledwateronly.

Donotletyourchopsticks

stickupwardsinabowlorusea

chopsticktopointatsomeone.

Nevercrosstheroadbefore

thesignalturnsgreenfor

pedestrians,trafficisfaster

thaninIndia.

Avoidwearingblueandwhite

tomeetings,asthisisthe

Chinesecolourofmourning;

anddon’twraporgivegiftsin

suchcolours.

Avoideatingpoultryanddairyproductsfromstreetstalls.

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Eating in Hong Kong

The Local CuisineThe taste of real Hong Kong food can be found in the tiny restaurants and cafes that fill the streets – often signed only in Chinese. Popular outlets can be easily identified by the long queues outside. These are often safer, as hygiene standards will be better, with a quicker turn-around time for fresh food being served.

Indian FoodIndian and Nepalese food is widely available throughout Hong Kong. The Gurkha Regiment once patrolled the city, and after the 1997 handover to China, many of the former soldiers found that it

was more lucrative to stay back and set up Nepalese eateries. The more recent Punjabi immigrant population has popularised inexpensive, home-style Indian food outlets throughout the city.

Being VegetarianTraditional Cantonese cuisine does not cater to vegetarians. But many restaurants in Soho and Central, including some of the Chinese options, keep vegetarian menus on request. There are a variety of Buddhist vegetarian restaurants, where no meat, onion or garlic is served in dishes. International restaurants also tend to have more vegetarian options on their menus.

Dim Sum & Yum ChaDim Sum refers to the bite-sized portions of food, usually served in bamboo baskets. Yum Cha, meaning ‘to drink tea’, refers to the entire dining experience of eating dim sum and drinking tea – a popular breakfast and lunch activity. Older-style restaurants usually have trolleys from which one can choose dim sum. But this can often be a point-and-act game as dishes are labelled only in Chinese. Tim Ho Wan in Mong Kok (see p158) is a popular lunch venue.

Tea CafesThe 'cha chaan-teng' or the ‘tea cafe’ is a concept unique to Hong Kong. The British introduced black tea with milk – which gave rise to small neighbourhood eateries famous for their milk tea, also known as ‘pantyhose tea’ (the tea is strained through fabric resembling stockings).

Hong Kong's traditional Cantonese cuisine, largely of meat and seafood, can be for the adventurous palate. However, due to the British past, Western style food is freely available. Many foreign chefs have also arrived here to serve global cuisine, not only in five star hotels, but also at reasonably priced stand-alone restaurants throughout the city.

Quick FactsRESTAURANT HOURS

Lunchtimeinrestaurantsisbetween11amand3pm,andtheyopenupagainfordinnerfrom6pmto11pm.

HOW MUCH?

•Mealofwontonnoodlesandsomegreens:$30.

•Fast-foodchainsetmeal(soup,mainandcoffee):$40.

•Propersit-downmealatacafe:$80–$120perhead.

•Upscalerestaurantdinner:$500andupperperson.

BOOKING TABLES

•Mostrestaurants,mid-rangeorabove,takereservations.

TIPPING

•TippingisnotamustinHongKongrestaurantsaseverybillincludesa10%servicecharge.Butifyouliketheservice,tipasyouseefit.Mostpeopleleavebehindthesmallchange.

PRICE GUIDE

Wehaveusedthefollowingtoindicatethepricerange,basedonHK$perperson

•$$$$–over$700

•$$$–$400–699

•$$–$200–399

•$–Under$200

•Ifyoucan’tmanagechopsticks,don'tbeafraidtoaskforafork.

Top Tip: Looking for something familiar?HongKongishometomanyfamiliarinternationalchainssuchasMcDonalds,Subway,KFC,StarbucksandPizzaExpress.

A typicaldim sum

spreadserved inbamboobaskets

FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 43

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FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 65

Hong Kong at a Glance

LANTAU & LAMMA ISLANDS PP182–195 Visit Disneyland and take the cable car ride to the Big Buddha.

SOHO & LAN KWAI FONG PP72–89 The 'young heart' of Hong Kong – buzzing with boutiques and bars.

ADMIRALTY & WAN CHAI PP90–105 For great shopping and eating.

MACAU PP196–209 Portuguese heritage and action-packed casinos.

ISLAND SOUTH PP118–131 Beautiful beaches, hiking trails, and the quaint Stanley Market.

TSIM SHA TSUI & TSIM SHA TSUI EAST PP132–149 Best museums, Indian eateries and shopping. CAUSEWAY BAY

PP106–117 Mega-malls, micro malls, an ode to shopping.

CENTRAL & SHEUNG WAN PP54–71 The pulse of Hong Kong, central and financial district.

YAU MA TEI & MONG KOK PP150–159 Narrow market lanes buzzing with traditional life.

NEW KOWLOON PP160–169 A northern suburb with a vibrant temple and serene garden.

NEW TERRITORIES PP170–181 Great for outdoor activites – hiking and beaches.

Outlying Islands

KwunTong

New Tertitories

Hong Kong Island

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1 15

Why Go?OneofHongKong'stopretailareas,CausewayBayisjammedwithshopsofallkinds–frombigdepartmentstorestosmallone-offboutiques,electronicsshopsandfoodshops.Infact,itisconsideredthehomeofrealshoppingintheeyesoflocals.TinHau,thesiteoftheisland'smostfamoustemplededicatedtotheTaoistqueenofheaven,islocatedatthesouth-easternedgeofVictoriaPark.

Getting There & AwayMTR: CausewayBayandTinHaustationsontheIslandline.

Bus: FromAdmiraltyandCentral,bus5,5Band26stopalongYeeWooSt.

Tram: AlongHennessyRdandYeeWooSttoCentralandShauKeiWan;alongPercivalSttoHappyValley;alongWongNaiChungRdtoCausewayBay,Central,KennedyTownandShauKeiWan.

Causeway Bay

Top 5 Highlights• Island Beverly Thismicromallisourfavourite.

• Times Square shopping district (p109)Copy-catimagesfromNewYork'sTimesSquare.

• Noonday Gun (p109)Foranon-goingtasteofthecolonialpast.

• Tin Hau Temple (p111)Historicalsightandlocaldesserthangouts.

• Victoria Park (p110)AtitsfestivebestduringtheChineselanternfestival.

Nightlights over Causeway Bay

7 8FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER

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This area runs north to south from the harbour to the typhoon shelter at Leighton Rd; and west to east from Canal Rd to Victoria Park. Be prepared for the crush of people – taking special care if you’re going with small children. Causeway Bay becomes especially busy around lunchtime, and then again after 6pm as office workers start heading home or out to eat. Most shops in this district don’t open until around 11am daily.

Causeway Bay

Sights & Shops 1 Day 1 Noonday Gun 2 Times Square3 G.O.D. Lifestyle Store 4 Tin Hau Temple

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FOR THE INDIAN TRAVELLER 109

1 NOONDAY GUNStart your day slowly, since Causeway Bay is asleep until 11am. Head to see one of the remnants of Hong Kong’s colonial past, the Noonday Gun – a 3lb quick-firing cannon. It is still fired daily at noon by a uniformed employee of Jardine, one of the oldest trading houses in Hong Kong. To reach here, take the MTR or a cab to the World Trade Centre – then take the underground subway, entering where the sign says ‘Car Park Shroff, Marina Club & Noon Gun’. 221 Gloucester Rd, Causeway Bay; admission free; subway access 7am-midnight; mCauseway Bay (exit D1)

2 TIMES SQUAREThis Times Square is a copy of its New York sister, with its big spaces and news and ticker screens running across it. Formerly the depot of the Hong Kong tramways, it was built up into a shopping centre in 1991, and is considered to be the first vertical mall of its kind on the island. Shopping space is allocated over nine floors, all of which are accessible by long escalators and elevators. TAKE A BREAK: Use the elevators on the right of the mall and go up to the Food Forum, which comprises a series of restaurants on the higher floors. We like SML (Small,

Sights & Shops 1 Day

The Noonday Gun, isfired daily atnoon and isa remnant ofthe colonialpast