Vladivistok; less than 2 hours, but visa is a hassle.
Saipan - might be boring.
Guam - might be too American.
Hong Kong; can't believe I've never been.
Macau; could be a double trip with HK.
Taiwan; close and cheap.
Fuk off & die kunt, we do not care...
Somewhere else...
He said about 1,500 baht. Appears about right.
https://www.booking.com/hotel/hk/min...=total;ucfs=1&
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect,"
My father always introduced his hobby of collecting pictures of kerb stones into his holiday-time conversations at the bar. You'd be amazed at the number of photos, in those days, he was given by other holidaymakers to add to his non-existent collection.
^ My mother would put sand into an old film canister and take it home. Got nice little open glass things on a bedroom windowsill with orange sand from Petra, red sand from near Uluru, yellow sand from next to the pyramids, volcanic sand from Yellowstone, white sand from Krabi etc etc. Kinda cool actually and I'm sure they bring back good memories.
Norts hotel is perfect, I'll stay there for the first two nights because it's on a subway, so easy to get from the airport, and it's right on the Happy Valley racecourse which has night racing on my first night - should be a lot of fun! I've always wanted to goto night racing in Hong Kong...
&, at 1000 baht per night, it's cheap as chips.
I want a bit of relaxing on a balcony looking over the beach in Macau, doing some research, so I've booked here for a couple of nights, a bit pricier:
That gives me a couple of nights somewhere else in HK - open to suggestions/ideas, and a day/night in the old town of Macau probably at this place as it has a nice location: https://www.agoda.com/en-gb/ole-lond...e=0&tspTypes=9
Cycling should be banned!!!
I know $50 is top dollar, but I'm splashing out this trip...
As luck would have it, the hotel I booked for the first two nights is just in/at/by Wanchai... Tell me what to do and where to go, Dilly.
These ladies pretty much seem to be doing my trip, even starting at the same hotel and ending over in Macau... Looks good:
What's interesting to do over in Kowloon?
Last edited by Bettyboo; 18-06-2019 at 12:12 AM.
I don't know if you are able to these days but when we were in Calgary many years ago, my then wife was employed as a harness racing trainer.
We quite often went to the evening meets and went around the stables to see the horses being harnessed up etc. They might offer them in Hong Kong. If they do go and see the animals close up, the horses and the drivers.
Those highly strung beasts were just itching to get out on the track and perform. Sweating, stamping , they new what was coming. Pampered, primed and occasionally prodded, they only wanted one thing, to get out on the track get to the front and stay there. The best drivers knew how to hold them back, keep them out of trouble and break through the pack for the winning sprint along the last back straight and turn, passing the tiring leaders just before the finishing post.
After the stable visit we would take our seats in the grandstand and eat and drink until the racing started. Going fairly often and knowing who the best trainers and drivers were we amazing to many of our friends with our winning betting streaks.
The best drivers only piloted the best horses so betting on them usually paid off, making the meal and drinks "checkbin", inconsequential.
She worked at the farm mucking out the stables, feeding, watering etc, but her best job was exercising them the around the training oval.
Perched on the buggy, her legs splayed along the rails, either side of the horses rear end and her face inches away from the flashing rear hooves. Looking as if she was pulling with all her might to stop them, they flashed around the oval only to be slowed down slightly for the bends. The horses returned steaming and shaking, she shattered and covered in mud from head to toe, but ecstatic with fear and relief.
She went off on the circuit in western Canada, but returned after a week, only making it to Saskatoon. Living out of a horse van and living with the other "stable hands" wasn't what she wanted.
Last edited by OhOh; 18-06-2019 at 12:31 AM.
A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.
^ interesting stuff, I owe you a green, but out of ammo...
I used to ride horses back in the day, had to go to the bloody stables twice a day through my secondary school years looking after the bastards (paid off in shags though...), and I used to love 2,000 Guineas day at Newmarket.
The Plan:
Day 1: morning flight to HK, get the train to Wanchai, check in, have a bit of lunch and a stroll around then go to the evening races at Happy Valley.
Day 2: up the hill on the tram, look around Hong Kong island then have a look around Wanchai riverside of an evening; I might drink a few beers; maybe a ferry across to Kowloon for a looksee... Same hotel.
Day 3: mini hotel Central: two days relaxing around Mount Davis, Victoria Peak and the University area, doing some work in cafes, etc. &, anything else that takes my fancy.
Day 4: mini hotel Central: (very close to the pier for the next morning's ferry).
Day 5: have a nice breakfast, get a late morning ferry to Macau, check in to Ye Ole London Hotel, have a bit of lunch then off to the races again; a twilight race night in Macau!
Day 6: look around Macau old town and sights in the morning, and have a looksee at the casinos in the afternoon/evening.
Day 7: down to a beachside hotel to relax and do a bit of work (actually, I'll be fitting in a couple of hours of work every day; probably over a morning coffee).
Day 8: fly back to Incheon in the early hours and be home for the wife to cook me up a nice lunch.
Everything's paid up, and I'm budgeting about $100 US per day spending money (I'll have my credit card if that goes out the window...); I'm planning to relax rather than party; street food and cafes with a few beers here and there.
I'm quite looking forward to it although I'm open to suggestions, especially for days 3 & 4...
Last edited by Bettyboo; 18-06-2019 at 11:10 AM.
^^^
Aileen is a kind of weird looking chick - in a good way.
Strange and possibly perfect face for blowing a full load of man batter onto and getting her to tilt her head side to side and try to get the drips to run into her mouth.
Hope so but if not don't blame me. Blame my Swiss son in law.
My first visit to HK was in 1966. Stayed in a 3rd floor room of a whore house in Wanchi. Learned to play mahjong there. Was schooled by the ladies who practiced their trade and lived in the building. Tuition was a bit steep for a poor USN lad but is one of my fondest memories.
Enjoy your trip BB.
@betty - congrats on your decision, HK + Macau are easy-peasy choices. Re: HK, there's the Big Buddha near HK Disney. You can go by cable car (maybe 1 way), then bus or ferry on the return trip. If you're feeling athletic, you can hike up/down the path - I saw the stairs/steps on the mountain from the cable car & there were hikers. You can also go to Ladies Market for some shopping or sightseeing Chatuchak style (which I liked). Terry & BLD put up good threads about HK, to my memory.
For Macau, there's the old Senado Square, the church ruins, the fortress & museum near the church, Ama Temple & Maritime museum, Panda Park - which is some distance from town, if you're interested in that. If you like bright lights, there's a lights show during evenings outside the Venetian Hotel and (I think) the Wynn Hotel. For more info, see my Macau thread - I did a lot of sightseeing in the days I was there.
Cheers and happy travels!
That hotel is a shoe box and probably caters for the Happy Valley jockeys tbf most are in Hong Kong, hopefully it doesnt piss down and you only need it to sleep
If on a budget the airport express bus is the cheapest way to get to Causeway Bay and you just stay on one transport. Only takes an hour. Get the A11 and get off at Sugar Street then its only a 5-10 min walk to hotel.
In Causeway Bay you have the horse racing as you've said, also the huge Times Square mall and loads of boutique malls.
Your hotel is only 500 metres from a snake soup place. I never tried it but it gets good reviews. They do a good sausage too
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...Hong_Kong.html
In Wanchai steer clear of any bars with curtains. There will be mamasans outside trying to drag you in. Full of skanky brass, mainly Philippinians and Thai and humungous drinks prices.
There are normal bars there though, like Churchills and the Queen Vic and a big expat community.
The best place for bars and nightlife without the vice is Lan Kwai Fong in Sheung Wan not far away. Incorporate a trip round those bars and restaurants with your Victoria Peak trip which is near.
Things to do in other areas
Watch the Symphany of Lights where loads of the buildings near where you are on Hong Kong Island do a light show , so get across the Bay to TST to watch it or even better go out on the bay in an old Chinese Junk. Its on every night from 8pm
South East from where your hotel is if you are feeling a bit Katie, you can go hike the dragons back, not Katie's, the mountain Its quite easy apparently after the first 250 steps
And only 7kms
https://www.crawfordcreations.org/dr...ail-hong-kong/
Chungking Mansion is a cheap place to stay in TST according to DJ Pat. It also hosts the most expensive YMCA in the world but jas great views of the bay. Theres an Avenue of Stars in TST too like Hollywood's but you'll do well to know more than Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
Other cheap areas to stay are Mongkok and New Territories. Nid stayed at the latter and said he'd never go back to Hong Kong.
Mongkok is meant to be worth a look though.
Have a great time
Head over to TST, explore the Chungking Mansion area..
Both the Science and History museum are good value, especially in the rain
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/chin...tsim-sha-tsui/
Thanks, Dilly - lots of good advice there.
I was thinking the airport express travel pass (one way) with 3 days MTR will see me through - at about $35, that's done and dusted...
My budget is around US$100 per day spending money (all the travel and accom are paid up excluding the ferry, but that's only about $50, so no worries), but if the mood takes then the UK cards can be abused... My Korean bank card never works in other countries which is probably a good thing.
Eatigo is in Hong Kong by the way Betty
Download the app to your phone. 50% off your food bills at some nice restaurants
Ahh 35 USD not HKD.
That a11 bus is 40HKD, a little over 5 USD each way. free mrt for 3 days sounds good though
https://www.hongkong.net/transportat...om-airport/bus
^Erm.. Wouldnt that be breakfast?
I wonder if there will be any demonstrations going on when Bettys there
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