Hong Kong January 2010

I took my first trip to Hong kong this year, and had a great time. It was great to be in a city that ran efficiently, was clean and tidy, and tourists weren't treated like idiots because they dont speak the lingo fluently.

We flew from Heathrow with Cathy Pacific. I was a little concerned, as id heard the shell seats were very uncomfortable.

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The actual seat slides forward, as opposed to them reclining and giving the person behind you a claustrophobic feeling. I must say I was quite impressed with them, and they were no less, or more comfortable than other seats.


On arrival we got a taxi to our Hotel for around HK$260 (around £21)

We stayed at the Regal Kowloon.

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I was suffering terrible jet lag, so was having a smoke outside on a couple of nights, and was propositioned on three separate occasions. "Would you like a massage in your room" or "Are you looking for some laddies" by one pimp. Obviously I declined being a gentleman. Plus I dont think Mrs Ast would have been impressed.


Here`s The foyer

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Nice relaxing plaza area outside.

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We had a room similar to this one, which was very comfortable.

This hotel seems to very popular with air crew, as they were checking in at all times of the day and night.

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Just around the corner from the hotel. I have no idea what its all about though.

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This seemed to be a popular place with the locals.

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One day we went to Ngong Ping and to see the giant Buddha. We travelled via the underground, which was relatively cheap, and efficient.

Ngong Ping 360 - Great Attraction for Hong Kong Travel

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We got off the train at Tung chong station.

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And made our way to citygate

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From here we got the cable car to Ngong ping village

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Here we have some crazies who have decided to walk there in stead.

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Ngong ping village. Nice little tourist attraction. Shame the weather was poor, but, anything was better than the -10 back home.

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Here`s a copy of the tree Buddha was supposed to have sat under for an age.

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Theres also a tour with the aid of headphones in a language of your choice, which lasts around 20 minutes.

Then the big climb up the stairs to Buddha came. As you can see it was quite foggy.

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About half way up, the man himself came into view.

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Some foggy pictures from the top.

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The fog cleared for a few seconds, and I managed to get this shot.

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The base is surrounded by these figures, that seem to making offerings.

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We then had to make our way back down.

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Once at the bottom, there is a monastery surrounded by trees, with incense wafting through them. Very relaxing.

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We ended up wandering around Mong kok market one day. Apparently its the most densly populated area i the world.

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The market is somewhere near number 1.

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We spent in Kowloon city visiting some family. So here a few pictures of Kowloon tammadaa.

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A new high rise

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And an old one

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I like the lady with the mask having a smoke.

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Nice thread Asta, did you take the little one too?

To finish off our little trip we had a pleasant stroll down the Avenue of stars. At the end is a bronze statue of Bruce Lee.

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A few night shots of Hong Kong island at night.

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Thats all folks.

The Issan trip will follow on another thread.

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Originally Posted by jizzybloke

Nice thread Asta, did you take the little one too?

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Yes mate. He loved it. He thought the place was one big play ground. Needless to say, ive come back a little greyer.

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Originally Posted by astasinim

He thought the place was one big play ground

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Everything is at that age :) glad he enjoyed it and cheers for the pictures!

the big Buddha that sits on the hill is huge. to left side of his [as if you were facing him] is a figure of 8 of poles. about as high as telegraph poles, each of them with chinese writing on them . some spiritual Buddhist thing no doubt

the view from the hill over looking the Harbour always seems to be crap, no matter what season you visit. maybe fine down below, but it quickly turns to misery up top

did you have a look at the longest esculater while you were there? its sounds cool, until you get there and you find its alot of small esculaters covering a large area. i thought it be like an airport esculater that would stretch for miles

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Originally Posted by WujouMao

did you have a look at the longest esculater while you were there? its sounds cool, until you get there and you find its alot of small esculaters covering a large area. i thought it be like an airport esculater that would stretch for miles

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I never saw that. Where abouts is it? We missed so much, as we were only there 4 days. Will have to add it to the list for next time.

Getting rid of those stupid reclining airline seats sounds like a great idea. Hope that catches on. Nothing more irritating on a long flight than some bastard selfishly reclining his seat into your kneecaps, or leaving it reclined during meal service. I guess ideas such as that are why cathay Pacific is an industry leader. Nice pictures of Hong Kong.

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Originally Posted by astasinim

Where abouts is it?

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Hong Kong Island- it's a series of elevators that runs up from Central through Mid Levels- ending at Conduit Rd. There is a good expat oriented area off the elevator, plenty of bars and restaurants.

In twelve years living in HK I never once visited the Big Buddha.

I love Hong Kong. Always nice to see other peoples pics.

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Originally Posted by astasinim

Thats all folks.

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Great thread effort, uploading all those pics. HK is a favourite of mine.

I quite like the foggy pics from Ngong ping village, I think they give it atmosphere.

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Originally Posted by kingwilly

I quite like the foggy pics from Ngong ping village, I think they give it atmosphere.

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At various times of year, HK can be well foggy. Jan/Feb can be surprisingly cold too.

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Originally Posted by Bobcock

I love Hong Kong.

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same here. Seeing pics makes me nostalgic about the whole HK 'buzz'.

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Originally Posted by kingwilly

I quite like the foggy pics from Ngong ping village, I think they give it atmosphere.

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Thanks. I was quite pleased with how a couple of shots turned out.

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Originally Posted by Bobcock

Always nice to see other peoples pics.

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Not up to your standard yet Bob, but, I`ll keep trying.

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Originally Posted by sabang

At various times of year, HK can be well foggy. Jan/Feb can be surprisingly cold too.

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It was around 10-15*C whilst we were there. So not too bad. Just needed a light jacket for walking around. However, the locals would disagree, as they were wearing full length puffa jackets.

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Originally Posted by Bobcock

I love Hong Kong.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by kingwilly

HK is a favourite of mine.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by sabang

Seeing pics makes me nostalgic about the whole HK 'buzz'.

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Im not really a city person, and am usually climbing the walls to leave, but, HK had something thats made me want to go back. Great place.

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Originally Posted by sabang

Jan/Feb can be surprisingly cold too.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by astasinim

It was around 10-15*C whilst we were there. So not too bad. Just needed a light jacket for walking around. However, the locals would disagree, as they were wearing full length puffa jackets.

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light jacket? :yikes: you must be a pom then or summtink, 10-15 is feckin cold!

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Originally Posted by kingwilly

light jacket? :yikes: you must be a pom then or summtink, 10-15 is feckin cold!

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When you`ve been used to ice and snow, 10-15 is shorts and t-shirt weather. :)

I dont wanna be used to ice and snow!

Brilliant thread mate, lots of work doing one this big. I was in Hong Kong last year and done all that stuff and really enjoyed the place.

Cheers. :)

Yes great effort on the photos uploaded.

As for Cathay Pacific - great airline. But the seats are a BIG mistake. I'm a Marco Polo Club member - and the new seats are the only thing that make me check other airline. It is torture..to slide your bum forward when your back stays in the same incline - not to mention the skid marks..

The seats didnt really bother me too much. It certainly made a difference to me, not having the person in front of me reclining theirs and giving me claustrophobia.

I flew from Bangkok to Hong Kong recently with my wife to do some shopping. The flight was with Hong Kong,s national carrier which is Cathay Pacific.

On the outbound leg BKK-HKG we had a very new aircraft Boeing 777-200LR (Long Range) nice seating and very comfortable.
I did find however that the food standard has gone down with Cathay Pacific as compared to previous flights. There is less chance of a choice, this depends where you are sitting in the cabin ultimately.

On the flight back the service was very poor it was an old Airbus A330-200. There was no choice of food it was take it or leave it my wife and I were not impressed as we paid premium prices for the service.

They are going through some changes at Cathay Pacific the big problem they have is integrating Dragonair the Chinese Airline they bought into their flight systems.
This includes Dragonair and Cathay Pacific staff being able to operate on each others flights.

Dragonair was a Chinese high density commuter airline. Cathay Pacific are following a lot of their procedures now and it seems to me that Cathay might be moving closer to the low service carrier routes with premium airline costs.

^
The new (economy) seats are only an issue on long-haul..

Nice pics of Hong Kong. The walk up to nong Ping is not really that hard!! I've cycled up as well. Not a summer activity... Use the escalator[s] in mid levels to the closest cold beer! The photo of the old sky scraper is an example of the public housing projects. The 'new'; private luxury flats.

HK is obsessed with 'face' - therefore the quilted jackets are 80% for looks...

Hong Kong's main problem is pollution from the Pearl river Delta. My reason for moving the family to Phuket.


ALL economy seats are an issue on long haul!

Some Cathay Pacific Facts: Sorry, anorak firmly in place!
Dragonair [always a Hong Kong Based Airline] is a wholly owned susidiary of CPA. A case of second time around for CPA.
Dragonair flys short haul with an emphasis on China destinations. It compliments the CPA network with a lower cost model.
No CPA inflight crew operate Dragonair and v.v.
Many Dragonair subs [catering/ frequent flyer/ one world etc] have been migrated to the CPA system.
CPA has operated A330-300 and B777-200 / 300 since about '95. The new B777-300ER is primarily operated on ultra long haul flights - eg HKG - JFK. Cabin is fitted accordingly.

The percieved drop in service standards probably reflects the industry wide cost cutting in the current downturn.

The reference to [Mainland] Chinese airlines probably has the author confused with the ownership share trade between CPA and Air China. Apart from the long term economic benefits to both airlines, the main reflection of this is an ongoing upgrade of Air China to international standards. My perception anyway.

Never felt the need to visit Hong Kong , now you have made me want to go - good pics - thanks for sharing.

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Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

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The new (economy) seats are only an issue on long-haul..

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Look to me like the seats in the Airasia planes for the KL to Gold Coast run?
I found I couldn't get comfortable no matter how I tried , big enough but the lack of a recliner was a real bummer. The seat cushion moves forward but just seems to jam your feet up under your chin somehow.

If you want small seats fly Malaysian , I'm 110 kilos , big enough but plenty bigger than me - Malaysia had to get seat belt extensions for myself and 3 others before we could buckle up.
Needed a shoe horn to prise me out of the seat when we landed in Kl - at the magnificent International Terminal, not that poxy LCC terminal Airasia use.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thehighlander959

I flew from Bangkok to Hong Kong recently with my wife to do some shopping. The flight was with Hong Kong,s national carrier which is Cathay Pacific.

On the outbound leg BKK-HKG we had a very new aircraft Boeing 777-200LR (Long Range) nice seating and very comfortable.
I did find however that the food standard has gone down with Cathay Pacific as compared to previous flights. There is less chance of a choice, this depends where you are sitting in the cabin ultimately.

On the flight back the service was very poor it was an old Airbus A330-200. There was no choice of food it was take it or leave it my wife and I were not impressed as we paid premium prices for the service.

They are going through some changes at Cathay Pacific the big problem they have is integrating Dragonair the Chinese Airline they bought into their flight systems.
This includes Dragonair and Cathay Pacific staff being able to operate on each others flights.

Dragonair was a Chinese high density commuter airline. Cathay Pacific are following a lot of their procedures now and it seems to me that Cathay might be moving closer to the low service carrier routes with premium airline costs.

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Like all other airlines Cathay had to save money. All their aircrafts have PTV, on the last ones you even have VDO on demand and an individual plug to charge your laptop (in Economy !) but the food is crap, that's true, and unfortunately getting worse. Service it depends, never really bad but sometime not so good. On TG the food is slightly better and service usually better (more friendly) but not TV and no magazine and the aircraft are really old ! Best experience so far is Emirate's business class. Better seats, better service, better food ... and cheap !

Regarding Dragonair and Cathay Pacific staff being able to operate on each others flights, that's not true. Only code sharing.

According to the Crew Chief on my flight back from Hong Kong, she stated that all Draoolgonair crew would rotate through the CPA Training School..
Why would they rotate through CPA,s training school if they were not looking at airline inter-operability.

I still think that Singapore Airlines sets the bench mark for in flight service. Although I have 375,000 air miles with Emirates Airlines which I would rather use, especially their Business Class.
I flew back to the UK on the 10th March 2010 EK419 BKK to DXB a good flight in Business but not exceptional by any means.
However I was upgraded on the EK001 A380 to LHR, now that is flying a superb flight at 44000ft First Class service and a shower and brush up prior to landing in London. The bar helps a lot to when you meet other passengers.

Its the only way to go, wish I could afford it all the time.

Cathey always gets my vote.
Never had a bad time with them and there are 2 main things that make stopping off in Hong Kong for a couple of hours not so bad.
Firstly they have smoking rooms every 7.94 metres from the last one.
Secondly. You can purchase Schweepes cream soda from the shops.

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Originally Posted by Bogon

Cathey always gets my vote.
Never had a bad time with them and there are 2 main things that make stopping off in Hong Kong for a couple of hours not so bad.
Firstly they have smoking rooms every 7.94 metres from the last one.

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Yes thats true. Much better organisation, than swampy, from a smokers point of view.

Tbh, I cant wait to get back to there. I really enjoyed HK, and its far better than Thailand in every aspect as far as im concerned. Thank Buddha my only connection with that cesspool called Thailand, is my wife. In fact, I liked the place that much, that I would consider relocating.

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Originally Posted by astasinim

I was suffering terrible jet lag, so was having a smoke outside on a couple of nights, and was propositioned on three separate occasions. "Would you like a massage in your room" or "Are you looking for some laddies" by one pimp. Obviously I declined being a gentleman. Plus I dont think Mrs Ast would have been impressed.

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Always best to decline the laddies, now ladies on the other hand......

Always wanted to go to Hong Kong, mainly for the gadget shopping but now Ive seen that Bruce Lee statue I'll have to try and get my photo taken next to it.

Nice pics, about time some decent threads started popping up again.