Hong Kong and Macau pics and stories

Lazy to post the pics here. Go to my facebook. Yang Tiong Hock

Hong Kong and Macau -- shoestring Logistics

Travelling to Hong Kong and Macau is easy. Let just say a score of 8.5 from a scale of 10 with 10 being the easiest.

Splendid MTR (analogus to MRT in Singapore). A seasoned backpacker (I was being branded by Banana Booze, sacarstically) like me find it hard to lost his way in HK (excluding rural areas. yeah I lost my way in the mountains, will write more abt this).

Cabs are ready available though the traffic is really a killer in downtown kowloon and central. The cab fares are relatively cheaper than Singapore. There are no surcharges and ERPs. (If u have big lugguages, u will need to pay HKD15 more, i.e. abt SGD3)

I was told by many that flying to Macau then to Hong Kong is a cheaper option. I have validated that it is slightly cheaper but I will not go for this option in the future as there is too much hassle.

It takes abt 3 hrs and 40 mins to fly to Macau and abt same amount time to Hong Kong. From Macau to HongKong abt 1 hour (Depending on weather condition where the sea can get rough and u wonder if are in a ferry or doing a roller coaster)

So if u decided to add Macau in your iternary, I would suggest this arrangement.

Fly in Macau, spend a couple of days in Macau. Take ferry to Hong Kong . Finally Fly back from Hong Kong OR Vice Versa

SGD160 (SIN to MAC) via Tiger Airways
+ SGD70 (TAX)
+ SGD1.50*
+ 30 SGD (MAC to HK or Kowloon)***
+ 20 SGD **
+ SGD220(HK to SIN) via Jet Star
+ SGD70(TAX) = SGD 571.50

*(Bus number AP1 --> MAC airport to Ferry Terminal. MOP3.60 + MOP3 (lugguage) = MOP 6.60. MOP is almost equivalent to HKD. u can use HKD in Macau but not vice versa)
** (Via MTR, interchange stations to Airport Express include (Hong Kong HKD100, Kowloon HKD90 and Tsing Yee HKD 60)
*** Ferry tickets: To Kowloon (Via First Ferry or Turbojet China-HK ferry terminal nearest MTR Sheung Wan station) HKD 148. (Depending if u wana risk, the travel agency beside the ticketing office will release some cheaper tickets from the previous ferry timing. Remember u still have to clear customs, Gate will close 15 mins before ferry timing)
****Prices of the airfares fluctuate and is definitely going to cost more during festive seasons like CNY.

That's the average cost.

Add another 20 to 25% if u choose cabs over buses and MTRs. I would advise against taking cabs in HK as u might have a good chance in running into constipated trafffic.

As u can see the only fares u can skimp is the airfare as it varies, depending on the time and the period of the year)

This trip I manage to a return tkt to Macau at abt SGD 320 ( including taxes) + SGD 100 (trains, buses, ferries and cabs)

The rule of thumb still stays.... always plan ahead if u wana to travel on a shoestring budget

Murphies and Miracles

Madman rushing

Lift going the non-intended direction, Traffic Jam, misinformed ferry timing, bad weather, delayed ferry timing, long taxi queues, grossly overcharged, rejected by airline counter, unsuccessful attempts to act KE LIAN.

Murphies...

->1230 Diamond Hill MTR
->1248 Mong Kok MTR
->1300 Check out Dragon Hostel
->1306 Miraculously a cab stop in front of me just at the rite time! MIRACLE ONE
->1315 Still at the same stop, coz it takes that long to make a U turn.
->1330 Reached China-hongkong terminal, thanx to F1 Cab driver.
->1335 Realise the next ferry is 1430hrs. Almost wanted 2 give up & stay another nite in HK.
->1340 "O Moon Leong tim (Macau 2 o'clock)". MIRACLE TWO
->1400 Board Ferry
->1415 Announcement of bad weather and potential ferry delay
->1505 Alight Ferry
->1508 At the back of a Q to clear customs
->1509 Another counter opens and I am suddently the second in the new Q. MIRACLE THREE
->1510 Out of the terminal and looking for Cab.
->1512 "200 dola no wait no wait"
->1513 Bargain failed and got out of the terminal
->1514 200 dola no wait. come come. Persistant bogus cab driver
->1515 Told bogus cab driver my flight is 1550. We fled. Yes I have to lug my luggauge.
->1516 Sped. Another F1 cab driver.
->1523 Reach Macau Airport. MIRACLE FOUR
->1525 Rejected by Airline counter. Failed attempt to act KE LIAN
->1530 Lugguage Ah Sok pointed me to another counter.
->1535 Waiting for approval and souplad praying damn hard
->1548 Sucess. Fled to the custom and gate MIRACLE FIVE
( I think I manage to clock within 3 minutes)
->1540 Board the plane.

MIRACLES!

HOU DOR CHEY the 2 F1-cab-drivers (1 real and 1 bogus) and LUGGAGE-AH-SOK

Felt like I am taking part in AMAZING RACE.

I am safely back home.

I sincerely hope they strike lottery big time and be healthy.


P.S. all timings are accurate to the nearest 2 minutes.