Back from HK

[QfanatiQ]

Well i am back from Hong Kong. WOW...

I was fortunate enough to go with a guy whos family live out there, so he could talk the talk.

This time of year is very good to go, weather reasons, it is cooler (yet still close) and flight/hotels are putting on good offers, i flew with BA for £300 return (although Virgin were £10 more overall and i reconmend them)

I will not bore you with the sight seeing but the purchase opertunities. I went on a budget, took £400 with me (better to change your money out there NOT HERE!!!)

Ok as said i took £400 ( got me $5600 HKdollers) PS/XboX/Cube pads about $150-170 (depending on if youo want limited or specail colours) almost all console peripherials are cheap. Memory cards, Guns, Joysticks.

Also flat screen TV's, saw the NEW new Sony 61" one, glass surround, worked out at £5k, we did nto investigate but woundered if you can DHL something over to yourself and avoid customes??

Strangly PC parts (internal) were on avverage only slightly cheaper, MB's CD/DVD Drives/Writers, Graphics Cards not much saving. Memory big saving, HD's not much Saving.

Laptops, BIG savings, the more you can spend (clearly) the bigger the saving, Fully loaded, titianium (the bigger screen) apple Mac = £1800 (best price we found apperently ther is better), the best i can find here is around £2400-2500 depending on site/spec

Clothes, cheap, very very cheap, even the expensive stuff is cheap. I went to HK main island (that has a big BIG english comunity) found good old M&S got Three top quality (oxford Weave Shirts) 10 pairs of pant 6 pairs of socks £80, the shirts are bloody £35-45 here (colour dependent). You can get cheaper, at the markets or other high street stores, i went thier as i know thw quality and i can get refund/exchange back in the UK (a refund will be given on the exchange rate of the day of purchase)

Again good to go this time of year as the shops are still having sales due to near crimbo and after thier new year celebrations, so no one is spending.

Sights, amazing get the DK Top Ten, Public Transport is easy, clean, efficient, there are signs in english and cantonese all ofer HK (not all bus stops though!!) there is a good mix, of Busses, Trains, Underground (MTR I think) Ferries.

Food is a little more difficult, to really try decent stuff you will not find a menue with english in it (well i did not see one). I reconmend the Rice with Rpast Pork and Duck, try a hot pot (bit bowl of boiling water, drop in and cook ordered food), Dim Sum (often a morning tradiditon for the older members in the family)

Haggle at the markets, sometimes it is easier to erm and er, rather than say yes and then try. If you are feeling confident start to walk away.

Only worry is the luggage allowance. Enjoy

[QfanatiQ]

Just to add about the money, 4 of us went out for Dim Sum each morning, tow of us rotated payment, it worked out at ruffly £20 for all, get in before 11am for deals.

Also went to a wedding and put in $800 to a red envelope, as well as roating evening meals (we NEVER ate in) i still managed to buy

2 100Hrz PS2 Guns
1 Ceramic White Controller PS2
1 Xbox Grey Controller
1 Emerald Green Cube Controller
1 Officail Cube and PS2 mem card
3 ltd edition action figures(from toys r us HK Island)
Stupidly big soft toy (Doramon (Ding Dong in HK))
Sweets
2x 12yr Single malt whiskys (most expensive £20) (at airport)
1x 1Ltr Malibu (at airport)
Clothes as mentioned above
and Finally a brand new Suitace (with wheels) to get it all back

[Bald Bouncer]

Pantip Plaza is in Bangkok.

Just ask anyone where it is (Tuk Tuk drivers excepted!) as its very very well known.

Heres a pic of it