AIRPORT
Travelling out of HK with Air Asia is from Terminal 2, not Terminal 1. However if you like me, alighted the bus at Terminal 1, no worry.
You just need to take a lift down and make your way to the bus / train direction. Near the entrance of the train station, pls take an escalator or lift to go down. When you walk out, you need to take an escalator up one floor to reach the check in counters.
Sounds confusing? No worry.. as HK is very systematic, they have personnels on hand to give directions.
EATING
even though most signboards and menu are in chinese, there are high chances are they will have english menu when you ASK - the operative word is ask. You have to request for it!
SIGHT SEEING
1) you can get cheaper entrance fees from local hong kong travel agent - eg from your hotel or etc. They are normally cheaper by HKD20 - HKD30.
2) Ngong Ping 360 cable car
you may get cheaper vouchers from travel agent but the best method is to pay FULL online as the queue can be very very long especially during weekends. I waited for 1 hour on Sunday at about 11am. The queue got longer at about 12pm. You do NOT have to queue when you purchase online.
What's there?
Well unless you join a local tour once you reach Ngong Ping Village or you are into climbing up the hill to see the Big Buddha or eat the vegetarian food, there is basically nothing much to see or do in Ngong Ping.
3) Ocean Park vs HK Disneyland
This is personal preference. If you like colours and taking photos of animated characters, then Disney is for you. I mean, how to fight with Mickey and gangs right?
But if you are into nature, there are a lot of interesting exhibits in Ocean Park especially in the Grand Aquarium. You get to see real sharks, jelly fish, sturgeon, pandas, sea lions, penguins and etc.
Ocean Park HKD280 adult
Disney HKD399 adult
Rides
More thrill rides in Ocean Park but no 3D or 4D rides in Ocean Park.
 |
| Rides at Ocean Park |
Overall feel around the park
Disney beats Ocean Park on this hands down. I mean the entrance at Ocean Park looks very aged and boring to say the least and the signboards inside the park are quite confusing in Ocean Park and a lot of places looks a bit 90s, like the sitting places as well as eateary outlets.
Even some of rides look outdated.
Getting There
This deserves a special mention as again Disney beats Ocean Park on this hands down on this cos at the end of the Symbio show (which runs at 7pm daily) in Ocean Park, everyone rush out to go home and only mode of transportation are either taxi or bus no. 629. Can you imagine the queue??
VERDICT:-
Priority is Disney but if you have been to Disney and you have the time and money to spend, then you can go for Ocean Park as well cos where else can you find 4 pandas in one park outside of China.
SHOPPING
I actually enjoyed most of my shopping in Citygate Outlets, which is a big mall adjacent to the Ngong Ping Cable car station with the largest number of outlets shops!
Because of it's close proximity to HK airport, you'll see a lot of people with luggage in the mall.
It's big and most major brands are there but dont expect good service as due to the crowds most of the staffs will be missing in action. You basically have the find the size, colour etc yourself.
But you'll be rewarded with good prices and extra discounts when buying more than 2 items at most shops.
I prefer here cos it's air-con, covered and you get everything under one roof cos I find Mongkok area too crowded for my liking :(
ACCOMMODATION
I stayed in a budget place called Golden Wave Hotel. They do not have online booking as you basically call and speak to the proprietor themselves. Prices are seasonal and fluctuates from time to time. Dont expect big rooms but this is HK!
Location is very very convenient. Just a stone throw away from Jordan MTR station exit C2. To get here from airport, the fastest and cheapest way is via airport bus A22 HKD39 one way as the bus stops right next to the hotel.
Worth mentioning is the hotel is just next row to Australian Dairy Co. and same row as Yee Shun Dairy Co.! Yummy yummy!!
CONCLUSION
leave me a comment if you need help getting around HK and I'll be most obliged to help when possible =D
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