the Fad travels

3S of kuwait: Sea, Sight, Shopping!

2008-03-23T18:13:00.020+08:00

we're finally at the last part of my little escapade at kuwait.

facing the persian sea, the salmiya area has a splendid seaview. known for being very family-oriented, kuwaitis would bring their families to the coastline to spend some quality time together over the weekends. for the sporty ones, you can go jet-skiing and horseriding!

the magnificent seaview of the persian gulf and the cloudless skies!

and my 2 travel chums cant resist taking a picto with it!

as we walked along the coastline, we found...

HARD ROCK CAFE! we thought souvenirs from hard rock kuwait would be quite cool, but we're rushing for dinner with the rest, pretty explanatory why we never pop in.

during summer, the temperature is expected to hit 50deg celsius, there are water coolers along the stretch to quench your thirst! and also because of the hot weather, many shops would be closed from 4-7pm, since no one would be out. but you can always go to the mall; it would stay open.

as there is hardly any entertainment there, considering there's no club, locals love to shop, or speeding/cruising around with flashy sports cars (especially petrol is SGD0.30/litre!). in marina mall, there are plenty of cars inside the mall. you'll find cars almost in every little corner of the shopping mall, we guessed it was almost like an "ornament" to them.

there are many european brands, with the likes of zara, mango, bershka, h&m, forever 21, etc. selfridges are coming in this year, and many companies are looking to bring asian brands as well.

marina mall - charles pointed out the logo for pastamania is different from the one in sg!

wonder what this is?

TADAA!

what else can blue and yellow be!

the avenue mall

the sultan mall.

a pity i didnt have the time to shop in avenue mall and sultan mall. as some might know, it's rather hard for people there to have a social life, people would either join health club or they would make use of bluetooth technology to get to know one another, since it is against the islamic rule for the girl to reciprocate (openly). so keep your bluetooth on when you're there! you never know when romance would hit you!

at kuwait, you'll find the service line heavily populated by filipinos, as kuwaitis are known to be rather arrogant, or they would rather work in government sector which supposedly pays very well. i had an encounter with a local, he could speak good english, but to prevent any miscommunication, one better speak straight to the point - better to make good use of preposition, ala "around" vs "outside". i personally thought he was rather helpful, but a tad too blunt.

this is totally off-topic, but i thought it would be interesting to share our little incident with the cab driver. under the recommendation of marina mall by oussama and sameer who told us the cab fare should be less than 3kd, prolly around 1kd. and as it was a rather short distance, most of the cab drivers would rather not use their meter, and charge you at a stated rate. so we hopped onto this dirty cab, and while he was driving, he quoted us seven-fifty. to our horror, we ran into an argument with the cab driver, who was also clueless at that moment. we forced him to let us off the cab, and because he was so clueless, that he helplessly shot us "what is wrong with you!" and honestly, i was on the verge of jumping car then, in the event if he did not stop immediately. and the moment right after we got off that cab, it then hit upon keli that seven-fifty - is equivalent to their 0.750kd, which was VERY reasonable, since the later cabs charged us 1 or 1.5kd. and up to date, it still remains a joke that the 3 of us share! so yeah, be prepared that the prices they quote are usually in 3 decimal places!

some sights to share!

Well-FAD in KUWAIT! - PART 2 of KUWAIT!

2008-03-20T12:30:00.004+08:00

kuwaitis - one of the world's fattest people, according to WHO. and its not difficult to see why, when you go for a typical meal with them. something trivia, there is no "kuwaiti" food, the kuwaitis eat mainly lebanese dishes.

and you can imagine the shock we had when we see the amount of food they serve. a standard lebanese meal would always have some veg for the starter, which got us wondering whether it was meant to be eaten, or was it for decorative purposes. nonetheless, some of us ate it, and me being almost a carnivore - found it rather too primitive, and thought i was brought back to caveman era.

like most middle eastern food, they also have pitas for starters and kebabs and a lot of meat for their main course! but for myself i usually get full after eating one pita along with the sauce. ha!

if you're feeling rich and want to taste some good lebanese food, i would recommend you to try AlHamam restaurant. it's along the coastline at salmiya area. a pity i couldn't take pictos cos i was with too many VIPs. the ambience is great, the meat is tender, even for josy who's not a big fan of mutton, simply cldnt resist taking few more bites! and on top of the food, you can always take a puff of shisha, as i see many locals do in the same restaurant.

natalie introduced us to this drink that comes from pine trees. it's really sweet and tasted similar to rose syrup! im really bad with arabic names, so wait till i get the name from josy!

we also tried lebanese food at holiday inn salmiya. even though it paled in comparison to alhamam, but to get a general feel of the food, check out the fotos!

next up, kuwaiti sights and shooooopppping!

-tfc-

KUWAIT. part 1.

2008-03-14T16:30:00.030+08:00

after 3 hours of hanging around at doha airport, we finally embark on our last flight of the day, from doha to kuwait!

say hi to 2 travel-buds ive gotten myself for the 2 days, charles and keli!

land of friendship? not quite living up to its claim, i'd say.

the airport is almost like another retail experience, with debenhams, starbucks and even the athlete's foot. i was really amused with having the athele's foot for a shop's name and venkat was amazed with cup&cino - think cuppacino.

scurrying our way out of the airport, guess what was waiting for us!

keli was lamenting that he's already loving the life of an expat, until the person who received us actually told the limo to reverse, cos our minivan is awaiting in front. i didnt manage to take a foto of the minivan, partly cos the person was rushing us and the other? go figure our disappointment, ha.

on our way to the hotel

we stayed at holiday inn at samiya area, which is very near the coastline!

i thought you might wanna check out my room!

Funny thing is how all of us got different types of rooms. josy, keli and my rooms are totally different! but yeah, keli's room is almost like a suite!

Keli's room!

holiday inn scores points for providing moisturising lotion and conditioner! the hotels that i usually go only provide the basics - shampoo and bath, but be warned that the weather there is really dry, so please bring lots of moisturiser and lip balm!

even though i was really tired and felt kinda ill, i went along with the guys for dinner at 7pm, which was 12am in sg time, since i need to get used to the local time. (but i woke up at 3am, pfft.) i ordered a carbonara - but my food looked rather bad, as compared to what the guys ordered, i found it too dry, just ate a few mouthfuls and im done. even though alcohol is not allowed in the country, they do serve non-alcoholic beers from budweiser and all. none of us try it, but according to venkat, who tried it before, said that these beers taste exactly like beer, except that there's really no alcohol content, or so they claim.

nonetheless, the food is priced pretty reasonably, ranging from 2.9kd (the carbonara) to 7kd (the steak), which is roughly 15sgd to 35sgd.

check out the guys' food!

are you hungry yet?

and look at the contented duo, charles and venkat!

that's all for my first day at kuwait! more to come!

-tfc-

* credits to keli for sharing some of his pictos!*

aloha doha!

2008-03-13T18:31:00.012+08:00

im back from kuwait! so en route to kuwait, i have to transit at doha, qatar, and have to spend a good 3 hours waiting for my connecting flight.

yeaps, that's the sillyporean bird

from the pictos below, it's easy to assume that doha airport looks almost like a desert, with sand, sand and more sand. amazing how sg was in great need of sand - recall our little indo incident? well, welcome to middle east. the weather was great, with the temp at a cool 23 deg celsius, i thought im loving the place already, but desert being desert, i was told that it can hit near 50deg celsius in summertime.

doha international airport is one of the cleanest airport i've ever encountered! it's almost like changi, but downsize it further. it's amazing how middle easterns have a fetish over having cars as the prizes for their lucky draws, unlike those cheapskate sillyporean ones that give cheaper cars - think mitsubishi and all, they give nice convertibles with the likes of bmw and porsche.

what better way to kill time transiting other than eating? especially when you have horrible food at the flight. if you ever had to take a morning flight with qatar, my advice is take the noodles, and stay away from the omelette! but then again, it's a game of luck, apparently the standard of food varies - my friend's noodles from sg to doha was horrible but mine taken from doha to sg, was passable. so where's consistency? to digress, i think the best airline food comes from dragon air, after all it takes a lot for haagan dazs ice-cream to go wrong, ha! in doha international airport, they have a&w and this little ikea-styled food court. the service was great, and yes, don't throw your sillyporean notes away yet! you can use your sg notes there and the exchange rate was 1sgp to 2qatar dollars (okay, i have no idea what currency they use.)

just to let you have a rough idea of the cost of living, a large plate of fries and mineral bottle comes to S$10. pretty reasonable i'd say, when it comes to airports!

updates on kuwait soon! stay tuned!

-tfc-

Edinburgh

2008-03-04T22:20:00.010+08:00

Scottish pipes and kilts, Loch Ness monster! Quaint, cold, windy. Come explore its ancient, mysterious celtic history. Dùn Èideann - do you know Gaelic?

Give yourself a Nickname
The Fad Guest-Globetrotter

What is the one place you've travelled to that you would like to feature?
Edinburgh!

Name me five wonderful memories you have of that place
1. Arthur's seat
An arduous climb up arthur's seat, but being repaid by a magnificent view of the entire Edinburgh city.

Both my friend and I set out from the Palace of Holyrood House,

and took the route circling the hills. It was probably the longest and hence most time consuming path, but along the way, you get to see views of Edinburgh far and wide.

If you're the kind who enjoys scenery and is on a budget trip, climbing up Arthur's seat first thing in the morning is a good option, mainly because it is free, takes about 3-4 hours up and down the hill (for the path which I took) and you get to see nice views along the entire way. It definitely helped that the weather was good for outdoor activities.

2. Auld Reekie Tour
Getting a glimpse of Edinburgh's supposedly haunted underground vaults by signing up with the Auld Reekie's ghost tours. (www.auldreekietours.com) I was highly entertained and spooked, mainly because of the underground vaults itself which feels kind of eerie.

To top it off, the guide had an animated way of creating the desired effects for the guests - through kicking stones, grinding with the balls of her feet at appropriate times and variation of tones to describe the history of the underground vaults.

During the tour, you will be given an account of how the vaults were being rediscovered by a medical student, the business activities that took place in the vaults centuries ago, the fire that wiped out Edinburgh city and suffocated (and trapped) many within the vaults, as well as the witches' curse placed in certain vaults. The underground tour cost me 7 pounds, and it was well worth it.

3. People
The friendliness of the Scottish at Edinburgh - I looked kind of lost navigating my way through the city, but one kind Scottish came up to me volunteering to help when he saw the helpless look on face haha! I mean, back in Sg, I see lost tourists all the time around SMU but I'm probably too shy to go up and offer my help.

Scottish are known to be friendly by nature! Strangers sometimes smile at you.

4. Shopping
The great sale taking place around UK at that time (9 Feb)! At Edinburgh, the main shopping streets are Princes Street for the trendy and Royal Mile to catch the older parts of the city adorned with specialized and souvenir shops.

5. Scottish Monument
Witnessing the Scottish Monument at the heart of Edinburgh City - I didn't have time to climb up the monument, but the architecture itself is really unique

What advice would you give to travellers in interested in visiting the city?
For people who are traveling free and easy and new to the city, the first thing you should do is to visit the Tourism Centre at Princes Street when you arrive at Edinburgh. It's probably 5 minutes walk away from the bus station – conveniently located and the staff is very willing to help, offering advice on the best places to visit and to orientate you on your way around city too.

Carry light for the climb up Arthur's seat!
I had no choice because of the little time I had and the hostel I stayed in was way out of the city centre.

Lastly, what is your travel philosophy?
For someone who is unlikely to visit Europe anytime soon, my philosophy is: "splurge it on the attractions!"

- the Fad girl

San Diego

2008-02-18T11:38:00.010+08:00

First off, give yourself a nick-name!
the FAD diva!

Which is the most unforgettable city you've travelled to?
La Jolla, San Diego

Why?
Coz i've stayed there for half a year! And it's a real nice place for people to retire coz its relaxed.. laid back and the people there are real friendly compared to the big cities in america.

Name the five best memory you have of your travel to that city.
I love the weather.. cool and not too warm or cold in winter/spring.

It has many theme parks, like Wild Animal Park, Seaworld, Legoland etc. They are fun places with activities for the young and old. Perfect venue for family outing.

Legoland

Animal Park

Seaworld

I love the beaches where u can just stroll down as and when u like and feel the breeze from Pacific Ocean.

You can take a short ride down to Mexico Tijuana or even go for some fun horse riding in Baja Rancho La Bellota! :) Here's the website: http://www.bajarancho.com/

Give 3 pieces of golden advice for those who are thinking of visiting this city.

Pls know how to drive so you can rent a car. coz public transportation there is quite lousy. Frequency of buses are real low and there's no subway.

Your next travel destination?
Europe!

Your travel philosophy?
When you are there, just spend all you want and enjoy yourself. don't be too calculative on the money there. try out everything no matter how extreme it is. its one in a lifeitme experience n u'll nv regret it! :)

- the Fad girl

L.A. California

2008-01-23T00:45:00.001+08:00

California, L.A. The high life. Where the rich and the beautiful live their charmed lives. Its legacy had always been spoken about, dreamt of, caught on film, captured in books Recently shot to fame (again) by the O.C. and MTV's Laguna Beach. Phantom Planet puts an eternal image to this sunkissed city with their song, California. Just when you wonder, what's its allure? California, here we come!

First off, give yourself a nick-name!
Conan the Barbarian

Which is the most unforgettable city you’ve travelled to?
Los Angeles, California

Why?
The air, attractions, nightlife – especially the music and nightclubs, shopping, food, people watching. All of that was wonderful. Plenty of things to do if you’re traveling with your friends or even when walking around by yourself.

Name the best memory you have when you travelled there.
1. Catching a show at The Viper Room – Johnny Depp’s nightclub.

2. Getting out of the city to Laguna Beach, Orange County with friends to meet some cousins. The roadtrip brought us to Huntington Beach too, where the view was great.
3. Having a catch-up dinner with an overseas-based friend at Pasadena. Plenty of great restaurants and bars there.
4. Walking along Sunset Boulevard, having drinks, meals and shopping.

Give 3 pieces of golden advice for those who are thinking of visiting this city.
1. Get prepared for some serious shopping, cash is the most liquid.
2. Get your international driver’s license
3. Be aware and alert at all times, if you’re venturing into some dodgy areas. LA has certain areas where it can be pretty rough, especially if you’re going off the beaten track or with local friends.

Your next travel destination?
Tokyo, Japan

Ultimate travel fantasy?
Heading to Japan or LA to catch some of my favourite bands and artistes perform live.

- the Fad girl

Vienna - Conclusion

2008-01-20T18:38:00.000+08:00

Schönbrunn , Hofburg, Der Graben, Stephansplatz. Mozart, Konzerthaus, Musikverein and Viennese Boys' Choir. The assasination of Princess "Sisi", Marie Antoinette, Opernhaus! The typical tourist must-sees and must-knows.

Apart from the usual tourist attractions which you'd have already read of from guidebooks, there are many other ways to explore Vienna. You can do a tram-spotting tour.

Buy a 24-hour travel card and tram-hop your way across Vienna. Ride your way around the Ringstrasse where you can take in much of the majestic architecture from theatre halls to churches to museums and palaces.

Tram #1 and #2 loop the Ringstrasse, only in opposite direction. With a day card, you can sit on the tram for unlimited times and jump on/off at any stops you like.

Another fruitful way to take in a city is always to walk. Single out the places you'd love to see and hike your way around.

Peer into people's apartments and imagine what their lives are like! Better yet, lose your way and wander off track.

You might just chance upon a quaint shop selling antiques or walk into a local cafe for a Viennese meal of Wiener Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel complete with Viennese coffee!

While we're on food, why not go on a Food-trail? Venture into local bars and cafés, sample something you've never seen before.

Talk to the locals, do a photo-blog tour! I found the locals to be friendly and polite. They are very fluent in English and I felt safe in the city.

Or you can visit the local supermarkets and get gifts and souvenirs there! The famous Mozartkugeln (Mozart Chocolate Balls) are cheaper in local grocery shops. And it's always interesting to look at what the Austrian eat and drink on a day-to-day basis. Grocery shopping in countries I visit has got to be one of the most special activites I enjoy. And I'd usually buy candies or snacks I've never seen before and bring them home. It is also much cheaper to buy food and drinking water from supermarkets than to constantly patronise restaurants.

In Vienna, you can find Merkur, Billa, Spar and Hofer. I personally like Spar bc I can find almost everything there and there's one outlet I found near the Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna's famouse opera house.

Another good chain is probably Billa, the sign is very eye-catching in yellow and red.

So this is off the beaten path. If you have extra time in Vienna or wanna experience this lovely city in the way you like, those would probably be what I would do.

Vienna had left an indelible impression on me. It's old world charm was especially unforgettable, further enhanced by tales of its royal family from centuries ago, as I learnt everything during the museums and palace visits. I also remember fondly the trademark red trams that were everywhere - I fell in love with them; the morning when I'd walked down Mariahilferstraße seeing the city come to life, the metros I'd travelled extensively on, the delicious Viennese cuisines I had, as well as the locals I'd interacted briefly with. Vienna is definitely one of the most beautiful places in this world, and one of the lesser-mentioned ones. I can't wait to return bc three days in Vienna was merely enough to cover the tourist to-dos, but too short for me to experience the lifestyle of a true local. And I believe Vienna is definitely worth my further exploring. Till then, Auf Wiedersehen!

- the Fad girl

Vienna Part 3

2008-01-17T00:07:00.000+08:00

Introductory video tour with music and narration, courtesy of Thomas and Mollie, off youTube. I love how they showed the metro and metro station. But this is based mostly around Vienna's city center and Hofburg, the imperial palace. Enjoy it!

- the Fad girl

Vienna Part 2

2008-01-13T14:57:00.000+08:00

For accommodation in Vienna, I think Wombat is a budget traveller’s dream come true in terms of value-for-money and accessibility.

When booked way in advanced, this hostel costs you no more than 20 euros per night. Check with the Wombat website or log in to HostelWorld for easy booking.

Right smacked on Mariahilfer Strasse (the street leading to the town centre, also the “Orchard Road” of Vienna), I was a good 30-minute walk away from Ringstrasse, where most tourist attractions were located.

There are 2 Wombats in Vienna. The Base and the one-year-old, The Lounge. Located a stone throw from each other, these two hostels are almost identical. Just that the Lounge is nearer the train station.

I stayed in a room for four, named Princess Suite or something, painted cream, yellow and lavender. It was a unique room in the top floor of the hostel, with a slanted roof that looked out to white sky and tiled roofs.

A piece of advice, never leave your valuables in the locker as the staff are able to open it at will. My whole bag of cash was confiscated when the hostel staff made a mistake in locker allocation. That pissed me off BIG TIME. (Not to mention how freaked out I was!) If only my German were near any comprehension.. I'd have @##$%% the staff.

Now that I'd found a place to stay, I was all ready to explore Vienna...

-the Fad girl

Sevilla

2008-01-11T00:21:00.000+08:00

Here in The Fad Travels, we asked around so you know how to eat, play, live..... and sleep around.

It's not always just the Fad people writing in this blogazine. We have lined up a series of vox pops on various travel topics and for the big-bang take-off this post, we feature a brief interview conducted with Who's Your Daddy?!, who shared with us her recent trip to Seville.

Sevilla, is the Spanish name for Seville, capital of Andalusia (South of Spain). Famous for its Giralda, Alcázar, Torre del Oro, and trees of oranges adorning its beautiful ancient streets, this southern belle is one of the most captivating hotties - literally, given its fine sunny weather, and popular travel destinations in Europe.

First off, give yourself a nick name!
- Who's your daddy?!

Which is the most unforgettable city you've travelled to?
- Sevilla

Why?
- For her food, quaint streets and weather.

Name the five best memory you have of your travel to that city.
- Food of course, mismesh of Moorish and European architecture, nice weather, quaint streets and the company I had.

Giralda and Alcázar

Give 3 pieces of golden advice for those who are thinking of visiting this city.
- Take your time to experience the Sevilla streets
- Enjoy the food
- Don't eat the oranges on the streets. (They are close to being inedible.)

Your next travel destination?
- USA

Your travel philosophy?
- You can always earn back money but can never earn back time and youth!

Been anywhere lately? We welcome your travel inputs of tales and tips. Keep 'em rolling in!

- the Fad girl

Vienna Part 1

2008-01-02T16:48:00.001+08:00

It was the 1700s. In the summer palace known endearingly as Schönbrunn, adorned with excessive Rococo splendour, painted in a regal ochre-gold, the stage was set for centuries of romances and tragedies, victories won by bloodshed and losses beyond battles. That was the time when Maria Theresa ruled Austria. The golden era of peace would soon be disrupted. The queen had no choice. She had to marry off her youngest, most beloved daughter, Marie Antoinette, to the Dauphin of France in order to secure Austria's sovereignty. Never did she expect that to be the worst decision of her life, for it would be years later, when Marie Antoinette would be executed during the French Revolution...

Vienna has always been shrouded with mystique and romanticism, perhaps the result of its glorious Habsburg past. The capital of Austria, today's Vienna is still the old, quaint beauty you see in postcards and photographs - and then more. Vienna is an understated beauty, without the pride of pompous Paris or dilapidation of Rome. It has by far, successfully avoided modernisation like many of its European counterparts, thus retaining an old world charm that would astound, then capture your heart. Such is the allure of the gem of central Europe.

I went to Vienna in March, at the tail end of winter. A coat was still needed then. Flying in through the newly opened route from Barcelona, it was Sky Europe’s first day of flight into Eastern Europe, so we were all served white wine.

Travelling around Central/Eastern Europe, I would recommend the scenic route of taking trains.

But travelling to Eastern Europe from west or south, the most efficient way is to fly. One of the budget airlines that offer great deals has to be SkyEurope (lotsa blonde stewardess who speak English). Another would be Click Air. Alternatively, you can scan for other flights using Skyscanner.

A word of advice:
Always try to book tickets way in advance for cheaper deals. Peel your eyes opened for discounts, which are often offered, albeit at weid times, such as evenings or midnights. Sometimes a discount has hidden costs such as airport tax so you have to be prepared for that.

By going budget does not mean you have to subject yourself to inconvenient modes of transport, such as flying Ryan Air – which many reckon as dirt cheap (not really! since budget airline companies are now increasing competition by providing better routes than RyanAir, and arriving in city center) yet it utilises airports in “ulu” places. By having to spend the extra cash travelling into town does not equate to cost-savings if you think about it. It only adds to more inconveniences.

Vienna's International airport is located in Schwechat; about 18 km southeast of Vienna. Upon arrival, there are several ways to get to city centre.

I took the Airport Bus, which looks like a tour bus.
Fare: 6€. (I bought my ticket from the driver upon boarding)
Time: Starts from 0600 hr, leaves every half hour.
Takes you directly to: Sudbahnhof first (25 minutes), then Westbahnhof (35 minutes). Both are major railway stations – so it is easy to spot for alighting, and for orientating yourselves as you find your bearings and figure out how to get to the hotel/hostel.

In the next instalment: Vienna accomodation and the "must-see"! Stay tune.

- the Fad girl

Got Tales?

2007-12-22T15:54:00.000+08:00

SnowGlobe

2007-12-21T16:12:00.000+08:00

Wishing for a white Christmas? For those living in tropical December, white Christmas usually remains a dream. Today the Fad people brings you to London, NYC and some parts of Europe, to gaze at the Christmas lights of these great cities. Who knows, you might just give in to that temptation of booking the next flight to your White Christmas destination.

Last Call for Paris?

2007-12-13T02:58:00.000+08:00

Whoever says that you need loads of money to visit Paris is obviously very lacking in creativity. Here's a Fad twist: the theory of second best. Travel from the comfort of your very seat. No queues, no hassles, no cost!

I love Paris (the Fad girl here). It's my favouritest city in the world. And I can't stop talking about it. Paris is not only, nor always, just about the Eiffel Tower, the snobbish locals, the croissants and baguettes, Renoir, Monet, and the Louvre. There are many ways to see it and now, Louis Vuitton has shown it through the eyes of French actress, Catherine Deneuve.

Before the Fad people launch our regular travel instalments (WATCH THIS SPACE!) for those of you preparing to backpack (or luggage-pack) your way across the globe, here's a glimpse of Paris to whet your appetite for adventures!

Last Call for all passengers going to Paris, this is part of Louis Vuitton's very interesting online campaign to glorify The Art of Travel (Art du Voyage). The LV website contains travel experiences narrated personally by the celebrities who live in the cities that are featured. In addition to Denevue: Paris, we have the Agassi couple: New York and ex-Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev: Berlin.

So calling all Paris-enthusiasts and you there bitten by the travel bug! If you are keen, if you need some artistic inspirations (site's pretty!) or merely if you need a break from anything Singaporean (and can't afford a seat on board SIA), visit http://www.louisvuitton.com/ pronto!

Hong Kong, the Pearl of the East

2007-12-07T18:01:00.000+08:00

Yes, the Fad boy is back from HK. It happens to be my first trip and thus I was excited about the entire trip! The sights and sounds.. the buzz of the city (yes, Singapore is a city as well) but the feeling it gives is different.

The breakfast of Nai Cha (kinds like our te-peng) and boluo bun (buttered buns) are really good. But if you prefer a heavier meal, just enter any Cha Chan Ting (Tea House) and you can choose from a few sets (usually with bread, noodles and a drink). But do remember you have to be there before 11am!

For lunch, you might want to yum cha (which is dim sum) and you will be spoilt for choices. From buns to pork ribs back to prawn dumblings finally to siew mais, I am sure there will be something that will be wet your mouths.

There must be something that I have to remind you about. In HK, if you speak chinese you might reach the correct level. But if you only understand English, you might want to try a floor higher when people tell you any floor. IF you want to get to the groundfloor, its not 1 (like in Singapore) but G for Groundfloor.

And one no. 1 recommendation is the Dessert Restaurant: Xu Liu Shan. Its amazing and its everywhere. So you will not have any trouble finding it. Furthermore, look out for my review of the restaurant in theFadgourmet. You won't regret it!

One must go, is The Peak. It provides a panaromic view of the entire HongKong Island. And it really is a sight! Go during sun set and it might be the best picture of HongKong you can get. Else, the night scenery is breathtaking with all the lights illuminating the Island. (my first picture of this post)

The nightlife of HongKong is vibrant with shopping, eating and drinking at every corner of the island. Make your way down to Time Sq and see the number of people still prowling the streets at close to midnight. And also the no. of shops still open, it makes you wonder if it was just 6pm.

MongKok also offers late night snacking and shopping (I had Steamboat on a weekday night from 12am - 2am!). Just walking around is enough to fill all your senses. If clubbing is your cup of tea, make your way down to Lan Kwai Fong and you will be bowled away by the amount of pubs and clubs that are for your picking! But entrance to a club in HK is not cheap, I paid SGD40 for mine!

That kinda explains why I only had a few coins left at the end of my trip!

Just to remind any future HK - bound Travellers, accomodation in HK is really expensive and be prepared to get a small room even if you booked into a hotel.

Budget:

Airfare - SGD450 (budget airline but booked only 3 weeks in advance)
Accomodation - SGD40 per person per night (Hostel: USA Hostel)
Food - SGD8 - SGD infinity!
Clubbing - SGD40 (Entrance)
Beer - SGD2.50 (7-11) SGD8 (Club)
MTR Ride - SGD1 - SGD2.50 per ride