Hong Kong is known as a shoppers paradise, right or wrong. You can find information here that will help you get the most from your shopping dollar.
One of the joys of the Lunar New Year season is to visit the fair at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. While many of the booths feature traditional items like kumquat trees and flowers, others show more inventive products. A Lion Dance Hand Puppet and Satirical Playing Cards featuring local politicians were highlighted in today’s South China Morning Post. Many of the booths don’t open until afternoon but the fair is active quite late. Some booths are still manned until 11:00PM. I highly recommend a visit.
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Last Sunday, police were summoned when people rioted because they were refused entry to a furnishings close-out sale at the Tsim Sha Tsui Hyatt Regency which is being torn down. This is not the first shoppers’ riot in Hong Kong. Such events occur regularly. I’m not entirely sure what the underlying cause is, nor am I sure it is a purely Hong Kong or Chinese or even Cantonese phenomenon. While people in the West make jokes about people fighting over sale items in a store, here it is taken much more seriously and can even result in serious injury.
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My wife, Pam, and I are leaving for Dubai tomorrow and will return Jan. 2. Some good friends moved there from Hong Kong last year and this is our chance to spend some time with them. Pam has wanted to visit Dubai for quite a while. I’ve been dragging my feet. I spent the longest six months of my life in Saudi Arabia and so visiting an Arab and Muslim country to celebrate the biggest Christian holiday was not so appealing. Pam prevailed, however. This will give me a chance to evaluate Dubai’s claim …
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Last year, a brave promoter set up an outdoor Christmas exhibit and even had an on-site Santa. This had not been done in Hong Kong before, as far as I know. To many people’s surprise, it did very well. When Pam and I checked it out last year, it was packed. This year it has expanded from Statue Square to also include Chater Garden with additional features and booths selling gifts and food. It seems to be even more popular.
It’s a great place to hang out and get into the Christmas Spirit. If …
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In the middle of the Central business district, on a Friday afternoon, I had three errands at three different banks and completed all three in under an hour.
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While surfing the internet yesterday, I accessed tripso.com, a favorite site of mine, and unexpectedly found an excellent short article on things for first time tourists to do in Hong Kong. It is written by John Frenaye, a travel consultant and frequent contributor to Tripso. I’ve lived here almost 14 years and while I didn’t agree with everything he says and some of the information is slightly dated nevertheless, in the main, I found it concise and accurate. I recommend reading it even if you live here.
Feeling Hong Kong’s energy
Hong Kong is probably the most energetic city in the world. It’s got the bright lights of Vegas, the hustle of New York, the swank of Rodeo Drive and the fantasy power of Disney World all rolled into one vibrant city. It is the gateway to China, and was recently returned to China after a long history as a European trading center and British crown colony.
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My wife Pam and I just returned from 10 days in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. We stayed with our friends the Serillos, who had left Hong Kong in May 2005. I have read that Dubai wants to supplant Hong Kong as the world’s favorite shopping and financial center outside of New York, London and Tokyo. All I have to say is, “Lots of luck, Dubai. You’ll need it.”
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The only hangover from the WTO meeting is the protesters being held in jail. Of course, there are allegations of abuse but my take is that the police showed admirable restraint. One “sex worker” (PC speak for prostitute) was quoted as saying that they were just “poor, defenseless women who were trying to set up a line to protect the Korean farmers who were attacking the police with bamboo poles and metal street dividers.” Nuff said.
So back to what’s really important, the Holiday Sales. Do your bit for Hong Kong’s economy and get out there …
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It often amazes visitors that, no matter what their financial circumstances, Hong Kong people can look so stylish; especially since most tourists never get beyond the malls with their high priced shops and designer labels. The secret, as you might guess, is knowing where to shop. I have a few suggestions here. I would welcome additional hints and input from others.
Needless to say, almost all inexpensive shopping in Hong Kong is under “caveat emptor” or “buyer beware” conditions. Returns are not welcomed and trust only your own eyes. For instance, never buy anything packaged unless you unpack it to insure it is what the packaging says it is. I own two sweaters that even my wife Pam has to squeeze into even though the labels say “x-large.”
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