Travel Advice for Asia

[bhsu21]

In Hong Kong, take the Star Ferry to go from HK Island to Kowloon and vice versa. You can take it once during the day and once at night. You get great views of the city. Plus it's SO cheap.

Also, if you like scenic views, go up to The Peak. On a clear day, the view is amazing.

And yes lots of eating and shopping.

 

[iMacZealot]

Thanks, Abstract. Since this is sort of a hybrid business/leisure vacation, I must go to Osaka. Could we just get a hotel in Kyoto for two nights instead of one night in Osaka and one in Kyoto?

 

[arkitect]

In Hong Kong… On a clear day, the view is amazing.

Now that's a tall order.
The pollution is frightening.

Star Ferry is a good bet though.
Also try Lantau up towards the big Buddha. A different world from Causewaybay and Central.

 

[Abstract]

Thanks, Abstract. Since this is sort of a hybrid business/leisure vacation, I must go to Osaka. Could we just get a hotel in Kyoto for two nights instead of one night in Osaka and one in Kyoto?

Yes you could. The cities are so close together that when you take the train, you really can't tell when one ends and the other begins. It's not like there's a lot of grass or farmland separating them. Just stay in Kyoto if you wish.

And yes, Star Ferry is an awesome bargain. It's just a ferry that goes across, but I'm sure the view is beautiful. Again, HK has the best cityscape I have ever seen. If you don't mind paying a bit extra, take a tour boat of the light show that happens each night. It's a longer experience (45 - 60 minutes?), and you get a better boat that rocks less, potentially better photos, and you get to go along the waterfront and see ALL the lit up buildings on HK Island, something you don't get with Star Ferry.

Then take another night to go to the top of Victoria Peak at night. I haven't done that before, but it's probably quite nice.

 

[themadchemist]

u seem to kno a lot abt south india

I was born in Tirupati and have family all around the south--Andhra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. So I visit them when I can and I have an ongoing development project in Tamil Nadu, so I am there for work occasionally.

Are you Telugu?

 

[aerove]

I was born in Tirupati and have family all around the south--Andhra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. So I visit them when I can and I have an ongoing development project in Tamil Nadu, so I am there for work occasionally.

Are you Telugu?

oh wow..! another andhraite .. in de forum yep am telugu .. what abt u ? u work in india?

 

[arkitect]

Again, HK has the best cityscape I have ever seen. If you don't mind paying a bit extra, take a tour boat of the light show that happens each night. It's a longer experience (45 - 60 minutes?), and you get a better boat that rocks less, potentially better photos, and you get to go along the waterfront and see ALL the lit up buildings on HK Island, something you don't get with Star Ferry.

Go for a drink at Felix… top of the Peninsula Hotel… best view.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Yes you could. The cities are so close together that when you take the train, you really can't tell when one ends and the other begins. It's not like there's a lot of grass or farmland separating them. Just stay in Kyoto if you wish.

And yes, Star Ferry is an awesome bargain. It's just a ferry that goes across, but I'm sure the view is beautiful. ......


Then take another night to go to the top of Victoria Peak at night. I haven't done that before, but it's probably quite nice.

Kyoto vs the others; It's a lot easier to find "old Japan" in Kyoto.....temples, palaces, traditional housing, etc. whereas Osaka and Tokyo are modern bustling "new Japan"

In HK, it's well worth taking the tram to the park at the top of Victoria. In addition to the Star Ferries, take a ride around on the double-decker trams that are on the island. Get a seat at the front on the top deck and just ride for a bit. It'll give you a great view of HK city life. Oh, and if you're there on the right days, the night races at Happy Valley Race Track are fun and a great slice of local life.

 

[themadchemist]

oh wow..! another andhraite .. in de forum yep am telugu .. what abt u ? u work in india?

I am, sort of. My mom's family is Telugu, and my dad's mom's family is Telugu. But my dad's dad's family also speaks Telugu (in addition to Kannada, since my dad's family is from Karnataka). So more or less, yes.

And I don't work in India per se. I don't actually work, per se, either, haha. I'm a student in the US and have been here most of my life. But I founded a health development non-profit group, and one of our key partners is in Tamil Nadu, so I've done work at their hospital a couple of times and will probably return regularly now that our group is becoming more active.

 

[aerove]

I am, sort of. My mom's family is Telugu, and my dad's mom's family is Telugu. But my dad's dad's family also speaks Telugu (in addition to Kannada, since my dad's family is from Karnataka). So more or less, yes.

And I don't work in India per se. I don't actually work, per se, either, haha. I'm a student in the US and have been here most of my life. But I founded a health development non-profit group, and one of our key partners is in Tamil Nadu, so I've done work at their hospital a couple of times and will probably return regularly now that our group is becoming more active.

heh heh and i'm doin the exact opposite... movin o us i mean

 

[asxtb]

Remember to eat as the locals do. No McDonalds or anything like that.

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with this.
First of all eat as the locals do... Well, locals do eat at McDonalds.
But I think it is a good idea to stop into a McDonalds and see what unique menu items they have there. A lot of the Asian countries will have various specialty burgers just for that area. Like in Japan we have the teriyaki burger plus a special burger that changes every couple of months. And I've heard that other countries have their own special sandwiches as well.

 

[Abstract]

I had a Bulgogi burger in a McDonalds in Taipei. This burger didn't use bread. Instead of bread, there were 2 soft, warm, delicious rice patties. Incredible! I was a very happy customer. In Japan, they sell a similar burger at Mos Burger (a big Japanese burger chain), so if you want to try it out, check out Mos Burger.

You never know about McDonalds. I always.....ALWAYS!.....check McDonalds, regardless of country.

Oh, and the chicken wings at McDonalds in Hong Kong are outstanding value (around $2), and delicious. Best deal around.