Alpha's Summer Adventure

Introduction:
I'm off on another crazy adventure, i'll be traveling around East Asia but mostly in Hong Kong. I leave on the 9th of June and will fly back on the 27th of July, that's around 47 days of travel and adventure!

The first stop is Hong Kong where I will be staying with my girlfriend, Antonia and meeting her family. Haven't really planned any other trips from HK but it depends on time and money so we'll see what happens, possibly Japan, South Korea and the Maldives.

I will be flying out with my trusty Camera and Laptop from my last adventure so expect blog type updates and more photos than you care to look at. If you read my last blog, the J-Adventure, expect more of the same thing but not so damn depressing.

Right now we're planning places to go, things to see and do so if you have any suggestions, please share them in the thread.


Daily Updates:
Preperation
Leaving for HK
Touchdown
Meeting the Parents
Junk Food Day at Causeway Bay
Jet Lagged
Shock, Horror and Shopping
Movietime at the IFC
The Peak
Another Lazy Day
Kowloon
Pudding and The Frog
The Forgotten Birthday
Pudding goes to the Vet
Double Date
Father's Day on Lamma Island
A Night at the Arcade
The Next Adventure
Ocean Park
Hey Jude
Packing / Leaving for Beijing
Beijing - The Summer Palace
Beijing - The Forbidden City
Beijing - The Great Wall of China
Beijing - The Temple of Heaven
Bye Bye, Beijing
Dan Ryan's
SINO Centre
The Mongolian Circus
Peking Garden
Winnie and the Pooh
Another Adventure
Desert and Durian
Shanghai
Suzhou
Wuzhen
Hangzhou
Cya, China
Bloc Mickey at Times Square
Harry Potter and the Tower of Sushi
Turtle Rescue Squad
Departure

Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AB415CC168121B9B

Requests:
Want something brought back or sent from HK? I'm willing to do that for some of you as long as you pay me for the goods and postage/shipping.


Signature:
If you like the thread, please wear the signature so you can find it quickly and spread the word.

00 - Preperation
31-05-09

With just over a week to go, we're both thinking of all the things we can do. We did plan to go to Japan and South Korea but due to recent events, Japan's Swine Flu outbreak and North Korea shipping missles about, we had to rethink. So any suggestions, please let us know!

So far, we've got a few ideas of things to do in Hong Kong, one i'm really excited about is the aqua park where we can watch a Killer Whale show!

I've got to get some last things for my suitcase, thinking of either getting a new Camera or a Notebook.

Really excited about this trip!

Ideas:
CTMA, Sino and Richmond Centre in Mongkok
Ocean Park
Hong Kong Disneyland
Lantau Island and the Giant Budda
Victoria Peak
Star Ferry from Quarry Bay to Western (Just before 8pm)
Victoria Park
Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Symphony of Lights
Shum Siu Po
Kwai Fong
Wong Tai Sin Temple
Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
Try to reach the top floor of Bong Miquiabas
Kowloon Walled City Park - Looks kind of interesting.
Central-Mid-Levels escalators - The longest outdoor covered escalator system. IN THE WORLD!
International Finance Centre - Cool building.
Avenue of Stars - Awesome looking Bruce Lee sculpture
Kowloon Park - Public park
Wetland Park
Tian Tan Buddha - Big ass Buddha statue
Tung Chung Fort - Cannons an' gooseberry fool.
Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park - "once the largest amusement park in Hong Kong"
Peak Tower - Leisure and shopping complex.
Tiananmen Square
Temple Street Night Market
Women's Street Night Market
Museum of Art
Museum of History
Science Museum
Space Museum
Heritage Museum
Railway Museum

Please contribute more ideas and suggestions!

Two questions :

1) How do you bag all these random hot Japanesse birds???

2) How do you afford all this mayne???

\o/

Your last Adventure blog/topic was one of the best topics ever. This one better be just as good.


P.S. why can't you get a girlfriend that doesn't live thousands of miles away?

I look forward to the updates. The GR US Road Trip still on, right?

cool.

@BobbyDigital,
She's not Japanese and I had multiple jobs with no rent to pay, saved a lot.

@Zenigame,
Glad you liked the last blog, this one should be just as exciting and eventful. Going visit a lot of places and have to try win the approval of my gf's strict, traditional parents!

--

Would anyone like PM notifications when I post new blog entries? If so, let me know and i'll add you to a PM list.

No one got any suggestions of things to see and do?

I've just applied for a place on a Chinese language/culture course in China this summer, so I too may be going to China. There are about 6 applicants per place though...

I'd still really like to go to China or Japan this summer regardless of being accepted on the course. The only problem is finding someone to go with and the whole cost aspect. I would be able to afford a decent two week holiday in Japan but I want something that's going to last at least four weeks as I have 16 weeks of holiday to fill.

If I do go on the course then I also have to figure out whether I want to do a rushed trip of Japan before (maybe only a week there) or wait for another time. If I don't do Japan then I'll definitely go to Beijing and hopefully Shanghai too.

Are you not planning to see other parts of China, Alpha? I could never go all that way and pass up an opportunity to go to Beijing, even if it is some extra distance.

John Galt wrote:I've just applied for a place on a Chinese language/culture course in China this summer, so I too may be going to China. There are about 6 applicants per place though...

I'd still really like to go to China or Japan this summer regardless of being accepted on the course. The only problem is finding someone to go with and the whole cost aspect. I would be able to afford a decent two week holiday in Japan but I want something that's going to last at least four weeks as I have 16 weeks of holiday to fill.

If I do go on the course then I also have to figure out whether I want to do a rushed trip of Japan before (maybe only a week there) or wait for another time. If I don't do Japan then I'll definitely go to Beijing and hopefully Shanghai too.

Are you not planning to see other parts of China, Alpha? I could never go all that way and pass up an opportunity to go to Beijing, even if it is some extra distance.

I'd love to visit other parts of China, do I need a visa or anything? Been wondering about that.

I wish I could afford to go away.

Alpha any chance of finding me anything to do with Ding Dong ?

Alpha, I don't won't to hog up your topic but i'm heading to Toyko in August but have you got a link to you last thread or any places that you recommend going to?

Cheers

Alpha eX wrote:

John Galt wrote:I've just applied for a place on a Chinese language/culture course in China this summer, so I too may be going to China. There are about 6 applicants per place though...

I'd still really like to go to China or Japan this summer regardless of being accepted on the course. The only problem is finding someone to go with and the whole cost aspect. I would be able to afford a decent two week holiday in Japan but I want something that's going to last at least four weeks as I have 16 weeks of holiday to fill.

If I do go on the course then I also have to figure out whether I want to do a rushed trip of Japan before (maybe only a week there) or wait for another time. If I don't do Japan then I'll definitely go to Beijing and hopefully Shanghai too.

Are you not planning to see other parts of China, Alpha? I could never go all that way and pass up an opportunity to go to Beijing, even if it is some extra distance.

I'd love to visit other parts of China, do I need a visa or anything? Been wondering about that.

You do need a Visa. They cost £60 and I think virtually anyone can get one. Apparently you can get them whilst in Hong Kong but if you're dead set on going to the mainland you might want to pick one up before you go.

http://wikitravel.org/en/China#Get_in

F-Heonix wrote:Alpha, I don't won't to hog up your topic but i'm heading to Toyko in August but have you got a link to you last thread or any places that you recommend going to?

Cheers

No worries, here's the link to the last thread, viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3241
If you have any questions just ask. I can suggest some places, what exactly do you want to see there though?

Slayerx wrote:I wish I could afford to go away.

Alpha any chance of finding me anything to do with Ding Dong ?

I'm pretty sure I can, remind me when i'm there.

John Galt wrote:You do need a Visa. They cost £60 and I think virtually anyone can get one. Apparently you can get them whilst in Hong Kong but if you're dead set on going to the mainland you might want to pick one up before you go.

http://wikitravel.org/en/China#Get_in

Cheers, i'll try get that done ASAP, hopefully I can do it before I go. Think i'll be adding Shanghai and Beijing to my list of places to visit!

Cheers Alpha look forward to your updates

Nice. I'm jelous of your ability to bag hot asian chicks and go on trips around the world.

Possible stuff to do/see thanks to Wikipedia:

Kowloon Walled City Park - Looks kind of interesting.

Central-Mid-Levels escalators - The longest outdoor covered escalator system. IN THE WORLD!

International Finance Centre - Cool building.

Avenue of Stars - Awesome looking Bruce Lee sculpture

Kowloon Park - Public park

Wetland Park

Tian Tan Buddha - Big ass Buddha statue

Tung Chung Fort - Cannons an' gooseberry fool.

Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park - "once the largest amusement park in Hong Kong"

Peak Tower - Leisure and shopping complex.

And if you like Museums:

Museum of Art
Museum of History
Science Museum
Space Museum
Heritage Museum
Railway Museum

@Zenigame
Cheers! Added all of those to the first update, I think i'll check out all of those places.

John Galt wrote:

Alpha eX wrote:

John Galt wrote:I've just applied for a place on a Chinese language/culture course in China this summer, so I too may be going to China. There are about 6 applicants per place though...

I'd still really like to go to China or Japan this summer regardless of being accepted on the course. The only problem is finding someone to go with and the whole cost aspect. I would be able to afford a decent two week holiday in Japan but I want something that's going to last at least four weeks as I have 16 weeks of holiday to fill.

If I do go on the course then I also have to figure out whether I want to do a rushed trip of Japan before (maybe only a week there) or wait for another time. If I don't do Japan then I'll definitely go to Beijing and hopefully Shanghai too.

Are you not planning to see other parts of China, Alpha? I could never go all that way and pass up an opportunity to go to Beijing, even if it is some extra distance.

I'd love to visit other parts of China, do I need a visa or anything? Been wondering about that.

You do need a Visa. They cost £60 and I think virtually anyone can get one. Apparently you can get them whilst in Hong Kong but if you're dead set on going to the mainland you might want to pick one up before you go.

http://wikitravel.org/en/China#Get_in

hey alpha, im glad too hear you want to go to HK. i went there and around china in 2006 and found it amazing, having said that i went with friends (so didnt do the typical touristy stuff) but you will be with a locale (kind of) so you should also have a good time. if you are wondering about anything just ask as i went in and out of HK like 4 times and know all about bits and pieces.
if you have any questions do ask because i went too the very rich and very poor places: (in order of date/arrival)
*Hong kong
*shenzhen (then got stuck on a train for 26 hours due to the worst typhoon in chinafor the last 50 years, we ended up having to go back to shenzhen, from shenzhen)
*chen zhou (small city the Hunan province)
*Guiyang in the hunan province (thers another, bigger guiyang in another province) (i also taught english at a school here, it was great because i became a star in the town since no one there has seen a foreigner before)
*chen zhou
*chang sha (capital of the hunan province
*beijing
*shanghai
*xiamen
*Longyan city (fujian province, same as xiamen)
*dong guan
*guangzhou
*shenzhen
*hong kong
*shenzhen again
*hong kong then home!

so if you have any questions regarding anything in these rural and big citys, do ask.

regarding the Visa, you can go to HK for 6 months without a Visa if you have a british passport (mainland chinese can only go for 10 days!), if you want to go to Shenzhen (i expect you too know where this is) you can go by paying 500 yuan at the border (takes 1.5 hours roughly), this is quite pricey but they jacked the prices up for british visitors as the british do the same to the chinese, i saw the prices for other nationals and it was only something in the region of 150 yuan! this specific visa only allows you too stay in the CENTRE of Shenzhen (they have borders in every city too keep out the poor) although i went through this border when i wasnt ment too and no-one cared. if you want to go to beijing or shanghai you need to get the visitors visa, preferbly in london, you can pay some agents to do this, it will cost about £60-70 for the visa, the agents charge like £20 but save you a gooseberry fool load of time and hassle. i used some agents that are based in Euston. keep in mind, you can go into HK as many times as you want with a british passport but going back into mainland china (not including that mini visa i described earlier) is usually only permitted once, unless your special and you have a multiple visa which i dont know how much they cost. please ask more questions mayne, your reminding me of my good times

also, if you do go to beijing make sure you go see some of the rock/metal bands as beijing is famous for its underground rock scene.

i also forgot too mention that this mini visa permits you too stay in the centre of shenzhen for only 5 days.

Hit up Tiananmen Square, and tell me what it's like. It's a place I've always wanted to go.

Corazon wrote:Hit up Tiananmen Square, and tell me what it's like. It's a place I've always wanted to go.

Watch out for the tanks though.