Frequently made mistakes when visiting HK?
#16
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
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I found that many SIM card vendors tried to tell me there was nothing cheaper than a HK$98 SIM card, denying that they had any cheaper, when the HK$49 one from China Mobile would have done just fine for my purposes. Sometimes it took the "walk-away" ploy for the cheaper card to appear. Especially common at the airport stores, I think.
#17
Join Date: Aug 2007
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#18
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: PDX
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Posts: 1,426
Another HK mistake is not having a pack of tissues (Tempo, preferred) on you at all times.
I gave a very confused Italian woman a tissue when I was at Tsim Chai Kee in Central as she couldn't grasp why the lady working wanted to her to pay when she asked for a napkin. Even some of the local places that actually have napkins have napkins that are sort of waxy and don't absorb anything and seemingly just shift stuff around your face.
I gave a very confused Italian woman a tissue when I was at Tsim Chai Kee in Central as she couldn't grasp why the lady working wanted to her to pay when she asked for a napkin. Even some of the local places that actually have napkins have napkins that are sort of waxy and don't absorb anything and seemingly just shift stuff around your face.
#19
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,096
"I found that many SIM card vendors tried to tell me there was nothing cheaper than a HK$98 SIM card."
SIM cards are easy to get everywhere since they're sold by convenience stores. But there are a lot of different varieties, and sometimes some are sold out at a particular place.
SIM cards are easy to get everywhere since they're sold by convenience stores. But there are a lot of different varieties, and sometimes some are sold out at a particular place.
#20
When I have currency that isn't as common/easy to exchange, Chungking has come in handy. Or, I'll check out the neighborhoods where many expats of that country hang out (e.g. Causeway Bay for Indonesian rupiah).
A few places by Shun Tak Centre are good for changing money too.
A few places by Shun Tak Centre are good for changing money too.
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
More HK mistakes:
-Mentally miscalculating prices in HKD.
-Buying things or changing money in one of the rip-off operations in TST.
-Not getting out to a Countryside Park.
-Not realising that when Typhoon Signal 8 or above is hoisted, HK shuts down.
-Thinking Chinese New Year must be a great time to visit HK.
-Deciding it would be real convenient to stay out by the airport.
-Not pressing the CLOSE button again, even though someone else just pressed it.
-Renting a car because you always rent a car on trips.
-Not asking beforehand what that live seafood will run to.
-Thinking that everyone must speak English in a ex-British colony.
-Leaving HK with more than two cans of baby formula.
-Entering HK with a firearm or ammunition.
-Mentally miscalculating prices in HKD.
-Buying things or changing money in one of the rip-off operations in TST.
-Not getting out to a Countryside Park.
-Not realising that when Typhoon Signal 8 or above is hoisted, HK shuts down.
-Thinking Chinese New Year must be a great time to visit HK.
-Deciding it would be real convenient to stay out by the airport.
-Not pressing the CLOSE button again, even though someone else just pressed it.
-Renting a car because you always rent a car on trips.
-Not asking beforehand what that live seafood will run to.
-Thinking that everyone must speak English in a ex-British colony.
-Leaving HK with more than two cans of baby formula.
-Entering HK with a firearm or ammunition.
By the way, all the Youtube videos of that report have been removed by TVB and replaced by ones which have a very unsubtle edit removing this classic scene. Which just goes to show that TVB has no sense of humour whatsoever!
Last edited by christep; Mar 6, 2015 at 1:51 am
#24
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Ordering "EGG ROLL"?
Paying for a bowl of Brisket noodles at Kau Kee with $1000 note.
Using American English specific idioms.
Looking the wrong way before crossing the street. (Americans mostly)
Rain warning and shutdowns.
Paying for a bowl of Brisket noodles at Kau Kee with $1000 note.
Using American English specific idioms.
Looking the wrong way before crossing the street. (Americans mostly)
Rain warning and shutdowns.
Last edited by tentseller; Mar 6, 2015 at 10:47 am
#25
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Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
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#26
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...
As for MTR riding during rush hour, there are some things one can do when switching train lines. For example, going from Kowloon on the Tsuen Wan Line to eastern Hong Kong Island on the Island Line, one often needs to wait 2-3 trains in order to get on at Admiralty. Instead, one can ride to Central and switch there.
...
As for MTR riding during rush hour, there are some things one can do when switching train lines. For example, going from Kowloon on the Tsuen Wan Line to eastern Hong Kong Island on the Island Line, one often needs to wait 2-3 trains in order to get on at Admiralty. Instead, one can ride to Central and switch there.
...
The school is in Kowloon Tong @MTR and family estate is above Happy Valley. She MTR to school everyday (Mon-Sat)
She has never set foot in Admiralty Station.
#27
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Not asking what the seafood price unit is; kilo, catty, 100g or teal.
#28
Join Date: May 2001
Location: exUA1K, UA MM, lifetime UA1P, AA MM, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,731
I found that many SIM card vendors tried to tell me there was nothing cheaper than a HK$98 SIM card, denying that they had any cheaper, when the HK$49 one from China Mobile would have done just fine for my purposes. Sometimes it took the "walk-away" ploy for the cheaper card to appear. Especially common at the airport stores, I think.
http://www.hk.chinamobile.com/en/pre...s-iddtalk.html
Great deal for < US$8
The first 7-11 was out, then I walked another block and got it at the next 7-11. Pre-activated, too.
#29
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Location: HKG
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#30
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,096
More Hong Kong mistakes:
-Trying to be the 17th passenger on a 16-seat minibus.
-Waiting for Lisa at the travel agency to call you back.
-Paying with a cheque at Wellcome.
-Looking for a parking space at Park 'n Shop.
-Getting on a cross-harbour bus when you don't want to cross the harbour.
-Insisting a Hong Kong taxi take you to Kowloon.
-Ordering individually at a Chinese restaurant. And then asking for separate checks.
-Waiting for property prices to go down.
-Learning Cantonese.
-Spending Queen's head change.
-Nodding off in Central Library.
-Booking the family into a hotel at Kowloon Tong.
-Watching ATV.
-Believing that Triads only exist in movies.
-Arguing with the guys redecorating your flat.
-Trying to be the 17th passenger on a 16-seat minibus.
-Waiting for Lisa at the travel agency to call you back.
-Paying with a cheque at Wellcome.
-Looking for a parking space at Park 'n Shop.
-Getting on a cross-harbour bus when you don't want to cross the harbour.
-Insisting a Hong Kong taxi take you to Kowloon.
-Ordering individually at a Chinese restaurant. And then asking for separate checks.
-Waiting for property prices to go down.
-Learning Cantonese.
-Spending Queen's head change.
-Nodding off in Central Library.
-Booking the family into a hotel at Kowloon Tong.
-Watching ATV.
-Believing that Triads only exist in movies.
-Arguing with the guys redecorating your flat.