Frequently made mistakes when visiting HK?
Mar 11, 2015, 7:47 am
#46
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This actually happened yesterday. A lady and I was waiting in line on Hennessy Rd for bus 968. This is a busy stop so lines are clearly marked on sidewalks where to queue. But off-peak, so just two of us waiting. A very empty bus came and a man who appeared to be South-Asian ignored us and tried to get on first. I shouted to him in English "Excuse me, there is a queue here". He protested "The bus is empty". I replied firmly, "I know the bus is empty but you still need to get in line".
So, don't try this in HK if you don't want to be shouted or cursed at.
So, don't try this in HK if you don't want to be shouted or cursed at.
Mar 11, 2015, 8:31 am
#47
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Etiquette or not, the idea of "getting on before people get off" would have been a pipe dream unless you were an NFL linebacker. If memory serves me correctly, things were different 15 years ago (i.e. full on two way battle). That having been said, during current times on the less crowded Line 10 (also Shanghai), it's not uncommon to see people (mostly 农民, I'm guessing) who don't abide by 先下后上. You see, even on Line 10, you're not going to score a seat at the first stop upon entry anyway. And, on Line 2, if you fail to make it onto train #1, train #2 is only 2.5 minutes behind it.
My experiences on the Island Line (HK) are similar to Line 2 in Shanghai for the most part, but for some reason, HK's clueless passenger ratio seems to trump Shanghai's by a significant margin. (This confuses me because we basically get the same set of tourists.)
Mar 11, 2015, 6:29 pm
#48
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It's a numbers game. When you get 5x as many mainlanders to "visit" HK as there are people in HK, this is what happens. Maybe we're getting all the peasants, and none of these reputedly civilized Shanghainese.
Mar 11, 2015, 7:36 pm
#49
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Mar 13, 2015, 11:03 am
#50
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Biggest HK mistake - buying any electrical, photographic or technology items from any of the brightly lit, nameless shops on or around Nathan Road. You will get scammed and you will have little or no comeback.
If you want to purchase such items go to a reputable chain store like Broadway or Fortress.
If you want to purchase such items go to a reputable chain store like Broadway or Fortress.
Mar 13, 2015, 11:08 am
#51
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I needed it in a pinch and what the hell, it was only $25 or so and it did what I needed it to do.
Mar 13, 2015, 10:21 pm
#52
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Biggest HK mistake - buying any electrical, photographic or technology items from any of the brightly lit, nameless shops on or around Nathan Road. You will get scammed and you will have little or no comeback.
If you want to purchase such items go to a reputable chain store like Broadway or Fortress.
If you want to purchase such items go to a reputable chain store like Broadway or Fortress.
Apr 2, 2015, 4:35 am
#54
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You DO tip at restaurants where your bill is brought to you. But depends on level of service and your mood, tip may range from just the loose change to a few percent. But even at very high end place, I feel that 5% is probably more than enough. There is really no rule.
Apr 2, 2015, 5:28 am
#55
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Good info, thanks for the clarification.
Apr 2, 2015, 5:57 am
#56
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I think it also depends on whether it's a place at which you will be a regular customer, and also whether there's a 10% service charge already included in the bill. I wouldn't generally tip at a place which already had 10% added and where I wasn't intending to be a regular customer unless there had been some exceptional aspect to the service.
And any tip should always be in cash.
And any tip should always be in cash.
Apr 2, 2015, 6:03 am
#57
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I think it also depends on whether it's a place at which you will be a regular customer, and also whether there's a 10% service charge already included in the bill. I wouldn't generally tip at a place which already had 10% added and where I wasn't intending to be a regular customer unless there had been some exceptional aspect to the service.
And any tip should always be in cash.
And any tip should always be in cash.
Apr 2, 2015, 11:18 pm
#58
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Opposite happened to me about fifteen years ago. Got lost somewhere and proceeded to seek the help of a cop. We spent ten minutes trying to communicate with each other in tortured Mandarin until we finally realized that we both spoke English...
Apr 3, 2015, 3:01 am
#59
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A lot has changed in those fifteen years, including the prevalence of English and Mandarin.
Apr 3, 2015, 3:29 am
#60
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Forgetting about the realities of the weather there: It can be very hot and humid in the summer or very chilly and damp with raw wind in the winter (November through March) months. The heat and humidity can make it unpleasant to run around doing tourist stuff while cold periods in winter can be equally unpleasant, especially if you didn't bring winter clothing. Once I was in Hong Kong, IIRC in late November or December, during a particularly bad cold period when locals were being told to check on their elderly relatives and neighbors, and I made the mistake of only bringing a raincoat and a sweater; it was miserable, especially along the water, on the outside deck of the Victoria Ferry, and outside on the rooftop pool deck of the W attempting to admire the view, although on my last day there, I was able to swim in the heated pool so the cold stretch didn't last very long. You need to be prepared and realize that Hong Kong is not tropical.