As most holidays go, this one was booked in advance, more than one month before our flight. But hopes of a free and easy holiday were dashed when the tour agency ran out of tickets. So we settled on a tour, which does have its privileges - it is easier to get tickets, there is less headache over where to go, and it allows one to meet new people and make new friends.
Unfortunately, there is the mandatory excursion to shops selling silk, jewellery and traditional chinese medicine where zealous salepeople literally shove products into your face; hidden costs for meals and excursions not covered in the original package; and, in my case, the local tour guide trying to make a quick buck by selling keychains, local food, and photographs.
Macau and Zhu Hai
The itenary brought us from Singapore to Macau, then to Zhu Hai, and finally back to HK in 3 days. This meant that proportionately, a lot of time was spent travelling compared to actually seeing the attractions.
The journey began with a morning flight from Changi to HK on Cathay Pacific. We arrived around noontime, which allowed us some time to indulge in some cantonese noodles and porridge before our transfer to Macau. The food filled our famished stomachs, perhaps a little too fully, as I felt slightly sick along on the hour long ferry ride. As there was no entertainment on board, I drifted in and out of sleep, feeling a bit nauseous. Unsurprisingly, I was relieved when the ferry finally docked at Macau harbour.
The next day, we were driven to the border between Macau and Zhu Hai where we had to spend more than an hour queueing to cross customs. At Zhu Hai it was another 1 hr ferry ride back to HK.
Of course, we did visit several attractions en route, including the Venetian, Ah Ma temple, and the Ruins of St Paul's at Macau; and the "Fisher Girl" statue and ShiJing Mountain in Zhu Hai.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a place where everyone and everything speaks Cantonese, and to someone who hardly knows any, approaching strangers for directions can be a nightmare. My mum once tried to get a shopkeeper to explain to something to her in Chinese, and the shopkeeper fumbled with the words for 5 mins. Nothing can describe the look on his face when my mum finally revealed that she understood Cantonese.
I picked up a few Cantonese phrases that might come in useful in Singapore. 'ngor m siu tng' means "I don't understand", 'do ze' means "thank you", 'm goi' means "excuse me" while 'leng zai' means "handsome boy". For reasons I don't quite understand, all male shoppers in HK are called 'leng zai' while the girls are called 'leng noi'.
I loved the food in Hong Kong, especially the doubly boiled soups and the dim sum. They do roasted meat well too.
Farewell
I'm too lazy to describe in more detail. It's time for the next blog post alr! For more information (and pictures), please visit my sister's blog
Unfortunately, there is the mandatory excursion to shops selling silk, jewellery and traditional chinese medicine where zealous salepeople literally shove products into your face; hidden costs for meals and excursions not covered in the original package; and, in my case, the local tour guide trying to make a quick buck by selling keychains, local food, and photographs.
Macau and Zhu Hai
The itenary brought us from Singapore to Macau, then to Zhu Hai, and finally back to HK in 3 days. This meant that proportionately, a lot of time was spent travelling compared to actually seeing the attractions.
The journey began with a morning flight from Changi to HK on Cathay Pacific. We arrived around noontime, which allowed us some time to indulge in some cantonese noodles and porridge before our transfer to Macau. The food filled our famished stomachs, perhaps a little too fully, as I felt slightly sick along on the hour long ferry ride. As there was no entertainment on board, I drifted in and out of sleep, feeling a bit nauseous. Unsurprisingly, I was relieved when the ferry finally docked at Macau harbour.
The next day, we were driven to the border between Macau and Zhu Hai where we had to spend more than an hour queueing to cross customs. At Zhu Hai it was another 1 hr ferry ride back to HK.
Of course, we did visit several attractions en route, including the Venetian, Ah Ma temple, and the Ruins of St Paul's at Macau; and the "Fisher Girl" statue and ShiJing Mountain in Zhu Hai.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a place where everyone and everything speaks Cantonese, and to someone who hardly knows any, approaching strangers for directions can be a nightmare. My mum once tried to get a shopkeeper to explain to something to her in Chinese, and the shopkeeper fumbled with the words for 5 mins. Nothing can describe the look on his face when my mum finally revealed that she understood Cantonese.
I picked up a few Cantonese phrases that might come in useful in Singapore. 'ngor m siu tng' means "I don't understand", 'do ze' means "thank you", 'm goi' means "excuse me" while 'leng zai' means "handsome boy". For reasons I don't quite understand, all male shoppers in HK are called 'leng zai' while the girls are called 'leng noi'.
I loved the food in Hong Kong, especially the doubly boiled soups and the dim sum. They do roasted meat well too.
Farewell
I'm too lazy to describe in more detail. It's time for the next blog post alr! For more information (and pictures), please visit my sister's blog
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