Chionggirl in Shanghai

I stayed at Largos Hotel, a very boutique hotel located at the heart of Kowloon. Very convenient location near the Jordan MTR station. Because I was alone, and I wasn't entirely holidaying (there was working time), I thought this simple hotel which I booked from asiarooms.com was rather... practical. You decide if you wish to stay there if you do go to Hong Kong.

It costs HKD$440 per night and internet connection is HKD$120 for 24 hours. Which is not that bad actually. Like I said, it's practical, and me being a no-fuss woman, has no complaints. Do bear in mind though, there are no instant coffee, no cable (HK and Chinese tv programmes only), no proper meals (the in-house restaurant closes at 3pm) - but i guess it doesn't matter cos you would probably end up eating out anyway. As for the rest, you can look at the pictures below and decide if you want to stay there...

Hotel Entrance:

Hotel Room for 2 (Standard Suite):

Yes, that is yours truly.. :)

Hong Kong felt like home. I guess it's the way the people does thing, the way they talk, the kind of internet freedom I can enjoy, the way people behave... And of course, the food :) I have decided that if I ever were to need to take a break, I will go to Hong Kong again.

Ok, that's all the updates I have here for Hong Kong. Next post, something about Singaporeans...

(This post was written during my stay in Hong Kong. )

This Chinese work visa process application seemed endless. Even after the previously mentioned visa application, my visa journey did not end there. The reason why I need to leave Shanghai for Hong Kong is because my temporary residence permit is up (yeah, 1 month passes so fast!). So in order for me to stay in Shanghai, I have to exit China, and return with a new permit application, the Z visa application (http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/hzqz/zgqz/t84245.htm), which is the employment/work visa for a period of 3 months, so that i can return to Shanghai to realise the 1-year permit (which my office admin lady has helped me to applied. More updates about that later). The following describes my 'passage' to obtain this visa.

To travel to Hong Kong from Shanghai, the popular mode of transport is Hong Kong Express, that shuttles you to Hong Kong in 2 hours. My company has paid for the air ticket, so pai seh, i wouldn't be able to let you know the price of the air ticket. But you can check out the prices at http://www.hongkongexpress.com

For accomodation, I settled with Largos Hotel, booked via http://www.Asiarooms.com. I chose it because of the rate, as well as its location and convenience, which is at Jordan Road and near Jordan MTR station. And of course, because it is near Women's Street, for my shopping purpose :)

Ok, on to the visa application... Upon arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport, I went to unit A04 at Block A after some asking around. The two guys manning the booth were friendly and helpful with my application.

 

Not much problem there as long as you have the right documents. Do note that if you collect the visa in 3 days, it cost HKD$800. As I was prepared to pay express fees to have the visa done, I have only applied for 2 days away from work (yeah, I am very eager to get back to work, haha!), so I have to pay HKD$1200. The application process was pretty painless with the two guys, so I soon made my way to go to my hotel.

As I was used to the friendly cab prices at Shanghai, I wasn't expecting to pay alot for the cab fare. I was so wrong. When I reach the hotel, the meter came up to HKD$473.50!! :( Yeah. So a word of advice, do your research before you decide to take the cab. The airport has friendly airport shuttle services and trains that will deliver you to your hotel. So do lookout for the City Flyer (https://www.nwstbus.com.hk/home/nwstbus.aspx?intLangID=2) brochure at the airport so that you can save yourself ALOT of money.

The bus stop where I board my CityFlyer Bus to the airport. It cost me HKD$33 compared to the exhorbitant taxi fare I paid...

Having been used to be alone for the past one month or so, I had no problem getting around. I had to adjust my money sense though, haha, cos being so used to the cost of living in Shanghai, Hong Kong is a different thing. But all in all, the cost of things are almost the same as Shanghai, only the cab cost MUCH more... :)

I can't really recall the rest of my experience in HK cos it's been a week and many things have kinda blurred my memory... Yeah, sorry to say, but i tend to have shorter memory nowadays... So here are some pics to whet your appetite...

Lunch at Char Chan Ting (Hong Kong style Cafe)

Yoshinoya localised - hot Ling Maart (Honey lemon)

Quarter Pounder in HK (they don't have it in Singapore nowadays). I went to McDonalds to have Big Breakfast... We don't have it here in Shanghai...

And finally, I am sad to announce that the location where Krispy Kreme used to be at the Hong Kong airport is now replaced by StarBucks Coffee..

The trip to HK was marred by the typhoon that struck on my 2nd day there. It's like what happened to me and my friend and our moms when we were in HK last year as well.  So no, i didn't do any serious shopping, except for 3 pairs of similar shoes I get for HKD$290 from Lady's Street (it's a challenge to find shoes my size in Shanghai).

Oh, and of course, the flight was delayed in HK by and hour due to the winds that was blowing and I arrived in Shanghai a little over midnight. The minute I stepped out of the arrival hall lift, a man came to me and asked me if i need a ride. Assuming that he is a taxi driver, I followed him. And when I saw that it's a private car, I was a little... stunned. But I took it anyway. Yep, i did. Haha... Cos there were not alot of cabs.

It was only when I was on that car that I realised how trusting I was. LOL. What if I were being sent to a place and beaten to death or worse, I wondered as the car zoomed passed the highway. The drier had a lady companion with him, so I thought, I guess I should trust them, and I was also praying very hard that I am not in a baddies car.

I am glad to say that I arrived safely to home, thank God. The trip cost me $200, and after that when I told my colleagues, they told me it shouldn't be that expensive. Oh well. So much for experience. And seriously, I was really bold enough to get on a car in that kind of situation.

Don't go tell my mother. She will kill me if she find out what I did. Hahaha...

Well folks, so much for the HK trip. My life will be very busy in the next few weeks, so I might not be doing as much blog posts. But I will drop snippets whenever I can. The next 'comprehensive' blog post will probably be posted during the 8 days Chinese National Day holiday (Woohoo!). I will document what I do, I try (which most probably will be dvd watching and massaging and shopping! LOL).

Till then! :)

This is a part of the work permit procedure where I need to get out of the country when my Chinese residential permit expires, go apply for a Z-pass in a foreign country, and then return to China.

I am so looking forward to internet freedom and more civilisation! :D Hopefully I am able to get shoes for my size 9 feet.

Yes, you will see write-ups on it and pictures when I am there! 'Later!