Hong Kong no Phooey TR (Apr 2012)! The Yee's have it....TR finish #1101, 07/09

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)

Where there are Vegans, there is bound to be vegan food. And have a look at some of these!!


I headed straight for the Soy-A-lent Green place. The name just kept a-calling me!

The arancini...

...and the rice paper rolls.

And I was instantly also attracted to the Eggrolls/Spring Rolls.

These are all vegan gluten free.

This is a vegan soy cheesecake.

I saw this produce and wanted to take a picture. I loved the colours and it did suit a Scav hunt category.

The owner told me to take all the shots I wanted...

...because she wanted me to send them to her as well! So, I obliged with the mandatory promotional shots to make sure I got product placement right!

When I moved to go, she gave me a couple of things. It's not much...but I got 'paid' in an organic banana and two organic strawberries. I figured I had about $4 worth right here!

Which reminds me....I need to send them to her.



I guess it was a pretty good day when you considered I was only heading out for a Hay Ride!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Nice pics, Oh the cow, looked like you disturbed his lunch?

 

[usnuzuloose]

I am sorry never been to that disney so I cant help you there. But I can enjoy reading it.

 

[dgbg100106]

looks like the Hay Ride panned out for you....

The pictures are awesome!

 

[franandaj]

Nice pictures! What I think is so funny is that you are so careful not to include pictures of people of whom you don't have permission from them, but then you post pictures of hundreds of strangers....Did you get their permission?

 

[Mum from oz]

Great photos, especially the vegan food porn. Who ever thought I'd be ogling vegan food!

 

[dgbg100106]

Great photos, especially the vegan food porn. Who ever thought I'd be ogling vegan food!

 

[skier_pete]

Don't do it...the vegans are tricking you...it's made from PEOPLE!!!!

Sorry...seventies Chuck Heston flashback there.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice pics, Oh the cow, looked like you disturbed his lunch?

Wasn't me.....might have been the people inside the barn....milking HER!!!

I am sorry never been to that disney so I cant help you there. But I can enjoy reading it.

That's okay. Hang around for the hayride!

looks like the Hay Ride panned out for you....

The pictures are awesome!

Thanks! I have a habit of just falling into things when I go Disboard photo scav hunting. The festivals? Fell into the category of Fall (er...Spring) Fair.

Nice pictures! What I think is so funny is that you are so careful not to include pictures of people of whom you don't have permission from them, but then you post pictures of hundreds of strangers....Did you get their permission?

I know...crazy, right? Give me 10 years or so....I'm sure I'll get over the feeling!

Great photos, especially the vegan food porn. Who ever thought I'd be ogling vegan food!

Shhhh....don't tell anyone....but I still enjoy eating at the Hari Krishna restaurant in Melbourne (Gopal's). The vegetarian lasagne is just delicious!

Don't do it...the vegans are tricking you...it's made from PEOPLE!!!!

Sorry...seventies Chuck Heston flashback there.

Yes...that was my first thought too!

 

[PrincessInOz]

”Get Your Phacts first, then you can DIStort them”…a little Mark Twain wisdom....It’s Disney Phirst!


“Get your facts first, then you can distort them as much as you please” Mark Twain


I'm taking inspiration from a little Mark Twain wisdom today.

It turns out that I should have checked some pertinent ‘phacts’ about my travel period. Turns out that Easter Sunday falls on the 8th April. I checked the public holiday list in Hong Kong and it would appear that holidays are planned for the 6th, 7th and 9th of April.
Plus it seems like Wednesday the 4th April will be the Ching Ming festival, the day for mourning the dead.


I figure that it may be worth staying AWAY from Disney on those days.

I totally agree with you all about Disney on day phat….but given the way the public holidays have panned out, I think its probably more prudent if we do Disney phirst.
And I have to keep telling DH that this is a holiday to Hong Kong; NOT a Disney holiday.


Our accommodation split stay will look something like this:

• March 31 – April 3: HK Disneyland Resort for 3 nights
• April 3 – April 11: HK hotel (possibly Kowloon) for 8 nights

I’ve contacted my TA at Small World Vacations….she does not book for Hong Kong. So I’m left to research and make the bookings myself.

I’ve followed Zaccy’s advice and looked at purchasing Magic Access. The lowest access provides me with 5% off accommodation; to a maximum of 25% discount. So, it’s definitely something that I’m considering.

Fuzzy Disney Maths (FDM) works out if I’m going to be using the 20% discount for 2 rooms.

• I would need to purchase the Gold Cover Magic Access in order to get the 20% off accommodation, which would translate to about AU$200.
• A two day ticket is AU$60; I’ve checked the block out dates for the Gold Cover and the two days that I’m planning on being in Disney are not blocked out.
• FDM works out even better when I start looking at food and merchandising discounts.

So, I would be paying an additional AU$150 to get the Gold Magic Access but would breakeven via accommodation discounting for two rooms. I would definitely be better off through additional food and merchandising purchases.


However, I’ve checked out the current offers on the HK Disneyland website. They are offering 20% off if you stay 3 nights or longer. This offer applies between now and December 15.

I’m hoping that either this offer is extended or a similar offer made to cover my travel period. If this happens, then I won't need to get the Magic Access because I'll get the 20% discount and buy my own 2 day ticket.

The $150 (and 20% discount on accommodation) would go a long way towards food and souvenirs. Don't you just love FDM???

Looks like I’ll be waiting a bit before confirming the Disney accommodation part.

 

[skiingfast]

So is selling DLHK to DH really a phatter chance than selling a HK trip?

 

[franandaj]

Don't know what to say other than, perhaps booking trips before coffee on a whim is a good plan that way you can check out all the angles of when you're going and stuff! I'm sure you've said this to yourself! But it sounds like you have everything under control.

Just wait until you read the update I'm about to post on my TR!

 

[PrincessInOz]

So is selling DLHK to DH really a phatter chance than selling a HK trip?

You know how I've been rolling with my ph-rasing on this PTR? (Work with me here)....

I would have thought that my chance of selling a DLHK trip to DH would have been buckleys to none. With the ph-rasing...this would equate to "*****leys to phone!"

Don't know what to say other than, perhaps booking trips before coffee on a whim is a good plan that way you can check out all the angles of when you're going and stuff! I'm sure you've said this to yourself! But it sounds like you have everything under control.

Just wait until you read the update I'm about to post on my TR!

The good thing about this trip is that April 2012.....seems so far away!
I don't think the planning panic will set in until the other side of Christmas.....and only before coffee!

 

[queenie82]

Are you saying your DH doesn't see THROUGH the ph-raising......

Or maybe just like you mess with him when he misplaces something....
He messes with you making you go through all this to get to go somewhere in particular...



As for holidays....
I didn't have the holiday booked yet...but I went through the hassle of working my itinerary around Chinese new year when I went as THAT was when the deal was for/starting....because.....I ....was....going....one....way....or....another

But seriously. You have to avoid weekends and holidays. So I'm glad you can sort that

 

[queenie82]

Haven't gone to the link but just spotted this.....

Experienced hikers as young as 12 years old can now explore nature for FREE with Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Guided Hiking Tours featuring five themed trails. This is the perfect opportunity to explore the bare wonders and lush greens of Asia’s World City in the company of experienced local hikers. For more info on the trails and bookings, visit http://www.discoverhongkong.com/promotions/hikes_walks/eng/pages/guidedHikingTours.pdf

It's only a free for now promo...
Bit just thought it might spark an idea...

 

[*~*stacey*~*]

Hello I'm jumping in a little late (but better than never right).

Your pre-trip report is making me all excited because I'm going to Hong Kong in just over 2 weeks

Just some advice with the hotel discount, they do have an allocation that exhausts very quickly. I called up to book my accommodation while they had two different offers going on and both were unavailable as they were full. However I would recommend calling to book anyway as when I was online it was only sea view rooms at the Hollywood Hotel (which for two students is a little steep) however as I was speaking to the booking people someone cancelled their garden view room and she was able to slot us right in there.

The booking line is also quite helpful with the magic access cards (or whatever they are called now) as you need your access number to get the discount through online bookings but since we live in Australia they can't ship them here. If you call up they will set aside a card for you and apply the discount to your room. Also if you call you can pay in advance to take advantage of exchange rates.

Anyway can't wait for the next post in the series and if you have any questions just ask and I'll try to help since I've just gone through the whole booking adventure.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Are you saying your DH doesn't see THROUGH the ph-raising......

Or maybe just like you mess with him when he misplaces something....
He messes with you making you go through all this to get to go somewhere in particular...

DH and I are actually quite excited about heading to HK. It is somewhere new for us.

Haven't gone to the link but just spotted this.....

Experienced hikers as young as 12 years old can now explore nature for FREE with Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Guided Hiking Tours featuring five themed trails. This is the perfect opportunity to explore the bare wonders and lush greens of Asia’s World City in the company of experienced local hikers. For more info on the trails and bookings, visit http://www.discoverhongkong.com/promotions/hikes_walks/eng/pages/guidedHikingTours.pdf

It's only a free for now promo...
Bit just thought it might spark an idea...

Thanks. DS is still 11, so he may not be welcomed on one of these. But I'll take inspiration!

Hello I'm jumping in a little late (but better than never right).

Your pre-trip report is making me all excited because I'm going to Hong Kong in just over 2 weeks

Just some advice with the hotel discount, they do have an allocation that exhausts very quickly. I called up to book my accommodation while they had two different offers going on and both were unavailable as they were full. However I would recommend calling to book anyway as when I was online it was only sea view rooms at the Hollywood Hotel (which for two students is a little steep) however as I was speaking to the booking people someone cancelled their garden view room and she was able to slot us right in there.

The booking line is also quite helpful with the magic access cards (or whatever they are called now) as you need your access number to get the discount through online bookings but since we live in Australia they can't ship them here. If you call up they will set aside a card for you and apply the discount to your room. Also if you call you can pay in advance to take advantage of exchange rates.

Anyway can't wait for the next post in the series and if you have any questions just ask and I'll try to help since I've just gone through the whole booking adventure.

Hi Stacey! Welcome to the PTR and thanks for jumping in.

Yes....I'm hoping to sort out the Disney accommodation very very soon.

 

[PrincessInOz]

“Room Service? Send up a larger room.”…..Going with the ph-low; Groucho Marx style


“Room Service? Send up a larger room.” Groucho Marx

Marx Brothers’ fans will recognize the Groucho Marx line from ‘A Night at the Opera’. If you’ve ever watched this movie, I think this line was uttered in the StateRoom scene where every man, his dog and his sheep were stowing away on the boat in a room way too small for that many people. You think it funny?


I think not! But then, I’m the one that has to live in that room!


I’ve been spending the last couple of weeks pulling in some internet time researching hotel accommodation in Hong Kong. Turns out, with more than 50,000 rooms available, I can’t seem to find any room that is “Value for Money”. And it would seem that room real estate in Hong Kong would rival that in New York city.

S-M-A-L-L and E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. (No offence intended to any Nu Yoickers reading this.)

Heck! Right now, I’d settle for a room capable of sleeping 3 people without having to have the 3rd person sleep on an airbed on the floor!

By the way, for anyone interested, I resorted to TripAdvisor, Expedia, Virtual Tourist and Lonely Planet for researching rooms.
For the record, I looked at the following hotels:

• Marco Polo
• Langham Hotel
• Harbour Grand Kowloon
• Park Royal Hotel (Sha Tin)
• Chi Residences
• City View Hong Kong

So, I’ve turned to the ‘experts’ for some help. Afterall, my parents and the family TA have traveled together to Hong Kong AND shared a room as well. If they could find a hotel that sleeps 3, they must exist!


The experts have recommended the Harbour Plaza Metropolis. It’s rated 78 out of 312 Hong Kong hotels by Trip Advisor; 34 out of 243 hotels by Virtual Tourist and a score of 4.3 out of 5 on Expedia. Lonely Planet have yet to stay there.

Hey…at least it is rating in the sub ‘phat’-ties on Trip Advisor!


I’m checking with the family TA on this one….on strict instruction from she who must be obeyed. Yes, there is someone that outranks me….my mother!
My mother has asked that I chat with the family TA to see what rate she can get so that I can then compare it against the on-line price (and that includes the Disney hotel as well!).


If the price is right, I’m definitely going with the ph-low on this one. By the time we get there, I hope that I won’t be the one picking up the phone to room service with an order for a larger room!







ps. If there are any readers and lurkers out there that have gone to Hong Kong, feel ph-ree to post your favourite place on here. There is a distinct lack of information about where to stay in Hong Kong on the Dis. I know...I know....it is about HK Disneyland and we know all about the hotels there....but still. It is definitely time that we try to address this oversight for the rest of Hong Kong!

 

[shushh]

Princess... I am so behind that I have no hope of reading everything. I can however write about where we stayed!

We stayed at Cosmo Hotel which was about $99 per night (I think! I have to check..) but that included breakfast and free wi-fi. It is in the Wan Chai area. A little away from everything but still within easy walking distance. ie not good for summer but great for other seasons. They have free frequent shuttles to the main attractions/main train stations and has great public transport right at their doorstep eg direct bus to The Peak, Stanley markets, etc.

Rooms are very small. You get discounts for staying longer and the best rates I got was emailing the hotel direct. It was cheaper than the hotels website. Don't ask me why/how.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Hotels that dont accomodate three? WTH?