Im going to hong kong

DJMorgan

DJMorgan

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Daniel
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Yes..I said hong kong. Now im going next year, hopefully im march, but im just wondering is there any tips anyone can give me? Im hoping to take 3 lenses and a tripod...other than that not much else.

So if anyone can give me any tips, id be grateful.. thank you.

Dan
 
Take passenger ferry to Kowloon, on the Kowloon side you get a great view of the city at night, 8pm daily there is the light display across the harbour. Plenty of places to see this from not far from the ferry terminal.

Another important one is to take the bus up to the Peak (or the tram) and view the city from up high. This is great daytime and night.

And don't forget it's a great place to go shopping for camera equipment :) use the site price.com.hk (you'll have to transalate it to english with google) to find shops offering discounts on kit you want, be prepared to print out in advance the price they offer and take it with you. there are often two prices listed for the same product, one is the price for the official HK version of the product, the other is the lower price for the "water" product, or grey import, usually from Japan. if you're bringing it back to the UK there's usually not much point going for the official HK version.
 
digitalrev have done afew vids about what to see there :)
 
I had four hours in the afternoon a few weeks ago. We took the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui and there was a downpour just as we headed to the ferry terminal. However the weather conditions gave us some nice 'alternative' shots. Following that, we took a taxi to Mong Kok in the early evening. You really must go there, it's mayhem.
 
Probably a statement of the obvious but make sure you have a good wide angle with you, lots of narrow streets with lots to squeeze in. If you have time take the jetfoil over to Macau, interesting place to wander around, different again from HK.

Simon
 
Go to see The Big Buddha at Lantau Island, catch the MTR* then go via the cable car - book your cable car via the internet as the queues to buy tickets can be enormous - http://www.np360.com.hk/en/np360-exp/index.html?gclid=CPSY9c2t5McCFRK3GwodJgkNsw
Get the 'Crystal car' this was good advice we were given as coming back the queues can be enormous, whilst we walked straight onto a 'Crystal car' (they are not as scary as you might think.)

All the markets are a must
Night Market
Ladies Market etc.
The Peak - as mentioned.
Star ferry
Harbour tour
Floating Restaurant (maybe) ?
Stanley Bay

*
MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B, then take Ngong Ping Cable Car, which takes around 25 minutes

Source: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/...buddha-and-po-lin-monastery.jsp#ixzz3l2Dps7pm
 
Avoid all the camera shops in Tsim Sha Tsui, they are all bandits. Fortress is your best bet. Buy an Octopus Card ( stored value for transport) it will save you a lot of time.

Take the Star Ferry to Hung Hom and walk a few hundred yards to the Wampoa, it's a concrete ship in the middle of a housing estate, in reality a shopping centre.

Haze is likely to be a problem at The Peak, unavoidable because of pollution drifting down from mainland China. There isn't much you can do except, if time permits, wait for a clearer day.
 
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if you plan to go to the peak, if it's possible the best time to go is just after heavy rain to wash out some of the smog.
 
I Lived there for three years back in the eighties.
Give 'Joan' in the Pussy cat bar my regards, tell her I'm sorry for not following through on the marriage proposal.....s*it happens.
Back OT, the night markets would make some interesting venues to shoot. I spent too much time trying to re-populate the earth last time I was there and only had a film camera in my down time. Loved HK and spent 90% of my time in the Wanchai. I'd love to go back to see what has changed since we gifted it to the Chinese, having bought it for a substantial amount of heroin......
 
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Wong Tai Sin is worth visiting, locals go there to pray. There are fortune tellers there, lots of people, incense, smoke, etc very photogenic. There is a MT station there, called Wong Tai Sin, easy.

Camera shops in TST - avoid the one on the main strip. The ones in the shopping centres are fine - as long as you're savvy. I'd suggest Man Shing and Wing Shing in Mong Kok. They've got nice retail stores, sales people are knowledgeable and their stuff is genuine. Be aware many shops sell grey imports from Japan, USA etc. which won't worry you at all since you're not looking for a HK warranty, but they're 10-15% lower price the the official HK version. Make sure chargers etc are international so that work between 100-240v.

There are loads of 2nd stores in Sham Tsui Po, prices are generally fair, esp for Japanese main stream items, Lecias and German exotica are sought after and expensive.

There are the outlying islands if you want to see some greenery and wildlife and expats. There is a sizeable european community on some of the islands. Makes a nice trip for a day if you want to recover from the pollution.

I suggest there isn't a huge requirement for a telephoto, especially if it is heavy. Concentrate on a walk about zoom and a low light prime, f1.4 or similar. Perhaps a light wide angle.

Plenty to see, plenty to do.
Enjoy.
 
john-oh said:
Go to see The Big Buddha at Lantau Island, catch the MTR* then go via the cable car - book your cable car via the internet as the queues to buy tickets can be enormous - http://www.np360.com.hk/en/np360-exp/index.html?gclid=CPSY9c2t5McCFRK3GwodJgkNsw
Get the 'Crystal car' this was good advice we were given as coming back the queues can be enormous, whilst we walked straight onto a 'Crystal car' (they are not as scary as you might think.)

All the markets are a must
Night Market
Ladies Market etc.
The Peak - as mentioned.
Star ferry
Harbour tour
Floating Restaurant (maybe) ?
Stanley Bay

*
MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B, then take Ngong Ping Cable Car, which takes around 25 minutes

Source: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/...buddha-and-po-lin-monastery.jsp#ixzz3l2Dps7pm
Click to expand...
The cable car is shut through Sept for maintenance, as I found out last week :(

Edit - just re read the op and I see you're going in March! Should be finished and open by then!
 
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If you don't mind a bit of a hike.... Tai Long Wan beach.

It's pretty remote so going at the weekend would be best when the locals may also be heading out that way. March is not a bad time of year to go for a hike in HK as it wont be too hot or humid.
 
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Hi everyone thank you for your comments :)

Sorry its taken me forever to get back to you all. I`ll note down some of the places you have all suggested :) Has anyone got suggestions in terms of taking gear over? Is there a specfic law or way or doing these things? The only "abroad" place ive been to was the east med in 2010, which I took my d3000 to be on the safe side. Thank you either way guys hope your all well.
 
Can't answer about the gear procedure (just took a D5100) but I'd add a visit to Stanley is good if you have the time. Partly for the market, partly for the bus ride which takes you across the island and has some good views. And I'd second Macau--one of the craziest places I've been to, and quite an experience! As long as you aren't claustrophobic. :)
 
DJMorgan said:
Hi everyone thank you for your comments :)

Sorry its taken me forever to get back to you all. I`ll note down some of the places you have all suggested :) Has anyone got suggestions in terms of taking gear over? Is there a specfic law or way or doing these things? The only "abroad" place ive been to was the east med in 2010, which I took my d3000 to be on the safe side. Thank you either way guys hope your all well.
Click to expand...
The only 'law' is JFDI. Pack your camera bag, put it on your shoulder, hand it over for X-ray at the airport, put it in the overhead locker on the plane, don't forget it when you land, use it lots....
It may be worth having copies of the receipts for whatever you're taking just in case you get stopped when coming back into the UK. This is really only needed if you're going somewhere where you might be able to buy things considerably cheaper than in the UK which you do seem to be......
 
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Tin Cheung is a good camera shop to check out. They have a shop in Windsor House, CWB and K11 Art Mall, TST. You can buy all manner of the big brands as well as Voigtlander, Leica all the way up to Hassleblad.
Customs will not care what gear you bring or take back on the HK side.The place is full of incredibly wealthy tourists from all countries buying countless bits and bobs.You will never see so many Rolex's and dads taking photos of their kids with 1Dxs'
An Octopus card is a must as stated above. You can buy your groceries and tickets and entry to most places with that card. Like how the Oyster card in London should be. It's 100HKD for a single to use the airport express. That gets you to Central, on HK Island (Where the majority of the tourist friendly action is). Cabs are very cheap. far easier than risking your life on minibuses.
Drink bottled water and typically don't mess around eating food for under 60HKD unless you fancy making friends with your toilet for some of your trip.
Dragons back is a nice easy accessable hike that all the taxi drivers know. The views are pretty of the surrounding islands and local HKers wearing ridiculous hiking gear for a easy stroll.

PM me if you need any further info. I just moved back this summer after spending the past 3 years working there!
 
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