Hong Kong - To Do 04May2014 (298 Electronic Center, Toy Alley, Electronic Street, Gold Fish Street, Ocean Park)

HKG - To Stay
HKG - To Do 
HKG - To Eat

HKG - To Do
(4thMay2014) 
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HKG Arrival Day Itinerary 
298 electronic center

(Electronic Shopping located nearest to Park Lane Hotel. Yet to be reviewed)
Opens from late morning. 11am and after.

Click here for ABBA location of 298 Electronic Center located 1.1km from Park Lane Hotel.
For a nearby location without having to venture all the way to Sham Shui Po (the electronics district), this would be the nearest, located to Park Lane Hotel. 298 does have a reduced variety and price point wise, it's edged out slightly to things sold at Sham Shui Po. 

For a quick and convenient shopping location, this would be it.
Click here for ABBA location of 298 Electronic Center located 1.1km from Park Lane Hotel.

Toy Alley
(Tai Yuen Street located at Wan Chai MTR)

Click here for ABBA location of Toy Alley from Wan Chai MTR station
Located in front of Wan Chai MTR, exit 3A, located one stop away from Causewaybay, this single street, was advertised on sites to be a great throw back location, of to-see toys from the 80s.

However that wasn't really the case. Firstly the alley consists of a mere 8 shops or so in total! Within it, a sprinkling of clothes stores in between.

*old school racing game pictured on the left*

As for throwback 80s toys, there were probably about two finds that rung a sense of nostalgia. The rest of the 'retro toys', could be found in almost any of Singapore's neighborhood stores.

With that said,this location is a mix of bootleg, collectables, originals products, with a larger selection pandering towards car and train collectors. You can be lucky to find a few gems here.

However, in my opinion, for the real toy alley experience, with loads of value deals, wholesale, knock offs and some original stuff, one had better head off to (Sham Shui Po MTR station) Fuk Wing Street. Click here for ABBA Details and other location for toys and collectables.

Click here for ABBA location of Toy Alley from Wan Chai MTR station

Apliu Street
(Electronics street located at Sham Shui Po)

 

Exit from Sham Shui Po MTR Exit C2 or A2 brings you to Apliu Street Click here for ABBA location

*pictured right. Light up charging USB cables for HKD15 each*

Located in the heart of the computer district, this open street market offers a load of trinkets to be sold for relatively cheap. LEDs, Handphone accessories, batteries, sockets, used power tools and much more. Prices for HP chargers and light up charging wires go for about HKD60 and HKD15 respectively.

So far my purchases are working fine, but the light up charging wires, though cool, does make the room light up like a disco pub. They are quite bright.

Shared by crew, street buys are said to be cheaper than those found in Golden Computer Center.

 *Look for this uncle along Apilu Street. He sells pseudo Go-Pro for approx 350HKD and other HD car camera for 180HKD.*

Exit from Sham Shui Po MTR Exit C2 or A2 brings you to Apliu Street Click here for ABBA location

Tung Choi Street
(Goldfish Street located at Prince Edward MTR)

 (Located at Prince Edward MTR, nearest Exit B2 will get you closest to Tung Choi Street.)
Click here for ABBA location of Tung Choi Street. I had walked from Apliu street to Goldfish Street.

An entire street dedicated to aquarium lovers. If you're not a fish keeper or lover of aquariums, this is definitely not the place for you. All manner of product, feeds and fishes not limited just to goldfish alone. It's just interesting to see how the fishes are displayed in little take away plastic bags for sale.

Point of interest, that which is not commonly seen are the few reptile shops in this street. Most of which are selling exotic turtles, with some having snakes and chameleons.

*Shot on 23rdMarch2018

Not one of the most happening of places until by chance, some Hong Kong Celebrities (Maggie Shiu) and 'friend' (told by others he too is a known and good actor too) are doing their filming in the streets of Tung Choi. Things just got interesting.

another Celebrity sighting on the same day in Causeway Bay.

*Promoters looking on as the starlet claims the lime light*




located right beside the Celebrity Phone launch was a protest...

 

HKG Return-Day. Day1 Itinerary
Ocean Park


Ticketing and Getting There

Tickets can be Pre-purchased at hotel's concierge to avoid long queues. HKD320/Adult.
Its very easy to get to ocean park via taxi. A short 5-10min drive and HKD50 would be about the ball park figure. However getting back is a bit of a hassle. Taxis are available but almost all, only want to go to Kowloon side.
Click here for ABBA location of Ocean Park from Park Lane Hotel

Return Journey Getting back to Park Lane Hotel requires one to take bus 629 which stops only at Admiralty MTR. There's only one bus and it's relatively straight forward.
A MTR Station at ocean park is still under construction.

Ocean Park

Click here for ABBA details on Ocean Park

Ocean Park, sits atop of the peaks, and houses a relatively wide selection of carnival rides and palour games, with an unbeatable view. As its names suggests, it really is known more for its various sea creature exhibits than anything else. 

 

The big carne-rides are more like a accompaniment to break to monotony of animal sight seeing. However, the view and hair raising points of the rides, some of which brings you cliff side are not to be missed. Maybe its better to come here than to go to the peak for a view(Click to see ABBA review of the Peak).

Ocean Park, by comparison of price point and expectations is not as refined as other big game parks found abroad. The rides are themed very loosely together and their park decorations and design lack refinement. The park's design layout requires quite a fair bit of double backing and if it rains, there is little shelter provided whilst queuing up for sheltered attractions.

However, their sea creature displays are world class and top notch. The well thought out displays really allow you to get up close with the sea creatures. Stands outs are those pictured below. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

  *Spotted Seal*

 *Sturgeons*

  *The graceful Jellyfish*

*Panda as usual are sleeping*

*Special mention goes to the gold fish exhibit which shows what champion bread gold fish can really look like.*

A great place to go in a group with both fast and slow paced activities for all to partake in. Restaurant foods are very pricy at about HKD180 for a small dish. There are cheaper alternatives on the park grounds.

There were dolphin shows and a laser light show but was advice that if you've seen the shows in Seaworld or lightshows in Singapore, it about the same or lacking slightly. Better to avoid these shows or risk getting stuck in crowds when trying to leave the park.
Getting Back:
Taxi's mostly want passengers to Kowloon side. Taking a bus is probably your only option.Return Journey Getting back to Park Lane Hotel requires one to take bus 629 which stops only at Admiralty MTR. There's only one bus and it's relatively straight forward.
A MTR Station at ocean park is still under construction.
ABBATip:
To avoid a particular demographic of tourist, get into the park early. Take the cable car straight to the top and hit the rides first. You'll have zero to minimal wait time and enjoy the sheltered displays later on in the day.
Queues and tourist demographic changes in the afternoon so plan your day accordingly.

Click here for ABBA details on Ocean Park
Click here for ABBA location of Ocean Park from Park Lane Hotel