Published by Johnny on August 05, 2011
Macau, ‘Vegas of the East’, lies very close to Hong Kong, and so most tourists nip on a ferry for day at this place and then make their way back to the city. A day will give you enough time to get a decent feel for Macau, see the main sights and you can be back on Hong Kong Island for an evening cocktail – perfect.
Macau was formerly a Portuguese colony so you’ll get to know all about the Portuguese rich and varied heritage. One day is certainly enough if you plan your day well, so ready up folks. Check out the weather before you head off on your journey too, as Macau has one of East Asia’s most beautiful beaches so if the weather is good to you make sure you have your speedos at the ready.
GETTING THERE: There are an endless parade ferries to take you to Macau from Hong Kong. Depending on the day the ticket prices for a ferry ride to Macau range from from $20-$25. As Macau is a very small place, taxi fares never really exceed $5 which is a welcome change from Hong Kong. But, if you have the energy to travel on foot, then there is no better way to explore Macau. The ferries run 24 hours so if you’re day-tripping you can head over early and come back around midnight giving you a full day to enjoy this cracking little place – don’t forget you need your passport to get in.
 Hong Kong Macau Ferry DAY TRIP:
MORNING: After brekky on the ferry make your way to the Macau Tower, the 11th highest structure in the world. From the top (it costs around $10 to get to the top) you get to see an amazing bird’s eye view of Macau. Better still is Bungee Jump – considered to be the highest skyjump in the world at 233 meters. This will set you back a painful $300 but the kudos from your friends will be priceless!
 Macau Tower AFTERNOON: After your heart-attack inducing morning make your way towards the famous Fisherman’s wharf (a ‘theme’ park in its truest sense, with a tiny version of Cape Town, Venicee tc) for some great photo opportunities. Then head towards the Hac Sa Beach which is considered to be Macau’s most beautiful beach. Take a short rest and have your lunch. There are a number of awesome cheap restaurants from where you can choose from. Macau is far from cheap so the restaurants can get a little pricey but if you’re careful and try to eat on the street side stalls you can get your fill for less than $4.
 Fisherman's Wharf at night Well rested and fed, now make your way to the beautiful museums and some historic places. Most of them show off the rich cultural heritage of the Portuguese people. The historic ruin of St. Paul’s Church, the Monte Fortress and the Macau Museum lies in close proximity to each other so head over that way and getting your walking boots on. Take a walk next along the Avenida de Almeida Ribiero.
 St Paul's Church Macau EVENING: After taking your tea, head over to the casinos and try your luck there. Don’t miss out on the Sands casino, sign-up for a (free) membership and you get one free whirl on a game which has a top price of $20,000 – worth a shot (needless to say, I didn’t win anything). For plush surroundings head to the New Lisboa or the Wynn. I was in love with these two places on my very first visit. Don’t worry about the cash situation, it’s fine to wander around the casinos without spending a penny. Just absorb the atmosphere and spare a thought for all the people losing fortunes around you :S
 MGM in Macau  Macau Casinos at night Macau may be small but it packs a punch and it certainly warrants a day or two of your time when you’re in the region. Despite its proximity to Hong Kong, it has a completely different feel, one which you can’t fail to enjoy. Have fun and happy travels.
Tags: China, hong kong, macau
Published by Johnny on May 10, 2011
Hong Kong’s tourism industry is booming and it’s easy to see why. As I mentioned in my previous Hong Kong article, you need 3 or 4 days to truly appreciate everything that Hong Kong has to offer – when you’re here, try not to miss any of the following:
The Big Buddha: Located on Lantau island near the airport, this is the largest sitting Buddha in the world, and arguably Hong Kong’s most famous tourist attraction. You can take the subway directly to the island (about 30 mins from the city centre, $2)or jump on a ferry from Victoria harbour (from Victoria harbour, takes 1 hour, $4).
Once you arrive on Lantau island, to get to the Big Buddha you either take…
- the bus (cheapest option – $3 or $4 USD, takes about 40 mins)
- the cable car (awesome views, 20 mins – about $11 USD, my recommendation)
- walk but it’s far and steep so bring walking shoes and arrive early. I guess it takes 3 or 4 hours so kudos to anyone who does this!
Also, from Lantau island you can also visit Tai-O fisihing village, a traditional village about 30 mins away from the Big Buddha by bus. Great photo opportunities and if you’re lucky you can jump on a boat for a tour of the old town and see some Chinese pink dolphins (they were apparently sleeping when I went!)
The Peak: There are 2 amazing views of Hong Kong, one from Victoria harbour and one from here. On Hong Kong island, you take the old tram to a large viewing area of the whole of Hong Kong, it’s a breathtaking view from the top so make sure your camera is charged!
 The view from the peak Victoria Harbour and light show: Along with the peak, this is the other traditional view of Hong Kong. Arrive on the Hong Kong island side, along the Avenue of the Stars, around 7pm and see the mesmerizing HK skyline in all its glory. At 8pm every evening, they have a light show for 15 minutes with a lot of the sky scrapers shooting lasers across the island, it’s not going to rock your world but skyline alone will hold your gaze for a longtime – seriously beautiful.
10,000 Buddhas Monastery: Found at the Sha Tin, it’s not actually a monastery! But it does have over 10,000 buddhas. It’s not massive and it’s not overtly ornate but there is something special in simply looking at the vast numbers of Buddhas on show, well worth an hour or two of your time.
Junk or Starferry boat trip: A trip on the Star Ferry is listed in Time Magazine as one of the 50 things to do in your life, I wouldn’t quite go that far but it is a quaint little journey. Costs around $4 USD and takes around 20 minutes, it offers great views of the harbour and it’s a box you need to tick, so get down there and jump on board.
Day trip to Macau: When planning your HK trip, factor in a day trip (or one day & one night) to this little gem. Vegas of the East is waiting hungrily for your cash 
Shopping in Mong Kok: Mong Kok, TST, anywhere in HK really – this place is a shopper’s paradise. You can’t turn a corner without seeing another Luis Vuitton store or huge shopping mall. People are literally queuing up to enter shops and the hordes can’t get rid of their money fast enough. If you’re on a backpacker’s budget, you can window shop for hours. Around Mong Kok, there are street stalls galore – fake bags, watches, football shirts, sunglasses… eat your heart out Khao San Road, this place has you beaten!
Golden Temple of Chi Lin Nunnery: I was lucky enough for a couch surfer to bring me here otherwise I would have missed it, similar in stature to the Golden Pavillion in Kyoto, Japan, this small temple complex offers genuine respite from the chaos that grips Hong Kong all day long. It’s beautiful, serene and yet another great HK photo op! Find it at Diamon Hill in Kowloon.
There’s so much to do in Hong Kong, it’s difficult to choose what to see and what not to. But if you stick roughly to these gems, then you’re guaranteed a great time. Hong Kong really surprised me with it’s diversity of attractions so I hope you guys all love it as much as I did – happy travels!
Tags: China, hong kong, travel guide
Published by Johnny on May 09, 2011
A former dependant of the UK and now under Chinese rule, the proud Honk Kong inhabitants consider themselves Hong Kongese, and you’d be a brave person to insist that wasn’t the case!
Hong Kong is a place like no other, a place that clearly shows signs of their former British rule with Baker Street, St George Street and Victoria harbour to name but a few of the old colonial names still kicking around, but one that still proudly plays host to endless Chinese customs, temples and cuisine. It’s truly a city of contrast and one that if you throw you’re self into, you can’t fail to be captivated by all it has to offer. Let’s have a look at what there is for backpackers to see and do in this fascinating place:
How long should you spend in Hong Kong? When you hear the population of Hong Kong is 7,000,000 it’s forgivable to think this is a huge place… it’s not. Hong Kong is city that grows ‘up’ and not ‘out’ – sections of HK are some of the most densely populated places in the world – there are endless skyscrapers to accommodate everyone and the living spaces are tiny. With that being said, 3 days or so is easily enough time to tick off all the main tourist attractions while still getting a feeling of the real Hong Kong.
Is Hong Kong as expensive as people say? In a word, no. Of course it’s not Vietnam or Cambodia but if you stay away from the booze (come on, you can do it – it’s only 3 days!) and eat wisely, you can certainly get by on $30 USD a day including cheap accommodation (Chingkat masnsions – suitably disgusting and about $8 a night, bargain), public transport and entrance fees.
What language do people speak in Hong Kong? Strictly speaking its Cantonese but realistically it’s Hong Kongese, their own take on Cantonese. However, due to HK being the 4 largest financial centre in the world English is widespread and communication, generally, won’t be a problem.
How do I get around Hong Kong? Public transport here is great, perhaps the best I have ever used. There are 13 subway lines, countless ferries, a comprehensive tram system and a huge bus network – all complete with helpful information kiosks. It’s so simple to get around, you’ll feel like you’re cheating on your travels! Also, you can buy an ‘Octopus’ card for around $8 USD (you get it back when you leave) which you top-up with credit and scan with each journey you take. It’s easy, faster and cheaper than paying in cash – you can even top up with excess cash and pay for your goods in 7/11 etc, now that’s development!
Do I need a visa for Hong Kong? Most EU, North American and Australian and NZ passport holders get a visa on arrival so no stress there. If you fall outside this bunch, then you may need to arrange a visa prior to your arrival, like my Ukrainian friend had to do – I hate beaureucracy!
Can I visit China while I’m in Hong Kong? No is the simple answer. If you have already got your Chinese visa before you arrived in HK, then you can. But if you’re in HK, loving the Chinese vibe and fancy a quick trip to the mainland then I’m afraid it’s not that easy. Chinese visas always require a bit of work so plan ahead or don’t even think about it.
If you guys have any more questions about Hong Kong, just ask me below or send me an email and I’ll do my best to answer you. If you wanna know what awesome things there are to see and do in Hong Kong, check out the next article – happy travels!
Tags: China, hong kong, travel guide
Published by Johnny on November 06, 2010
The one recurring feature of a long backpacking stint (aside from dirty laundry and malnutrition) is public bloody transport. As any traveler can testify when you get the option of taking any other mode of transport rather than another long distance bus, you grab it with both hands. When that mode of transport is a boat, you’re in for a real treat…
I’ve taken boats up the Nile, down the Mekong, across Japan, Korea and China, from Ireland and France and I can’t get enough of them! Here are the 5 reasons why I think traveling by boats beats any other mode of transport, no contest:
1) Space. With you knees jammed somewhere up around your chin in another cross-country bus, you truly begin to appreciate the luxury of space that boats can afford. In fact, I revel in it so much that I often run to the centre of the deck and burst into spontaneous starjumps simply because I can. Seriously, you can walk around at your leisure, even sometimes order food and drinks and spread out and sleep if you really need to.
2) Leisurely pace. Some may argue that this is a negative aspect but I beg to differ. Boats are not lightning fast, far from it but this is another aspect I enjoy. You meander across an ocean or down a river at a leisurely pace, giving you time to genuinely appreciate the journey that you’re on. You can plan your next steps with all the free time you find yourself with and kick back, read a book and sanctimoniously think of all the people around the world darting to and fro in their fast-paced jobs while you, unhurriedly, enjoy the rolling of the water.
3) Cheap. This certainly applies to the boats that I take although I fully appreciate this isn’t always the case. As a budget traveler, luxury yachts and cruise-ships aren’t my haunt at all but cargo boats, slow ferries, feluccas etc certainly don’t burst any tight budgets. If you choose wisely and are in no rush, boats can be the cheapest mode of transport. You don’t (can’t) spend too much money while you’re onboard, the tickets often include accommodation and food, you can bring your own booze and snacks on board – all in all, a bargain mode of transport.
4) Exciting. Don’t even bother trying to tell me you didn’t dream about sailing boats as a kid, following in the footsteps Christopher Columbus or Vasco De Gama or chasing pirates in the high seas. This lets you (discreetly!) relive your childhood dreams in the most traditional long distance transport available. Land Ahoy!
5) Social. Possibly the best aspect to traveling by boat, certainly for a backpacker, is the social side. You’re stuck on this vessel for a long-time with a finite group of people to converse with, before too long you’ll be swapping stories like old friends.
 taking a cargo boat down the Mekong river So there you have it, I’ve nailed my colours to the mast (genius!) and made it clear that boats are far and away my favourite form on transport. If you get the chance to jump onboard a ship any time soon, do it and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Happy travel =)
Tags: Backpacking, boats, burma, buses, cheap travel, China, egypt, japan, korea, laos, malawi, Mozambique, myanmar, Thailand
Published by Johnny on April 05, 2010
 Kunming and Xi’an were our last 2 proper destinations in this trip and they are tip-top places to go, really both cracking places to visit – dirt cheap, so much culture your head could explode and everyday is an experience in itself.
From Jinghong we got to Kunming via sleeper bus, these are are a marvelous way to travel – you cover a lot of ground, you save money on accommodation, you get to see what’s going on outside and it’s pretty cheap too (although, and I’m sorry for stereotyping but chinese peeps are smaller than whities so my 185cm frame has to contort to some pretty funky angles to get any proper shuteye, but as i said, it’s cheap as chips and beggars can’t be choosers!)
Unfortunately I have actually lost both my diary from this trip AND the original photos which is a heartbreaker so I feel compelled to thank Mr Zuterberg (sp?) over at facebook because I uploaded them before I lost them so I still have a version of them  That being said, I can’t remember which pics are Xi’an and which are Kunming so if i make a mistake, my apologies to Chairman Mao and co… Continue reading “Cheap Travel: Backpacking through China, Kunming & Xi’an” »
Tags: cheap travel, China, terracotta warriers
Published by Johnny on March 27, 2010
Bloody hell it felt good finally landing in China, we were in a port-town called Guan Li which certainly wasn’t ideal as we thought we could get a life on the cargo boat all the way to Jinghong – apparently not! Guan Li was… erm.. euh… interesting
 We climbed the stairs at the port and made our way through ‘immigration’ which consisted of a confused Chinese guy and a wooden desk. After summoning his manager, calling their superiors, more confused looks at us being there and eventually a stamp in our passports we were let through, and into Guan Li town centre. Wow.
This place is certainly not in any guide book, that much is for sure! We wandered around the town for about 30 minutes. It was early in the morning and we didn’t actually have a plan, when I left Thailand the ‘plan’ only went as far as trying to get on a cargo boat so now we had achieved that we were sort of lost, in more ways that one.
We found a sort-of guesthouse type place for about 20 RMB for the 3 of us, dropped our bags off and tried desperately to find someone who could speak English… I’m sure you can guess how successful that was! We soon were getting followed everywhere around this little town by intrigued Chinese people who kept their distance but had no problems with following our every move Continue reading “Cheap Travel: Backpacking in China — Yunan Province” »
Tags: Backpacking, cheap travel, China, Yunan
Published by Johnny on March 25, 2010
It was the evening of our 2nd day on the cargo boat, day 1 had certainly been an experience and as day 2 wore on we realised China was nowhere to be seen. We did, however, seem to be coming rather close to land..
 Breakfast on the cargo boat It should be said at this point that we did have our passports with us, complete with Thai work permits and Chinese tourist visas in expectation of our arrival, what we most certainly didn’t have were any permission to enter Laos… at night… illegally… We figured it was late, dark and noone would see us. So the boat pulled up against the land, the sailors went to sleep and we nipped over to Laos for a cheeky beer on the beach. Feeling undeservedly proud of our illegal immigration status in Laos (all 90 minutes of it) we made a silent, triumphant return to our shelves and went to sleep. Little did we know that illegal immigrant status was about to get a lot more serious elsewhere!
We woke up, and as normal, had breakfast with the crew around 6 am on Day 3. Food on the whole was delicious, most of it was catfish, caught from the Mekong an hour before meal time, then served up in different ways and fed to us with rice (and lots of chilli).
Day 3 – at last we would be arriving in China and getting off this bloody boat! Or so we naively thought….
We were going up stream through the Mekong river and it was slow progress. The scenery was still jaw-dropping and the novelty of the entire ordeal still held is luster but, it the back of mind, i couldnt help but think when we’re we going to reach China?! Continue reading “Traveling Cheap — the boat from Thailand to China contd…” »
Tags: Backpacking, burma, cheap travel, China, crazy stories, laos, Thailand
Published by Johnny on March 23, 2010
Now I was settled in Chiang Mai, Christmas came around and I had some time off from teaching so my two housemates (Max and Swede) decided to do a little hardcore backpacking… my first real adventure…
I wanted to go to China all my life but on 25,000 Baht per month teaching salary I couldn’t afford to fly from BKK to Beijing so another route must be found! I looked at a map and saw that the Mekong river runs from a little town in Thailand called Chaeng Saen and then the river ‘becomes’ the border between Burma (Myanmar) and Laos as it runs north until it reaches the Yunan province in Thailand. I hatched a plan.
 Thailand to China by cargo boat, following the Mekong “Right boys, I know how we can get to China and not spend sh*t loads of money” - Me
“Awesome, hows that” – Max
“We’re gonna hitch a ride on a Chinese cargo boat from some random town in Northern Thailand and get off on the first port in China we come to” – Me again
“Oh shit….” – Swede
Continue reading “Cheap travel — boat from Thailand to China (taking a cargo boat, up the Mekong river, from Thailand to China)…” »
 Tags: Backpacking, boats, burma, cheap travel, China, crazy stories, laos, Thailand
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