Dec 2011 in Japan: Shopping.

My recent holiday in Tokyo was somewhat expensive because of the very strong Yen. I have been to Japan a number of times over the last 15 years but the Yen was never so expensive. It was almost S$17 to JPY1,000 this time round.

The first time I was in Japan, it was S$15 to JPY1,000. 5 or 6 years ago, it was S$13 to JPY1,000 and that was really quite comfortable. From $13 to $17 is a 30% increase! No wonder I was feeling rather reluctant to spend money on this trip.

However, spend money we must and I was looking out for better prices, as always. Initially, we bought drinks and food from the convenience stores which are a regular sight in Japanese cities. Family Mart and Lawson are the two more commonly seen ones. Prices were quite high or so I felt.

If we want better prices, look for supermarkets, of course. However, it was quite hard to find supermarkets. We managed to find two in Shinjuku near the hotel we were staying in.  Near would mean at least a 10 or 15 minutes walk. Prices were dramatically lower in the supermarkets compared to the convenience stores.

A 2 litre bottle of Suntory mineral water would go for JPY 178 in Family Mart but was JPY 99 in a supermarket!

There are also many discount pharmacies where we can buy drinks and snacks relatively cheaply. It may surprise you but they could even be cheaper than the supermarkets! A 2 litre bottle of Suntory mineral water for JPY 79!

I also found this very yummy made in Japan truffles which were selling in Daikoku pharmacy for only JPY 98 a packet compared to JPY 128 a packet in a supermarket. They make great gifts too.

There are many classy malls in Tokyo but, frankly, we can get the same things in the malls cheaper here in Singapore even with our 7% GST.

Of course, there would be things which are only found in Japan for one reason or another. Then, if we really want these things, buy them there. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense to pay more and lug the stuff back.

We found this shop across the road from Isetan in Shinjuku; it is called Takano. It sells leather goods and many of them are hand made in Japan. I bought a few coin pouches priced between JPY500 to JPY800 each. Made in Kyoto. I like buying such unique items as long as they do not cost an arm and a leg.

I did find some stuff at lower prices in Tokyo compared to what they go for here in Singapore. Hada Labo was practically half the price! Where? Daikoku, of course. Get extra 5% discount if you shop on the 3rd, 10th or 20th of each month!

Uniqlo too was cheaper in Japan. I bought two pairs of thermal pants in Singapore's Uniqlo before going on this trip. Two pairs for $49. I bought two pairs more in Shinjuku for $35!

For tourists, spending more than JPY10,501 in any single bill would let you claim the 5% GST but this does not apply to some items such as perfumes. My friend bought a new camera with accessories which cost him more than JPY100,000. He got back quite a bit of money.

Although the Japanese Yen is so very strong now, if we want to do some shopping in Japan, there are still bargains to be found.

Nov 2011 in Hong Kong: Ocean Park.

The last time I was in Ocean Park was almost thirty years ago when I was a boy. This not for profit theme park has evolved nicely.

How to get there: Take bus 629 from Admiralty MTR Station. It is a dedicated service to Ocean Park.

Get there as early as you can. The park gets really crowded in the afternoon.

And I was there pretty early!

First time seeing pandas live!

The very pensive looking female.

The more entertaining male.

Musical fountain. Nicer in the early evening with lights thrown in.

The main attraction inside Ocean Park's aquarium. The giant tank!

The latest mode of transportation connecting the lower park and the upper park. When I was a kid, they only had the cable cars which are still around today.

This nice photo of the inside of the train was only possible because the tour groups had yet to arrive! It would not have been possible in the afternoon.

Can you tell what are in the cylindrical tanks? Jellyfish! The lights in the tank would change in color with Vanessa Mae's energetic music playing in the background!

The jellyfish were all housed in a smaller aquarium that most people didn't visit. I really enjoyed the ethereal ambience and the quiet.

A tranquil spot.

The good ol' cable cars. They have not changed since I was a kid. I remember my mom found the cable car ride scary.

They swayed a little in the strong winds but I really enjoyed the ride!

Red pandas in another enclosure.

Lunch was in a restaurant in the building housing the main aquarium.

I was fortunate enough to be seated right next to the tank!

I caught the last performance of the day and was seated really high up in the theatre. This was the best I could do with the zoom function of my cheapie IXUS.

Ocean Park's dolphins performance had a story to tell and was very educational.

The end of a fun and educational trip.

I did not take any of the more exciting rides in the park. They didn't appeal to me but I enjoyed the more educational aspects of the park. Growing old? Probably.

Nov 2011 in Hong Kong: Trams.

Hong Kong is a place where anyone can visit free and easy because of the very good public transport network. Get an Octopus card (which is like Singapore's EZ Link card) and use it for cashless payments for MTR rides, ferry rides and tram rides, amongst other things.

The trams in Hong Kong have a long history but since my first visit to Hong Kong in my primary school days and on my many visits since, I had never once taken a ride on a tram. On this trip, I took the tram and I was immediately in love with it.

At a tram stop.

Hong Kong's trams are the only double decker trams left in the world or so I was told. I took electric trams in Japan many times before but they were single deck trams. Hong Kong's trams are much narrower and not as comfortable as the Japanese ones but sitting on the upper deck and just taking in the sights was a treat.

Upper deck.

People could also charter special trams like this one for private functions! I chanced upon this one evening.

What really amazed me was the inexpensive fare. Regardless of distance, the price was HK$2.30 per tram ride.

I didn't get to do it this time but on my next holiday in Hong Kong, I want to take all the different tram routes from terminal to terminal! An inexpensive way to see Hong Kong island on the move.

Oh, one more thing, entry is from the rear. Pay when exiting from the front.

Where to get an Octopus card? You could get it at the airport once you arrive. Just go to the circular counter in the middle of the arrival hall. You can't miss it.

Visit the official website of Octopus Hong Kong: click here.

For information on transportation to and from Hong Kong International Airport: click here.

Nov 2011 in Hong Kong: Shopping paradise.

Hong Kong is a shopping paradise. However, Singapore is also a shopping paradise. So, I didn't really buy anything for myself on this trip but I did buy some presents for my family at Citygate Outlets Mall. Lots of branded stuff there at amazing prices. I bought a CK blouse for my sister at a discount of more than 80% and an Alfred Dunhill shirt for my dad at a discount of 40%! Oh, there is a massive Food Republic foodcourt there as well.

Plan your trip to the mall on the same day as your visit to the Giant Buddha in Ngong Ping. Yup, you will take the MTR to Tung Chung station visiting either attraction. As Tung Chung is not the most central of locations, it makes sense to visit both the Giant Buddha and Citygate Outlet Malls on the same day. See the Buddha first and you can come back to the Mall in the mid-afternoon and stay till late in the evening.

For all of you Apple fans, I guess visiting the Apple Store in International Financial Centre (IFC) at Central is a must. Two stories high and with its signature spiral staircase, packed all the time, it is a sight to behold.

Zooming in with my cheapie IXUS.

I also read that the Landmark Mall converted its basement to a men's only area. So, I decided to visit and take a look.

A view of the first floor of the mall from the top. I would call it the ground floor but a friend told me no one says that anymore these days. Oh well, old fashion me.

I didn't buy anything in the end but I saw many well heeled people in the shops, many from mainland China. It reminded me of the Paragon in Singapore.

The nicest mall which I visited on this trip was Langham Place in Mongkok, Kowloon.

My star sign!

Less atas, for sure. It felt like it had a pulse and was alive! Less stifling. The mix of shops was much better too. Well, they are shops I would go to and possibly spend some money.

For those who would like a taste of some organised chaos, visit the famous Ladies Street in Mongkok. It is pure madness as it gets later into the night.

I have been to Ladies Street a few times before in the past and it is not really my cup of tea. Warm, crowded and lots of haggling. Too much stress. Anyway, I just took a couple of shots from a nearby pedestrian bridge on this trip and left.

Now, if you are wondering what to bring back from Hong Kong for friends and relatives, go to Kee Wah. They have branches everywhere.

Buy their pineapple pastry. Just buy the ones filled with pineapple paste. I would not recommend the rest like honey melon or mango paste. The original pineapple paste is best. If I remember correctly,
they cost HK$6 per piece.

HK$6 a piece.

The almond cookies are nice too although some would say that the ones from Macau are nicer. I found out that the return ferry ticket between Macau and Hong Kong costs about S$100 per person. I will make Macau another vacation on its own. I could buy lots of cookies with S$100.

Happy shopping!