Saturday, August 20, 2016

Little compensation, benefit for you too...

Dear all,

   if you want to show me your appreciation of this now 5 or so years of HikeHongKong (and you are Hong Kong-based), from now to end of September, you can use my referral link and register for a Cathay Asiamiles AmericanExpress card. I'll get some referral Asiamiles and you will get my gratitude, as well as the following:

- fees are waved the first year (if you can make the spending minimum, just cancel after the 1st year)
- free access to the PlazaPremium lounges at all major airports (free food, great seats, a shower if you have a long layover). That's the best perk!
- Bonus 2000 Asiamiles for you from my referral
- Up to 78,000 Asiamiles during the first 3 months (enough for a trip to Europe)

So, the way I see it, a win-win situation.

Not that this blog is meant to be a get-rich-quick scheme and I won't stop posting no matter what. But hey, always nice to get a bit of extra...

Referral link is here: www.amex.com.hk/refer/jcclemjb01

Thanks,

JC

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Urban walk in Ap Lei Chau

Duration: 

1-2 hours

Difficulty: 1/10

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 0.5 liter

Appreciation: 7/10. Travel back in time and have a very local experience. You have to go during the week for all the little stores to be open (they might be open on Saturdays as well, not sure)

Transportation: Bus 970x, exit at 'Tin Wan Street' and keep walking in the same direction to the foot-bridge over the highway. Return via the same bus, right in front of the Aberdeen promenade. Bus 95 gets you there as well, and returns the same way. MTR will get right to Ap Lei Chau at the end of 2016

Why it's worth it:




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Get to the Aberdeen promenade. The ferry to Ap Lei Chau is, not surprisingly... by the water!

Accross the footbridge over Aberdeen Praya

The little ferry getting you to Ap Lei Chau. It even takes the Octopus card

Docking at Ap Lei Chau
The recommended path. Just a few hundred meters but you'll want to stop and enjoy sights, and tastes! Right off the ferry, head left and take Wah Ting street to number 84, Wah Ting on the left.
This is an traditional metal shop (open on weekdays). Then keep walking, to Ap Lei Chau Main street.
Then head right on Ap Lei Chau Main street
友和士多, at 110 Ap Lei Chau Main street. You will find traditional Cantonese sweets, including the Chinese style bowl pudding

Then retrace your steps to visit the wet market and its very fresh seafood. You can buy seafood and they will cook it for you upstairs at the cooked-food market...


... now, if you are just there for a snack, have a try at the very local cha chan teng 陳新記 Chan Sun Kee. I'd skip the pork bun though... doesn't compare to the real thing that can be found in Macau

Busy on a Sunday
Once you are done snacking, head back to Ap Lei Chau Main street and make a stop at #60. This is a 120 years old grocery store.

Then further down on Ap Lei Chau Main street, you will find this fish ball store at #31, and Foo Hing at #34, where you can buy traditional Chinese snacks behind the clothing stall

Once done, keep going down the road until you reach Ping Lan street, and head left towards the waterfront park and promenade. Follow the path left and you'll see the Hung Shing temple on your left which is worth a quick peek. Then, you can leisurely go back to the ferry

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Please, don't litter!

Hiking is about communion with nature. So please pickup after yourself. There's no excuse to leave plastic bags, water bottles or any rubbish on or around the trails; if you managed to bring it, you can manage to bring it back!