Hong Kong or Singapore?

[Paulbot]

I'm looking to stop over in Hong Kong or Singapore on my way to/from Europe.

It will just be a brief visit to either to break up my flight, see somewhere new, oh and TF toy shopping? Yeah I might do some of that too. :o

My impression is that both cities are relativity small/self contained so I could see enough from a limited time.

I'd also try to catch up with the members in either place once I work out which I'm going to.

Any recommendations of why I should visit one over the other? (And not just the toy reasons :) )

(Unfortunately, I'm thinking I might choose Singapore simply because it's a bit further away from Japan with all the current uncertainty about their nuclear plants :( )

[iceburn]

i would go for Hongkong as i've scouted around Singapore, there's nothing much left in Chinatown Square Central unless you intend to visit on a Sunday. erm, departmental stores are also pretty slow moving on current stocks. i love HK and at the moment, i've been keeping myself up-to-date with the latest toys

[jaydisc]

I've only been to Singapore airport in Singapore, but I spent a week in Hong Kong and absolutely loved it. It was easy to get by on English, the toy hunting was great, and the food was exceptional! I still dream about the food.

[TheHandsomeCrab]

I went to HK about 5 years ago and had a great time, really enjoyed it. And I hate cities as a general rule. I still think Singapore looks like the more interesting place to visit, but I don't think you'd be disappointed by either.

Do you have any idea when you'll be in either? Only I'll be in Singapore at some point in the not too distant future - probably around late May time at a guess - if you happen to be passing through at the same time.

[JuzMel]

Definitely Hong Kong! Singapore, as like what Daniel says! :p I'll be going back there (Singapore) anyway in a month's time for 2 weeks, I will check it out if I have time since it's more of a wedding prep trip.

[Paulbot]

I need to decide tonight as I'm booking my flights tomorrow. I'm leaning towards Hong Kong and will be there in July.

Funnily enough the Travel Agent today said the same thing as Jaydisc that the food is excellent. She also suggested that HK is a bit less Western than Singapore, and as it's my first trip to an Asian country that makes it a bit more interesting.

[GoktimusPrime]

It was easy to get by on English,
+1. Being a former British colony, it's heaps easy to get by Hong Kong with English. In fact, I find a lot of English in Hong Kong is more correct than most English I see in Australia! e.g. I find lots of Australians say "Watch your step,"* whereas in Hong Kong I found they use "Mind your step"! :D It's the complete opposite of Japan where the English language is constantly butchered and mutilated beyond recognition (you're just better off trying to communicate in Japanese :p).

Hong Kong's also heaps easy to get around via public transport too. One word of caution - and this is the one thing I dislike the most about Hong Kong - the concept of "queue" doesn't seem to exist. Cutting lines, pushing in etc. appears to be a commonly accepted practice in Hong Kong. When I'm in HK I don't push in front of other people, but after I while I started getting sick of other people pushing in front of me and started standing my ground (e.g. putting my hand in front of someone if they tried to cut in front of me). :mad:

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*"Watch your step" isn't grammatically incorrect, but it's still bad English. Simply watching my step won't necessarily stop me from tripping/falling over whereas minding your step implies taking care/caution with one's step. Watching just means observing. "Oh look, I'm falling now... how fascinating." :p ;)

[TheHandsomeCrab]

From now on I am totally saying "How fascinating!" when I trip up rather than the usual string of curse words.

[sanbot]

Put it this way. You can not go wrong with either country. They are both similar in many regards. Though I found the food in Singapore much more better especially all that spicy goodness.

[Lint]

(Unfortunately, I'm thinking I might choose Singapore simply because it's a bit further away from Japan with all the current uncertainty about their nuclear plants :( )

I think that is a fairly daft reason to avoid Hong Kong.

First of all Hong Kong is a pretty long way away. Secondly the North Pacific Jet Stream will carry any radioactive dust out into the Pacific Ocean towards the USA.

I've never been to Hong Kong before, but my impression is that it is great for toys! Singapore is probably the 'nicer' and more touristy place to visit if you don't mind the heat and humidity. Depends on your priorities :)

[UltraMagnus]

(Unfortunately, I'm thinking I might choose Singapore simply because it's a bit further away from Japan with all the current uncertainty about their nuclear plants :( )

Hong Kong by a mile.

BTW - Hong Kong is ages away from Japan. I think the people of Tokyo have more issues to worry about.

Seriously - what are you watching to think HK is gonna have a nuclear fallout. The only ppl who should be worried is Tokyo...

[Paulbot]

I know there's no threat at the moment to HK or anywhere in particular outside Japan, but HK is just physically closer than Singapore on the map should things get any worse over there.

[UltraMagnus]

I know there's no threat at the moment to HK or anywhere in particular outside Japan, but HK is just physically closer than Singapore on the map should things get any worse over there.

Im joking with you... in all seriousness, the company I work for has evacuated our Tokyo office. But chances of it hitting HK is very very very very minor (unless Chinese plants go).

I'll be here in July, and I will convince Heroic Decepticon and Iceburn (who I have yet to meet) to do a run with you.

Most toys shops open in the late afternoon so give us 3 hours in Mong Kok to hit most stores!

[Paulbot]

Cool. I set up a meetup thread (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=10407).

[jaydisc]

Good choice. Enjoy.

[iceburn]

*"Watch your step" isn't grammatically incorrect, but it's still bad English. Simply watching my step won't necessarily stop me from tripping/falling over whereas minding your step implies taking care/caution with one's step. Watching just means observing. "Oh look, I'm falling now... how fascinating." :p ;)

I think "Watch your step" is correct whereas its "Mind the gap" not step used by trains in asia countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong.