A while ago I posted a thread about my 75yr old mother’s plan to go to New Zealand. Having had a load of great ideas about what she ought to have on her itinerary, I’m pleased to say that her trip is now booked and she is very excited about it.
The trip includes a short stopover in Hong Kong on both legs of the journey and she is now after some info about that. In fact, she rang me last night and wanted to know if I could ask my friends on the internet what they thought because they were so helpful about her NZ plans!
Anyway, what she wants to know is a rough idea of the cost of a mid-range meal in HK bearing in mind that she is not tremendously adventurous when it comes to food and may be looking for, well, the kind of restaurant you’d take your mother to (not a fast-food place and probably not street food either).
Also, what kind of temperature/weather can she expect in February? And what should she definitely not miss seeing there?
My dear lady you are in luck: I have written a short guide to Hong Kong specifically aimed at people on their stopovers. It has been sent to and enjoyed by several dopers as well as many people IRL. Let me know if you’d like me to send it to you.
In brief, Hong Kong is frenetic, busy and a little overwhelming at times, but it’s very civilised and safe, and there are some lovely side trips to much more peaceful parts of the territory.
It’s my favourite place in the world.
Re. food, depends on what you mean by “adventurous”. Plain Chinese food or would she insist on Western? You can get sit-down western food pretty much everywhere in the main city, usually sandwiches. High quality mid-range grub can be got in hundreds of bars and restaurants in the Lan Kwai Fong/SoHo/NoHo districts. The prices for Western food are very similar to the UK. For Chinese food (rice and a mild meat/veg sauce) at a local caff it’s much cheaper - you’re talking about £2-3 for a meal.
ETA: It’s quite chilly in Feb - around 10 C, but can get down to about 7. Bring a jacket.
Yes, please! I’ve never been there so I am no help to mum at all, she’d be really chuffed about that. Can you email it or do you need a snail mail?
She might be persuaded to try Chinese food although she has always professed not to like it - she’s never eaten any but she’s seen stuff that I’ve had from the local takeaway and generally thinks it would be too oily for her. She is quite funny with food, she refuses to even consider trying curry based solely on the “curry” provided when she was on national service in Egypt in the 50s.
I’m hoping that she makes friends with other single travellers in the group as they might get her into some local cuisine - even so, if she can have plain boiled rice and some vegetables, she’ll probably be happy enough.
Re. food - westernised Chinese food is very much more fried than what is eaten by regular Hongkies. They steam much more than we do, with the drawback that it makes the food a little more bland to our palates. Though I will say that several years’ exposure made me appreciate more subtleties to the flavours than I had at first realised. However, on a flying visit, and from the sounds of what you say, she’s not going to be convinced and would probably be better off sticking to sandwiches and chips!
Alert! Alert! I just re-read it, and there is some swearing in my guide that might offend a more senior reader. You may want to edit it before you send it on!
Do you know specifically what dates in February? I asked because the Lunar New Year is on 3 Feb for 2011. Most businesses will be closed for the first couple days during the holiday, so you might want to be prepared.
jjimm, got your guide - thank you very much! I’ll have a good read through it and edit so that we don’t offend my doting parent’s delicate sensibilities!
Waffle Decider - she doesn’t leave the UK until 10th February so she will miss the lunar new year.
HKF, she always has a sensible hat and probably a good thick skirt too!
