1. Octopus Cards are your best friends
If you're travelling in Hong Kong for a few days where you would be using public transport regularly, I would definitely recommend you to nip to the closest MTR station service desk to buy one of these nifty cards. To use this card, there would be a sum of money which would be deducted with every purchase from public transports (except taxis), stores and restaurants. To top the octopus card up, you can go to any convenience store like Seven Eleven and Circle K where you can ask for a top up.When you purchase the card, you would need to pay a deposit and upon return, there would be a refund a sum of money.
2. Tissues, tissues, tissues
Did I stress that you need tissues enough? Some of you may not know the importance of having a packet of tissues or a napkin from the meal that you had yesterday. Unless you are going to the toilet in large shopping centres, be prepared to use your own precious stash of tissues. So always bring some tissue with you to the toilet regardless because we don't want emergencies like pleadingly asking for anyone to pass you some tissues. If you want to be extra fancy and try something new, Tempo Tissues are scented with a variety of flavours from mint to peach.
3. Humidity is hell
Both of them begin with H- that has to mean something. If you've ever visited a country in Asia then you may have met the devil otherwise know as humidity. Temperatures are suffocatingly hot and even when cloudy, it's unbearably sticky. If you visit HK during the monsoon season, sudden showers create a even more humid environment so you should pack loose clothing which is cooling. You'll soon realise why shopping centres are so packed.
4. Shops open late and close late
Sorry to disappoint but if you're planning to start your day early to shop till you drop it may prove difficult because a majority of shops open at 10-11am but close considerably later. If you want an early start, I would recommend visiting tourist sites which are bound to be open early so you can avoid the crowds and temperatures would be cooler. It's a country which thrives at nighttime, people come bustling out of mtr stations and you're like where do all these people come from. Notably places like Central, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui has greater variety of things to do therefore I would recommend going to one of these popular places.
5. Table Buddies for the next 30 minutes
Hong Kong is busy. It can be considered densely populated for a country which is as small as a dot with a 0.1 fine liner where you may need to squint to actually see the country. One of the small quirks about HK is that it's very common to share tables with strangers- in a city where fast and furious can be it's tag line, maximisation and efficiency is important. In independent restaurants which serve more casual and laid back food 'cha chan tien' and dim sum places, it's common to share a booth or a table so don't look to overly shocked at your next 30 minute friend.
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