Travel advice from Hong Kong
I’m often go to Hong Kong for work. Every time I get off from the plane I collide with the charming and both terrific atmosphere of such a contradictory city.
And the contradictions are unlimited. There are amazing landscapes of tropical nature mixed with cement masses rising up to the skyline. You can see clear skies (just after a typhoon) or wait for days for the sun to come out.
When you land in Hong Kong, forget that you are European or American and let the life of this city overwhelm you, along with its hard-and-fast rules, its rhythms, its odors and its people.
Gaseous emissions and gastrointestinal rumblings mix with 7-star restaurants, charming Rolls Royces and Ferraris just delivered from Maranello. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
In the marshy waters, you can catch a glimpse of some strange marine species, which look like genetic mutants. During the day, the beaches are almost deserted and the few people there are completely dressed. Tanning is not a status symbol in Asia but rather a sign of the working class who labor out in the fields. The other classes prefer to “take the moon” or go swimming at night to maintain their porcelain skin. It’s both disconcerting and astounding to see these brightly-lit night beaches with bathers walking, talking and playing in the sand.
Then, there are the various districts of Hong Kong, each one being famous for something. Tsim Sha Tsui is a hubbub of streets, busy people and all possible types of goods. Amongst its antique shops and Chinese medicine stores, you suddenly feel as if you’re in Hollywood as you encounter the Chinese copy of the Walk of Fame, known as the Avenue of Stars.
Look out for costume jewellery! In the markets, you can find Rolex watches and real gold key chains at unreasonable prices, just a bit lower than the originals.
I often go to Kowloon City for excellent Chiu Chow cuisine. There you can find delicious Asian food at a good quality/price ratio. Apart from at Carnival time, when I once paid 200 euros for a steak due to an unexplainable price hike.
On Wyndham street, near western-style establishments, you could find “members only” restaurants, such as the Japanese Rava, where I’ve seen some famous faces of China.
You can find anything in Suhaila, but I have hardly ever met any native Chinese people. My interpreter told me that they prefer to fly to Singapore rather than go clubbing in Hong Kong.
If you want to go for cocktails or dinner without having to exhaust yourself looking for the perfect place, go to the Intercontinental Hotel on the Avenue of Stars. At 8 pm, you can enjoy delicious Japanese tempura while watching a light show put on by the City of Hong Kong. I promise you that it will be an unforgettable evening!
Shopping is safe only in Soho amongst famous international fashion brands. Thanks to a favorable exchange rate in Hong Kong, you can get great bargains on sports shoes and America brands are often 50% lower than usual. Hi-tech items and brand name cell phones are also quite inexpensive. Sony’s warranty is valid even if you haven’t bought their devices at a duty free shop.
Be on the look out for fakes, which are legal in China. At Christmas, I bought some souvenirs for friends and relatives and came across a lot of fake and “out-of-season” merchandise. To avoid the whole issue, I just bought typical products such as oriental buttons.
So, have you ever been to Hong Kong?
25 May 2008 at 16:24
Hi Mandarina Duck ,
My name is Duncan Lui (Living in Hong Kong).I Have two Mandarina Duck Bag need to repair,but in Hong Hong I can not find any mandarina Duck shop for repair my bag.Please help me,thank you for my help.
My e-mail address is : yomasterlui@yahoo.com.hk
25 May 2008 at 16:27
Dear Sir / Madam,
Please help repair my Mandarina Duck Bag
I am hong kong people .I have two Mandarina Duck bag ‘metal part was broken ( Please See attach Photo).In hong hong I can not find any Mandarina Duck shop for repair my bag ,please help me, thank you!
Duncan Lui
my Email: yomasterlui@yahoo.com.hk
19 July 2008 at 13:10
Hi, I am having the same problem like you. two of my Mandarina Duck’s zipper is broken. Please let me know if anyone get back to you or how did you fix it in Hong Kong.
Thanks,
14 August 2008 at 10:31
I am MD fans as well, suddenly all MD shops in HK diaappear, they used to have a few in Sogo counter, but not much choice. When do I can shop for MD bags in Hong Kong again.
23 September 2008 at 09:08
I am mandarina DUCK FANS wHERE I CAN SHOP IN HONG KONG
23 September 2008 at 10:15
Dear all thank you for the comments.
Here there are the adresses of our stores in Hong Kong.
Best regards and have a nice shopping!
Hong kong Miramar Y’s Mandarina
Hong kong IFC Y’s Mandarina
9 December 2008 at 07:29
I have two”MANDARINA DUCK”brand destory bag,would you help me to repair and let me know the address Kowloon area.Thanks.
24 December 2008 at 08:31
Neber been to Hong Kong but would love to go. My wife would fit right in with her porcelain skin. Of course it’s not because she hasn’t tried to tan, just the complexion she was born with.
Now in regards to those rolex watches I seriously doubt they are real when found in the streets of the city. Is it bad that I have bought souvenirs for friends off eBay after the trip to avoid trying to carry them on the plane and through customs?
James
Watch Historian
26 March 2009 at 03:03
Hi,
I want to buy mandarina’s mobile phone in Hong Kong but I don’t know where is the shop? Plese let me know. my email add is supaporn.a@asiaplus.co.th
thanks,
jinny
5 May 2009 at 08:46
I have a travel lugguage bag which has a cracked stand. Please advise where I can go for repair in Hong Kong.
Do Mandarina Duck products carry life-time warranty?
9 June 2009 at 12:42
Great post, many thanks for taking the time to write this so well.
3 July 2009 at 04:22
Hi, I just searching Hong Kong interior design / home design information and finally I found here…
Thank you for your share
IMPERIZON
17 October 2009 at 13:27
Where can I repair my Mandarina Duck watch in Hong Kong? Please provide address.
Thanks.
Nono
13 January 2011 at 05:58
i am a big fan of MD. Where can i find store or outlet in HK or Singapore for MD ladies handbag???
13 January 2011 at 09:54
Hi,
My name is Dora Fu who lives in Hong Kong. I have two Mandarina Duck Bags and the zipper of one of them is broken which requires immediate repairing, but I can not find any Mandarina Duck shops here to fix it. I have tried to give a call to the staff from the customer service department of IFC Mall and been told that this shop was closed few months ago. Meanwhile, I called their shop at the Miramar Shopping Centre but couldn’t get through (I guess it was closed too). Please kindly provide me the address and the telephone number. My email address is dorafu51@yahoo.com.hk.
Thanks in advance with best regards,
Dora Fu, January 12th, 2011
15 January 2011 at 12:32
Hi there,
I am a watchmaker from NZ. I need a strap for one of your watches. Can you please let me know where I can get it.
the watch code is 7N32-OAMO the color is black
please can you help me.
thank you
Gerry
3 April 2011 at 18:20
I’m in HKG, i have 3 Mandarina Duck cases, one of them with handy broken which requires repairing, I took it to the IFC but found the shop closed. I called their shop at the Miramar Shopping Centre but couldn’t get through (I guess it was closed too). Where can I have it repaired? pls provide me the address and the telephone number.
Joey Cheung, Apr/2011
joeyc@netvigator.com
18 June 2011 at 10:13
I have one MD travel trolley case, zipper is broken. Would you pls tell me where I can go for repair. Pls send me address in Hong Kong.
3 August 2011 at 10:52
I have a Mandarina Duck suit case and one of the wheels has broken. Please advise where in Hong Kong I can take it for repair. Thanks.
14 September 2011 at 05:27
Hi there,
I also have a mid sized mandarina duck suitcase/ luggage and the rubber off one of the wheels has torn and fallen off.
Please let me know where I can get this fixed/repaired in Hong Kong.
All the standalone stores at IFC and Miramar have closed and the consignment at Sogo also closed.
Many thanks.
My email is evonnei@yahoo.com.
Evonne
21 September 2011 at 18:39
Hi there,
I also have a hand carry mandarina luggage case that I need to repair as the handy part is broken. Can you advise where I can get it fixed or repair in Hong Kong? Seems all shops are closed.
Thanks,
Cindy
8 October 2011 at 12:02
I have big luggage bag need to be repaired, please help to advise the address if repair shop in hong kong.
30 December 2011 at 04:52
I am living in HONG KONG. I have a Mandarina Luggage bag and need the repair service. Please kindly inform the repair centre in HONG KONG. I have asked all the ex-dealer in HONG KONG and they said your brand is completely withdrawn from HK. They cannot provide the repair service for your brand. Kindly advise your repair service / method in Hong Kong and advise me by my email address jonewong@gmail.com
31 January 2012 at 04:46
I am living in HONG KONG. I have a Mandarina back bag and need the repair service. Please kindly inform the repair centre in HONG KONG. I have asked all the ex-dealer in HONG KONG and they said your brand is completely withdrawn from HK. They cannot provide the repair service for your brand. Kindly advise your repair service / method in Hong Kong and advise me by my email address
jefftam@gmail.com
31 January 2012 at 04:47
I am living in HONG KONG. I have a Mandarina back bag and need the repair service. Please kindly inform the repair centre in HONG KONG. I have asked all the ex-dealer in HONG KONG and they said your brand is completely withdrawn from HK. They cannot provide the repair service for your brand. Kindly advise your repair service / method in Hong Kong and advise me by my email address
jefftam.wkt@gmail.com