2009 Travelogue to Rural China

[raymond]

Basic Journal Entries for Trip to Rural China, February 19 - March 11, 2009

2/19 - depart Honolulu on JAL

2/20 - late evening arrival at Hong Kong International Airport; took hotel shuttle bus to Metropark Hotel Mongkok in Kowloon for $105 HK dollars prepaid online; roomed with distant cousin traveling buddy from San Francisco area; hotel voucher for Metropark was prepaid to travel agent for $93 US per night double occupancy

2/21 - met up with friends and took MTR and taxi to visit Xue ancestral hall in Tai Po, Sun Gai in Kowloon

2/22 - met up with family friends

2/23 - depart Kowloon with distant cousin via China Travel Service (CTS) bus located just outside of Metropark for $130 HK dollars per person; arrive Overseas Chinese Hotel (Xinhui Hua Qiao Hotel) in Xinhui City (Sun Wui) 3-1/2 hours later; nice deluxe room at Overseas Chinese Hotel with 2 double beds at 200 RMB per night double occupancy (less expensive rooms starts at 130 RMB per night)

2/24 - met up with relatives of distant cousin traveler in metropolitan Jiangmen (Gong Mun) which is just adjacent to Xinhui City, about a 15-minute drive by car

2/25 - rest and relaxation in Xinhui City
2/26 - rest and relaxation in Xinhui City

2/27 - day trip to Cheong Sah area in Kaiping (Hoiping), not to be confused with later Cheong Sah village in Gujing Town

2/28 - day trip to Duk Joe village in Shadou Town to pay respect to maternal ancestral home of distant cousin traveler

3/1 - met up with in-laws of older brother in Xinhui City

3/2 - depart Xinhui City via taxi; arrive “Riverbank Hotel” in Muzhou Town (Mook Joe) 1/2-hour later, fare 90 RMB; room rate was 100 RMB per night double occupancy; met up with first cousins for homecooked dinner

3/3 - rest and relaxation in Muzhou Town; scenic photo ops; breakfast, lunch and dinner with cousins

3/4 - rest and relaxation in Muzhou town; scenic photo ops; breakfast, lunch and dinner with cousins

3/5 - depart Muzhou Town courtesy of cousins; arrive Q-Lin Overseas Chinese Hotel in Gujing Town (Goo Jeong) ½-hour later; procured advanced reservation for best room in Q-Lin at 120 RMB per night double occupancy; dinner with cousin and his wife

3/6 - day trip to Jook Wan village via mini-van taxi at 15 RMB; paid respect at distant cousin traveler’s paternal ancestral home; lunch at adjacent Cheong Sah village; quick trip to Som Gong Town (Sanjiang) via public bus at 2.5 RMB per person fare (10 minute ride); visited with relatives of distant cousin traveler

3/7 - day trip to Cheong Sah village via mini-van taxi for 15 RMB; paid respect at altar in ancestral home; had lunch at ancestral home; paid respect at gravesite of great grandfather; had dinner at ancestral home

3/8 - late breakfast with relatives of distant cousin traveler in Gujing Town; public bus to Som Gong at 2.5 RMB fare; met with Chu relative of great grandmother; lunch at Som Gong; dinner at Som Gong

3/9 - depart Gujing Town via mini-van taxi (60 RMB) to Overseas Chinese Hotel in Xinhui City, 30-minute taxi ride

3/10 - depart Xinhui City via CTS bus in front of Overseas Chinese Hotel at 100 RMB per person fare; arrive Metropark Hotel Mongkok in Kowloon 3-1/2 hours later; double occupancy at Metropark at $120 per night; dinner at Langham Shopping Mall food court; bargain shopping at Old Lady Night Market

3/11 - depart Metropark via hotel airport shuttle at 110 HK dollars per person; arrive Hong Kong International Airport; depart Hong Kong via JAL; arrive Honolulu

[tyuti1668]

A21 bus from HKIA to Metropark Hotel is also quite convenient/ The CTS (Round trip) tix is HK$200 only.

[helen]

Hi Raymond - how was Metropark? we will be there from 15-19 June, Waterloo Road, Kowloon. Sounds like you had a fantastic trip. Thanks for the highlights

[raymond]

tyuti1668,

Yes, I have taken the A21 CityFlyer bus in the past, and it costs a mere 35 HK dollars from the airport. However, this time I had a couple of pieces of heavy check-in luggages and opted to take the hotel shuttle to the Metropark Mongkok which costs 105 HK dollars. Also, late at night and early mornings the N21 CityFlyer runs the same route as the A21 in the daytime and early evenings.

Yes, I could have saved a few dollars by buying a roundtrip ticket from Kowloon to Xinhui and back on CTS, but opted to buy one-way tickets for added flexibility in case of intinerary changes.

Raymond

[raymond]

Helen,

For your information, there are actually 2 Metropark Hotels in Kowloon......I stayed at the Metropark Hotel Mongkok, and you will be staying at the Metropark Hotel Kowloon. The 2 hotels are not very far from each other. I cannot comment on the Metropark Hotel Kowloon since I have never stayed there. However, I found my stay at the Metropark Hotel Mongkok to be quite satisfactory in nearly all categories. Although the hotel may not look so impressive from afar, the rooms are quite modern and well maintained and quite clean albeit a bit small. My only negative comment is that the hotel lobby is sadly lacking of seating areas for guests with only one couch. The hotel service is excellent all around, very attentive and knowledgeable personnel who are quite courteous as well. Also worth mentioning is its ideal location, within walking distance to shops and restaurants (local eateries as well as Western fast foods like McDonalds), malls and money exchanges.......and close proximity to the Prince Edward MTR station as well as easy access to local buses and airport buses, and to buses to/from Mainland China literally just out the front door. Finally, hotel security is good even though the neighborhood is essentially commercial and is deemed pretty safe 24/7. I highly recommend this hotel as a very convenient stop-off transit point to/from Hong Kong airport and to/from destinations in Guangdong Province in Mainland China.

Raymond