Astro Galaxy Travel: August 2009

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

To Hong Kong...in search for Toys!

Updated Post on 10 December 2009

Singapore Changi Airport

Cathay airplane preparing for boarding to Hong Kong.
The weather was good after a little showers in the morning.
Glad the sun was out and I was so looking forward to visiting Hong Kong.
One of the reasons I chose to visit Hong Kong was to see their toys stores and hopefully get some toys I've been eyeing on.
I've heard from my friends that Hong Kong is a great place to buy toys and with wide selections and prices.

Hong Kong Airport - Arrival

On my 1st day of arrival, it was very misty but the weather is very cooling and pleasant.

Location : Sai Yeung Choi Street (西洋菜街)
MTR Station : MongKong (about 2 mins walk)

Finally, I've reached this place - Sai Yeung Choi Street.
I've been reading so much on the internet about this place, shops full of toys...etc, I was so excited to be there.
As my hotel was near this place, I stroll there.
The first building I visited was CTMA centre (兆萬廣場).
The CTMA centre has many toys stores selling a hugh variety of toys for collections.
It's something similar like the China Sqaure we have in Singapore.

I've only brought a Star Wars Darth Vader Jumbo Chubby in CTMA Centre.
Had imagine I would find lots of Star Wars but I didn't.
But I did have a good time looking at all the other toys.

Godfather guarding!

This pair has left me standing by the window drooling...
Lifesize figure of R2D2 and C3PO! Wow...
Didn't ask for the price because I know it' not going to be in my budget.
Imagine the shipping cost too!

Wow...what a display!
Don't you think this is awesome?

I also visited the Animate and Sino Centre (信和中心).
For Animate (2nd storey), the entrance seemed a little difficult to find.
See the purpish signage on the bottom right hand side?
That's the entrance! Althought it looks something like entering someone's housing apartment!
Sino centre also has many toy shops but mostly on Japanese anime/collectibles.
No star wars was spotted when I was there.
So I would still prefer CTMA.

A book vending machine inside one of the MTR station.
Can't remember which MTR station I saw this.
It's the first time I see something like this.
This author is also very famous and I do like some of her books.

Location : Bute Street 弼街
MTR Station : Mong Kok

Another place near the famous - Goldfish market, is the Bute Street.
At Bute Street, just outside the MTR exit, there's also a toy shop.
Note the green signboard?
That shop also has many different types of toys.
I've brought some tin toys robots from the shop.
Boss is quite polite, but didn't have a namecard so I don't know the name or address of this shop.

Location : Tai Yuen Street (灣仔太源街)
MTR Station : Wan Chai

Tai Yuen Street is also known as Toys Street in Hong Kong.
If you look down the streets at first, you probably only see shops selling clothings, towels, fruits...etc.
But inside, it's a must to visit for toy lovers, walk further in and you'll find many toy stores.
Their prices are also very competitive and very much cheaper as compare to department stores.

Most toys stores hangs swimming bubble floats outside their stores.
If you just stand outside, you'll would have missed the goodies that inside...
Because outside mostly are those balloons, party poppers, ribbons for party...etc.
Walk deeper into the stores, you find all sorts of COOL toy collectibles.
Star Wars, Bleach, One Piece, Thomas and Friends, Ultraman, Hot Wheels, Gundam ...etc.
No wonder it's called the "Toy Streets!"
I brought some die-cast cars and Tin Toy robots.

The shopkeepers here are also very polite and friendly.
Highly recommend "Tai Yuen Street" to buy toys.
Most toys stores at night are jammed pack with people, inside and outside of the shops.
So it might take a little longer time to find something you're looking for.

These are the tin toys robots I've brought from Hong Kong.
I've not post these indiduval robots on my main blog - http://www.astrogalaxy.blogspot.com/ yet.
I'll create a link here later when it's done.

Post Additions on 10 December 2009 :
I've completed updating my Tin Toys posts, for viewing please click here!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong

I visited Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong in late March 2009.
It was located in "The Peak".
I'm not going to introduce about this attraction because I'm in fact still rather annoyed by my experience there.
I would prefer the Madame Tussauds in London, which I visited many years back, it was wonderful.
Back to the Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong, the first thing that got me irritated was... I was standing at the entrance, in front view of the cashier, wanting to buy the Madame Tussauds book, the staff just continue talking to the other staff instead of asking if I needed any assistance. So I said flatly "Excuse me, I would like to get this book!" Then she finally stop chatting and got me the book.
Next was even worse and imagine, I haven't even actually step inside this place, it started to make my blood boils!
President Obama wax figure was outside, guarded by 1 photographer and 1 ticket staff.
They were there to help you take pictures with Obama and would afterwhich passed a photo ticket to you, so you can see if you'll like to buy a picture from them later on at the exit.
I didn't want to buy a photo later and wanted to use my own camera but the staff said I couldn't.
So ok nevermind, I then walked 3 meters away wanting to just photograph Obama only. The staff actually came over and stopped me from photographing.
This time, I'm really boiling!
Photograph from so far also not allowed, then when we are purchasing the admission ticket, the staff should let us know that Obama pictures is only allowed to be taken if you get a photo-ticket and BUY the photo at exit!!
I was with my friend and since we're out in a tour trying to enjoy ourself, I let the matter rest.
Didn't want to spolit my mood.
I just shot a GLARE over and stare at the rude staff and entered the attraction without much anticipation or excitment.
It wasn't crowded inside and I was able to take pictures of the wax figures there at ease.
Only some more popular ones, I would have to wait my turn.
Snap, Snap Snap... I took lots of photographs.
Then I came the a place called - Scream.
Upon entering, me and my friend was asked to stand inside a place like a horror, jail cell to have our pictures taken and get a photo ticket.
I declined to go into the cell to have my picture taken and was thus not allowed to enter - Scream!
See, all this was not known to us when getting our admission ticket.
I asked the staff why and he explained that he have to have something like a head count, how many photo = how many people enter scream!
But at least, he was polite and tried to explain unlike the rude girl outside.
If that's their company policy, I wouldn't want to make things difficult for him.
We just left without entering "SCREAM".
All this pretty much sums up my bad experience at the Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong.
They do have many great wax figures there to see that's worth the ticket price but the service level there would need a lot more hard work to make it a enjoyable place to visit.
It's my first and I would like to say should also my last time visiting this place.
So, I'll stop here for now and hope you all will like the photos I've taken.

Bruce Lee