Pretty much been thinking aloud the last few days in my own little head for my plans to visit 香港 (Hong Kong), literally “Fragrant Harbour” in the first quarter of 2005. The airfare itself seems to be somewhere about £400 to £500 for a return flight and pretty much what I expected. My work have extended my contract till the 31st of March, 2005 and have confirmed I’ve got a total of 22 days paid leave yet to take, plus another 2 days to be taken over the Christmas period in all totalling 24 days. Even my planned 3 week stay in 香港 (Hong Kong) would only use up 15 days, so rather ironically I’ve got more holiday than I know what to do with in the next 5 months or so!
Dad being a planner of military precision (he did serve in both the British Army and Canadian Army after all), grabbed a few travel guides such as the “Lonely Planet” series from Northampton library and travel shops’ brouchers so as to get a general feel of how much things cost over there now and general advice. For simplicity in exchange rates, they are currently about HK$100.00 = €10.00 = £7.00 = US$12.80.
The research shows that it’s possible to survive in 香港 (Hong Kong) for about HK$250 per day, with accommodation being the biggest expense clocking in at about HK$100. Going down market, you can apparently get by spending just HK$100 per day if one doesn’t mind the grottier guest houses and for the real life Scrouges, even HK$35 can be done if one elects to stay in the far-flug hostels. Quite amazing really as a beer or cocktail drink in central 香港 (Hong Kong) or 九龍 (Kowloon) will set you back between HK$30 to HK$50! Makes London Soho prices look like pocket money. ;)
But if you’re not a long suffering alcoholic, the price for getting some food in the stomach isn’t anywhere near as extortionate as the hard stuff and actually pretty reasonable with HK$10 getting you some noodles in soup to HK$35 which should get you a set lunch of soup, main course, dessert and tea or coffee. At the other end of the market, depending what and how much of whatever it is you have, meals would cost between HK$30 to HK$200.
Now whilst I don’t think I’ll be working out there (stay is probably a little on the short side) it appears that those fluent in English can earn at least HK$250 per hour by teaching conversational English to the locals in one-on-one lessons. Those with a TEFL will have an even larger, some would say bountiful job market and aptly commands higher rates. Come to think of it, a little bit of Maths would suggest I’d only have to teach 3 to 4 hours per day over the course of the 3 weeks, I’d have a free trip to 香港 (Hong Kong), perhaps even make a little money! :D
Guess that’s all for now… Stay tuned sports fans! ;)
