december-2011

INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES
HAIKOU CHINA
092
Elizabeth Kiderlen
Owner, Boao Inn
B&B
BEST BREAKFAST: If you
aren’t enjoying the awesome
breakfast at Boao Inn B&B, you
might want to try your local Laoba
Cha. In Hainan, and in nearly every
Haikou neighbourhood, this local
institution provides fresh coffee,
meat-fi lled buns and a host of
sweet snacks. You can always
supplement it with some fresh fruit
picked up from the street stalls.
SURVIVAL TIP FOR
TOURISTS: Bring plenty
of SPF 30+ sunscreen and insect
repellant. And for some unknown
reason, Hainan people do not like
to take coins, so bring plenty of
paper money and don’t let the
sellers give you coins as change
because you won’t be able to get
rid of them on Hainan Island!
LOCAL DELICACY: My
favourite dish is anything
with Dongshan mutton: a blackwool
mountain goat fed on
camellias and orchids, and stewed,
roasted or cooked in coconut milk.
Stone gate entrance
to a park
HAIKOU
FROM THE AIRPORT
CBD 25km from
Haikou Meilan
International Airport
Travel time City
centre is around
30mins by car
Taxi Approx CNY50
(S$10)
Airport express
CNY15 (S$3); fi rst
shuttle is at 5.30am;
takes about 30 mins
ON THE GO
1. Tourist buses
No. 1, 2 and
New Meilai link
attractions like
Wugong Temple and
Hai Rui Park for just
CNY1 (S$0.20).
2. Pedicab Threewheeled
bicycle
available from
CNY2 (S$0.40).
HANGZHOU CHINA
Rosy Jai
Director of sales,
Oakwood Residence
Hangzhou
BEST BREAKFAST: Zhi Wei
Guan — you can fi nd a wide
selection of local food.
GREAT PLACE FOR DINNER:
Lou Wai Lou located right
next to the West Lake. It’s one
of the most authentic Hangzhou
restaurants serving traditional
Hangzhou cuisine.
BEST BUY FOR UNDER
S$50: Silk. Hangzhou is
known for producing excellentquality
silk sold at reasonable
prices. There is a wide selection to
choose from.
SURVIVAL TIP FOR
TOURISTS: If you’re
travelling by taxi, it’s better to do so
before 3.30pm. Otherwise, just rent
a car for the day for easy travelling.
MUST-EATS: Dong po pork
(braised pork) and West
Lake fi sh in vinegar gravy.
I LOVE HANGZHOU
BECAUSE: People here are
really friendly. Hangzhou is also a
very nice place to live in and relax.
Boating on West Lake
HANGZHOU
FROM THE AIRPORT
CBD 30km from
Hangzhou Xiaoshan
International Airport
Travel time CBD is
around 30-60mins
by car
Taxi About CNY90
(S$18.30)
Shuttle bus Airport
Bus services to the
city every 15-20mins;
CNY20 (S$4.10)
ON THE GO
1. Bus Y numbered
buses will take
you to a tourist
site for CNY3-5
(less than S$1).
2. Bike Rentals are
CNY300 (S$61) with
two-thirds deposit
paid fi rst.
3. Taxi CNY10 (S$2)
under 3km.
HAIKOU: PHOTOLIBRARY