Month: September 2018

When hunting for a used car it is a good idea to bring along a car shopping guide or checklist so you can avoid purchasing a lemon. A good checklist will help you catch any problems that the vehicle has so you can determine if you really want to purchase it. If you do decide to purchase the vehicle having a list will help you get the best price possible. Here is a simple lexicon that will assist in finding a vehicle that’s right for you.

The first place to look before starting the vehicle is under the hood. You will want to check to make sure there is no oil on the engine. Oil on an engine indicates a leak somewhere. Pull the dipstick and make sure the engine oil is at a good level. A low oil level indicates that the vehicle may burn oil. Check the coolant reservoir. The ideal fluid level while the car is cold is in between the hot and cold lines marked on the reservoir. There may be a coolant leak if the level is too low. You should also check the engine compartment for any other stains or wet areas that indicate leaks for other systems such as power steering and brakes.

Once you have finished examining the engine and engine compartment you will want to start the vehicle. If you notice any blue smoke coming from the exhaust the engine burns oil. Lots of white smoke is a tell-tale sign that the engine’s head gasket is blown. Listen to the engine to make sure there are no weird noises. A good engine does not knock, sputter, bang, or pop, and squealing noise is a belt slipping. Make sure all of the lights work. These include headlights (low and high beams), brake lights, reverse lights, license plate lights, and turn signals. Press firmly on the brake and hold pressure. If you can put your foot to the floor this is a bad sign. Look at the gauges and make sure they all work. After this make sure the car is in park or neutral with the emergency brake engaged, its time to look under the car.

While under the car look for any leaks from the brake, gas, and transmission lines. A quick way to check is to look at the ground for any stains or wetness. Check the frame for rust holes or any alterations. Spotting a frame that has had damage repaired is easy. Just look to see if there are any unusually clean areas, or areas that have lots of extra scratches and scrapes. Once you are finished examining the undercarriage of the vehicle check the tires.

Measure the tire pressure to make sure the tires are inflated to the proper psi. Make sure all the tires are the same size and brand. Take a look at the tire’s tread wear. If it’s uneven this indicates that the vehicle’s alignment is off. If a tire is bald or metal is sticking out of it the tire will need to be replaced immediately. While in the front move the tires left and right with your hands. If the tires aren’t tight a tie-rod end is your most likely suspect. Once you’re done with the tires get back in the car and check the temperature gauge. You want to make sure the car isn’t overheating. If the temperature is low or within normal operating range, it’s time for a test drive.

Before you move the car test the transmission. This can be accomplished by switching the car between gears. You don’t want to hear any clunking noises. It should shift smoothly without making the car jolt. While driving you should pay attention to see if the transmission slips or shifts hard. If the vehicle has a standard transmission you can test the clutch by putting the car in 3rd gear, releasing the emergency brake, and letting the clutch out slowly. If the vehicle stalls rapidly that’s good, if not then your clutch is slipping. Throughout the drive listen for any grinding during shifting. Then you will want to test the brakes to see if you feel any vibrations, hear any sounds, and if the vehicle pulls to any one side. You will also want to do some hard braking to test the anti-lock brake systems. A rapidly pulsing brake pedal is good. If the car skids you may have problems. You should check to see if the car is in alignment. While driving allow the car to go where it wants to. If it veers to the left or right the car is out of alignment. Turn on the heat to make sure it works. If you smell coolant there is a heater core problem. Also, check the air conditioning to see if it needs to be recharged. During your trip keep an eye on your gauges to see if any of them are not at normal operating levels.

A big question on everybody’s mind when they get to Hong Kong: Where should I buy cheap electronics. Now this is a difficult one. People come here expecting to find the latest and greatest, and that at cheap prices. Sad thing is that people often leave here with inferior products and on top of that have been cheated on the price, often paying way more than what the product is worth.

What you should do:

What I have learned over the last couple of years here, is that if you want any electronic items, go to the official stores. Why, you ask me?

1) All the products are official products, with full warranty.

2) They will be honest and tell you if any device is region locked or sim locked, and suggest models that do not have these restrictions.

3) Their prices are LOWER. Yes LOWER than the street shops. Also they will often automatically give you a discount and free gifts (screen protectors, cables, carry cases, etc).

4) You will not waste time haggling and trying to get the model you want. If they have it in stock, you get it. If not, move on to the next store, and try there.

Now where are these official stores, you ask me?

You can check out these stores:

– Broadway – A chain located all around Hong Kong

– Fortress – A chain located all around Hong Kong

– Star House – A lot of electronics stores located in there, including Apple shops

– All official Apple stores

– Sham Shui Po – Even though this seems like a street market, they sell official items at good, decent prices.

– Sino Centre – A good place in Mong Kok for all video game related purchases.

In a city of this size there is no surprise that a Boston shopping guide would be a rather extensive and large thing to read. It contains a number of shops ranging from a good selection of national names to those independent retailers trying to get a slice of the market.

You have a number of shopping malls to choose from in the area such as the Prudential center, Faneuil Hall Quincy Marketplace, and Huntington Avenue and you should have a wide selection of products to choose from. They also contain a number of restaurants that can help satisfy those hunger pains from trailing around all those stores.

If you are looking for those things that are perhaps high quality then the best area to visit is Newbury Street as this is where you are going to find the designer stores, boutiques and high-class restaurants. An alternative would be Copley Place which again deals with this particular end of the market so you do need money to shop here.

Lower priced goods are found in a number of stores across the city and are too numerous to just list here but you shall be able to sniff them out in the main shopping areas. One good thing is that with the range that is available you should always be able to find at least some kind of a bargain if you are willing to look hard enough.

Most stores are open from Monday to Saturday but the large malls also open on Sunday for you and the times are normally from 9am to 7pm. Do be aware though that a number of shops tend to select one night in a week as a late opening night so keep an eye out for this.

One final thing you should know about in this brief Boston shopping guide is that there is no sales tax on clothing under 175 dollars so there is the chance to really take advantage of that. With so many shops within the one area however it could be very easy to slip over this figure due to the choice that is available.

So where CAN you get a Batman outfit in Hong Kong? You would be surprised at how many people actually look for fancy dress outfits and costumes for the various theme parties that we have in Hong Kong.

Well if you do, you have come to the right guide!  We have had Movie Stars, Pirates, Cavemen, DC Villains, Gangsters and Pimps, Hawaiian and Arabian night parties. Some of these parties have been on junk boat trips and some of them in normal bars and clubs. And the great thing about Hong Kong is that you can have these parties anywhere. The Local crowd loves to see people dress up, and do not be surprised if you spend a lot of your night taking photos with random people. Now besides organising these theme parties, people also need to find the right outfits and costumes. Now where can you do this? Here is our list of must visit places.

You have two options: You can rent your outfits:

– House of Siren

Easily the best costumier in town, House of Siren rents handmade stock costumes and will also tailor them to your size.

– The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

HKAPA lends out costumes previously used in productions.

– Makswell Costume

Located in Chai Wan, Makswell#8217s has literally hundreds of costumes to choose from, and deliver for $50 to Hong Kong or Kowloon ($200 to New Territories), plus rental price. They also sell props and accessories.

If you want to buy outfits, you can check the following shops:

– Partyland Market

This shop is located on the corner of Wellington Street and Pottinger Street in Central. You can find a lot of costume shops on Pottinger street as well. Make sure to check them all out. They have a lot of choice and cheap outfits.

– Tai Yun Street Market

A Street Market in Wan Chai, where a bit of hunting can get you some cheap outfits as well.

– Ladies Market

This well know market in Mong Kok has some outfits as well, though to tend to be more on the “naughty” side.

– Night Market – Temple Street

This street market is located between jordan and Yau Ma Tei, has similar items to the Ladies Market

– Matteo Party

A shop located on Jaffe Road, Causeway bay

– Fortune Costume

A costume shop on Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

A visit to a couple of these places will get you almost everything you need to look cool and awesome on any theme party you organise!

Let’s face it, people come to Hong Kong for two reasons: Shopping and Partying. Oh, there is the Big Buddha, Disneyland, the Peak, etc…, but that is just if you are bored of partying or shopping. And trust me, it is hard to get bored of these two options.

And fair enough, Hong Kong is a shopping heaven. From the Street Markets to the Designer stores, there is something for everyone here. And now the main question: How do I get cheap stuff!?!

Fact #1: If you are looking for original or designer wear, Hong Kong is NOT the cheapest place to shop. What you DO have is choice. You can find ANYTHING here. Every street corner has a Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Armani Exchange.

Fact #2: YOU CAN ASK FOR A DISCOUNT IN ANY STORE! Yes, that means if you walk into an electronics chain, Armani store or street shop, ASK if there is any discount. 9 out of 10 times, they will give you a discount.

Fact #3: DO NOT shop for electronics on little roadside stores! Go to the big electronic chain stores like Broadway and Fortress. They will be cheaper, and FACT #2 always works here. Often they will quote you a better price than their display price, before you even ask for the discount. And you know you are getting authentic products with worldwide warranty. If you are looking for funky electronics, not your standard branded electronics, that go to Sham Shui Po. The Golden Dragon Computer arcade has a wide choice of PC parts, games, non-standard electronics (like PMPs, Chinese made cellphones), and every video console under the sun.