I went to Hongkong last month. I planned the trip complete with itinerary and the tiniest details BUT it all went down the drain because we spent most of our days shopping. Thus I'll be sharing with you some shopping reports and finds in the "shopping mecca" of the world.

Being the geek that I am, the most common questions I encountered before I went to Hongkong was: "Are you going to buy an iPad? How about an iPhone 4?" Answer: Nope!

I actually did not intend to buy any electronics or gadgets on this particular trip. I did not even wander in the Fortress stores, HK's popular digital shop, for me not to be tempted. I splurged on shoes, bags, clothes, but not on gadgets. Hongkong shoppers know that HK is no longer the best place where you can buy electronics stuff. It's also risky to buy because of the knock-offs, copies and fakes that surrounds every corner of the fame shopping district.

But I kinda broke my promise and did not come home empty-handed (gadget-wise). I was still able to wander and buy three (3) portable external hard disk drive which apparently turned out as my best buys on the trip.


Imation iPro Metal Portable HDD

I was able to get a Western Digital Elements 500GB external hard drive for only $HKD 460 (Php 2,760) and an Imation iPro Metal 500GB for $HKD 489 (Php 2,934). The former was for my boss who asked me to buy him two and the latter was for me. I chose aluminum Purple but they don't have it on stock so I chose pink instead. These external HDDs were very inexpensive compared to the 500GB in Manila which sells for Php 3,500 - 4,000 per unit. I was able to get additional discounts and freebies since I got three.



I bought the gadgets at the Basement of Golden Computer Arcade located in the Sham Shui Po district. It is quite far from the usual HK fares and it caters more to locals than to tourists. It's easily accessible via MTR and it's a popular shopping center for computers and peripherals so it's very easy to locate. The shopping center is open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. There's a lot of stalls selling impossibly 'marked down prices' for electronics so be very cautious when buying.

Directions:
Take the MTR Tsuen Wan Line and get off at the Sham Shui Po station (7th stop from Central). Go to exit D2 and turn left when you reach Fuk Wa St. Walk along Fuk Wa St. until you see the big signs that will lead you to the building of Golden Computer Arcade/Golden Computer Centre.


Golden Computer Arcade
Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, HK

Golden Computer Arcade
146-152 Fuk Wa St., Sham Shui Po
Kowloon, Hongkong
http://www.goldenarcade.org/

This entry was originally posted in My Travelogue blog.