Though a majority of families with kids in Hong Kong opt for dogs or cats as pets, a growing number is bucking the trend and bringing home other pets to give their tiny tots company. If you don’t want to bring a cat or a dog as your pet, here are the top 5 picks from which you can select your preferred one:

• Fishes: After the most popular category of dogs as pets, fishes rank as the second choice along with cats for most Hong Kong families with kids. The aquarium fish market of Hong Kong offers the largest collection of interesting aquatic pet stores from which you can take your pick. You may also visit the Goldfish Market where a series of shops sell pet fish. Most shops here sell goldfishes, which are packed in bags full for water and hung outside the shops.

• Turtles: Kids love these slow crawlers and many have them as pets. You can buy Albino turtles from stores at the Goldfish Market. Kowloon street market is yet another place where you can find a wide variety of turtles on sale. If you plan to bring home a turtle, remember that it might be small in size (somewhat similar to a HK$5 coin) but can grow big to resemble the size of a plate. You will need large enclosures with special lighting and heating arrangements as well as adequate filtration systems to help your pet grow and live life in a healthy and spacious environment.

• Birds: The bird garden on Yuen Po Street is your destination if you want to buy birds as pets. Over 70 bird stalls exist here, which house a wide variety of beautiful birds like mynahs, macaws, cockatiels, songbirds, and starlings. This garden and its spacious courtyards are a treat to behold, with their mesmerizing blend of sights and sounds. Though songbirds are the most preferable pet for buyers here, other birds too are sold fairly quickly. You can also buy pet bird paraphernalia from this place, which could include porcelain water bowls, exquisite wooden and bamboo cages, and bird snacks like special honey drinks, toasted seeds, as well as live grasshoppers and crickets.

• Cavies: The cavy family native to South America includes the wild cavies, the capybara, and the domestic guinea pigs, among other animals. In Hong Kong, guinea pigs are the most common pets that you will find in many families. However, if you want to buy cavies just because you think that such small pets need a lot less maintenance work as compared to dogs or cats, think again. These rodent pets require high maintenance. You can buy cavies that are a few months’ old from Hong Kong pet stores. The maximum life span of these pets is usually 7 years.

• Rabbit: If you are planning to bring home rabbits, prepare yourself mentally to commit for a long-term as the life expectancy of these pets is between 7 and 10 years.

So, choose from any one of these pets to help your kids enjoy some precious company and make them learn a lot about their companions from close quarters.

Many people choose China as the destination for their holiday each year, but with so many cities and many of the most famous tourist attractions and sights being spread out around the country it can be very difficult to know where to visit first.

It is one of the largest cities in china and is situated on the south eastern coast of the country. It really is a great place to start your tour of China and is certainly somewhere that you should not miss whilst holidaying in the country. Hong Kong is great to visit all year round with almost 80% of rainy appearing in august making May-August the wettest time to visit.

When it comes to finding accommodation in Hong Kong you really are spoiled for choice, bearing in mind just how big yet compact the city is you will never be far away from the central sites and sounds or the major attractions. Public transport is very cheap and very accessible so getting around within the city is very easy. The majority of the city's hotels are located in the harbor district and many new resort complexes are being built to cater for the ever increasing swarms of tourists.

The city is made up of five districts; Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, Lantou and the emerging islands. Most visitors will enter Hong Kong via its international airport which is also known as Chep Lap Kok (named after the island it was built on). Those taking internal flights or excursions around the country will often use the Shenzhen International Airport for departure as flying to China's mainland from Hong Kong is considered an international flight.

When exploring Hong Kong it is wise to invest in an Octopus Card, these cards are accepted by many different sources and businesses such as the public transport system and many convenience stores. These contactless debit cards are eligible and can carry up to $ 1000 in value and are very handy when traveling though the city.

Through the city itself you will find many different attractions to keep all of your family entertained such as Disney Land, numerous museums and a whole wealth of festivals that take place throughout the year.

If there is one thing I am good at it is living beyond my means.

Though not necessarily a commendable trait, it has made me a hardcore bargain hunter for everything – from food, to sleeping quarters, to clothes, to transportation.

I may not be rich, I must admit, but street smart– yes I am!

Based on my recent budget trip to Hong Kong, I have crafted a scheme so frugal it will make any Pinoy proud.

This is for all the wanderlusts, who are short on cash.

Transportation

BUS = US$1.00 and up (depending on destination)

You will be amazed how cheap, well organized and safe it is to ride a bus in Hong Kong. There will always be a bus stop near you so spot that. DO NOT flag a bus in the middle of the road, it will squash you mercilessly! Always opt for the second deck seating for the best view.

DOUBLE DECKER TRAMWAY = US$.50 (flat rate)

Hong Kong’s cheapest mode of transportation!

Unfortunately the TRAM’s route only covers the Hong Kong Island side. But if you’re in the area you can go from Causeway Bay, to the Shark’s Fin City to Louis Vuitton in Central with just 12 bucks! Everyone MUST ride the TRAM, at least once, for the whole old school HK experience.

STAR FERRY = US$2.00

This the cheapest and most scenic way to traverse Kowloon and Hong Kong island.

MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (MTR) = US$1.00 – US$15.00 (depending on the destination)

Not necessarily cheap, the MTR is the most convenient and my favorite way to go around the city. As they say, once you go MTR you can never go back to our local MRT.

*Taxis are the most expensive way to get around HK, so if you want to be a smart travel just say no and walk to where you’re going.

Sleep

CHUNKING MANSION = US$15 PER PERSON

Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Do not be scared of the ghetto façade, the Mansion is safe and dirt cheap (no pun intended). The place has relatively clean beds and each room has its own bathroom with hot water.

Recently featured in Time Magazine, Chunking Mansion is said to be the melting pot of races in Hong Kong with Indians, Middle Eastern people, Nepalese, Sri Lakans, Bangladeshins and Nigerians calling this their turf.

Entertainment

SYMPHONY OF LIGHTS = FREE!!

Star Ferry Terminal, Kowloon

Every night at exactly 8 pm there will be a laser light show. You will hear a musical accompaniment to the laser light, which includes thousands and thousands of lights on various Hong Kong buildings bouncing off each other. Green and white lasers will shoot out from the top of the sky scrappers. It’s an amazing opulent experience that is, best of all, free!

VICTORIA PEAK = US$20.00 ++ (WITH FOOD)

Hong Kong Island

The Peak is an SOP destination. Its open rooftop platform offers the best 360-degree view of HK!

Go there around sunset so you see HK’s skyline at night. The cheapest way to get there is via open-top bus.

The restaurants and bistros are steep on price so opt for good ol’ McDonalds on the second floor. Take out your food and eat it al fresco on the roof deck.

OCEAN PARK = US$30

This is a happier place than Disneyland, especially if your 13 years old and up!

The latest attraction is the SkyFair, here you ride a helium balloon to get a spectacular view of the coastline and South China Sea.

LAN KWAI FONG = US$10

Central District, Hong Kong

The L-shaped cobble stone lane has trendiest pubs, bistros, restos and clubs. This place is an expat magnet so if you’re into white boy yuppies you may find your match here.

However alcoholic beverages sold at the bar are worth gold. The solution is to load up on the nearest 711 (a 6pack Tiger beer cost about P300), get bubbly with booze then head to Lan Kwai Fong and just go people oogling.

Shopping

MONGKOK STREET MARKET

Kowloon

ongkok street is ‘The shopping tourist mecca’. There are rows of shops that sell sports goods, branded clothes, computer items, comics, collectible toys, cellphones etc.

The most famous area is the Ladies Market. It is 3 blocks of tent domes that sell stuff you can see in Greenhills. However there are nice items to purchase like cute tote bags, hardcore rocker belts, bling quality fake watches and the ubiquitous pasalubong keychains, ballpens, wallets, t-shirts etc.

If you decide to buy something here YOU MUST HAGGLE like your life depended on it.

Haggling in this area is like a metaphor to a girl’s love life. Never show them (boys/hawkers) that you’re into them (boys/items). Always bargain for the best deal which is a 75 percent discount. And if they don’t give you what they want… WALK AWAY. There will be an 80 percent chance the boy/hawker will give in to what you want.

Another tip if your gonna buy the Hong Kong printed T-shirts the good price is 6 shirts for HK$100 (or P100 each)

LAI CHI KOK

Kowloon

This is fashion wholesale paradise!

To get here ride the MTR, go down the Lai Chi Kok station. Take Exit C.

Cheap bags, t-shirts, jeans, belts, accessories, you name it’s here. Haggling is a must. The US$30 leather bags you see in the US as expensive stores are just worth US$15 here.

H&M

Causeway Bay??? Hong Kong

For me this is the better than Mango, Sarah, Dorthy Perkin or Top Shop combined. This Swedish brand has the cheapest yet trendiest goods. Lucky for me and my friends we came in during sale season and we bought kick ass shirts for as low as P300 and patent leather bags for as cheap as P600! The accessories are lovely!

H and M caters to all kinds of taste whether you’re a wannabe hipster like Lindsay Lohan or a polished trendsetter ala Ashley Olsen.

You cant go wrong with a store that has acquired the talents of such bigwigs as Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor and Rolf, and yes… Maddona and Kyle Minogue!

BOSSINI

Dowdy as the brand may seem this clothing store is practical and if you look close enough you can find decent casual, office wear. Check out their SIMPSON tees sold for a steal.

Giordano

Gone are the cheesy Giordano plain tees with Frog logos, remember the 90s? In Hong Kong, Giordano has put up a Concept Store that has become classy and trendy. Check out their print ad which models Korean Superstars including Rain!

The Concept Stores have quality goods and the designs are minimalist but well structured. As expected the stuff is more expensive than your regular goods. A collared polo shirt can cost US$20, but it’s worth it!

The question now is what happened to Giordano Philippines?

HMV

CD heaven, enough said.

DOG FRIENDS FASHION STORE

Kowloon

Hipster clothing that street fashonistas will relish. I bought a trench patch jacket at a sale price of US$20.00 from US$100

Eats

STREET FOOD AT MONGKOK AREA = US$2.00

The way the Chinese cook their hawker food maybe gross but boy is it yummy. Get authentic dim sum, pork buns, prawn dumpling and Chinese tea here!

POPEYE’S CHICKEN = US$12.00

Order the chicken and the bread. Super worth it!

EGG TART = US$.40

This is Macau’s dessert speciality but HK version is also great. Buy at any local bakery

DAN RYANS’ CHICAGO GRILL US$25

Best clam chowder, hands.

digital camera

Hong Kong’s local food scene is heavily dominated by wonton noodle and dim sum, which are possibly the two most popular local dishes… Visiting the city without enjoying a hearty bowl of Wonton noodle in one of the humble eateries across Central, or Wanchai, is just as unthinkable as visiting Paris without dining at a local bistro, or passing through Athens without having a Souvlaki… This article will take you to Hong Kong’s best wonton dens.

Wonton noodles (or Wan-tan Min) is normally served In Hong Kong in a steaming hot broth, garnished with green vegetables, and plump wonton dumplings, stuffed with prawn, with or without minced pork.

According to local food connoisseurs, the perfect bowl of wonton noodle should boast all these qualities:

• The broth has to be slowly cooked with prawn shells, chicken and pork bones.
• The noodle should be as thin as a thread and springy in texture.
• The wonton dumpling itself should contain crunchy fresh prawn, wrapped in ultra-thin skin.
• Just before serving, the dish has to be sprinkled with thinly chopped yellow chives and shrimp eggs.

The best places to enjoy wonton noodle in Hong Kong are usually nothing more than a hole-in-the-wall eatery, which does not have an English menu, and none of its stuff speaks English, but with a bit of patience and some help from passers-by, you’ll be fine…

Mak Man Kee Noodles, on 51 Parkes Street in Kowloon, just a short stroll from Jordan MTR Station, has been around for 40 years or so and still serves the same fantastic wonton noodle that has earned it its reputation, with thin skin and rich filing of either pork or shrimps, floating in a delicious slow-cooked broth with springy handmade noodles, that are traditionally prepared with duck-eggs.

Mak’s Noodle, on 77 Wellington Street, in Central, has long become a local landmark, and although its portions are infamous for being small in size, the dumplings are awesome, with fresh and well-marinated prawns, the broth is to die for, and the handmade noodles are just as delicious, with duck eggs that give them this springy texture which makes people want more and more of them…

Just a stone’s throw away, on 98 Wellington Street, is Tsim Chai Kee – Mak’s eternal competitor and a Hong Kong culinary institution in its own right… Unlike most of the city’s old school wonton eateries, Tsim Chai Kee boasts a somewhat more modern design, with a Chinese – oriental fleur, which makes you feel you are, indeed, in a Chinese eating house… The portions here are larger than those at Mak’s, but some say the wanton dumplings are not as gorgeous, mainly because Tsim Chai Kee stuffs them with chunks of prawns, while Mak’s use whole prawns… A matter of personal taste I presume…

Still on Wellington Road, Wong Chi Kee Congee & Noodle is another legendary noodle house. Originally opened in Macau more than 50 years ago by Wong Wun Chi, who learned the secrets of noodles-making from a master in Canton, back in the 1940s, this popular restaurant is known not only for its wonton noodle, but also for its Congee, which some sayis the best in town.