Pack like a pro: Hong Kong

Written and Photographed by Ben Krueger

Before you are ready to study at SCAD Hong Kong and explore the city’s bustling streets, diverse markets, efficient transportation system and wide variety of food offerings, you’ll need to pack your bag with some essentials.

Physical health will be your first priority, especially the first week of school. This means adjusting to the time change, which can be more drastic depending on where you are flying from. A general rule is to hydrate, but Hong Kong is notorious for unreliable water quality — bring a filtered water bottle to be safe (if you are living at the Gold Coast residences, the tap water in your flat is filtered).

Something you’ll realize quickly is that most Western over-the-counter medicine is NOT readily available in pharmacies, so pack anything you take for granted when you have a headache or stomachache. Each flat at the Gold Coast Residences has a laundry machine, so don’t over-pack clothes. For the upcoming fall quarter, the weather will be hot when you arrive and only start to get into the 70s as the term comes to a close, so bring mostly summer clothes.

It rains on a dime in Hong Kong, so you’ll want to buy an umbrella when you get there. Typhoon season will be in full effect, but the city and school is well equipped and prepared — look out for emails from SCAD regarding building closures and updates.

Any research you do on restaurants beforehand will not prepare you for the vast selection of food the city has to offer. Just know that Western cuisine does come at a premium cost, but it is available when you are craving a taste of home. Unless you are going out for fine dining, food is fairly inexpensive, with some Chinese cafes offering entire meals for a few USD. Take advantage of this and try as many dishes as you can, and don’t be afraid to ask locals where to go. The best places are the ones hiding in plain sight.

You’ll for sure want to bring lots of cash, which can be converted to HKD at any currency exchange location in the city. Sham Shui Po has plenty of these, conveniently where SCAD Hong Kong is located. Off the bat, you’ll want to get your Octopus Card, which can be purchased in most MTR (Mass Transit Railway) stations. You’ll need cash to open the card, as well as to refill it. Your Octopus Card is your ticket to the city’s subway system, bus system and some restaurants. It’s even your key to your Gold Coast tower. Many shops and restaurants accept credit and debit cards, but always carry some cash to be safe.

For the most part, you can rely on about 50 percent of people in the city speaking English, but as you venture to neighboring fishing islands and residential areas, you will want to have Google Translate at the ready.
To avoid spending heaps of money on an international data plan, there are locations near Apliu Market to buy prepaid SIM cards. If this isn’t an option for you, WiFi is available throughout the city. You should also download a map of Hong Kong in Google Maps for offline use.

To avoid unnecessary luggage costs, the best piece of advice when traveling to Hong Kong is to pack light. Don’t take anything that will weigh you down during your travels and leave some room to take home souvenirs for friends and family. Enjoy your time abroad!