A Paradise of Public Art

Let other magazines have their so-called Hot Lists—our Not List is a lot more fun. It's all the trips we don't want to take, like an hour-long "mile high club" flight or a simulation of an illegal border crossing in Mexico. And who better to walk you through the 2007 Not List than our own dapper mascot, the one and only Bud Travel? See him in action in the Not List slide show!

New Prize: CasaMagna Marriott Cancún Resort The best response we receive between June 1, 2007, and June 30, 2007, wins a four-night stay for two at CasaMagna Marriott Cancún Resort. The prize includes four nights in a suite, one dinner at La Capilla Argentina, one spa treatment for the winner and a guest at CasaMagna's spa, tickets and transportation to the eco-archaeological park Xcaret, and breakfast daily. For more information on CasaMagna Marriott Cancún Resort: 888/727-2347, casamagnacancun.com. How to enter TrueStories@BudgetTravelOnline.com or True Stories, Budget Travel, 530 Seventh Ave., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10018. For full contest guidelines, visit BudgetTravelOnline.com/truestories. The prize has an estimated retail value of approximately $3,000 and is valid from Sept. 1, 2007, to Aug. 31, 2008. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. Blackout dates apply. Prize is subject to availability, nontransferable, and nonnegotiable. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Only one prize will be awarded, and your chances of winning depend on how many entries we receive and whether yours is the best. Open to residents of the 50 United States and its territories, except Arizona. WINNER! This month's winner is Suzanne Fox Sevel of West Melbourne, Fla. Her prize: A six-night vacation rental, courtesy of HomeAway.com. My husband and I took our 17-month-old son, Zachary, to Las Vegas for New Year's Eve, and we were joined by several members of my family. Since Zachary had recently dressed up as Elvis Presley for Halloween, my brothers and nephews decided to bring along Elvis jumpsuits--after all, what's a trip to Las Vegas without Elvis impersonators? As bad as their outfits were, the Elvises received many high fives and photo requests. One woman even asked if they'd pick her up and hold her sideways for a photo. As the picture was being snapped, she realized that my 11-year-old nephew, David, had a clear view right up her miniskirt. Alarmed, she demanded, "What are you lookin' at, li'l Elvis?" You Have a Sikh Sense of Humor Traveling through India, my wife and I took a bus tour to tea plantations in the south. Behind us was a newlywed couple from Mumbai. The bride was sniffling and sneezing, so my wife asked if she was sick. "Oh, no," replied the bride. "We are Hindu." Jim Dunn, Haslett, Mich. Now the Wheelbarrow Feels Even Worse About Itself While hiking on a rain-forest trail near Cairns, Australia, I spotted a six-foot-tall cassowary. The bird stood motionless, 60 feet off in the bush, and I was lucky enough to get a picture. But as soon as my camera clicked, the cassowary stood erect and began to advance menacingly. At three feet away, it raised its dagger toes and threw out its chest. I slowly backed away, and it turned and thundered back into the bush. Later that day, I told the tale to a local naturalist, who explained that because I was wearing a yellow baseball cap and a black jacket, the cassowary likely thought I was an appropriate suitor. It seemed probable, as I've often thought of myself as a bit of a ladies' man. "Don't get too big on yourself, mate," he said. "I've seen 'em have a go at an overturned wheelbarrow." Mike Levitt, Williams Lake, B.C. That's What We'd Call a Crack Response Team A friend of mine in Dundee, Scotland, was kind enough to invite my husband and me to spend the night while we were traveling through the British Isles. She lived in housing for folks of retirement age, and each apartment was equipped with a simple alarm system in case of emergency: a cord near the front door and another next to the bathtub. After a long day of sightseeing, my husband hopped in the shower. When he finished, he bent over to dry his feet, and the cord, unbeknownst to him, became caught in his derriere. As he straightened up, the cord got pulled down and set off the alarm--a story that we found difficult to relay to the security guards who soon appeared. Marilyn Brenner, Licking, Mo. Go Soak in Your Own Toilet While at the lovely Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, my family enjoyed sitting in the hot tub while watching lizards, geckos, and iguanas roam the grounds. One day, an iguana made its way toward us. It slowly crept to the edge of the hot tub--at which point it turned its head, looked directly at us, and peed into the water. We exited immediately! Sharie Phelan, Mokena, Ill. How Was Your Trip? In July 2006, Carol Banning won a South African safari, courtesy of Karell Holidays (formerly South African Airways Holidays), for her story about a hotel in the Czech Republic that changed names during her stay. Banning and her husband, Terry, recently returned from South Africa. "We had a very knowledgeable guide who drove us around while sharing many tidbits about African animals," she says. "And to our delight, our room at the lodge was a freestanding chalet with its own viewing deck. Thank you, South African Airways, for a dream trip come true!"

Who's That in the Photo With You? "We started chatting with Linda on the plane," says Candace (see photo, below; Linda is on the right). "She lives in Washington State, but her daughter, Charlie, and son-in-law, Gerwin, are based in Hong Kong." A few days later, the group met up for dinner at Nha Trang, a Vietnamese café and one of Linda's favorite restaurants in Central (88 Wellington St., 011-852/2581-9992, entrées from $8). "It was delicious," says Greg. "We shared plenty of pho bo, the classic noodle soup, and soft-shell crab rolls." Then they all hopped the MTR to the Mong Kok shopping district. (That's where the snapshot was taken.) "The streets are lit with so many neon signs that it's like walking into daylight," laughs Candace. "I ended up with some wonderful souvenirs, including a stingray wallet for my dad, magnets for my friends, and a hand-embroidered silk shawl for myself." Hong Kong Disneyland "I loved the park," says Candace. "It's much smaller than Orlando, so we were able to do everything in six hours, including the river cruise, Space Mountain, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters." Greg ate at every stop he could. "I tried dishes from all over China. Each region puts its own twist on noodles, rice, and soup." Macau Was a Big Hit Greg and Candace spent two nights at the Pousada de Mong-Ha. "The tasting dinner, which lasted three hours, was the single greatest event of the trip," says Candace. They took a tour of the Old City, exploring the 17th-century Mount Fortress, among other ancient structures, then made the trek to Fernando's for dinner. "The drive was gorgeous, through the hills and over serious bridges," says Greg. "We could even see mainland China." A Tip From Greg "Public transportation is faster and cheaper than a taxi. If you do take a cab, there's a simple rule we learned by trial and error: Taxis are fined $60 for stopping at a curb marked with a double yellow line. They're only allowed to stop at single yellow or single, dotted yellows."

Who's TravelingGreg Marker and Candace Pinaud of Ypsilanti, Mich. Greg, a civil engineer, met Candace, a mortgage lender, four years ago while working on water and paving projects in the subdivision where she owns a home. "A local politician and friend introduced us, and we've been together ever since," says Greg. The couple now lives together and spends as much free time as possible renovating the house. "We're salvagers and scavengers by nature," says Greg. "We've performed the majority of work ourselves." Candace has been busy in recent months opening her own office in the Depot Town section of Ypsilanti. "There's lots going on!" she says. Where They're Going "On the way home from Jamaica in February, I pointed to a picture of Fiji in the in-flight magazine and told Greg that we might as well write off ever visiting that side of the world, because it's just too expensive and we don't know anyone who lives there," Candace wrote to Budget Travel in early March. "Two weeks later to the day, Greg's sister, Emily, announced that her company was sending her to Hong Kong for six months and that she'd pay for our plane tickets if we wanted to come see her." Greg and Candace jumped at the chance and booked a 10-day trip for late March. They plan to stay with Emily at her apartment in Hong Kong's Financial District. Candace has been doing research on fun things to do. "We've borrowed videos, guidebooks, and novels from the library," she says. "I'm beside myself with excitement." How Can We Help?Cash or charge? Candace has a number of general questions about money, including where best to convert U.S. dollars to Hong Kong dollars. "I assume we'll need cash for buying trinkets." The couple would like to avoid using credit cards as much as possible. Modern marvels: As an engineer, Greg is interested in seeing exactly how a city the size of Hong Kong works. "The tunnels and underground systems intrigue me," he says. Eating out: "Candace and I both enjoy good food and drink--the spicier, the better," says Greg. He also wants to know where to stock up for day trips. "Carrying food with me gives me the freedom to do what I like without worrying about my next meal." Dizzy for Disney: Over the years, the couple has made many trips to Walt Disney World. "It's one of Candace's all-time favorite places," says Greg, adding that she often goes by Tink, short for Tinker Bell. "So Hong Kong Disneyland is definitely on our list. We're curious how it compares to its U.S. counterparts." Beyond H.K.: "Greg, Emily, and I are thinking about a relaxing weekend somewhere nearby," says Candace. "Where should we go?" Here's Our Advice Hit the Ground Running Three stops inside Hong Kong International Airport will get a trip started on the right foot: 1. The Tourism Board's information desk at the end of the ramp that leads to baggage claim, to pick up a map and register for a free harbor tour on a junk. (More info can be found at discoverhongkong.com.) 2. An ATM. There are ones outside customs operated by Citibank and HSBC. 3. The Airport Express desk, to buy a ticket for the 24-minute train ride into Central, as Hong Kongers call the Financial District. It's part of the highly efficient Mass Transit Railway, or MTR, the city's subway system (mtr.com.hk, $13). Sushi, Dim Sum, and...Kebabs? City'Super, Hong Kong's best gourmet market, is across the street from the MTR station in Central, on the second floor of the International Finance Center, near Emily's apartment (011-852/2234-2888). Asian noodle salads, sushi, and sandwiches prepared to order make it the perfect place to buy picnic supplies. Hong Kongers love dim sum and eat it for breakfast or lunch. There are three Cantonese restaurants on the 10th floor of the Times Square shopping mall that have excellent menus--with specialties such as cha siu bao (barbecued pork buns) and woo gok (fried taro balls)--for about $20 per person. Greg and Candace can get there by taking the MTR three stops from Central station to Causeway Bay (60¢). For a change of pace, they should head to the lively expat neighborhood of Lan Kwai Fong, a short walk uphill from Central station (lankwaifong.com). Restaurants serve everything from Mexican to Italian to Indian. At Beirut, for example, customers share plates of Lebanese lamb kebabs, hummus, and tabbouleh, getting up occasionally to dance between the tables. A meal costs around $45 per person, and that includes a shot of arak, a potent aniseed-flavored liqueur (27 D'Aguilar St., 011-852/2804-6611). Shop Till You Drop Hong Kong is a shopper's delight, from the many megamalls to the designer boutiques in Central. Greg and Candace are particularly interested in street vendors. Stanley Market is the place for silks, paintings, and toys (weekdays 9 A.M.. to 6 P.M..; the 6, 6A, 6X, 66, and 260 buses go from Central to Stanley Plaza, $1); the Jade Market in Kowloon is great for figurines (daily 10 A.M.. to 5 P.M..; take the MTR to Yau Ma Tei stop and look for exit C, $1.50). A Day Trip Fit for an Engineer On Sundays and holidays, bus 309 winds its way up and over hilly Hong Kong Island to the beach town of Shek O (one hour, $1.50). From the double-decker bus, passengers can marvel at the thousands of cement retaining walls and the intricate storm-water drainage systems that protect the island against both landslides and floods. Shek O's beachfront restaurants serve locally caught seafood like grilled prawns and tilapia from about $10. Magic Middle Kingdom Hong Kong Disneyland, which opened in 2005 on green and hilly Lantau Island, is the smallest of Disney's parks. It has all the attractions one would expect, like Space Mountain and Main Street, U.S.A. In fact, apart from a few Chinese items in the gift shops and concession stands that serve dim sum, congee, and other regional specialties, Hong Kong's park is a near replica of Disney parks around the world. A day pass starts at $41, and getting there on the MTR takes about a half hour and costs $3. The train runs aboveground for much of the trip, offering pretty views of the South China Sea and the surrounding islands. The Great Weekend Escape Forty miles west of Hong Kong, across the Pearl River Delta, the 11-square-mile city of Macau mixes colonial architecture (a legacy of 450 years of Portuguese rule that ended in 1999 when the territory was returned to China) and Chinese modernity (including a collection of the flashiest casinos outside of Vegas). To get there, the couple will pay $18 for the hour-long hydrofoil ride from the Ferry Terminal near Central. The Pousada de Mong-Ha is a whitewashed B&B on a hill overlooking Macau's harbor (011-853/2851-5222, ift.edu.mo/pousada, from $80). The 20-room inn is part of a hospitality and cooking school, and guests can sign up for a seven-course tasting dinner served by the students ($60 for two). For a more casual, beachfront meal of chorizo, barbecued seafood, and sangria, there's Fernando's, a Macau institution on Hac Sa Beach about 30 minutes outside central Macau (Praia de Hac Sa 9, 011-853/2888-2531, taxi $13, entrées from $8). How Can We Help You? If you'd like to be coached by us, send an e-mail to Letters@BudgetTravelOnline.com.