I had decided to take the bus to Stanley, but I wasn’t sure where to catch it. After some getting lost in the massive bus complex near the Star Ferry terminal I boarded the #260, supposedly an express bus, for 11 Hong Kong dollars. It filled up very quickly and the spectacular views I was looking forward to seeing on the journey weren’t going to be possible. But we arrived in Stanley soon enough. In fact, we passed the main stop without any fanfare. Make sure to ask the driver to let you know where to exit for the market.
I first visited a "chop shop" where they make stone name stamps for imprinting your name on letters. Actually, I visited a few such stores in hopes of making a deal. I bought three for 180 Hong Kong dollars, which seems pretty good since the first place I went to asked for 170 Hong Kong dollars for just one that was considerably smaller in size. Haggling is accepted in a number of the stores just like in the street markets of Kowloon, but then a number of places in Stanley also seemed to have set prices, such as the retailer I purchased a belt from for 79 Hong Kong dollars. I guess the best tip is to key your eyes open and watch how the salesperson interacts with other customers.
The market is only slightly more diverse than the junky stores found throughout Kowloon. But the open-air narrow stalls are sort of fun to navigate, and it’s nice being near the water. After visiting the Stanley Market I walked over to the Tin Hau temple, where many locals were lighting incense and making their daily prayers. There are a number of places to grab some lunch both in and around the market. Heading home I took the #14 bus that takes a scenic route to Sai Wan Ho, passing over a large reservoir on the eastern edge of the island.