As a first time father, there are a million things on your mind. Your child's health, welfare,…read moreeducation, sports, potty training...the list goes on. One of the things that I have gradually come to loath is shopping for the baby. You never seem to know which one is the right one, the good one or for the matter; the one he will like. it turns into a game of guess work and its just tiresome. Alas, a solution has been found. At Aeon plaza, you will find that the top level of the shopping centre is dedicated to the little ones. From clothes, toys, buggies, beds and all the other little bits and pieces that you didn't even know existed. You want a thermometer for your child- you have a choice of 8 here. You want a pacifier? There's enough choices around here in all shapes and sizes to buy all your mates one. This just takes the hassle out of shopping for something that you are not sure about and it will also help to remind you what else you need. Baby stuff aside, this place is a fully functioning department store spread over 4 levels from top to bottom. A supermarket at the bottom selling everything you could imagine- people do treat this place as their grocery store as they have fresh items coming in everyday. Clothes, electronics, kitchen appliances- these could all be found here and you can set up a new home just from visiting this place. If you are lazy like me, you will love this place!

We visited New Town Plaza quite often during our trip as we were staying nearby. Yata was…read moredefinitely one of my favorite department stores to browse in especially the supermarket floor. They have a huge selection of Japanese snacks, drinks and dried goods. My favorite was especially the sushi selection, which featured rows upon rows of fresh sushi for an affordable price. They also have a huge prepared foods section featuring local specialties. Above the supermarket floor, they've got clothes, stationery, luggage, baby and kids' department, as well as counters for some leading cosmetic brands. I stopped by the Laniege counter (Korean brand) and bought myself a set of their famous water sleeping pack. Two full size bottles for about $50 USD plus they threw in a 10+ samples plus a set of trial sizes of their famous Water Bank line. It was a pretty good deal that I knew I wouldn't get anywhere else even at cosmetic giants like Sasa and Bonjour. At one of their clothing stalls, they were selling cheap clothes from a local label called Jungle Black. I like that they still support local artists and designers in such a way--they may not have their own counter within the store but they have a stall and it was placed near the escalators and registers. Most tops from that label were under $20 USD and they were mostly one-size. The ladies working at that stall were super friendly and helpful, so I ended up blowing some big bucks here.

People, people and more people. That sums up Yata for you…read more Its spread over 2 levels at Phase 3 of New Town Plaza- at one point one of the biggest shopping malls in Asia. Yata is a Japanese backed shopping mall and this shows through the way the store is decorated and the goods they sell- everything just seems to be nicer here. You will find major brand names here with each brand taking a little section individually and cosmetics which takes up almost half of one floor. For me though, its the huge array of baby items on offer and the supermarket which interests me. The baby section is convenient in the sense it sells everything from prams to canned baby food. whenever I get into difficulties in locating something I will find it here. As I have said before, baby items are something as foreign as Mars to me hence this really helps me in getting the stuff I need. The supermarket is lovely- it offers fresh meat, seafood and even cooked food which makes it a one stop shop for anyone looking to hold a BBQ or hotpot at home which I do a lot. Its not the cheapest but the quality is a cut above other hence I think it deserves the premium.

This is quite a unique space in such a bustling city. This pet friendly shopping center has…read morerestaurants, souvenirs shops, pet supply stores, and other small retailers. The Mills was an escape from the giant centers with name brand stores. This place was transformed from what was the old textile factory. It even has a textile museum that's free of charge! However, it is a bit hard to find but it's definitely a must see if you visit this place. We also loved the play space on the 4th floor which charges by the hour. The place was pretty empty on a Thursday which was a nice escape from the crowds. Only downside is there weren't a lot of shops to walk through.

Love how HK has all these restored/remodeled historic buildings that are now turned into super…read moreartsy places! Formerly a textile factory, the Mills is no other and houses many little cute shops, galleries, and I believe a museum/exhibition type place. It was about a 20 min walk from the MTR. I loved the overall vibes and aesthetics (aka great for cute pics) but the stores were definitely a little pricer. It definitely reminded me of PMQ or the newer Central Market but felt that the signs were not as clear than the others. Would recommend if you are into arts, looking for a specific gift for someone, or just exploring new places to go!

This store is originally a Japanese brand of home goods called Daiso. For some reason in Hong Kong…read morethey are known as Jusco Living with more of a focus on home/living goods. I am unsure if this was due to more focused branding. There is a good variety of home goods. My first Daiso experience was in Little Tokyo in LA and I would definitely return. Everything is the same price unless there is a sticker/sign indicating otherwise. I enjoy buying bowls and cooking utensils/ items to change your lifestyle.They have molds for heart shaped sushi rolls, onigiri, and cute bowls and jars. There is a section on grooming/accessories/cleaning/cooking/stationary.... need I go on? It is fun to just peruse the aisles. This particular location is in the basement; we walked around in circles before we were able to locate it. Once you walk inside it is like a wonder of products waiting to be discovered. This chain is basically a 100 YEN store, similar concept to a 99 cents store. However, unlike most 99 cents stores, the product quality is better (with the exception of Dollar tree which does sell some brand name products). I highly recommend going to a location and checking it out.

I have once said to myself that if there was a day I was shopping around for cooking utensils- then…read moreI must be getting old. This is true as of now, a few weeks back I found myself looking glass jars for preservatives; that's when I truly realize that I have completed my role from being a twenty-something free man to an early middle aged family man. This is the beginning of my downfall, the end of my wild days- days of suburbia. What has it got to do with the shop? Well, this place very much sells stuff that a family needs- not likes- needs. You will find kitchen items, study essentials, pre packed snacks for kids; all the stuff that you really need if you were to start a family from scratch. Why has it got 5 stars? That's because every time I was instructed by the almighty to find items that I had no interest and no knowledge of finding, I would find it here. Lids for jars of different size? Checked. Cover for the ironing board? Checked. Plastic boxes for organizing stuff at home? Please choose your colour. Its a really convenient place to find stuff like that and its just so good that I don't need to make 10 trips to find them in different places.

Saturday. 50% off…read more SHEER INSANITY. Great deals. I never miss the opportunity of taking the Star Ferry over to Hong Kong side and descending on Hennessy Road, when visiting Hong Kong. Pro-tip: this is primarily an area for shopping, not many exciting eats around. Eat before you embark on your retail therapy.

There are many floors in Sogo, however the layout on each floor just confusing for us…read more Not the greatest department store. My sis bought skincare items and the merchandise did not come with a carrier. I get it that we need to protect the environment and use less paper, etc etc.. But this a bit much. My sis has to put her purchase and stuffed it in her designer leather bag. The only thing I like is the grocery store in basement two. So many things to buy and many interesting food items to check out. And yep, we stuffed our groceries in our designer bags too :( Extremely crowded on weekdays evenings and all day on weekends.

I have to start off by saying that this store is essentially the Japanese 100 yen store called…read moreDAISO which in Hong Kong is called "Living Plaza by Aeon", because Aeon is the local distributor of the goods. I have been traveling through this airport for years and I only recently discovered this store on my last trip. So if you need to do a google search for more locations, search under the name "Living Plaza by Aeon". Back in New York, the Daiso chain has finally started to make an appearance on the east coast. Their stores are more concentrated in the west coast with a few in the mid west. The airport location is large for an airport store, with a variety of great products! I tell you this from a standpoint of having been abroad in Japan and having seen some of their Daiso locations myself. I feel the need to give this disclaimer: of course it is more cheaper to go visit Daiso in Japan (everything there will be priced starting at 100 yen). If that is not feasible to you, then visiting this store is more reasonable despite the higher cost. (12HKD = 166 yen approximately). After checking in our bags at Terminal 1, we actually walked back all the way to Terminal 2 with our carry-ons (walk took about 12-15 mins walking quickly) in order to visit this store before boarding our flight. If you time it right on your next trip, you too can have a mini speed shopping spree (save room in your carry-on if you can!). I will call this store a higher end dollar store; a dollar store on steroids if you will. They have travel pillows, typical travel accessories you would really need on your journey, but they also offer a great home section: home decor, home organization, kitchen; laundry section (I picked up a cute laundry bag!), a beauty section and much more. The stationary section is so cute. I couldn't decide which pens to buy so I just walked over to the wall and grabbed a whole bunch! They make great souvenirs too and since they are so unique everybody at work will know this pen only belongs to you and you only! As the other reviewer has commented on, the pricing starts at $12 HKD which is affordable. My laundry bag was on the pricier side of $60HKD but if you compare it to something you would buy at typically Bed Bath and Beyond or Target, then I still think it's better due to quality and price comparison. There is a whole section for toys, dishes/bowls, snacks, hobbies (sewing, gardening, etc) and random tools/gadgets. I had found this baby stroller S hook and a baby stroller blanket clamp to secure the blanket from falling out, something I had been searching for in a few Daiso locations in Japan couldn't locate. I gave these out to my expecting friends as gifts (I don't think it's something you think about or see often in use in the US). If I had more room in my suitcase I would have shopped more. The store wasn't crowded when we stopped by and the cashier was friendly and courteous. I believe they accept Octopus card payment/Cash/Credit Card. Left a hefty balance on your Octopus card? Spend it here! For those of you returning to the East Coast, Daiso currently has two stores open: one in Edgewater, NJ by Mitsuwa Market and another in Skyview Center in Flushing, NY (both stores opened in 2019). I can't wait to return again, it is my new favorite spot to spend my layover time! Safe journeys and happy shopping!

Whether you have hours to kill before your next flight, in need of a quick small gift for someone…read moreyou're about to see, or need some travel accessories for your luggage, be sure to make time to visit this large shop in Terminal 2. No boarding passes are required to reach the area the shop is located in, so you can easily access it if you are at the airport. This store sells everything from socks to pet toys to travel pillows to makeup to plates/bowls/utensils. All made in good quality given its extremely low prices. If items are not marked with a specific price, then it's assumed to be only HK$12! Most other items that are pricier, like a travel neck pillow will run approximately HK$25 and thick nylon tote bags with zippers for around HK$60. All still very affordable for an airport store! The shop is always neatly organized and the employees are polite and speak English. A plastic shopping bag will run you $0.50. I could spend hours here, but alas, there's a flight to catch!

Jusco is a must visit for me every time when I am in Hong Kong…read more I guess I have no other choice since I walk through Jusco almost everyday on my way to MRT station or what not! Love the Supermarket in the basement level. Price might be a little more than getting from other grocery store but the selection here is good and everything so clean! You can find Imports from Japan: Fruits, Seafood, Kobe Beef, you can find here! Plus great place to pick up some cooked food too! They even have Durian from Thailand when it is in season! My kind of grocery store! Free delivery with minimum purchase.