My family and I went to Hong Kong after Holy Week. Last year, I went with a different group. So, as it was my second time to visit, it was my family's first time and it was quite nice that I was showing them around some places I was familiar with. The experience was very different though since I was with my family this time and we haven't been out of the country for some time.
We stayed at the YMCA Salisbury Hotel. Almost everybody I talked to about our trip were curious as to why we booked in a YMCA Hotel. Despite the images the name of the hotel might give you, it isn't bad at all. The lobby was sort of rustic and modern at the same time. The beaten up leather couches paired with great wooden coffee tables and side tables mixed well with the clean fixtures of the hotel.
Other than being satisfied with our family suite (which had a King sized bed for the bedroom, a sofa bed in the living room, and a fantastic view of the harbor especially at night, in time for the light show), location-wise it was perfect. A few minutes walk you could already hop on the train. A few minutes walk to the right and you could shop at all those designer shops.
Because of our failure to actually plan the trip, we ended up commuting via MTR everywhere we went except maybe for the trips to and from the airport (we took the A21 bus), which I think turned out better since it is pretty convenient and a fun way to explore the city. Also, it allowed us to save money. We bought tourist passes/tickets instead of the Octopus card that I think you put load on. We had a lot of photos in the train. Typical tourist moves. LOL.
Since we were still really small kids when we first went to Disneyland LA, of course we had to go again.
We rode one of the more thrilling rides in Disneyland, Grizzly Gulch. And because it was raining hard while we were on the ride, we were soaked. It was a fun experience even if in the photo we don't seem to look it.
We decided to spend only half a day though in Disneyland. Earlier that day we went to Ngong Ping 360 which is HK's infamous cable car ride. There was the standard cable car and there was one where the floor was clear so you can see through it. I applaud my mother for enduring it even though we all knew she was scared to death, especially when it stopped for a few minutes and the wind was swaying us. LOL.
Towards the end of the ride, on the way to the small town with the monastery, you would easily see the Buddha on top of the hill. Too bad it was really gloomy and foggy on all the days we were there, raining even. The ride would have been better.
We're lucky to have a dad too that's very keen on documenting EVERYTHING! hahaha. Its like we had an official photographer or paparazzi.
During our last night we visited Temple Street. The locals looked like they were enjoying their food very much along with a big bottle of San Miguel beer.
I don't know what you call these things (photo below), but from what I saw, you write what you wish or pray for and hang it in the wall along with the others. Pretty nice idea.
It was a great trip despite the shortness of it. We brought home a ton of pictures that we don't even think were enough. We had three cameras during the trip: a Canon 600D, Canon Rebel XSi, and the latest edition to our camera family, a Canon S110. We wanted a small camera that we could easily bring and put in our pocket. It has wi-fi too so you could easily send it to your phone, tablet, or your online accounts. Above photos were taken by me, my sister, and my dad.
How's everyone's summer?
Until next trip!
