Travel Diaries: HK Take 2

Hi there!

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!

Travel Diaries: Hong Kong Day 5 (Times Square)

On our fifth and last day in Hong Kong, we spent lunch and the afternoon in Times Square, in Causeway Bay.  We were just waiting for our flight in the evening and didn't have anything in mind to do except last minute shopping.  We've checked out from the hotel already but just left our luggage so that we could still go around.  We decided to hop in the train and head to Causeway Bay to check out Times Square.  Compared to Jordan, the area where we were checked in, this part of Hong Kong was more business-y, formal, and yes, expensive, similar to Central where they have the IFC mall.

The mall is huge and and holds several designer brands.  Its connected to the MTR, so you'll see a lot of  people coming in and out.  Some of them even have their luggage.  Like Times Square in New York, the building has large screens that show some advertisements.  So if you've hung out for quite a while outside, you'd see people suddenly starring up.

* Note: I am aware that my photos are not as sharp as I would have liked them to be.  Must practice on that for next time.

One thing we noticed is that Hong Kong is quite strict with smoking that its sometimes surprising to see people from Hong Kong smoking.

 

If you're wondering what's up with all the random shots, its because I really like taking shots of people who are unaware that they are being photographed.  They just come out more natural.  It feels nice to be in a different environment and to capture the mood of that time.  Also, some of the peoples' choices in fashion are interesting.

The photogenic backpack

The women there dress so chic, but seem effortless.  Most guys look smart and put together, which you would barely notice in most parts of the Philippines, sad to say.

Its great how when you look at one side something different is happening and the scenes are constantly changing.

Busy people and their phones and shopping bags.

And that ends my stalking, LOL.  When it was time to get back, we had noodle soup in one of the many small noodle soup shops around Jordan.  It was really good!  Although our Mami in the Philippines is still best for me.  Later on it was time to head back to the airport.  To my utmost delight, the Hong Kong airport had Popeye's.  Popeye's was one of those fast food chains my parents would buy from when I was a kid (in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).  I hope Popeye's do come back in the Philippines because I miss their biscuits.

To conclude, last month's trip was great.  It took me a while to adjust when we got home as the vacation was more than a week.  I might follow up with some photos from my phone.

Hope you found this interesting!

Travel Diaries: Hong Kong Day 4 (Disneyland)

Hi there!

So, this is the last eventful day of our trip.  By eventful, I mean, it was listed in our itinerary and of course, for the kids this was the highlight.  And yes, we ended it with Disneyland!  The last time I've been to a Disneyland was when I was in grade school.  We went to the Disneyland in Los Angeles.  I do remember some bits of it, like how hot it was, how big the theme park was, and how cool Minnie Mouse's house looked.  It was so much fun and so was Hong Kong Disneyland.

To our relief, the weather cooperated, although it was pretty gloomy during the morning.  But the cool breeze and the shade of the clouds was actually nice for a day in a theme park.  Also, we went during Halloween season (LOL, Halloween season) which was cool cause the theme park was adorned with Halloween pieces.  

I was called "Princess Floey" for a while in college.  So this is a dream come true. LOL.

Our first stop was Adventure Land (I hope I'm right) which had Grizzly Gulch, a new ride in Hong Kong Disneyland.  According to Charles, our tour guide, its scarier than the Space Mountain ride.  We decided to go and ride the scariest first before going to the regular attractions.  I don't have a picture of the place and the ride, but the ride was scary!  The concept is you're like a miner going into a mountain.  The scary part is when a dynamite explodes and you move backwards at a really fast pace.  Once is enough for me, but my guy companions had another spin.

Next, we headed to Toy Story Land, which was also new.  Some other rides weren't even finished and open yet.  We rode two rides in this area, the one with the picture above, which just goes up and down and the one that goes half circle (which again, I do not have a picture off).  The half circle ride, is actually the track  of the race car in Toy Story.  It doesn't flip you over or anything, but its really fast and ALMOST flips you over.  Imagine a circle, cut it in half.

Tinkerbell, so pretty.

Minnie Mouse ice cream. :)

If I'm right, the parade starts at 3 in the afternoon.  Funny story, I watched the parade alone.  I got lost after going to the restroom and left my bag with my companions.  Good thing, we found each other after the parade.  For me, the princesses were the highlight of the parade.

We also watched the Mickey Mouse show.

After dinner, we watched the Halloween parade, which featured the bad guys or the villains.  Look at Cruella de Vill's creepy photo.

Cool pop corn machine.

Wish I had a tripod. 

 A day in Disneyland wouldn't be complete without the fireworks display behind Cinderella's castle.  I opted to take a video of the fireworks, but I haven't pieced them together yet, and I just used my phone.

I hope I get to go back next year around October as well with a point and shoot camera.  Most likely, they would complete Toy Story Land by then.  Also, an additional "land" would be great as HK Disneyland seems small compared to other Disneylands.  It was so much fun. :)