Hello, folks!

2016 is indeed a year I really have to be thankful for. Ending the year with a wonderful trip to Hong Kong is the way to do it. What can I say? I fell in love with this cosmopolitan city in an instant!

We took the first flight off that day via Air Asia. However, our flight got delayed for an hour due to air traffic both in NAIA and Hong Kong International Airport. The plane took off at 9:05 in the morning and landed safely around 11:00 a.m.

Oh the architect in me just shoot up when I saw how massive and architecturally pleasing the Hong Kong International was! Such a bummer I wasn’t able to take an aerial shot of the airport before landing.

Everything was smooth then we reached the lengthy queue at the HK immigration area, which took us not more than 30 minutes, so we didn’t mind falling in line at all. Before leaving the airport, we bought our airport express tickets that will serve us a round trip from the Airport to Hong Kong Island and vice versa for HKD 180 per person. We grabbed a quick bite at Mc Donalds before rolling out of the terminal.

The Airpport Express surely did awed me as it took us exactly 24 minutes from the Airport to Hong Kong Island where we rode the connecting bus that took us to the hotel for about less than 30 minutes. Talk about efficient transportation system!

We alighted at the Hong Kong Station that connected us to a shuttle that took us to our Hotel in Wan Chai for a good 20-minute ride around the city. Upon reaching the hotel, we just rested for a while then bought lunch just across the the street.

Not quite sure what the restaurants were called but the exterior looked like this along Stuart Road in Wan Chai:

That was indeed a good meal! Around 4 in the afternoon, we had a lengthy walk to the Ferry Station going ti Tsim Sha Tsui. We took a 10-minute ferry ride to Victoria Harbor that costs HK$ 2.50 each. Victoria Harbor, as far as I know is one of the top-tourist attraction where you can view the magnificent Hong Kong Skyline that you can view the panoramic scenery of these architectural gems: HongKong and Shanghai Bank designed by none other the the I.M. Pei, the obelisk-type International Finance Tower designed by Cesar Pelli and the Convention and Exhibition Center designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP. What an eye feast!

There were plenty of sight-seeing attractions in the district and to name a few:

The Clock Tower is one of the reminders of the Colonial Times built out of red blocks and granite and is declared as an official monument in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Space Museum:

The Hong Kong Space Museum stands in the Tsim Sha Tsui District in the Middle of a fountain and is complemented by different colors.

We decided to wait for the Symphony of Lights Show but it was still way too early so we strolled along Nathan Road that is lined with retail shops and restaurants, hence, the name Golden Mile.

We walked and walked until we couldn’t walk no more! So we had to go back to the Victoria Harbor  to get a good spot for the Symphony of Lights show that is said to be awarded by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds’s “Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show”. Different buildings and skyscrapers lights were synchronized with the lights and music. Our verdict? “Mmmkaaayyy…”

 

 

To cap off the night, we went back to the hotel via Star Ferry again and devoured ourselves with, you guessed it right! Roasted pork and noodles! It has been a long day and so far? I’m loving Day 1 of our Hong Kong 2016 trip.

… To be continued