I knew that I’d get to like Hong Kong but I was absolutely clueless that I’d get to fall in love with the city in just a snap during our short stay there. As of this moment, it has been almost three weeks since we’ve traveled to Hong Kong. I must say, I’m having a bit of that “Hong Kong Hangover” that I’ve decided to write down some of my thoughts and lessons learned during our marvelous trip.
Hong Kong has some of the most stunning and amazing architecture I’ve ever seen. As an architect by profession, I can say that the place has that sense of contrast and mixture of the old and the new. It is where the senescent structures complements with the modern and contemporary skyscrapers.
Hong Kong Skyscraper as seen from Victoria Harbor
Water is relatively pricey in Hong Kong! You don’t want to get dehydrated during the trip, so it’s never too wrong to set aside aside some amount from your budget for it. Always, always, always stay hydrated at all times!
Stay hydrated!
Hong Kong is immensely an alluring and captivating city! It would be unimaginable for someone to get to dullsville there because the city has seemingly has a ceaseless list of things to do there.
The city is relatively easy to navigate. Oh! The Hong Kong MTR is a top notch mode of transportation going around the city. What I love about their MTR is that they are clean, fast, efficient and cheap! If you need to go anywhere in Hong Kong, the MTR will get you close to your destination.
Pedestrian walkways makes it easier for the people to go around the city. They have air-conditioned, clean and well-lit subways and skybridges. You’ll never get lost, the signs says it all! The sense of safety in Hong Kong is remarkably high. One can roam around the city at any time of the day, either alone or in groups, without the fear of compromising their security.
Hong Kong is a city of vitality, vigor, color and order! Indeed a city for everyone, it has a great mix of culture. It is where East meets West and became into a one great and crazy mixed-up city.
Undoubtedly, the city is downright a shopper’s haven, an artist’s canvass and a foodie’s paradise!
Because of the typhoon Nina back in the Philippines, our flight was delayed for almost 5 hours. However, we didn’t mind the long wait at the Hong Kong International Airport. Hello, airport lounging! There were hundreds of shops to go to and a lot of interesting cafes and restaurants to try! The airport lounge were cozy and spacious too. I really find it interesting that the HKIA were interconnected with their very efficient and user-friendly subway system, which is used to transfer from one Terminal to the other.
This trip has taught me that when traveling, it is best to give your destination a window of opportunity to astonish and impress you first. Set off any of your expectations and just simply enjoy, savor the moment and merely find something new to learn.
I really am thankful for the people who made this trip possible. You know who you all are. Thank you! Hong Kong is just 2 1/2 hours away from home, but this trip is indeed an eye-opener for me. This little city did somehow changed my view of the world. It may be safe to say that any trip has the capacity to change lives, it changed mine. Just let it. Let life take you by surprise. If not, let it change your day, your week, your month or your year. How? Go to Hong Kong! Enjoy! 🙂
Tired from the Disneyland Trip yesterday, but still, we were all enthused to wake up early becaaauuusseeee… It’s Christmas Day! The kids were still asleep as Anthony and I went out to buy breakfast for everyone at Mc Donald’s at Sun Kung Kai Center along Harbour Drive, just a few walk away from the hotel.
After bringing breakfast back at the hotel, we decided to go to Causeway Bay, one of the busiest Districts in Hong Kong Island as it caters large-scale activities such as shopping, dining, entertainment, parks and recreation. We had to walk about 5 to 6 looooong blocks to get there, specifically in Times Square. It is known to be as the biggest emporium in the district for its luxury brands- but lucky us, majority of the items were on SALE!
Me getting lost in the massive crowd
Sea of peole
Busy streets
More shops!
Captured in B&W
Side street musicians livens up the area
This was taken around 4 pm
Just a typical street sign in Hong Kong
Where the old meets the new
I could still hear the beeping sound of the stop light until now!
Street food!
Fruit vendor in some alley near Times Square
OMG Sale!
and more Sale!
Colorful billboards makes the area enticing to shop around!
The double decker tram
Side street at Times Square
Multi-story mega-mall
The Times Square
The Times Square Ceilng
Swarm of people going to and from Times Square
Snugged this baby at Uniqlo at 50% off and waaay much cheaper than in Manila! Plus, it’s already out of stock back at home.
We went back at the hotel half an hour past 4. We were all dead tired, and then decided to have hot pot for dinner! Yum!!
Buffet Hot Pot!
Veggies all you want!
That dinner was the perfect way to end the day, and of course, celebrate Christmas with the special people in your life and I couldn’t thank them enough for having me in theirs. How I wish I could also spend this special occasion with my family as well.
The Hong Kong Adventure Day 2 begins with this scenery at 7:00 in the morning:
Hong Kong Adventure Day 2
Hong Kong Adventure Day 2
With the 15° Celsius temperature, it’s really a good idea to just stay in bed and curl up around a warm blanket all day. But then, we were all jolted up by just hearing this coming from the other side of the door:
“Change of plans for Day 2. Let’s go to Disneyland!”
The kids shrieked and jumped with joy and joining them, we couldn’t contain the giddiness and excitement that we all felt that we skipped breakfast for this activity. Ready for this long post? Well then, read on!
Going from Hong Kong Island to Lantau Island (Disneyland) went like this: From the hotel, we rode the airport shuttle to the MTR Hong Kong Station (Tsuen Wan Line) going to Lai King Station. From there, we alit at Sunny Bay station going to the Disneyland Resort Sounds about complicated but it’s actually not but it could take a while to get used to the MTR System in Hong Kong though. It took us almost about an hour for this trip including all the walking and transfers itself.
The Octopus Card- Your best friend going around the city
MTR Red Line- So spacious! I love it!
The magic begins as the Mickey Mouse train arrives!
That Mouse handle bars!
Hang in there, Mickey! We’re coming for you!
*Gasp!* The Disneyland Resort Line was all ours for this trip!
The giddiness continues!
Gab and Lia all thrilled as me to go to Disneyland!
Finally! The Disney Magic is here!
That smile though. I feel like I’m 6 again!
Ballet arabesque to express ultimate joy!
Okay… So this is not so easy as it seems! LOL
*Double Gasp!* Star Wars Tickets!!!!
Me on Mainstreet!
They have a holiday-themed guide map!
They have a list of the must-see attractions and schedules of the shows inside the park.
… and also it has a map, and inside it…
…this got me! Must. Get. In!
The park is divided into seven attractions: Toy Story Land, Mystic Point, Grizzly Gulch, Adventureland, Mainstreet, USA, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. An overview of the Theme Park using the Disneyland Mobile App:
✱ Toy Story Land– Of course, who else would you want to see in this area? Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, Rex, Mr. Potato Head, the Aliens, Hamm, Toy Soldiers, Zurg! Name it, they’re all there!
Toy Story Land 30-50 minutes of waiting time!
✱ Mystic Point-We weren’t able to explore this part of the park but according to the provided map, it is where Lord Henry Mystic manor is located along with his collection of arts and antiquities acquired from around the globe.
Mystic Point
✱ Grizzly Gulch- Just like the Mystic Point, we were not able to explore this part as well. But I think that’s just fine, nothing to miss out on this though.
The Grizzly Gulch Attraction
✱ Adventureland-This area has so manny attractions to see such as the Festival of the Lion King, Rafts to Tarzan’s Tree House, Tarzan’s Treehouse, Jungle River Cruise and Liki Tikis.
Adventureland
✱ Main Street, U.S.A– Travel back in time as it takes you to experience and enjoy the colorful architecture of the 20th Century set in a small town in the USA.
Mainstreet, USA
✱ Fantasyland- Oh boy! Where do I even start? Fantasyland is the heart of the Disney World after all. There is so much to see in this section and I have to say, the Disney Imagineers really did a great job on this one. It’s the perfect go-to for kids and kids-at-heart.
Fantasyland
✱ Tomorrowland- This area is for the techie ones housing the Hyperspace Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, The Orbitron, THE Star Wars Command Post, Jedi Temple and soon to open- The Iron Man Experience.
Tomorrowland
So there you go, a glimpse of the huge Disneyland Theme Park!
But before anything else, we needed something to fuel us up for the day: Lunch at Tomorrowland at the Starliner Diner:
Tastiest (and most expensive at HK$99!) Fried Chicken I’ve ever tasted by far! Or am I just hungry?
Now that we’ve been prepped up by that sumptuous meal, we immediately lined up to the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster! It was such a treat because I have Lia with me, my travel buddy for the whole trip, to tour me around the area. So before going inside the room, she already gave me some pointers on how to beat the evil Emperor Zurg and how to save the Universe!
Buzz versus Zurg!
To infinity and beyond!
Our cutie tour guide and travel buddy!
Patiently waiting for the Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3D Show!
Yep. I felt the magic!
I must say, I got a bit emotional during the show as all of the songs that were played reminds me so much of my childhood. I knew all the songs WORD. PER. WORD. We were welcomed by Beauty and the Beast’s Lumiere as he sang “Be Our Guest”, Snippets from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Ariel from Little Mermaid (I find myself waving my hands in the air whispering “Bubbles, Flounder, Bubbles!” as Ariel sang Part of Your World and oh yes, I want more!), Peter Pan, the Lion King and Aladdin and Jasmine! I’d love to watch it again! I also felt so happy to see Lia enjoy the show as well!
After the show, Anthony and I decided to go aboard the Jungle River Cruise as the kids went to their kiddie realm. So here’s what we got to see but only took a few shots cause we really took time to enjoy each and every moment of the cruise!
Tarzan’s Tree House
Pirates of the Carribean
This really threw out some bad-ass fire, smoke and steam- all at the same time!
After the River Cruise, we immediately went in queue at the Starwars Command Post where we got to meet and greet R2D2! Was kinda hoping we could meet Chewbacca as well but he was scheduled at a later time.
Star Wars Command Post
The Command Post
R2D2 at the Rebel Base
The Millennium Falcon
An X-Wing Fighter!
Darth Vader Popcorn Tumblers! Neat!
What’s this? Start ’em early, right, Master?
Jedi Younglings on training on how to defeat Darth Vader
It’s the Dark Lord!
While the younglings held on to their lightsabers to defeat the Dark Lord, we had a Churros Lightsaber that surely filled our tummies with extra energy!
Oh, nothing special, just Captain Phasma roaming around together with some Storm Troopers.
Captain Phasma pointing at me to take a selfie with her. “Hey! You there! Come forward!”
“Stand back!”
At 3:30 came one of the highlights of the trip: The Flights of Fantasy Parade where we saw our favorite Disney Characters come to life and our dreams take flight!
A panoramic view of the excited crowd for the Flights of Fantasy Parade!
After the show, everyone lined up for the 28-minute Mickey and the Wondrous Book show that featured Mickey as he travels through the pages of a Wondrous Book where Disney stories and characters come to life in a spectacular musical. There was Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Tiana from Princess and the Frog, King Louie from the Jungle Book, Genie from Aladdin, Rapunzel from Tangled, and Anna from from Frozen!.. and yes, I, once again, sang along with them! It’s like watching a Broadway show, only, Disney character are on it!
And now on to our last performance for the day before the Disney Paint the Night Parade start: The Festival of the Lion King! Such an amazing, amazing, amazing show!
And for the Finale for the Day? The Disney Paint the Night Parade!
Like a fairy tale, the night must come to an end. This was such a memorable day for me for my childhood dream has come to reality. The kids and the young at heart who were with me today did surely had a blast and made their dreams come true too- on Christmas Eve! Thank you for making this day a reality! Until next time!
