Our Hong Kong Holiday (October 2011): Day 4 (Victoria Harbour, Nan Lian Garden, Ferry Terminal: Kowloon-Macau)

I did a lot of research prior to our trip and most of the info I got came from the Hong Kong Thread of PinoyExchange (PEx). Thanks to commoner who created the thread and to all the PExers who contributed. :) 

We were a party of 5 adults and 1 kid (a senior at 62yrs, then 29, 26, 25, and 18 yrs old, and a 2yr-old-kid).  The promo tickets were bought in February 2011 (tagal ng paghihintay, hehe).

OCTOBER 30, 2011, Sunday (Victoria Harbour & Nan Lian Garden / Kowloon-Macau)
We woke up early today (even the little boy) to attend the 8:45AM English mass at Rosary Church.  We checked-out early from Golden Crown Guesthouse and left our luggage at the front desk.  However, when we were about to leave for the mass, Ryken pooped (and it's the first time he did it since we arrived in HK.  Thank you, Lord!) so I looked for another chapel that had a later schedule.  I found St. Peter's Church at Mariner's Club which had an English mass at 10:00AM.  It was just near Golden Crown but when we arrived there, the doors were already closed because the chapel was full.  We chanced upon a Filipina named Ate Mel, who told us that chapels in HK are very small so they easily fill up.  We chatted for a while and we told her that we were going to Victoria Harbour and she offered to accompany us there.

with Ate Mel, Filipina in HK

the Clock Tower

newlyweds we met (simple lang daw ang kasal dito per Ate Mel)

fountain at 1881 Heritage Hotel

at Victoria Harbour

on a walkalator inside the MTR station

We saw the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Space Museum near the harbor.  We skipped Avenue of Stars because it was really hot (near noontime already).  Tambay muna kami sa Starbucks sa Museum of Art and had snacks.  I bought Starbucks City Mugs there, of course, for my collection (got Hong Kong, China, and Macau). :)

Next stop was Nan Lian Garden near Diamond Hill MTR Station.  I loved how the garden contrasted with the high-rise buildings.  It was like merging the ancient period with the modern times.  The place was so quiet and relaxing and admission is free! :) Ryken actually pooped again here and I was so thankful that there's a diaper-changing area in the restroom.  It was also well-maintained and clean. 

 

 

 

Run, Ryken, Run! :)

Our Hong Kong Holiday (October 2011): Day 3 (Ocean Park Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui)

I did a lot of research prior to our trip and most of the info I got came from the Hong Kong Thread of PinoyExchange (PEx). Thanks to commoner who created the thread and to all the PExers who contributed. :) 

We were a party of 5 adults and 1 kid (a senior at 62yrs, then 29, 26, 25, and 18 yrs old, and a 2yr-old-kid).  The promo tickets were bought in February 2011 (tagal ng paghihintay, hehe).

OCTOBER 29, 2011, Saturday (Ocean Park HK & TST)
The HK Thread of PEx would advise to never do Disneyland and Ocean Park on two consecutive days.  In our case however, we had no choice but to do it since we only had about three days to spend in Hong Kong (excluding travel time).

Ryken woke up late again so we were able to leave Golden Crown at around noon.  We first went to Mirador Mansion to exchange money at Wing Hoi (1US $ = 7.75 HKD, lower than last October 27) then we looked around to shop for souvenirs.  We found the Cinderford stall owned by two sisters (one was named Alice) and bought several pasalubongs there. :)

Here's the pricelist of the souvenirs:
-Hongkong printed shirts (varied designs and magandang uri ng tela): 5 white color for 100HKD then 4 black color for 100HKD
-HK magnets (yung parang 3d ba na painted): 8pcs for 100HKD
-round compact mirrors and round-shaped bag holders: 6pcs for 100HKD
-wallets for ladies (yung pahaba na kasya nang buo ang bills): 5pcs for 100HKD
-HK baseball caps: 5pcs for 100HKD
-assorted keychains: 6pcs for 50HKD

 

ang mga nag-hoard :)

careful, baby, wala tayong pambayad diyan

Ni hao ma :)

Ryken likes this little umbrella (but we didn't buy this, hehe)

After shopping, we went back to Golden Crown to deposit our loot and to buy our discounted Ocean Park tickets (HKD240.00 each).  Sayang nga kasi it was only HKD220.00 when we arrived pero nag-increase ang Golden Crown on this same day (October 29).  'Di kasi ako agad bumili, oh well.  We ate lunch at KFC near the hostel.  We ordered the KFC Variety Bucket na may 4 original and 4 flava crava (a bit spicy bbq) chicken, 2 mushroom rice, 2 chicken a la king rice, 4 egg tarts, criss-cut fries, 1 box of hotshots(9pcs), 4pcs hot wings, 4 softdrinks then we had additional two sofdrinks, one chicken a la king rice and one mushroom rice for HKD 191.80.  Mura na rin. :)  They don't serve gravy, you have to pay additional pa so di na kami nag-gravy, haha!  Beside KFC is Hoixe Cake Shop (recommended by fellow PExer, delisyus) which is similar to Bread Talk and we bought bread, egg tart, and cake (total of HKD57.50 yung orders namin) for baon to Ocean Park.

sign of Hoixe Cake Shop

daming customers

masarap ang bread and cakes nila :)

We took the MTR to Admiralty and rode Bus 629 to Ocean Park.  I think we arrived the park at around 4pm already and we had a problem with our baon because they weren't allowed by the park attendants!  I read from other blogs that we could bring our own food. :( We went outside again and since we cannot eat them all at once (we bought a lot, hehe), we just hid them inside our bags.  Buti nakalusot :D

Our Hong Kong Holiday (October 2011): Day 2 (Hong Kong Disneyland)

I did a lot of research prior to our trip and most of the info I got came from the Hong Kong Thread of PinoyExchange (PEx). Thanks to commoner who created the thread and to all the PExers who contributed. :) 

We were a party of 5 adults and 1 kid (a senior at 62yrs, then 29, 26, 25, and 18 yrs old, and a 2yr-old-kid).  The promo tickets were bought in February 2011 (tagal ng paghihintay, hehe).

 

OCTOBER 28, 2011, Friday (HK Disneyland)
Today was Ryken's day! Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is his favorite show (it's the theme of his 2nd birthday) so we were all sure that he would be delighted to see the Clubhouse gang in person. :)

The little boy woke up late (around 10:00am) so we were able to leave Golden Crown at noon.  I didn't wake him up and let him rest else he might get cranky.  We ate breakfast at the hostel.  We brought 3-in-1 coffee (Nescafe Sweet 'N Mild and Original Flavor), Nissin Mini Seafood Cup Noodles (which was a mistake because HK is a noodle country! argh.), buns, and peanut butter. Solb na kami :) We bought mineral water from a nearby convenience store and just refilled the bottle in the hostel since there's free purified water in the lobby.  We also brought this as baon 'coz as I read from other blogs / trip reports, mineral water / softdrink is expensive in Disneyland.

Mickey train

We arrived Hong Kong Disneyland at around 1pm and we were able to enter the park at around 2pm since we had a looong photo session before entering (excited tourists! hehe..).

love this pic

see the pumpkins? :)

It was Halloween and Disney was decorated for the occasion.  We rented a stroller for Ryken so it would be easier for him to move around.  The stroller had a name tag so it won't get mixed up with the others.  Rental fee is HKD60.00 but there's a deposit of HKD100.00 (if I remember correctly) which will be given back to you when you return the stroller.

the Mickey Mouse pose

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Our Hong Kong Holiday (October 2011): Day 1 (Tsim Sha Tsui, Victoria Peak)

I did a lot of research prior to our trip and most of the info I got came from the Hong Kong Thread of PinoyExchange (PEx). Thanks to commoner who created the thread and to all the PExers who contributed. :) 

We were a party of 5 adults and 1 kid (a senior at 62yrs, then 29, 26, 25, and 18 yrs old, and a 2yr-old-kid).  The promo tickets were bought in February 2011 (tagal ng paghihintay, hehe).

 

OCTOBER 27, 2011, Thursday (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport: CLARK-HONG KONG, Tsim Sha Tsui, Victoria Peak)

the kid is excited! :)

checking-in

at the tarmac

inside the plane

We took the 7:05am flight in Clark.  We brought our own vehicle and left it at DMIA's carpark.  Mukhang safe naman kasi gated and guarded siya (at nasa loob ng former military base, hehe).  Umpisa pa lang ng biyahe nakakapagod na kasi maaga kaming nagising para sa flight. We traveled for an hour from Meycauayan, Bulacan to Clark.  Toll fee was Php45.00 at Meycauayan exit then in Angeles, Php153.00.  In the airport, we paid Php1,620.00 travel tax for each adult then for Ryken, Php1,010.00 (reduced tax rate of Php810.00 + Php200.00 processing fee).  Terminal fee in DMIA was Php600.00 for each passenger (no discount for seniors or kids).

Lahat ng kinatatakutan ko sa immigration officers (IOs), walang nangyari. I just wrote my position title (records officer) and walang hinanap na papel or company IDs. Hindi rin hinanapan mga kasama ko, probably since nakita nilang family kaming magtravel. Tinanong lang kung kaninong anak yung bata (sa akin!), kung ilang days kami at kelan ang balik. I just showed the IO our return ticket when she asked when we’ll come back.

We also bought food inside the plane dahil sa maaga nga kaming nagising at nagutom na rin kami.  Over sa mahal!  Mineral water was Php50.00, hot choco was Php80.00, cafe mocha was Php80.00 also and ham and cheese croissant was Php100.00.  Nakakaloka!

at the tube upon arrival at HKIA

with the captain and my sis-in-law na first-timer sa plane

On time ang CebPac, galing!  And we landed 25minutes earlier than scheduled so around 8:30am nasa HK na kami. Haba ng pila sa immigration. Nainis pa yung HK IO sa amin kasi yung mom ko and sis-in-law humiwalay sa amin ng pila tapos nung nakitang mauuna kami, lumipat sila sa line namin (magkatabi lang kasi yung pila).  Hindi pala gusto ng mga IOs na ganun palipat-lipat so he told us to separate.  Kaso di namin naintindihan kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari kasi nga alam ko dapat sama-sama sa immigration officer kung family na nagtravel so sabi na lang n’ya “Oh, don’t bother!” tapos kinuha na lahat ng passports namin.  Then kinausap na in Chinese yung katabi nya, siguro para magrant. Hahaha! :)

hala takbo!

 

first-timers sa HK

Ang tagal namin sa loob ng airport kasi picture-picture pa and I can’t find the China Travel Service (CTS) booth. ‘Di ko na kasi nareview uli yung video ni pretty sa pinoyexchange HK thread. Nasa dulo pala sa right yun.

the CTS Booth in HKIA

Upon exiting customs, foreign exchange, etc., derecho lang pala hanggang dulo, nasa right side puro travel agencies. Dalawa ang booths ng CTS pero isa lang yung nag-entertain sa akin that time, yung A04 booth.

CTS Pricelist:

Disneyland (Adult)         HKD340.00

Disneyland with 3-in-1 Dining Coupon (Adult)  HKD413.00

the booth where you buy Octopus cards at HKIA

CURRENCY EXCHANGE AT AIRPORT:       1USD = 7.08HKD

My sister-in-law had to exchange 100USD in the airport kasi wala pa siyang baong HKD. Kami naman we bought HKD in Czarina a few days before our flight and exchange was 1HKD = 5.62Php.  We also bought octopus cards for our easy travel around Hong Kong.