Hong Kong Series: Ngong Ping Cable Car, Citygate Outlets and Ladies' Market in Mong Kok

Our third day in Hong Kong was supposed to be our do-nothing-specific-and-bum-around day, but what the hell? It's not everyday that we get to be in Hong Kong. Why waste a beautiful day bumming around when we can do that any time we want in the Philippines?

Making the most out of Hong Kong's Summer Spectacular!

I wanted to go someplace where I need not walk long distances because my feet were still sore from all the walking that I had to do in Macau. The Ngong Ping Cable Car ride seemed like the perfect idea, as I can sit suspended in air while I see Lantau Island, bird's eyeview style for under a hundred HKD. It was also an absolutely divine way to help the boyfriend conquer his fear of heights. We just chose the regular cabin though, as the crystal cabin's glass bottom might be too scary for him.

No crystal cabin for him!

The weather was absolutely perfect that day, with just the right amount of clouds and sunshine for a relaxing cable car trip. We rode the MTR to Tung Chung, as the cable car terminal was readily accessible from the last station of the Tung Chung Line.

Vending machine for earphones and Ipod accessories.
Whatever happened to good old sodas and candy bars?

Riding the MTR was absolutely a breeze. I wish our transportation
 system in the Philippines is as efficient!

Welcome to the Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal!

Hong Kong Series: Side Trip to Macau

If you would be staying in Hong Kong for quite some time, a side trip to Macau must definitely be a part of your itinerary. From Hong Kong, you can reach Macau via ferry for a fraction of the cost of getting there by air. 

There are two terminals for ferries bound for Macau in Hong Kong. Since we were coming from Mong Kok, we opted to take the ferry at Tsim Tsa Tsui. The ferry terminal was quite a long walk from the MTR station, but we got there in time for the 10:30 AM voyage. Yes, let's pretend we rode a cruise ship instead of an el cheapo ferry that got the boyfriend seasick and nauseous.  Hehe.

570 HKD for two round trip tickets, if I remember correctly.

Since Macau is another SAR like Hong Kong, you have to line up at the immigration once you get to Macau. Do not forget to get free maps from the Tourist Information Center at the Macau Ferry Terminal.

Tip: On a backpacking trip with very limited budget? You can get around Macau without spending a penny on transportation. All you have to do is google for the nearest hotel to your place of interest as most hotels provide free shuttles from the ferry terminal.

Whoever said that there is nothing free in this world must be lying.

We took the free shuttle to Casino Lisboa first as it was the nearest to Senado Square and The Ruins of St. Paul. The walk was quite long and the weather was dreadfully hot and humid, but I was too excited to care. I love traveling for three reasons: culture, history and cuisine! So bring it on, baby!

Macau was once a bustling Portugese colony.

Hong Kong Series: The Peak Tower, Madame Tussauds and Sky Terrace

Whenever I go on trips abroad, I don't like packing my itinerary full with so many places to visit in one day. Having to rush from one place to another is rather stressful and stressing yourself out while on vacation is just plain sadistic. So for our first day in Hong Kong, we only had The Peak in mind (unless you count in airport transfers, money changers, discount deals and gastronomic delights, of course!).

Noah's Ark on a pedestal. 

The Peak Tower is situated 396 meters above sea level and is one of the architectural icons of Hong Kong. Its avant-garde design is a sight to behold and its wide array of shops and restaurants gives a dose of Hong Kong's fusion culture.

We went to The Peak on a weekend so it was pretty crowded. It's kind of difficult to take pictures when everyone is walking in front of your camera while you smile. Good thing a solo traveler asked us to take a photo of her and volunteered to take ours as well.

Yeey, a couple shot! He does not know how to smile in photos, I know.

We got there pretty early so we had plenty of time to look and play around before we head up to the Sky Terrace come sunset.

100 years!

I have been to two wax museums before. I think wax sculputres made to look like real people are works of genius, but you couldn't take pictures with the figures anyway so we decided to give Madame Tussaud's a pass. We were able to take pictures with Bruce Lee at the entrance, though. He had huge underwear problems, I tell you.

Yellow lighting is the shiznit!

I had to convince the boyfriend to go to the Sky Terrace with me that night because he is afraid of heights. There is no point in visiting The Peak if you won't go to the Sky Terrace, a viewing platform that allows you see a panoramic view of Hong Kong.

The view during the day.

Tip: Do visit the Sky Terrace at night. The view is quite awesome and the ambiance rather romantic as the Hong Kong skyscrapers shine brightly in different hues against the dark night sky.

The awesome view at night.

Hong Kong Series: Tips for Travelers

I am not a fan of package tours. As much as I can, I like to arrange things for myself whenever I travel. Researching, making my own itinerary and staying well within my budget are some of the things that make traveling the awesome adventure that it is!

We left for Hong Kong in the morning of July 4 via Cebu Pacific. We did not have much sleep because we had to wake up at around 3:30 AM to get to the airport in time for our flight.

Looking like a seasoned traveler at NAIA.

No time to put on make up! Pale, but definitely happy.

Tip: For international flights, be at the airport 2-3 hours prior to your time of departure. If you booked a flight online, make sure to pay your travel tax first (Php 1620 or around $36) before lining up to have your baggage checked in. Do check TSA's website for the list of prohibited items and for rules regarding liquids in your carry-on bags. Also prepare the amount of Php 750 or ($ 16) for your terminal fee.

Our flight was smooth and we got to the Hong Kong International Airport earlier than our expected time of arrival. It is easy to navigate your way around the airport. All signs are bilingual and the system is very efficient. There are maps and brochures everywhere that you can get for free. From the airport, you can either take a taxi, ride the airport express or climb on a bus to the city.

Photo courtesy of google images

Tip:  You have to give the exact amount when paying fares. For your convenience, buy an octopus card for a minimum initial amount of HKD 150. The HKD 100 is consumable and the remaining value (minus HKD 7) will be refunded once you return the card prior to your departure from Hong Kong. The octopus card can also be used in some stores and food establishments such as McDonald's and KFC. It can be reloaded at MTR stations and 7-11 convenience stores. If you are not in a hurry, the cheapest way to get to the city from the airport is through the Cityflyer bus. The bus is also a nice way to see Hong Kong on your way to your hotel, hostel or guest house. You will be fine as long as you know your stop.

  

While in the Philippines, I did some research and found out that you would have greater value for money if you have your pesos exchanged for US dollars then have your US dollars exchanged for HKD when you get to Hong Kong. This, unfortunately, is not much of a good advice. If you go to a good money changer in Kowloon, exchanging your pesos directly for HKD offers greater value for money. I cannot give you assurance on this though as exchange rates vary in money changers daily. This was at least the case during our stay in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong dollars increase in size as they increase in value.

Tip:  Do not have your money changed in the airport unless you really have to. They have the worst rates ever. A good money changer in Kowloon is Wing Hoi.

WING HOI Money changer

9B, Ground Floor Mirador Arcade,

58 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Hey Big Spenders!

In preparation for our upcoming HK-Macau trip, the boyfriend and I went mall hopping to shop for some travel "essentials." I wonder if what we got were really essentials though. The wallet damage is severe, I tell you.

To start off everything, we filled ourselves silly with food at Cajun Red Rock, Megamall.

Look, free buttered popcorn as you wait!

Not so tender Chicken Tenders.

Bountiful Platter Feast. It's all Pork! 
Breaded Porkchop with bland Alfredo sauce,
 nice and creamy Pork Steak and
 sweet Bourbon chops. Filling, but forgettable.

Yummy hashbrowns with herbs and spices!

Total wallet damage for pre-shopping food: Php 800.00 (approximately $17)

We hardly finished the food and had no room for dessert anymore so we proceeeded to buy the things that we would be needing for the trip.

I know that I would be doing a lot of walking in HK and in Macau so I looked for a comfy pair of shoes as he looked for some camera equipment. I wasn't planning on spending much on shoes, but I couldn't resist the comfort of Italian made leather shoes so I got this very comfortable pair from Pab Der uomo.

Basic, but comfy shoes for everyday wear.

Total wallet damage for comfy Pab Der uomo shoes: Php 2780 (Approximately $60)

The Samsung Corby PRO (B5310)

I was so attracted to the Samsung Corby Pro the first time I saw it in a poster that I bought one the week it was released. For its competitive price and wide range of features, I was quite sure that the phone was a steal back then. I am no techie junkie, but I've been roadtesting the product for quite some time now (5 months to be exact!) and I think it's just about time that I make a short review for the others out there who are thinking of getting the same phone.

  

Photo courtesy of google images as I am too lazy to take my own!

I won't be posting all the details and specifications anymore as these can be found in hundreds and hundreds of pages in the internet. Instead, I would be making a list of the things that I liked and disliked about the Samsung Corby Pro.

What I do like:

•  It has multiple typing options. You can input text via the slide-out QWERTY pad, the touchscreen alphanumeric keypad and writing boxes 1 and 2, which recognize your handwriting per letter box and per word, respectively.

• It packs a lot of features for its price, which is around 11,000-12,000Php ($250-265). You've got a 3.2MP camera, music player, Wi-Fi connectivity, HSDPA, GPRS, bluetooth, voice recorder, FM radio and good enough customization features.
• It has widgets for all your social networking needs.
• It has a conversation option, which allows you to view messages as chat logs. I like that I have the option to choose the way by which I read my text messages.
• There are buttons at the left side of the phone which allow you to adjust the font size. This is perfect for those with bad eyes like mine! I can read my messages without my glasses on when I set the font size to its maximum.
• It has 3 interchangeable back covers that come free with every purchase.