Sorry the pics ain't ready to upload here yet. So I will just talk abt my trip in HK. But many would prefer I tell them in person or when I develop the photos. But anyway, think this entry will be a long entry. I dunno if I am able to say everything but for now I wanna say is I wanna go to watch The Phantom of the Opera Musical. Anyone interested can let me know. I wanna find pple to go with me. Don't people love musicals these days? Phantom of the Opera was here when I was in Primary school so I was not interested that time. After I've grown to hear their music to watching the actual movie, I was always hoping that one day they would come to perform in Singapore, now that it is coming, I will not miss it. I just hope that I could find someone to watch it with me.

My first flight experience was a little nervous and excited. I have already checked-in window seats online 2 days before. I've heard about the tremendous air pressure when the plane takes off and descends so I've prepared sweets and all. The plane that lands is far more fun that taking off. You can really feel the sudden increase in speed then land. The landing in Changi Airport when coming back is far more smooth than in HK International Airport, you cannot even feel the sudden wheels touching the land. My grandma also knew my past fear so she gave me advice and all and said she'll pray for me for safe flight and overcoming my fear. I was like a "mountain tortoise" after I gave my boarding pass to the guys in front of the departure door. I was always the one standing beyond that door and have sent off many of my family and relatives behind that door and I can't believe now is finally my turn to experience it. I became the one waving them goodbye from afar. My mum and I shopped around in DFS. I have never been inside there. I have seen so many SIA stewardess and stewards. Never seen them so close before. I believe if I had taken SIA since young, I may have wanted or aspired to work for SIA. The stewardesses and stewards all looked so glam and posh. With that glimmer and big smile, you cannot really bear not to smile back at them or even thank them for everything they serve to you. The taking off feeling was fun. Perhaps it was because I had sweet in my mouth. I watched Click then switched to Poseidon. Most movie blockbuster I have already watched them before. I loved the pillow they provide for each passenger. I had almost wanted to take it home both trips. I was not prepared for the slow descent, my right ear started feeling uncomfortable and I felt pain on my right ear. My parents were talking to me then I told them no to talk to me now cause I can't hear anything and my ears felt pain. My sweets were in my bag and on the upper cabin so I got some snacks from my mum and at least I felt better.

Day 1:
Here are the photos to share:


At Changi Airport, on board the Boeing 747 plane, SQ866@1.30pm to Hong Kong International Airport. I am sitting by the window seat of the back plane waiting for the other passengers to board the plane.



Started taking photos of myself and with my mum...



Yeap, that's my wonderful mum...heh heh, people said I look more like my Dad, especially my nose, we'll see



My seat was at the back part of the plane so definitely could see the wing. My dad loved to sit at the back, dunno why...



A bird's eye view whilst the plane is on top of the clouds. Beautiful sight right? Thereis more to come...



That's the sun you are seeing, it is descending and the time was only 4.30pm. HK seemed to rise and sets even earlier than Singapore. Same flight time to and from but the sun haven't set at 5pm in Singapore whereas HK normally turns dark at 6.15pm. This is something I've observed there



Look at the sun set...It is only 5.10pm when we reached HK International Airport.



Last few shots before we got off the plane. There were many passengers before us in front getting off the plane so while waiting, might as well shoot a few photos again.




Upon arrival, there were so many foreigners queueing to enter HK because of the HK IT Convention & Exhibition. There were a lot of long queues but it moved rather fast. We asked for directions at the Visitors Information Counter to get to our hotel and also took a lot of brochures about HK. Only two were useful to us. One of it was this HK Visitor Information Guide which I always carry out whenever I go and it is based on this guide where we knew where to go and how to go. Very useful information...The directions to the hotel were told by the staff there. We have to take the Airport Express to Tsing Yi which is about 15-20 mins journey then we have to change to MTR from Tsing Yi (Tung Chung line) and change to Lai King which is the Tsuen Wan line and then alight at Yau Ma Tei station which our YMCA International House will be. I can practically memorise the line and stations which we normally will be going cause I'm so familiar with it already. It turned out the hotel was really a disappointing hotel. Budget 3-star hotel with a small room.






Look at how small the room is for three persons with an extra bed right at the chair there between the table and bed. The twin beds were super hard, too hard for my mum to take it so my mum decided to sleep on the extra bed. It is so much softer and comfy instead.

Then we went around the area for late dinner. We found out the Ladies Market is just near our hotel. Between Mongkok and Yau Ma Tei. We walked along the stretch of streets looking and deciding which eatery to enter. The type of restaurants that always have long queue outside are the Japanese restaurants. Be it in Central or Tsim Sha Tsui or even Ladies Market. The funniest thing I observed on the 1st day there was something I would wanna share. The eatery that we had dinner at actually existed such people. You remember watching those HK dramas with small cafes in HK? The actors who dressed like the waiters there wearing white uniforms taking orders. All the guys there are like Ah Bengs and have one thing in common in those scenes, all have cigarette stick on their top ear. This is the exact situation I saw in that eatery. I told my parents after that and they were laughing about it. They cannot imagine how detailed HK directors normally are. Even such smalld etails they can also capture. But think that was the only eatery which I saw such situation. Actually those waiters are merely just finding a chance to squat outside to smoke a puff when they are free if it is according to the HK dramas that we have watched so far. There were some more hilarious stuffs along the way which I shall not write it here.

After dinner, we decided to take a walk inside Ladies Market (In Chinese called Nu Ren Jie). There were a lot of other eateries and small shops along the way but we have missed many fo them and have wanted to go there again on the last day before we head to the airport, but we changed the flight schedule to a much earlier and rushing flight so we missed the second chance. Took some photos there again of the old HK streets...






My parents...Don't I look more like my dad?



This is Nu Ren Jie aka Ladies Market. Basically it is called Ladies Market because the stuffs there they sells are all ladies stuffs. If you wanna find men's stuffs, can go to Temple Street. If you are looking for jades, go to Jade Street and looking for old antiques or china, can go to Western Market. Haha, I memorised everything in the Visitor's Guide already...



My mum and I again...





The old buildings and houses and streets of Hong Kong in Mongkok area shall end this Day 1.


Day 2:
I am unable to post pics of my day at Ocean Park here because on the way to Ocean Park, I realised I had forgotten to bring my camera. I blamed on my mother and had such lousy mood. My mum was super worried that it may get stolen by the cleaning lady when they come in to make up the room if I had left it on the desk. But if I had seen it there, I would have put it into my bag. But anyway it was damn funny and we realised whose mistake was it after that when we went back to the hotel after Ocean Park which was at 2pm then. I went to the souvenir shop in Ocean Park entrance and saw very nice handphone accessories. Too bad my handphone could not hang anything otherwise I would have gotten that design for myself. Instead I bought two different designs for my church friends. Hope they'll liked it. My mum spotted and told me to buy the dummy disposable camera so as not to waste the trip to Ocean Park. There was the 24 shots Kodak camera and the 40 shots Konica Minolta camera of the same price. I thought that 24 shots should be adequate to last for tonight when we go to The Peak. So I paid for all three things there. Then we got an Ocean Park map and started our day there. There were no crowd or queue at all the rides at all. Our first ride was the Raging River which was a water coaster ride. My mum sat in with me. I wouldn't want to take the rides by myself even if I dare cause it won't be fun taking alone. Anyway, after that we walked to try out the Marine Land Ed-Venture gathering Point which was like Sentosa's Carlsberg SkyTower. Along the way, we passed by the sealions habitat where they were sunbasking and all. If my camera weren't using this dummy camera, I would have gotten good shots of the sealions there. They were so cute! We made sure we did not missed the Ocean Theatre show at 11.30am. It was 11.20am when we finished the 2nd ride. So everyone headed towards the direction fo the Ocean Theatre. A good thing we did not missed it. It was worth the wait. The performance by the sealions and the dolphins were great. I did not take many shots cause I was afraid to waste it. The photos from that camera may not even turn out good. I will develop all the photos anyway including those you see here on my digital camera. If it weren't with my mum, I would have tried other rides like the Mine Train (a roller coaster ride), crazy galleon (the viking), etc. My mum played to play some of the stall games too. Then we went to take the Ferris Wheel and then went to see the Atoll Reef. Then we took the cable car to the lowland. The cable car is scary. It took about 10-15 mins ride and normally it is rather packed but there were no queue on a Friday. We are going downslope but the view was spectacular. I may be a little afraid of heights of certain extent. But still I won't freak out or chicken out at taking rides or anything. I will feel it is scary though.

At the lowlands, after getting out of the cvable car, we took the Haunted Mine Ride aka the Stimulator Ride before we went to McDonald's for lunch as it was already 1+ to 2pm. The ride at Genting which I went last year was more fun and scary cause it was a 4-D stimulator ride. This Haunted Mine Ride was nothing. Then we headed to The HK Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat. They are such cute animals. There are only two pandas that were given to HK from China and a few more to Taiwan zoo. This two pandas are both females called Jia Jia and An An. When we went in, it was almost the show. The keeper was preparing to throw foods around for Jia Jia to find. They release the door open and Jia JIa came out looking for the food. We were in rather close encounter and close view with her. Too bad my camera was lousy, otherwise I could have gotten a bigger photo of the panda. It foun two food then after when she was not able to find anything, she saw some bamboos and just sat down eating it. If I had brought my digital camera around, I would have taken a video show of the panda show. Really a waste. Looking how cute at the panda eats the bamboo, you just really wanna tape it down. After the panda show, we moved on to the Dinosaurs - Now and Then. And there was this huge fake T-Rex head and roaring sound in one of the areas we enter. I took a photo with it. I had wanted to ride the Ocean Park Grand Prix (Go-kart) but it needs to pay separately. We left Ocean Park at 2+pm. And we headed back to our hotel to find the camera.

It was my mum's birthday that day so we will meet my dad for dinner, we actually met him for dinner every night. Anyway, before meeting my dad, we went to Central to take the transport to The Peak. We had asked for many directions and walked many streets and in the end we took a 40 mins bus journey up and realised there is actually a 10mins peak tram ride back to the Central MTR station. That was the one I was referring to but just did not knew where to go. Along the way, I found where the Lady of Justice was, remember File of Justice drama? The HK Supreme Court is in Central.





When we reached The Peak, we went into the Peak Mall and shopped a while before the sky turned dark. Then we headed to the Viewing Mall and then I realised it was the wrong view. I was so disappointed. But anyway, I took some lousy photos cause my hands were shaky. My dad said to take such photos, I could have brought a tripod.






With flash...



and without flash...which is better? I've always preferred without flash

Then we went to the ground floor when I spotted this fountain outside the mall.




The shopping mall dining area...

Then I saw this other shopping mall opposite The Peak Mall. This is new and it the viewing mall is opening soon. Then I saw the view I wanted. That is the place we should go.




Sorry about the blurry picture cause I was using without flash and my hands gotta be super steady to capture those lights in the buildings...Word of advice: bring tripod or rest your camera on some flat surface...





Some tourist that helped us to take. His hands were super shaky, worst than mine...



This was the peak tram we took...cost us $22 single trip



Inside the tram, the sight outside on the right side of the tram is really interesting, you go in between the hills where the expensive houses and apartments are and when you arein teh tram, everything you see even the buildings and houses are slanted. Really weird sight but the speed was really really fast. In less than 10 mins, we really reached the peak tram station.



How the tram looks like...



We took the MTR down to Causeway Bay's Times Square and met up with my dad there. He was so bored at the HKCEC (HK Convention and Exhibition Centre) which looked like One Fullerton from the other side of the Victoria Harbour.



This is the kind of shopping malls that we musn't go cause such shopping malls only has branded boutiques in it like Chanel, Coach, Lane Crawford, etc. The only affordable boutique for us was Esprit.





This restaurant was called Emperor Palace Restaurant, the decor and ambience indeed looked so much like the emperor's palace. We do not know where to eat for dinner for my mum's birthday so we chanced upon this restaurant which it seemed rather expensive on the outside. Hong Kongers loved to ahve late dinner. You can see long queues and all even at 8.30pm to 9pm. We also have late dinner cause we always have late breakfast, late lunch and we can only meet my dad at certain time.


Our family photo...I used a self-timer and placed it on the table after placing our order.

Day 3:
My dad left early for the HKCEC. My mum and I went to have breakfast around the area at 10am. My mum and I settled in a porridge shop. Their food were not bad. We ordered two bowls of porridge and you tiao. Then we headed down to Tsim Sha Tsui to shop. Based on the Visitor's Guide, we just find those shopping malls which was impossible to buy anything from there. All are branded boutiques. I went into this The Gateway shopping Mall which was beside Marco Polo Hotel and this whole stretch of shopping malls actually extends all the way. Marco Polo Hotel is linked to The Gateway and then to Ocean City, Harbour City and one more which links to the harbour for cruises entrance. I went to looked for this shopping area called LCX which is like our The Annex and The Edge area. Youngsters will tend to shop there but HK clothes are really weird and which Singaporeans may find hard to wear it. I admit HK and Taiwanese are more fashionable as they seemed to dress mroe to the Japanese and Korean style. But for us, Singaporeans, we follow more to the European or westernised style. HK have no Mjphosis, Topshop, Miss Selfridge there actually. Though they have Mango and Zara there. After we find that there is nothin to shop there, we settled for a light lunch at the food court there and then went to Pacific Coffee for coffee. We found free internet access there but we must at least order a drink so I suggested might as well do our checking in online in order to get initial two window seats. But our flight satus were not out yet, must be 48 hrs before so we decided to try again at after 4.30pm. We ordered 2 coffees there. In HK, Starbucks and TCC Cafe and Pacific Coffee can be found almost in every shopping mall but there is no The Coffee Conneissieur, Coffee Club or even Coffee Bean. Singapore has it everywhere.

We decided to go to Victoria Harbour then. I followed the map and found my way there. I just followed my gut feeling and sixth sense most of the time too. It seemed quite accurate most of the time. We reached the Clock Tower first and then that is where my phototaking sessions starts again...






This is the Star Ferry Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui. It actually has a ferry to the HKCEC (in Chai Wan) directly...



This is the place where HK dramas normally go to film, recognise the view behind me?



Self-picture of my mum and me...



The other side getting darker....



This is Chai Wan at the opposite of Tsim Sha Tsui. It is in HK Island. The landmark you see me zoomed in is the HKCEC I have been talking about. Structure looks a bit like our One Fullerton from far right?



I loved this picture the best. The wind blowing on my hair, looks like some of those photobook models pose eh? Oops, a bit thick-skinned...heh heh



The sight-seeing boat that ferries tourists around the Victoria Harbour to see HK's wonderful side...





When we walk further down the harbour, we come across this big area called the Avenue of Stars. This place is where the HK celebrities had their names and hand moulds on the ground and statues like these you see in the picture for phototaking...This two statues are actually showing the director and camera man film in the making. The two statues are rather wide apart but my mum got a good shot of us all.



Bruce Lee's momento...



Michael Hui's singature and handprint.



Samuel Hui...



Lin Ching Hsia, Brigette...hey I did not know Lin Ching Hsia was called Brigette till now



How can I miss Jackie Chan's handprint and signature...





Chow Yun Fatt



Jet Li...

I did not miss Andy Lau deliberately, it was because that time had many weddings so there were many different groups of brides, bridegrooms, bridesmaids and all gathering there to take photos, they had blocked the Andy Lau area and like Michelle Yeoh...


Tony Leung Chiu Wai...His hands are slightly bigger than mine...



This is another statue where there is a chair placed there named DIRECTOR, so obviously it was there for people to sit on it to take photos, and there was the camera and sound capture man and lighting man. This local guy was before us taking photos, he sat on it to have his photo taken by his friends, he was mumbling in Cantonese some stuffs quite loudly. I could figurted what he was trying to say. He was trying to be like a director, shouting at the artistes and workers to work faster so they could finish the filming faster. Funny guy...



My mum was the director...



Guess who I am trying to imitate at? Who is the statue? Answers revealed in next photo...



Highlight it to see the answer...Bruce Lee...I was rather paiseh to pose like this after seeing more and more crowd comin in. But another girl also posed like this for the camera too. You will surely be tempted to wanna pose like him too...



Then we went into this shopping mall called New World Centre and I saw two wintage cars on display inside. One was this Ford model...




We saw a Pacific Coffee in the mall but the internet access was packed. So we walked inside the shopping arcade. Then I realised Sogo is around the area so we went to look for it. It is actually in the basement linking to the MTR station. But it is a long way to the MTR station, like a 15-20 mins walk. I managed to bought a Puma sling bag for $40 over Sing dollars and I don't think the design is available here. My mum wants me to get a new bag to get rid of the old bag I was carrying that same time. I threw it the moment I got back to the hotel. I love this Puma bag and everyone's been saying it is nice too. My mum bought a Timberland heels on sale too. I actually saw a top which I liked it but it costs about $105 Sing dollars. Sigh...

Then we went back to Pacific Coffee and tried to see if we can get to use the computer. We managed to got it and I started logging on to MSN and all. Then my dad called us to say he can go back the same day as us and hopefully he is able to go back on our same flight. We then went outside to wait for the Symphony of Lights which airs 8pm daily. It is a laser lights show from the buildings in Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui. I took a lousy video show too but I was on the wrong direction. The laser lights aren't that fantastic as we thought. In fact, our Suntec's Fountain of Wealth and Musical Fountain shows are better.




The night view of Victoria Harbour



I caught a photo of the laser lights that came out of that buildings





A ship passing by before the Symphony of Lights started



A ship passing by after the Symphony of Lights ended...







Without flash...



With flash...self-pictures of ourselves...


Then after that we went to meet my dad for dinner in New World Centre. It was already 8.45pm-9pm when we had our dinner.

Day 4:
We had breakfast together with my dad. We brought him to the porridge eatery my Mum and I went yesterday. After that, we took the MTR together down to Chai Wan. There weren't any shopping areas around. So we went into this marketplace where a lot of Filipinos go to. There weren't nothing much to buy there. So we decided to go to Causeway Bay in the end. So we went to the small shops there and shops like Baleno, U2, Esprit, Giordano...We went to another Sogo there too. I bought two calenders there in a section called Loft for my two friends I thought of. Then I bought a Nike wristband for my another guy church friend. Not sure if he'll use it. Cause I remembered he used to play soccer so I thought the wrist band may be good for wiping off perspiration. Then my mum and I were prety tired and had no where else to shop at. Perhaps we really dunno where else is good to shop. So we decided to go to Tsim Sha Tsui to rest and relax at the Victoria Harbour again.




The view today looks hazy right? But actually it is not the haze. But the massive land pollution caused by the cars. HK is very congested with traffic, buildings, housings, shops, etc. So all this surroundings can caused such air pollution. It is not advisable to live too long there. No wodner I had rashes on my arms and my face on the last day was a little red (looked like pimples).


We went to Admiralty MTR station to meet my dad. He was planning to dine in at the famous restaurant which sells roasted goose. It is so famous that you always have to book early. My dad booked for the 8.45pm slot. The place was at Lan Kwai Fong. Yes, I've always wanted to go there take a look. Finally I have the chance. We took a cab from Admiralty to Central-Lan Kwai Fong. That night, Lan Kwai Fong was having a carnival so it was super packed and crowded. There were mini food stalls everywhere and party hats. There was a Haagen-Daz there so my dad popped in to get some ice-cream before dinner.




With the carnival there, Lan Kwai Fong really looks so different from the HK dramas I always watched. Everything was blocked and all. The pubs were all packed and had a long queue outside almost in every pubs.






These decorations on top are just so pretty...





Outside the Chef's restaurant...


When time is up, we went to the restaurant and my dad ordered his roasted goose. And the captain recommended some stewed eel to him so he thought it must be good. I was thinking eel, must be like unagi, how bad can it taste like. But when I tasted it, it had a little bones and I didn't really liked it. It was so slimy and soft, doesn't taste a bit like Japanese eel we normally eat in sushi restaurants. When the bill came, the total bill was about 500+ HKD. My dad made us guess how much was the meal. My mum guessed 400+ HKD (which was about 100+ SGD), then my dad said that was just for the eel. Gosh, it is wild eel, not those seafood kind of eel we normally eat. Eew, come to think of it, it is rather gross. Good thing I did not ate that meat much as I chose to eat the tau pok skin more. I can't believe I actually ate such thing. It is not as bad as eating those frog or whatsoever still...

Day 5:
The last day of our stay in HK, my dad went down to the lobby to get the staff to change flight for him. In the end, I called to help him change instead. Our flight also changed from the 4.30pm flight to the 1.30pm flight. And after the change of flight is confirmed. We proceeded to try to call up to check-in so as to get window seats but the line were busy. So my dad paid for the internet access at the hotel lobby@HKD50 for 30 mins. And we managed to check in online. You might have seen me online at that time between 10.20am to 10:50am...

We started packing our baggage as quickly as possible as we need to reach the airport at least before 12.30pm. We left the hotel at 11.05am. We were told that takin the Airport CityBus is faster but it is just the waiting time that is long once we missed the bus. We waited for about 10-15 mins before the CityBus arrived. We managed to reach the Departure Hall by 12.15pm. So we checked in our baggage and my mum bought a polo tee for my brother from Baleno.


My dad and me on the CityBus reaching the airport...



There is another bridge...





Entering this bridge means the airport is near. This is towards the end of New Territories border...



On board the plane, Boeing 777, SQ869...waiting for passengers to board on



Look at how clear the sky is from the top...



Plane slowly descending to land...Approaching the Changi Airport soon





My mum and me and my dad's two fingers....self-pic again



Look at my dad's funny expression...I took a photo of them but my dad's eyes were almost closed so I told him to open properly so he did this funny expression. He made sure his eyes were fully opened this time...



Final touchdown at Changi Airport...Home Sweet Home


From the top, I cannot even see Singapore as it was super hazy. We were reaching below the clouds but I couldn't even see the land properly. Phew, this was a long entry. I took 3 days to complete this and it is finally finished....Enjoy

Labels: HK, holidays

[x] Shireen signing out at
5:59 PM