You've waited so long for it, and now here it is! As promised, photos of my trip to Hong Kong from 13th to 17th September 2005. I wanted to do a photolog initially, but because BLOGGER does not offer tools to upload images all at one go (I have 128 images and they only allow me to upload 5 at one go) and their HELLO software pretty much sucked, I have to forgo the idea.
I tried to upload the images to Flickr, but I overshot the bandwidth limit because the upload failed several times. So I have to resort to using Shutterfly, which is pretty good because they just recently changed their upload limit to unlimited. Now all the images are hosted by Shutterfly. The link to all the photos together with the short descriptions are at the bottom of the post. The idea is to let you view them after you finish reading about my trip. Shutterfly only allows 120 characters descriptions on each photo, so I can't really say much.
Hong Kong, the city that prides itself as the shopping capital of Asia, and the Culinary capital of the world, is where the East meets the West. A bustling metropolis that was once a British colony. Hong Kong is really a shopping destination. They have shops EVERYWHERE. Navigate yourselves through streets lined with high-end boutiques like Gucci and Louis Vuitton to lower-end shops like Giordano and Espirit. If you are on a budget trip to Hong Kong, you will definitely bust your whole budget planning.
This trip marks the first time I ever flew alone. Yes alone. You know how scary it is especially after watching the movie Red Eye. Yeap I flew alone to Hong Kong to meet my sis and niece, who was already there earlier by 3 days. She flew there with my bro-in-law, who was there for a conference. I flew to Hong Kong with Valuair, service was pretty good, with normal looking flight attendants, bad food you would expect on other airlines (excluding SIA) and ultra bad mango pudding which tasted powdery. For just $320+ for a return ticket, it's good value though. The flight I took was rather empty, so I was seated alone in the whole row. Comfortable, yet scary because of the many turbulences encountered throughout the 3.5 hours flight. There was one turbulence that caused the plane to drop a few metres, making it feel much like a roller coaster ride. Otherwise the flight was boring. Luckily my iPod was there to accompany me.
The Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island is huge. You even have to take an internal train to reach the Customs. Though it's big and brightly lit with natural light, I feel that Changi Airport is much more cosy and comfortable. English and Chinese signs are everywhere, so you will not get lost. I took the Airport Express, which is a train service to City (Hong Kong Island). It has 2 stops along the way and it whisks you to City in about 20 minutes. Along the way you can look at the many sights of Hong Kong. They have TV screens in front of each seat to keep you entertained, but I think it's rather dumb to watch TV when you can't listen to it.
After reaching Hong Kong Island, I took a taxi to Mandarin Oriental, the hotel I put up at. Taxi ride was super cheap as compared to Singapore. By the way, Mandarin Oriental was where Leslie Cheung (Zhang Guo Rong) committed suicide by jumping down the building. I hope it wasn't the 9th floor, which was the floor I stayed on. The hotel was right in the middle of the Central Business District, so I was minutes away from shopping.
I went to the new IFC (International Finance Centre) Mall the first day. They have lots of shopping centres in the city and each of them is very big.
I tried taking the Peak Tram which I missed out on the previous trip to HK when I was 10 to the Victoria Peak. The tram is ascends and descends at a 45-degree angle, making it the steepest in the world! When you reached the top of the peak, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Victoria Harbour.
It's shopping again on the second day, as I shopped along the many factory outlet stores with my sis and niece around the CBD and at Li Yuen Street. Then we crossed over to Tsim Sha Tsui, by taking the Star Ferry. When you visit Hong Kong, you must take the Star Ferry as it offers you the view of the famous Victoria Harbour.
Once you reached Tsim Sha Tsui ferry terminal, you will see Harbour City Shooping Centre, Hong Kong's biggest shopping centre. THE SHOPPING MALL IS HUGE. I think it is way bigger than Suntec City by a few times. You can practically shop there for a whole day!
Near Harbour City is an Esprit Outlet, a two-storey factory outlet store that stocks Esprit's off-season fashion at highly discounted price. Tsim Sha Tsui gives you the old Hong Kong charm, while offering great shopping and food. That night, we went to Mongkok area and shopped and dined at Langham Place, which is comparable to Ngee Ann City, but much more bigger. It has 13 storeys of shopping. The main attraction there is the three super long escalators that brings you from level one to level 13. After that, we went to shop at Ladies Market (they don't only sell female stuff there) and then at Sportswear street (Fa Yuen St). Sportswear street is full of shops that stock up on sporting goods and equipments. Imagine Queensway Shopping Centre on the street. Prices of authentic sports goods are almost the same in Singapore, but if you look carefully, you might spot some cheap off-season goods.
The shop-til-you-drop journey continues on the third day as we shop non-stop around Hong Kong Island.
The 4th day (16 September) in Hong Kong was the highlight of the trip. YES, I WENT TO HONG KONG DISNEYLAND! Excuse me from all that excitement, but it was after all the first time I ever went to a Disneyland. Anyway for your information, Hong Kong Disneyland is the 5th Disney theme park and the second one in Asia. It's the smallest of 5 parks and it is closely modelled after the Disneyland park in Anaheim. Most of the rides in the park are duplicates from other Disneyland Parks around the work. Hong Kong Disneyland is divided into 4 themed areas, Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland. Disneyland sits on the newly reclaimed Lantau Island, and has 2 onsite hotels. Entrance fee is at around SGD$65, also the cheapest amongst all the parks.
The magic begins when you reach Sunny Bay Station. After taking the MTR from Central Hong Kong to Sunny Bay, you need to transfer to the Disneyland Resort Line. The train, with Mickey mouse shaped-windows and hand grips takes you to the Happiest Place on Earth. I took the earliest possible train at maybe around 9.30am. (I went to Disneyland alone first, because my niece can't stand the long hours outside.)
The moment you step out of the train and walk out of the station. You start to feel all that magic already. The kind of warm and intricate feeling starts to swarm you. Enchanting music is played throughout the park with many of the hidden speakers. Everything is very new at the park, since it just opened 4 days ago on the day that I went. Once you enter the park, you will see the first themed area, Main Street USA.
Main Street USA is modelled after a typical American Town in the early 1900s, with shops that showcase amazing and detailed architecture. Main Street USA is where you find most of the shops in the park. They have shops that sell every souveneir you can think of. They have a bakery, jewellry shop, candy shop, cafe, restaturants, photo studio, and a very big Emporium. Watch your wallet though, as you will get very tempted at spending your fortune there. I couldn't resist the temptation and spent almost $200+.
Walk further up Main Street USA and you will reach the plaza where the entrances of three other themed areas are. The park attractions only open at 10am exactly, and if you are early, which I am, you will see the marching band open the park with a performance. After declaring the park open, you will see people dashing towards Space Mountain in Tomorrowland.
Space Mountain is the only thrill ride in the park. It is an indoor roller coaster that takes you on a high-speed journey to the far reaches of the universe and back with music and sound effects synchronised to the ride's twist, turns and drops. Despite the many complaints on the opening day because of long queue times on popular rides like Space Mountain, I managed to get onto the ride in about 10 minutes.
Buzz Lighyear Astro Blasters is an interactive ride that brings you to the infinity and beyond and help Buzz Lightyear save the universe from the evil Emperor Zurg. You are armed with a laser gun and seated in a vehicle and you go around shooting your enemies. It even tells you your score at the end of the ride to see how well you did.
Autopia, a go-kart ride is still under construction and will only be opened in 2006. Quickly, I tried to finish all the other rides my niece can't go on, before they come.
Next, I skipped to Adventureland and took the Jungle River Cruise. Embark on a cruise along the Rivers of Adventure, on a guided tour filled with intrigue, surprises and plenty of humour. They have three different queues for three different languages, Chinese, Cantonese and English. The English queue is always the shortest, so you can save a lot of time. But don't expect the guide to speak perfect English. On the two times I rode, the two different English guides sounded like primary one kids trying to master the language properly. It was still understandable and fun, nonetheless.
Visit Tarzan and his friends at Tarzan's Treehouse. But first you need to board a raft to cross the river. Not a ride, but rather an attraction.
HK Disneyland has a few live shows and one of the must-see is Festival of the Lion King. Witness a colourful pageant of music and dance inspired by and celebrating Disney's animated classic "The Lion King". The show is in English with some Cantonese narration.
After that I went on to Fantasyland by walking through the magnificent Sleeping Beauty Castle. Walk through this magical portal into a timeless realm of imagination and enchantment where childhood dreams come true.
Mickey's Philharmagic is a multi-sensory 3D show. Not only you are treated to a 3D show that brings you through some of Disney's timeless classics, you are also treated to some sensory surprises along the way.
The Golden Mickeys is another live show, which is perfomed at The Storybook Theater. In this live show, see who takes home one of the statuettes in a 25 minute award shows that's also a musical celebration of Disney's best-loved films, songs and characters. It's is closely modelled after the Oscars, complete with paparazzis, red carpet scenes, you feel as if you are really watching a live awards show. Pity that the show is in Cantonese.
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh is a rather boring storybook journey through the hundred acre woods. It's not worth queueing for a long time for this ride. I don't really know why Asians fascinate the bear that much.
After trying almost all the rides, I met my sis, niece and bro-in-law at about 2pm. We had lunch at Comet Cafe, which serves Chinese food, something you won't find in other Disneyland Parks. I had Chinese Fried Rice. It costs about SGD$10 for a meal there, not really expensive as compared to other theme parks. If you notice, I finished almost all the rides by 2pm, which meant that HK Disneyland is not actually very big. So there is enough time for you to ride some of the rides a few more times.
After that it was Disney on Parade, a parade that features Disney characters and floats. See and wave to your favourite characters at this parade.
After the parade, I went on to other rides with my sis, niece and bro-in-law for a second time until about 8pm and had dinner at Starliner Diner, which serves Fast Food.
At 9pm is a show you can't afford to miss. "Disneyland in the Stars" marks the end of your magical day of stay at Disneyland, with a magnificent, magical fireworks spectacular choreographed to classic Disney songs and music. The fireworks are not the big ones you see every year ad NDP (due to complaints that they cause noise pollution), but they are nicely choreographed to the music. The fireworks is really spectacular and magical. (I have the whole fireworks show filmed, but I need to first figure out where to host it now that my host is still down)
Disneyland. Truly the most Happiest Place on Earth.
After the fireworks, I went to shop for all the souveneirs until the park closes at 10pm
The next morning, I woke up early in the morning and checked-in my baggage at the city's check-in counter at IFC. Very convenient. Then I took the Airport Express back to Hong Kong International Airport. The airport has lots of shops and food outlets. It is on par with Singapore's Changi Airport, though I still prefer Changi's feel. Boarded the Valuair flight alone (my sis' flight is in the evening) back home to Singapore.
Total Expenditure: Less than $1000 inclusive of airfares
Days spent: 4
Experience: Excellent
The Hong Kong I went to 7 years ago and now was different. Probably because when I was still 7 I didn't know how to shop. Hong Kong is really a shopping heaven and Singapore can't beat Hong Kong to that. Like the tourism commercial it used to air on TV, Hong Kong is really all about shopping and eating. The experience there has been wonderful. I will definitely want to visit Hong Kong again.
For more photos, 128 of them you can view them
here, along with the descriptions, so you won't be lost.
Behind the red blocks of flats, those buildings you see is Ngee Ann's campus.
Once you reached Tsim Sha Tsui ferry terminal, you will see Harbour City Shooping Centre, Hong Kong's biggest shopping centre. THE SHOPPING MALL IS HUGE. I think it is way bigger than Suntec City by a few times. You can practically shop there for a whole day!
Main Street USA is modelled after a typical American Town in the early 1900s, with shops that showcase amazing and detailed architecture. Main Street USA is where you find most of the shops in the park. They have shops that sell every souveneir you can think of. They have a bakery, jewellry shop, candy shop, cafe, restaturants, photo studio, and a very big Emporium. Watch your wallet though, as you will get very tempted at spending your fortune there. I couldn't resist the temptation and spent almost $200+.
Next, I skipped to Adventureland and took the Jungle River Cruise. Embark on a cruise along the Rivers of Adventure, on a guided tour filled with intrigue, surprises and plenty of humour. They have three different queues for three different languages, Chinese, Cantonese and English. The English queue is always the shortest, so you can save a lot of time. But don't expect the guide to speak perfect English. On the two times I rode, the two different English guides sounded like primary one kids trying to master the language properly. It was still understandable and fun, nonetheless.
After trying almost all the rides, I met my sis, niece and bro-in-law at about 2pm. We had lunch at Comet Cafe, which serves Chinese food, something you won't find in other Disneyland Parks. I had Chinese Fried Rice. It costs about SGD$10 for a meal there, not really expensive as compared to other theme parks. If you notice, I finished almost all the rides by 2pm, which meant that HK Disneyland is not actually very big. So there is enough time for you to ride some of the rides a few more times.
At 9pm is a show you can't afford to miss. "Disneyland in the Stars" marks the end of your magical day of stay at Disneyland, with a magnificent, magical fireworks spectacular choreographed to classic Disney songs and music. The fireworks are not the big ones you see every year ad NDP (due to complaints that they cause noise pollution), but they are nicely choreographed to the music. The fireworks is really spectacular and magical. (I have the whole fireworks show filmed, but I need to first figure out where to host it now that my host is still down)