About my HK trip...hmm...it wasnt as expected and I would have done everything differently if I can turn time around. Some of u my frens would have heard abt my trip (thanks for ur listening ears frens) but I shall keep it simple and just on wat I have seen, heard and tried in HK.
DAY 1
Reached our hotel in the afternoon and it was the nicest hotel I have stayed it. Wouldnt have expected less coz its a 5-star hotel which my fren, A insisted on - Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hotel 海景嘉福酒店.
Stay at the Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hotel 海景嘉福酒店
After unpacking, we took a walk in Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙咀 heading towards Harbour City 海港城 direction, shopping a little along the way. Harbour City is a huge shopping building housing mostly big brands such as "Louis Vuitton", "Chanel" and etc...
There was a nice area outside the top of the building overseeing the harbour area.
View from Harbour City 海港城 in Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙咀
Wanting to watch the Fireworks tat day scheduled for the National Day celebration in HK, we decided to loiter around in Tsim Sha Tsui near the Victoria Harbour.
I took a pic of the clock tower at the Victoria Harbour, recalling that I took pics of the clock towers in Perth and Gold Coast as well. ^_^
The Clock Tower
Then A recommended dinner at The Peninsula which is a rather posh hotel. We had Chinese food there which tasted quite good but different from our Singapore taste of Chinese food (aiyah, I dunno how to explain lah).
Doesnt the hotel look fabulous at night?
The Peninsula
Table setting in the Chinese restaurant is also pretty, with a cute gold plated 'Sailing Boat' chopsticks stand and a small pot of bamboo plants on every table.
Dinner at Chinese Restaurant in The Peninsula
After our dinner, we headed towards the Victoria Harbour for the Fireworks and found a HUGE crowd of people and local police officers setting up the road blocks when we exited the Peninsula.
We waited for an hour plus before the Fireworks started at 9pm. I am not much of a fan for fireworks but they do look grand 壮观.
However, I was a little disappointed that there werent many types of fireworks used there and only plenty of colours and noises came from the fireworks.
Fireworks at Victoria Harbour
Pics of the busy streets of Tsim Sha Tsui and a magnificent looking building.
Tsim Sha Tsui Streets at Night
And a pic of the Victoria Harbour from near our hotel.
View at Victoria Harbour
DAY 2
The 2nd day was our planned trip to Hong Kong Disneyland ("HKD") 香港迪士尼乐园.
As HKD is only open from 12noon, we woke up later and decided to go shopping at Tung Chung 东涌.
Upon exiting from the Tung Chung MTR station, A was attracted by the signages there introducing the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car 昂坪缆车 and insisted on taking a ride.
The cable car ride was about 25 mins up the hill and another 25 mins down. They have a small village up there called the Ngong Ping Village 昂坪市集 where we found beautiful scenery, restaurants and cafes, some souvenirs shops and a Monkey's Tale Theatre.
We didnt however take the "Walking With Buddha" trail and took the cable car down after taking some pics and eating ice cream.
Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ride 昂坪缆车
Ngong Ping Village 昂坪市集 & The Giant Buddha 天坛大佛
It was already 3pm plus when we took the MTR to Sunny Bay 欣澳 station and change to the Disneyland Resort train.
Even the trains are different :)
Train Ride to Hong Kong Disneyland
HKD is really a dream come true for kids and an experience for adults to relive their childhood.
Even the entrance is cute! (hehe...I am cute too...see my chubby face -_ )
Entrance to Hong Kong Disneyland
Its October and they are celebrating Halloween in HKD.
Halloween @ Hong Kong Disneyland
Lots and lots of visitors at HKD.
Hong Kong Disneyland...busy busy busy...
Saw some really gorgeous castle models in one shop there.
Which do u think is the prettiest?
Castle Models
HKD is split into 3 parts after u walk past the Main Street: Tomorrowland, Adventureland and Fantasyland.
A and I only took some rides which were recommended by her cousin who had been to HKD.
Tomorrowland:
1. Space Mountain-Ghost Galaxy (an indoor roller coaster ride)
2. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (this one is fun, like being in the game urself shooting stuffs)
Fantasyland:
3. Mickey's PhilharMagic (a 3D adventure show...interesting)
4. Its A Small World (a ride around the world in minutes while the music for the song "Its a small world" keeps repeating over and over again)
Its A Small World
Adventureland
5. Jungle River Cruise (a guided boat ride...not really interesting..can give it a miss)
We didnt have much time to try out most rides and places but have concluded that HKD's rides are not as good nor exciting as those in Gold Coast (haha...the latter is famous for its theme parks anyway).
They had a parade along the streets in HKD at abt 6pm plus but we were busily shopping then so din take much notice of it.
The Fireworks at HKD started at 8pm in front of the Castle at the entrance of Fantasyland.
Only 1 word to describe their fireworks display:
WOW!
The previous fireworks I saw on my 1st day in HK cannot compare to this at all!
The fireworks in HKD even matches in tune with the loud music they broadcasted throughout HKD.
JUST MARVELLOUS!!!
Fireworks at Hong Kong Disneyland
Finale
Haha...I caught this pic at the end and doesnt it resembles a Spooky Castle? Suits the Halloween theme...
Spooky Castle???
As we left HKD at about 9pm, we had time to head down to the Ladies Market 女人街 for shopping.
Late Supper in a Cafe
DAY 3
The 3rd day was our shopping day followed by going to the Peak.
Woke up early and went for a "merry go round" trip in Hong Kong Island.
Firstly, we went to the Western Market (near Sheung Wan 上环) early, thinking maybe there are some interesting stuff but the shops were barely open.
Then we took a cab to SoHo 荷南美食区 which is a famous district for its wide selection of restaurants and cafes, thought we could have our brunch there. But atlas! The place was like a ghost town...think the restaurants and cafes mostly operate at night....boo hoo hoo...
Next was the Central 中环 district. Had a nice breakfast at a posh cafe in a posh shopping complex (forgot the names la!), did some shopping until it started to drizzle.
We took shelter from the rain in McDonalds and to my surprise they actually serve Pork Ribs Burgers there! McDonalds is not Halal worldwide?!
Went up to the Peak 太平山顶 at abt 3pm plus and it was foggy and still drizzling...not a good weather that day. See how foggy everything looks...and the cold winds were blowing straight at us....brrr....
The Peak 太平山顶
Visited the Madame Tussauds Hong Kong 香港杜莎夫人蜡像馆 at the Peak Tower. I have never been to any of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum before, so its interesting to see those lifelike models of famous people whom I recognize. Even saw our MM Lee Kuan Yew there...hehe...
Madame Tussauds 香港杜莎夫人蜡像馆
After loitering at the Peak for a few hours, we decided not to wait for sunset as the place was so foggy, it was impossible to see any lights from the buildings below at all. No beautiful night scenery for memory T_T
Took the tram down the Peak...there was all this hype abt the tram going up and down the hill at 45 degrees but it was really nothing...chey...
Tooks pics of some buildings including the City Hall in Central.
Interesting Zig Zag Building
City Hall
After we returned to Tsim Sha Tsui, A wanted to stay in the hotel to rest her feet, so I took a night stroll in the busy streets of Tsim Sha Tsui alone. ^_^
Nothing beats a nice stroll in parts of the world unknown to u and absorbing the sights, sounds and smell of the place.
I stopped at a cute Charlie Brown Cafe near our hotel for dinner. Had actually wanted to try one of the HK cafe to have some local delicacies but I ran out of HK$ and din want to change more currency.
No regrets...the Charlie Brown Cafe was cute and quiet (there was only 1 other customer when I entered but I think I brought in more customers...coz the place was full after that).
Charlie Brown Cafe
And I sat on a "Linus Van Pelt" table...reminds me of a certain Linus back home...haha....Goon!
DAY 4
Last day and our day of departure from HK. Our flight was in the afternoon so we stayed in and had our dim sum lunch in the Chinese restaurant at our hotel.
Had my first taste of Roasted Pigeon and it taste almost like spring chicken but the meat is smoother and Q. Only problem is that the dish is a bit salty for me. I love their Organic Glutinous Rice with Chicken "Lor Mai Kai" 糯米鸡 though. They used brown glutinous rice instead of the normal ones and its fragrance really came out with the lotus leaf that wraps the rice with the chicken chunks. Their egg tarts were really good too...soft and sweet. Felt out of place to take out my camera to take pics there...so too bad!
Its been 2 weeks since I returned to Singapore and am settled back into my life here real quickly. No nostalgic feeling for HK unlike my previous trips to Australia...normally I still feel out of place after a few weeks back in Singapore. Haha....
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