The Travel Post (that was almost 2 years in the making) 3 of 5
Part 3 na! Two days before I leave for my Baliw-baliwang Birthday Trip 2013! Excited na kabado, ang gusto ko lang sana makauwi ako, hahaha!
Part 1
Part 2
02 March 2012 - The "Lucky" Day
I stayed in a bit later than usual: I went out around 7:00 AM. Someone from the hostel commented about how "strong" I was, maybe because she saw me arrive at around 1 AM from the night before, and then I left again at 7 AM. I think this was also the day when I stupidly left my keys inside the room, and I had to ask a kind lady to open the room for me. Nakakahiya! But I guess I wasn't the first person to do that, orz, so I guess it's no biggie?
I think this was also the day when I got out of my room real early to get some hot water for the Milo I brought with me (o di ba, laging handa!) and I saw someone outside my room having breakfast. Guess what she was having? Bread and Lily's Peanut Butter! Either Pinay si Ate (I didn't ask if she was, T_T) or she had a Filipina friend who gave her some of the Philippines' best peanut butter. Nakakatuwa, haha! :P
Anyway, I made my way to the Admiralty station via the MTR. It took me less than 10 minutes, I think. It was fast b/c there was an MTR station just outside the hostel. From there, I had to kill some time because the Citybus 629 going to Ocean Park Hong Kong leaves at 9 AM. I went to some electronics shops trying to find a USB cord for my Softbank mobile phone (I haven't found any in Manila in the whole year I've had the phone - and I still haven't found anything up to now) but most of the shops were still closed, and the ones that were open didn't have the cord either.
I was surprised there were a lot of people already around, until I realized that it was still a weekday and therefore, people still had work. No wonder a lot of professional-looking young people were around, eating McDonald's breakfasts. I almost gave in to my "no fastfood that's also found in Manila" rule in my quest to find somewhere I could eat, but McD's was just too crowded and I wanted to eat breakfast in peace. I luckily found a place called Singma Deluxe. It was a small place but it was really intimidating b/c it was on the ground floor of an expensive-looking business building. I grabbed some breakfast to-go b/c I was worried I might get left behind by the bus. At around 9:30 AM, I was in front of Ocean park, waiting for the gates to be opened at 10 AM. I ate breakfast at one of the benches outside, overlooking some construction site, and the rest of the beautiful morning. I ate breakfast in peace, indeed! xD
For HKD 38 - around Php 220 - I got toast and eggs. Dapat pala nagpa-intimidate na lang talaga ako. xD
One of my first pictures inside. Kinilig ako, I didn't expect they had pandas! Also, notice the time: very prompt park opening! :)
God, I wanted to hug them! New addition to the bucket list: hug a real panda!
This is a fish.
Pillar of fish + cable car going to the other side of the mountain where the other attractions were.
The view from inside the cable car + diva seal needs its sun. xD
This one pooped in front of me, lol.
Nice wall art + dolphin stadium (and other attractions.) Ocean Park Hong Kong is hella huge!
Lovely jelly + lunch!
I (again) ran out of camera juice after the jellyfish place. I initially thought it was because the sun was really up that day (as compared to the previous overcast days) so maybe it was caused by the sudden weather change, and then I realized I didn't get to charge it fully the night before (ayan, lakwatsera kasi, pagod na pagod nalimutang mag-charge) and I (again) wanted to kick myself. I exited the park at around 4 PM, after I got on the underground train instead riding the cable car again. I didn't really try out much of the rides, I just walked around (and counted escalators, LOL.) It was then that I realized I don't appreciate thrill rides the same way as before. Sign of aging, methinks. xD
I went back to the hostel to charge my battery again (I didn't think I'd need a spare, so I didn't buy any before I flew in) and then I made my way across the Harbour to Admiralty and then walked to the Peak Tram. On the way there I was so tempted to try the monorail / tram but I didn't know how to and I was pressed for time. Thanks to a lot of good signage and the throng of obvious foreigners who were walking the same way I was (I thought they must be going to the Peak, too) it was easy to spot the terminus.
This is where the battle begins. xD
This is how fast and how steep it is.
I scored discounted tickets for The Peak Tram, Sky Terrace 428, and Madame Tussaud's from the hostel. I went to the wax museum first, as it was just around 5:30 PM and I wanted to be at the Sky Terrace later so I could catch the sunset. The figures were amazing, but I ran out of batteries again. Kunsabagay it was because I only had 30 minutes to recharge it after Ocean Park. Half of the pictures I took are still on my camera phone, but b/c until now I haven't found a USB cord yet, I am unable to transfer them. Sayang, because Jack Sparrow, Albert Einstein, Bruce Lee, and others are still there. Before one can go inside the museum, there was also this photo-op with Jackie Chan where you'll be able to claim your picture at the exit. I didn't get to claim my picture w/ Jackie b/c I didn't have enough cash on hand. :((
I got out to the Peak Tower and waited a bit more before I decided to go up the Sky Terrace. LO AND BEHOLD my ticket went missing. How stupid can that be? I was fighting tears in my eyes b/c I really wanted to go, but I couldn't buy a new ticket b/c of the cash shortage. I only had enough to buy a ticket for the trip back to the base. With heavy steps, I went out and left.
I went back to Nathan and dropped by Tom Lee Music to claim my concert ticket. At around 7:30 PM I was back in the hostel. Still a bit down, I accidentally dropped my camera. I was so scared b/c It was just 3 days old!
After thirty minutes, I went out again, this time I went north to Kowloon station. I was really determined to have a night view of Hong Kong and so I went to the Hong Kong Observation Deck SKY 100. Tallest building in HK and fourth tallest in the world, (at the time) baby! I got my ticket at 8:40 PM. When I arrived, I was told by the staff that I won't have a clear view up at the top as it was cloudy. T_T Ang malas nga naman, may bandwagon mentality din. LOL. I wasn't sure if I can go back, considering that the concert was the next day and I had planned to visit Macau for the whole day after the concert, so I went ahead and climbed floor 100 anyway. True enough, my view was blocked by the clouds. Almost no one was there at the top, and all I could see were thick clouds. I just chilled out by myself. Took some pictures, and then went back to my room to retire for the day. After some reflecting, I was still really bummed, but then I thought, despite what happened, I'm alive and safe even if I was alone, and that there's a million other things I should be thankful for. And besides, there's always a next time as long as I lived.
Next: D-Day, Museums, and finally, meeting friends!! Also, my regret at going to Sky 100 instead of the night market!
.
Part 1
Part 2
02 March 2012 - The "Lucky" Day
I stayed in a bit later than usual: I went out around 7:00 AM. Someone from the hostel commented about how "strong" I was, maybe because she saw me arrive at around 1 AM from the night before, and then I left again at 7 AM. I think this was also the day when I stupidly left my keys inside the room, and I had to ask a kind lady to open the room for me. Nakakahiya! But I guess I wasn't the first person to do that, orz, so I guess it's no biggie?
I think this was also the day when I got out of my room real early to get some hot water for the Milo I brought with me (o di ba, laging handa!) and I saw someone outside my room having breakfast. Guess what she was having? Bread and Lily's Peanut Butter! Either Pinay si Ate (I didn't ask if she was, T_T) or she had a Filipina friend who gave her some of the Philippines' best peanut butter. Nakakatuwa, haha! :P
Anyway, I made my way to the Admiralty station via the MTR. It took me less than 10 minutes, I think. It was fast b/c there was an MTR station just outside the hostel. From there, I had to kill some time because the Citybus 629 going to Ocean Park Hong Kong leaves at 9 AM. I went to some electronics shops trying to find a USB cord for my Softbank mobile phone (I haven't found any in Manila in the whole year I've had the phone - and I still haven't found anything up to now) but most of the shops were still closed, and the ones that were open didn't have the cord either.
I was surprised there were a lot of people already around, until I realized that it was still a weekday and therefore, people still had work. No wonder a lot of professional-looking young people were around, eating McDonald's breakfasts. I almost gave in to my "no fastfood that's also found in Manila" rule in my quest to find somewhere I could eat, but McD's was just too crowded and I wanted to eat breakfast in peace. I luckily found a place called Singma Deluxe. It was a small place but it was really intimidating b/c it was on the ground floor of an expensive-looking business building. I grabbed some breakfast to-go b/c I was worried I might get left behind by the bus. At around 9:30 AM, I was in front of Ocean park, waiting for the gates to be opened at 10 AM. I ate breakfast at one of the benches outside, overlooking some construction site, and the rest of the beautiful morning. I ate breakfast in peace, indeed! xD
For HKD 38 - around Php 220 - I got toast and eggs. Dapat pala nagpa-intimidate na lang talaga ako. xD
One of my first pictures inside. Kinilig ako, I didn't expect they had pandas! Also, notice the time: very prompt park opening! :)
God, I wanted to hug them! New addition to the bucket list: hug a real panda!
This is a fish.
Pillar of fish + cable car going to the other side of the mountain where the other attractions were.
The view from inside the cable car + diva seal needs its sun. xD
This one pooped in front of me, lol.
Nice wall art + dolphin stadium (and other attractions.) Ocean Park Hong Kong is hella huge!
Lovely jelly + lunch!
I (again) ran out of camera juice after the jellyfish place. I initially thought it was because the sun was really up that day (as compared to the previous overcast days) so maybe it was caused by the sudden weather change, and then I realized I didn't get to charge it fully the night before (ayan, lakwatsera kasi, pagod na pagod nalimutang mag-charge) and I (again) wanted to kick myself. I exited the park at around 4 PM, after I got on the underground train instead riding the cable car again. I didn't really try out much of the rides, I just walked around (and counted escalators, LOL.) It was then that I realized I don't appreciate thrill rides the same way as before. Sign of aging, methinks. xD
I went back to the hostel to charge my battery again (I didn't think I'd need a spare, so I didn't buy any before I flew in) and then I made my way across the Harbour to Admiralty and then walked to the Peak Tram. On the way there I was so tempted to try the monorail / tram but I didn't know how to and I was pressed for time. Thanks to a lot of good signage and the throng of obvious foreigners who were walking the same way I was (I thought they must be going to the Peak, too) it was easy to spot the terminus.
This is where the battle begins. xD
This is how fast and how steep it is.
I scored discounted tickets for The Peak Tram, Sky Terrace 428, and Madame Tussaud's from the hostel. I went to the wax museum first, as it was just around 5:30 PM and I wanted to be at the Sky Terrace later so I could catch the sunset. The figures were amazing, but I ran out of batteries again. Kunsabagay it was because I only had 30 minutes to recharge it after Ocean Park. Half of the pictures I took are still on my camera phone, but b/c until now I haven't found a USB cord yet, I am unable to transfer them. Sayang, because Jack Sparrow, Albert Einstein, Bruce Lee, and others are still there. Before one can go inside the museum, there was also this photo-op with Jackie Chan where you'll be able to claim your picture at the exit. I didn't get to claim my picture w/ Jackie b/c I didn't have enough cash on hand. :((
I got out to the Peak Tower and waited a bit more before I decided to go up the Sky Terrace. LO AND BEHOLD my ticket went missing. How stupid can that be? I was fighting tears in my eyes b/c I really wanted to go, but I couldn't buy a new ticket b/c of the cash shortage. I only had enough to buy a ticket for the trip back to the base. With heavy steps, I went out and left.
I went back to Nathan and dropped by Tom Lee Music to claim my concert ticket. At around 7:30 PM I was back in the hostel. Still a bit down, I accidentally dropped my camera. I was so scared b/c It was just 3 days old!
After thirty minutes, I went out again, this time I went north to Kowloon station. I was really determined to have a night view of Hong Kong and so I went to the Hong Kong Observation Deck SKY 100. Tallest building in HK and fourth tallest in the world, (at the time) baby! I got my ticket at 8:40 PM. When I arrived, I was told by the staff that I won't have a clear view up at the top as it was cloudy. T_T Ang malas nga naman, may bandwagon mentality din. LOL. I wasn't sure if I can go back, considering that the concert was the next day and I had planned to visit Macau for the whole day after the concert, so I went ahead and climbed floor 100 anyway. True enough, my view was blocked by the clouds. Almost no one was there at the top, and all I could see were thick clouds. I just chilled out by myself. Took some pictures, and then went back to my room to retire for the day. After some reflecting, I was still really bummed, but then I thought, despite what happened, I'm alive and safe even if I was alone, and that there's a million other things I should be thankful for. And besides, there's always a next time as long as I lived.
Next: D-Day, Museums, and finally, meeting friends!! Also, my regret at going to Sky 100 instead of the night market!
.