The Travel Post (that was almost 2 years in the making) 2 of 5
Here's Part 2, tutal naman sinasapian ako ng espiritu ng kasipagan (i must be nearing that time of the month) post lang ng post!
Sa mga interesado, here's Part 1.
01 March 2012
I woke up real early. As in 5 AM early. I realize that I love morning walks the most. I always try to walk before the sun is up wherever I go. I went out of the hostel at around 6:30 AM, hoping to find Wing Hoi, a nearby money changer that's got a good reputation. I didn't find it the first time I looked, so I just continued to walk until I went around the block. Wing Hoi was near the back of Mirador block, that's why I didn't see it at first. As I said in Pt. 1, I was under the impression that HK didn't keep usual operating hours: of course, it was still closed.
I then decided to walk around Nathan Rd. There were a lot of people who took their morning jog seriously! And I was surprised to see grandmas jogging / walking. Ikinahiya ko bigla ang sarili ko, b/c I don't jog. Another thing that's amazing is how newspapers are given free of charge. There were people who distribute different kinds of newspaper in every block. It was funny some of them thought I spoke Chinese, LOL. Anyway, I just wandered around (in a t-shirt, mind you. and it was COLD - I belonged to a minority who didn't have a jacket on) until I reached the Victoria Harbour at around 8 AM. It was raining a bit, but I didn't mind. Mornings are beautiful.
The time stamp was still 1 day behind. xD
HK underpass at 8 AM. Grabe, pwedeng tulugan! Charot. xD
I went back to Wing Hoi at around 8:30-ish and found that they're already opened for the day. I exchanged most of my money (the small amount I had exchanged the night before at the airport went into the deposit for the hostel) and then I went back to the hostel to grab some discounted attraction tickets. Once done, I boarded the A21 bus again, and made my way back to the KLIA area. The day's plan included a quick visit to the Asia-World Expo, a.k.a. the L'Arc~en~Ciel concert venue, to claim my concert tickets, and to scout ahead and familiarize myself with the place.
Asia-World Expo West Entrance.
When I arrived, the West Entrance was still closed, and I couldn't see anyone inside. I went around the right side, passed by the service entrances for Halls 3-10, saw the Sky City Marriott Hotel (and thought that L'Arc would be staying there) and finally saw a long line of people outside the East Entrance. Being the person that I am, I observed the people (and even lined up) for a bit, before realizing that I won't be able to claim my tickets that day after all. The long queue was not moving and I wasn't sure if it was even the queue to get inside the building or if it was for something else. If only I was brave enough to ask someone there. I really need to brush up on my asking-people-questions-instead-of-figuring-out-things-on-my-own skills (if I had any.) It was only after I got back to the hostel that I found out the queue was for people who wanted to purchase Lady Gaga concert tickets. Damn!
So, with little success, I decided to drop the mission and just go back to the Tom Lee store at Cameron at a later time. After a really confusing bus ride (the roads all go in circles @_@) and a LITERAL 5-6 minute train ride from Sunny Bay, I made my way into Hong Kong Disneyland.
Pretty train! \(*O*)/
Nice, clean, and fast. The 6-minute ride was around Php 31.
At around 11:30 AM, on an overcast day, I stood by the gates of the "happiest place on Earth."
Rather, one of the "happiest" places on Earth, b/c there are lots of branches, LOL!
Tbqh, I didn't have high expectations. It was, after all, a children's theme park. I completely thought I'd need a full day to go around it, but it only took me half a day. Four hours, even. I went on a Thursday, though, so it might not have been as crowded as it will be on a weekend. I used the opportunity to familiarize myself with a camera I still didn't know how to use. I tried out all attractions I fancied. I didn't bother meeting Mickey b/c I knew all the kids would want him. I got close encounters w/ Belle, Alice, and Tinkerbell, though. I ate the most expensive waffle I've ever eaten, twice. I watched and wondered how many Filipinos were performing at the Golden Mickeys, Festival of the Lion King, and the Flights of Fantasy Parade. (the point when I finally ran out of camera juice, b/c I took a video of almost the entire parade) I grabbed some souvenirs (matching Mickey phone straps for me and my Mom, a Mickey Mouse Bearbrick, plus a pen for my brother who loves Tigger) and stayed until the park closed at 8 PM with the spectacular Disney in the Stars fireworks display in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. I really wanted to kick myself for not being able to film the amazing fireworks. Le sigh. Disneyland became the second highlight of my HK visit (after the concert itself) and I realized, it can, indeed, be one of the happiest places on Earth.
Expensive waffles! HKD 45 / Php 250 a piece.
I accidentally got two, because I told the Chinese lady that I just wanted "the waffle."
She must have misheard and thought that I wanted two waffle(s).
Pinangatawanan ko na lang. xD
I went back to the hostel. I don't recall ever having dinner that night, in fact I think the only food I consumed the entire day were the Disneyland waffles! Sulit naman pala yung five hundred, LOL! I charged my camera a bit, and at around 10:30 PM I went out again. I saw that the iSquare HMV was still open, so I took a peek. I almost went out of the store with an Oguri Shun magazine with me! Buti na lang napigilan ko ang sarili ko and I remembered that I didn't book w/ checked baggage for the flight home. xD
I had to go out before I gave in to the temptation. xD
At around 11 PM I went to see the Victoria Harbour again, this time, to see the view at night. Of course I had to visit the Avenue of Stars, too.
I stayed until around 12:30 AM, and then I walked back to the hostel. I think I slept in my street clothes that night. xD
PS. Sabi ko na, deep inside madaldal talaga ako eh. Kita mo, ang haba na naman nito. xD
.
Sa mga interesado, here's Part 1.
01 March 2012
I woke up real early. As in 5 AM early. I realize that I love morning walks the most. I always try to walk before the sun is up wherever I go. I went out of the hostel at around 6:30 AM, hoping to find Wing Hoi, a nearby money changer that's got a good reputation. I didn't find it the first time I looked, so I just continued to walk until I went around the block. Wing Hoi was near the back of Mirador block, that's why I didn't see it at first. As I said in Pt. 1, I was under the impression that HK didn't keep usual operating hours: of course, it was still closed.
I then decided to walk around Nathan Rd. There were a lot of people who took their morning jog seriously! And I was surprised to see grandmas jogging / walking. Ikinahiya ko bigla ang sarili ko, b/c I don't jog. Another thing that's amazing is how newspapers are given free of charge. There were people who distribute different kinds of newspaper in every block. It was funny some of them thought I spoke Chinese, LOL. Anyway, I just wandered around (in a t-shirt, mind you. and it was COLD - I belonged to a minority who didn't have a jacket on) until I reached the Victoria Harbour at around 8 AM. It was raining a bit, but I didn't mind. Mornings are beautiful.
The time stamp was still 1 day behind. xD
HK underpass at 8 AM. Grabe, pwedeng tulugan! Charot. xD
I went back to Wing Hoi at around 8:30-ish and found that they're already opened for the day. I exchanged most of my money (the small amount I had exchanged the night before at the airport went into the deposit for the hostel) and then I went back to the hostel to grab some discounted attraction tickets. Once done, I boarded the A21 bus again, and made my way back to the KLIA area. The day's plan included a quick visit to the Asia-World Expo, a.k.a. the L'Arc~en~Ciel concert venue, to claim my concert tickets, and to scout ahead and familiarize myself with the place.
Asia-World Expo West Entrance.
When I arrived, the West Entrance was still closed, and I couldn't see anyone inside. I went around the right side, passed by the service entrances for Halls 3-10, saw the Sky City Marriott Hotel (and thought that L'Arc would be staying there) and finally saw a long line of people outside the East Entrance. Being the person that I am, I observed the people (and even lined up) for a bit, before realizing that I won't be able to claim my tickets that day after all. The long queue was not moving and I wasn't sure if it was even the queue to get inside the building or if it was for something else. If only I was brave enough to ask someone there. I really need to brush up on my asking-people-questions-instead-of-figuring-out-things-on-my-own skills (if I had any.) It was only after I got back to the hostel that I found out the queue was for people who wanted to purchase Lady Gaga concert tickets. Damn!
So, with little success, I decided to drop the mission and just go back to the Tom Lee store at Cameron at a later time. After a really confusing bus ride (the roads all go in circles @_@) and a LITERAL 5-6 minute train ride from Sunny Bay, I made my way into Hong Kong Disneyland.
Pretty train! \(*O*)/
Nice, clean, and fast. The 6-minute ride was around Php 31.
At around 11:30 AM, on an overcast day, I stood by the gates of the "happiest place on Earth."
Rather, one of the "happiest" places on Earth, b/c there are lots of branches, LOL!
Tbqh, I didn't have high expectations. It was, after all, a children's theme park. I completely thought I'd need a full day to go around it, but it only took me half a day. Four hours, even. I went on a Thursday, though, so it might not have been as crowded as it will be on a weekend. I used the opportunity to familiarize myself with a camera I still didn't know how to use. I tried out all attractions I fancied. I didn't bother meeting Mickey b/c I knew all the kids would want him. I got close encounters w/ Belle, Alice, and Tinkerbell, though. I ate the most expensive waffle I've ever eaten, twice. I watched and wondered how many Filipinos were performing at the Golden Mickeys, Festival of the Lion King, and the Flights of Fantasy Parade. (the point when I finally ran out of camera juice, b/c I took a video of almost the entire parade) I grabbed some souvenirs (matching Mickey phone straps for me and my Mom, a Mickey Mouse Bearbrick, plus a pen for my brother who loves Tigger) and stayed until the park closed at 8 PM with the spectacular Disney in the Stars fireworks display in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle. I really wanted to kick myself for not being able to film the amazing fireworks. Le sigh. Disneyland became the second highlight of my HK visit (after the concert itself) and I realized, it can, indeed, be one of the happiest places on Earth.
Expensive waffles! HKD 45 / Php 250 a piece.
I accidentally got two, because I told the Chinese lady that I just wanted "the waffle."
She must have misheard and thought that I wanted two waffle(s).
Pinangatawanan ko na lang. xD
I went back to the hostel. I don't recall ever having dinner that night, in fact I think the only food I consumed the entire day were the Disneyland waffles! Sulit naman pala yung five hundred, LOL! I charged my camera a bit, and at around 10:30 PM I went out again. I saw that the iSquare HMV was still open, so I took a peek. I almost went out of the store with an Oguri Shun magazine with me! Buti na lang napigilan ko ang sarili ko and I remembered that I didn't book w/ checked baggage for the flight home. xD
I had to go out before I gave in to the temptation. xD
At around 11 PM I went to see the Victoria Harbour again, this time, to see the view at night. Of course I had to visit the Avenue of Stars, too.
I stayed until around 12:30 AM, and then I walked back to the hostel. I think I slept in my street clothes that night. xD
PS. Sabi ko na, deep inside madaldal talaga ako eh. Kita mo, ang haba na naman nito. xD
.