well, hello there! i'm back!
so here i am, back to one of my favorite cities spending holiday from work before flying to homeland.
i found my way booking for a solo travel at this side of the world because 1)i only had 3 days to travel 2)it was somehow within my travel budget 3)had a hard time inviting people to join me, hence, solo travel 4)not enough time to apply visa for visa required countries, hence, the repeat
i have traveled annually to this country since 2008. and last year was my first solo travel to HK. That said, i made a personal travel goal this time around: To eat my way around HK for at least every 2 hours PLUS, do something new as a highlight per day that i was there.
okay, so for this trip entry, you won't see any touristy activity. this is more like my version of a gastronomical adventure in hongkong.
soooo, let's get started...
GETTING TO/FROM/AROUND
Jakarta to Hongkong via Malaysia Airlines (with a connecting flight via Kuala Lumpur) - 2,673,000 IDR (~228 USD)
Imagine the paranoia. hahaha! anyway, all flights were on time. and i was able to rest well all through out the flights.
malaysia airline meal (CGK-KL)
Malaysia Airline meal (KL-HK)
Hongkong Airport to Hotel (vise versa) via A21 - 33 HKD (per way)
Since my hotel was located at tsim sha tsui, i took the bus to reach the hotel and took the same bus going back to airport.
TIP: sit at the front row of the 2nd level of the bus. If the front row is taken, next good seats are anywhere as long as it is on the left side of the bus for a good view.
Around Hongkong via MTR - 100 HKD (octopus card)
i only reloaded that much in my octopus card as i would only cover some areas of hongkong and i still had ~20 HKD left from my previous reload. It was just enough for my 3 days stay.
Central to Causeway Bay via dingding tram - 2.30 HKD
i finally rode this transporation! i was so happy! hahaha! but i missed my stop because i sat at the right side of the tram, waiting for the big SOGO sign as my stop and i clearly missed it. haha!
TIP: for first timer, sit at the left side of the tram. Sit at the 2nd level of the tram for a better view.
Central to Tsim Sha Tsui via Starferry - 2.5 HKD
one of the best leisure ways of traveling from one island to another.
ACCOMMODATION
I promised myself that i would try not to repeat my accommodations every time i find myself traveling to HK. But that promise gave me one big issue, BUDGET! haha! i have crossed out staying in a hostel because i was paranoid for being alone and my boyfriend convinced me to stay in a hotel for his own peace of mind as well. hehe.
after some considerable pondering, I have finally booked Hotel Benito for my 3 day stay. Thankful for my agoda points, i was able to use 25 USD worth of points. yay for me!
I booked a Standard Single Room at 173 USD (discount included) for 2 nights stay.
PROs
- location! location! location! A21 bus stop was around the corner, MTR station was just outside the hotel, plenty of food choices around the hotel area
- friendly hotel receptionists
- easy check in and check out
- room was spacious enough for me
- comfortable bed and clean bathroom
- fast and free wifi
- a bit expensive for a single room
- shower head was just right above and i'm petite. Tall people will have a harder time taking shower.
the room
The Bathroom
ITINERARY
since my travel goal was to eat, basically that was my 3-day itinerary. We'll cover that in a while. Let me just share the non-touristy highlight of my trip for each day i was there.
Day 1 - flaky egg tart snacking while sitting at Hongkong Museum of Art's Steps plus people watching with victoria harbour as a backdrop.
Day 2 - riding the dingding tram and missing my stop. plus my only splurge in this trip, buying a purse. haha!
Day 3 - lunching my take away tim ho wan's baked pork buns at the roof top garden of IFC with Victoria Harbour as backdrop
FOOD
saving the best info for last! hahaha!
you will never go hungry in hongkong. i repeat. you will never go hungry in hongkong.
it was my personal mission to stuff my face with HK treats every 2 hours. I honestly think i was able to achieve that goal. haha!
i'll share what i have uncovered for each area around Hongkong. let's do this...
Tsim Sha Tsui
Chuk Yuen Restaurant
Hankow Road, TST
most expensive chilled mango pudding i have ever tasted.
Delicious Kitchen
Ashley Road, TST
pork chop with vegetarian rice. yum!
Hoixe Cake Shop
Hankow Road, TST
flaky egg tarts FTW!
Star Cafe
Kimberley Road, TST
the must try dish is their tomato noodles!
Kai Kei Restaurant
Kimberely Road, TST
long queue for their pineapple buns. yummy!
Relax for a While Restaurant
Kimberley Road, TST
roast goose and free wifi!
Egg Waffles
Granville Road, TST
never leave hongkong without snacking these waffles! seriously!
Yuen Kee Restaurant
Granville Road, TST
for spaghetti noodles soup as brekky
Paul Lafayet
K11 Mall, Hanoi Road, TST
didn't like the tiramisu and they only provide tea on a paper cup, not on actual tea cup. boo!
Jordan
Tsui Wah Restaurant
Parkes St, Jordan
must try is their signature fish ball in fish soup noodle
Mongkok
Dimdimsum Dimsum Specialty Store
Tung Choi Street, Mongkok
the piggy custard buns are cute but i would recommend trying their crispy rice rolls with shrimp
Central
Tim Ho Wan
Hongkong Station, Central
expect long queue. highly recommend is their baked pork buns. yum!
Last Thoughts About Hongkong
funny that even though i visit this country annually, i still got lost every day for 3 days. this was actually my first time to really got lost finding a restaurant in hongkong. aaaah, travel goal. haha!
moreover, shopping was not in my list to do in hongkong which was also a first for me. well, i was on a budget so maybe that's the reason OR just maybe, as i get to travel more, my travel goals somehow shifted to a more than just shopping and sight seeing. And that is experiencing the gastronomical side of travel a.k.a. stuffing my face with local treats, delicacies and foodies. I think i did a pretty good job in that department on this trip.
The entire experience was amazing. i am proud of myself for braving myself to another solo travel. albeit, personally, it would have been more fun if i have a company to share the experience or let me say share the food with. hehehe.
'til next time dimsum land! kisses!
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