Hongkong: Winter Wonderland

January 21 - 24, 2011

i've always wanted to visit hongkong during winter season. i was not disappointed, it was awesome! :)

this city never fails to make me happy. it is my goal this year to visit again but this time it's gonna be a SOLO trip *cross fingers*

just blah-gging about this trip makes me wanna go back. haha!

and on to my travel ramblings...


GOING TO/FROM/AROUND

hostel to hongkong airport (via A21 bus) - 33 hkd
* from golden crown hostel, cross the street (nathan road) and turn left. you'll see the A21 bus sign almost under the huge rolex sign

tungchung, nanlian garden, central district, causewaybay district, jordan district (via mtr and bus) - octopus card
* total load we used on our octopus card was around ~120 - 150 hkd

sun yip street, chai wan - MTR (charge to octopus card) and taxi (18 hkd)
* printed a google map of the directions going to the office building and showed it to the cab driver. good thing he has a gps and was easily able to found the route

ACCOMMODATION

we stayed again at golden crown guesthouse for 3 nights. we booked the luxury room with 2 big beds for 500 hkd/a night. we stayed at room 606.

Pros
- 2 people can easily fit on the bed
- wifi connection is good
- free hot/cold water refill
- staff/reception is accommodating
- good location
- towels are changed daily

Cons
- room is a bit cramped
- beds are slightly hard
- super duper small bathroom
- only has 1 tv channel

overall verdict: will stay here again if my budget is limited but i'm willing to try other hotels in the area

room 606

small bathroom

gate from nathan road

door at the 6th floor (you need to punch the code before you can enter)

OUR TRAVEL ITINERARY

here's our condensed itinerary...

* will provide details such as mtr exits, bus numbers, etc in each tourist spot :)

Jan 21
- Macau - HK (via NWFF)
- check in hostel
- Central district
- The Peak (peak tram, madame taussad's wax museum, sky terrace)
- Avenue of the stars
- temple night market

Jan 22
- Tungchung cable car, ngongping village, big buddha, wisdom path
- chai wan
- causeway bay district
- tst district

Jan 23
- nanlian garden, plaza hollywood
- 1881 heritage
- tst district

Jan 24
- check out hostel
- airport

TOURIST SPOTS/DESTINATIONS

Central District

MTR: TST - central (7.90hkd charged to octopus card)

Destination: H&M and Cotton On
* i forgot to take pictures as i was too busy rummaging the stores.haha :))

The Peak Tram

Walk: From D' Aguilar street in central, we walked towards lower albert road until we reached the peak tram. it took us 15 minutes.

if you see this, you're on the right track

then cross the street to reach peak tram

we availed the package (roundtrip peak tram, madame taussad's wax museum, sky terrace) for 200hkd
*tip: show your tungchung cable car ticket to avail 10% off

Tip: ride at the right side of the tram to see the best view going up/down the peak

here comes the tram!

view from the right side of the tram

The Peak

after riding the peak, this is what looks like when you go outside the peak tower

the peak tower

Peak Galleria

Madame Taussad's Wax Museum

how the "sculpting" is done (even the guy with cap is a wax figure)

Gandhi

Yao Ming

David Beckham

Madonna

Lady Gaga!

(i was totally surprised and speechless when i saw this! my heart skipped a beat! it was worth paying for the wax museum tour. haha)

Sky Terrace

Tip: best time to go up is around late afternoon to nightfall. you'll be amazed by the lights :)

lots of people prolly looking for their best spot to view HK

the view

Tungchung Cable Car

MTR: TST - Tungchung*
*it's the end of the line, you can exit anywhere that leads to cable car

we availed of the crystal cabin and standard cabin package which was originally priced at 153 hkd

TIP: show your sky terrace pass/wax museum ticket  to avail 10% off.

walkway towards the ticket counter

queue for the cable car

cable car experience

Ngongping Village

this is right after disembarking cable car

Big Buddha

wide spectacular space at the bottom part of the Big Buddha's steps

Big Buddha

Wisdom Path

It's a 10 - 15 minute walk from Big Buddha. I was literally mesmerized by the view.

road to the wisdom path

Wisdom Path

Nanlian Garden

MTR: TST - Diamond Hill (exit C2) = 6.7 hkd charged to octopus card

Tip: it's enough to spend 1 hour to explore the garden

1881 Heritage

walk: at the end of canton road, near YMCA and star ferry terminal in TST

this is actually a historical building (headquarters of HK marine) turned into mall and garden. nice place for some photo - ops

SHOPPING

i heart shopping in HK. it houses my favorite brands not available locally :)

during my trip, most stores were on sale! i dunno if it's the winter sale or the pre-chinese new year sale but it was madness!

my favorite word!

H&M - best branch for me is at silvercord in TST and then the central branch. i heart heart heart this brand! i bought a bluegreen wedge sandals for only 30hkd! from this trip alone i bought dresses, shoes, bags, accesssories :)

COTTON ON - another favorite brand of mine. biggest branch i've been to was at central branch (d' aguilar street). but i always drop by at their granville branch in TST.

SASA/BONJOUR/LUSHING COSMETICS/MANNINGS - for cheap and original cosmetics, perfumes and anything for "beautification". i bought a clinique make up remover for only 30hkd at lushing. i also bought liese (prettia) hair color for only 69hkd each and if i bought 2, additional 20% off at mannings. happiness!

TEMPLE NIGHT MARKET - for pasalubong shopping.

BOSSINI - you'll be surprised how cheap are the shirts and polos being sold here. i always buy something for boyfie from here.

CITYGATE OUTLET - at tungchung station. all outlet stores are always on sale. i love shopping at giodano here because everything's cheap! bags were only 2 for 99 hkd. pouches from 50hkd sold at 10hkd! casual belt for men were only 10hkd! winner!

FOOD

honestly, i'm not a fan of chinese cuisine. in fact, when i travel to hong kong i always lose weight because i hardly eat here. anyway, i made an itinerary where we can try the recommended restaurants but was not followed. instead, we ate whenever my brother and sister were hungry.

china ferry terminal food court

curry and rice

noodles

KFC

burger

chicken, fries, rice meal

Cafe de Coral

i always always order this! haha

7 - 11

i forgot to take photo of our sandwiches. all i have is the 7-11 store.haha!

Shabu shabu restaurant somewhere in causeway bay

Subway at Ngongping Village

Hollywood Plaza Food Court

Maxim's Bakeshop (bought at MTR station)

YUMMY! i swear!

Local bakeshop somewhere in TST

Granville road street food tripping

egg balls waffle (my fave!)

meat balls/fish balls/sausage stand

COSTING

this excludes food expenses and shopping

FASHION TIP/S

hongkies dress to impress. it's very ok to blend in by also overdressing.haha!

since it is winter season, you'll see scarves, boots, thick coats, bonnets, gloves and other winter-y outfits everywhere. for me, hongkong was colder than macau most especially at the peak and ngong ping village. so don't forget to bundle up.

traveling in style

(leopard print earmuffs, black turtleneck, black tights, green high waist short with gold buttons, black knee high boots, black winter jacket, pink/green h&m scarf)

(animal print dress, brown suede jacket with fur, lace leggings, knee high socks, black knee high shoes, red beret with beads)

(changed my footwear to UGGS)

(pink bonnet, gray turtleneck, flower print high waist mini skirt, brown uggs, black winter jacket)