I ♥ Hong Kong'12

Hong Kong is a place where I have always been dreaming that I can go and now my dreams had been realised. It was proposed by the Bosses that there would be a Company trip and had opened for suggestion and of cos we had chosen HK as majority of us have never been there.Finally, we were here.... =)))

As mentioned by many people who have been there, mentioned that HK is a city that never sleep. I wasn't really believe of this until I was there, I knew it was truth. Before we left, we have checked the weather forecast and noted that it was about 13 -16 degrees so had brought some thick jacket. As it was end of winter, and of cos it would definately be colder compared to other times.

DAY 1

We took Jetstar's direct flight from Spore to HK International Airport. It took us approximately 3 and a half hours before we could reach there. There was delayed when we reached there which I believed there were delayed for the earlier flights which had affected the flights behind. By the time, we reached there, it was approximately 8:30 p.m. local time (Spore time and HK time are the same). The queue for the immigration was soooo long, whereby there were many tourists queuing. This had taken us some time before we were cleared from the immigration. We were thinking to take a simple dinner near to our Hotel after we checked-in and loaded our luggage, however, bad things had happened. Su's luggage had lost, after much rolling of the luggage and confirmed from the screen that all the luggage had been arrived, we couldn't spot her luggage from the luggage areas. We accompanied her to make a report to the lost and found luggage area and according to the officer, they would inform us once the luggage is found. Thus, we have decided to head out from the airport and look for our airport transfer to send us to our hotel. Fortunately before we left, the airport officer had called and informed us that the luggage had been found reason due to delay in loading out the luggage. As it was late in night and everyone was hungry, we have decided to buy Burgers from Burger King in airport to solve our starving.

After approximately 50 minutes, we have finally reached our hotels. As it was too late, so we decided to go back to our own room and rest. I would like to recommend for those who wish to go HK and would like to stay in 旺角 could consider about this Hotel, Royal Plaza Hotel. This hotel centrally located in 旺角 there is a direct access to Grand Century Place Shopping Mall which I felt is quite convenient for those we wish to shop. In addition, walking distance could bring you to the Night Market and many other shops. Have a glance of my room and the hotel lobby.

My Room
Hotel lobby. As it was still CNY period, the hotel was decorated with CNY stuffs...

As this trip mainly the time are free and easy so we have planned ourselves on where we wish to go. According to the research done by Lili, there was a 茶餐厅 famous with 菠箩包 (Polo Bun) named 金华 which is walking distance from our hotel. When we reached there, we managed to find seats. As the shop wasn't spacious enough, we have splitted into 2 tables and had our HK style breakfast. =p. Have a glance on what we had for our breakfast

Polo Bun

French toast

HK is a place which is as convenient as Spore as it was full with MTR lines which could bring you to wherever you wish to go. As long as you have Octopus Card (八达通), you don't have to worry. You can use this card to take bus, cab, tram, MTR as well as ferry, this is so much convenient if you have this. This card cost HKD150 with HKD100 to be used, HKD50 served as deposit which is refundable if you returned this card to them.

After having a full breakfast, what shall we do?? SHOPPING!!!! Lili's had brought us a Citygate Outlet Mall whereby it located at Tung Chung. You may take MTR and alight at Tung Chung Station and look for exit B. This mall offers all the branded's outlet those that you can name and cannot could be found here. Of cos I would not miss myself for this chance and had grabbed myself some stuffs.. =p

After some shopping, we decided to head to Disneyland and have glance as we still some time left before we need to go to our hotel and gather for dinner. From Tung Chung to Disneyland is just one station far. May consider going there after shopping =) While we were waiting for the train to come, we saw this train!!! This train was decorated with Mickey's head window.. so special. All of us were excited when we saw this!! I trust many of you will do the same thing as us...After we headed in to the train, we were shocked as the whole train was specially decorated with disney land's theme. with Mickey's head as decoration. Have a look on these photos that I had taken.

Comfy sofas..

The hand gribs were Mickey's head !!!!

We were here!!

Even the flowers were decorated in Mickey's head

Disneyland's MTR station

After rooming around in Disneyland, we head back to our hotel and gather for dinner. Boss brought us to a place in Tsim Tsa Tsui (尖沙咀) named Hu Tong Restaurant. According to the person from our Hotel, this restaurant was a fine dining restaurant which served chinese food. In addition, this restaurant could view the night scenary of Hong Kong. It was such a nice dining place. However, there was a minimum charge of HKD400 per person. Have a glance of the food that we had taken.

Appetizer

Garlic Clams

The famous tea in Hu Tong. But I don't really like it..

Lamb

Source to dip the lamb

Beef

Love this...

Fried rice with spices

Fried rice with spice (spicy)

Dessert: Yam cake

Jellies..

After taken our dinner, those that were tired had headed back to Hotel for rest. However, the rest of us follow boss go to Ladies Market in Mongkok which was quite near to our hotel. Ladies Market is place to shop for bargain so remember to bargain and bargain for the stuffs that you wish to buy. It was a bit like China town in Singapore and Petaling Street in Msia. I bought a small envelope bag which cost me HKD59 only =)

Later, we saw this stall sold 鸡蛋仔 which we will usually see this when we watch HK drama, finally I had tasted it. The one which we bought were no filing, but yet nice. Those who prefer with filings can choose those as there were many favors for you to choose. Usually you can find in those small stalls, have a try..

DAY 2

According to Lili, her friend had bought her this nice egg tart when she made her last trip to Hong Kong which made her unforgettable about these tart. We decided to go and hunt for this Bakery shop named Tai Cheong (泰昌饼家). This bakery located at Central at this address: 35 Lyhurst Terrace, Central, HK. Actually, there were many branches in HK, you may find it at other places as well. I had tasted it and seriously, the best egg tart I ever had. The taste would make you unforgettable. Remember to grab for this when we go there. It cost me HKD5 per tart.

Of cos egg tarts would not make us full so we decided to head to breakfast shop opposite to Tai Cheong's Bakery for our next round of breakfast. This shop was those typical breakfast shop which we usually seen this in the those HK dramas. Please take note that usually their menus were in chinese so if you not good at it, please request for the menus with English version. By the way, I ordered century eggs and pork porridge. Their porridge was watery compared to those which we had taken in Singapore and Malaysia but it was nice! Remember to order 油炸鬼 and eat together. Its perfect match!

After taken our breakfast, we room around in Central. As it was weekends and early in the morning at a business districts, not many shops were opened. While we walked around we found this place where it was shown in the HK dramas!!

There was this Central-Mid-levels escalator in Central (中湾至半山自动扶梯) which was the longest outdoor covered with escalator system in the world. The entire systems bring you from bottom to top and provide a better commute by linking areas. You may find there were shops along the systems and you may come out in betwen of these systems.

Later, we head to take tram which could bring us to The Peak, one of the famous spot in Hong Kong. We walked from Central to the tram central which took us about 20-25 minutes walking distance. Riding the peak tram is the quickest and most scenic way to arrive at The Peak. However, there were still other ways whereby it could bring you to the Peak but I personally felt that you should take tram to experience the scenary view of Hong Kong. As we bought two-ways ticket and it cost us around HKD400. By the way, for those who would like to Madamme Tussauds may purchase their ticket from there as well.

It was freezing at The Peak, remember to wear thick jacket when you go up especially for autumn and winter. The highights of this trip which I could say is I act as a paparazzi when we were at The Peak. Guess what, I saw HK artist!!! There was a function held by Moschino for its Spring/Summer 2012 beauty food event. Initially, we were not aware of this event until we saw many paparazzi were gathered in a restaurant in The Peak hence we suspected there must be HK Artists attended this event, hence we approached there and in the end become a paparazzi as well =P

Pretty and sweet 周丽淇 (Miki Chou)

Could really remember his name but I knew he was a HK artist which firmed in many dramas

Nicholas Tse's sister 谢婷婷

Janice Man

Amanda Strang

After become a paparazzi, its time for us to go back to our hotel for dinner. As we have not taken any lunch for the day, after we reach Hotel, we head to the mall next to Hotel for a quick lunch in a food court. We had ordered the following. Its quite nice though.

Boss had booked a tour whereby it would take us to Temple Street, sit on the top bus and cruise for international buffet. Our first stop is Temple Street (庙街) which I believe many of you have heard about this name from the HK's dramas or movies. Temple Street is famous in selling fake branded stuffs, apparels for men and women, watches, bags and etc..As compared between Temple Street and Ladies Market, I prefer Ladies Market as it was cheaper compared to Temple Street and more varieties.

Thereafter, we took a top bus which brought us to room around HK island and kowloon island and that's time we have a view of how HK looks like. All of us were freezing as it was so cold that night...The bus stopped us at a place where we can see the night scenary of HK with full of lightings. This photo was taken when we were stopped at a place.

Later, we boarded the cruise at one of the Habour in Hong Kong which I couldn't really remember the name. After we went and taken our food, we went straight to the deck to view the "Symphony of Lights". Symphony of Lights is staged every night at 8 p.m. whereby you can discover a wonderful of dancing of lights set to music around Victoria Harbour. If you are not taking a cruise, you can also view it from places such as Avenue of Star. Please also bear in the mind that it comes with different languages such as mandarin, english and cantonese. You may check it from their website.

After it was finished, we head down to our table for our international buffet and enjoy the life bands. The duration for the cruise was about 2 hours. We boarded at 7++ and arrived at the Habour at approximately 10++.

DAY 3

Usually people come to Hong Kong would definate look for Dim Sum as it was originally from Hong Kong. It was recommended by a friend of us there was nice dim sum at this place named 稻香, so we decided to look for it. This restaurant has many branches over Hong Kong so we decided to choose the place which is near to our place, Mongkok. We were advised by the workers from our Hotel that having dim sum in Hong Kong especially during weekend, must make yourself be there early to avoid long queue. After taken his advice, we were there at around 8++, fortunately is just 3 of us, we are able to slot into the restaurant without queuing. Here are the food that we has ordered.

Fried carrot cake

Cheong Fun

Paus and dim sums...

Generally, the dim sum at this restaurant are nice but I felt there were better ones. I would find it out when I make my next trip to here... =p After taken our breakfast, we head to Avenue of Star, a place where I have requested to be here. This place was to pay tribute to those professionals, such as Director and Movie Stars who had contributed to the Movies industry in Asia. This place is located at Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and it was opened for the vistors with no entrance fees.

Therafter, we took ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui to go to Hong Kong island. We usualy see this in the drama and it was my first time experiencing taking the ferries. Basically, it was filled with seats and quite old from its appearance. Many people would usually take this instead of buses to avoid weekdays traffic. The whole duration was approximately 7 minutes.

We spotted this before we take ferry.

After we have reached Hong Kong island, we took tram to go down to Causeway bay (铜锣湾) for our shopping session. The tram was small and couldn't really able to allocate a lot people but the frequency of each tram was quite high. I couldn't really remember the fare but what I know it was quite cheap, you may use your octopus card when you take tram.

Finally, we had reached Causeway Bay. The whole place was full with shops for apparel, watches, bags and etc.. Those that you could name it,you are able to find it here. In addition, it was crowded along these streets which I believe it was mainly due to weekends, many people would use this time to hang around on these days. As time consuming, I didn't really shop on this day, only manage to capture some photos.

Lili had strongly recommended us to drink the mango smoothies from this shop. As I was having cough, hence, didn't manage to try it. Would look for it for my next trip.

Time Square is the major shopping centre and office tower complex in Hong Kong. Though we had stepped into this Building but didn't walk around as we need to head back to ur hotel to meet other colleagues. Would come here again if there is a chance.

Finally, we took our flight back to Singapore at 8++. There were many incidents happened in this trip whereby I'm almost unable to come back on time and fortunate, it was not happened. Overall, Hong Kong is worth but do remember to bring extra cash to go for SHOPPING!!!!!!