My 1st Hong Kong/ Macao Trip - Day 2

My First Hong Kong/ Macao Trip - Day 1

It was a pleasant and adventurous trip to the Honkey island...I spent 4D3N to eat, walk and shop in HK and Macao with a few friends during 10/5 - 14/5/2008. We snapped a lot of pictures...and we walked a lot a lot. The weather during that period of time was extremely lovely....a lil bit windy and it was only drizzling sometimes...I have done my homework beforehand =) this is my Day 1 itinerary:

It was a Saturday morning (0600) while we took airasia flight from LCCT to the Macao International Airport. The Macao international airport is located in Taipa island, it took about 15 minutes by car to get to the Macao mainland, and we spent MOP$57 on the cab. Cab was easily get outside the airport lobby, alternatively, you can join the bus queue =)

When we reached the Macao Ferry Terminal, we were rushing for the 11am FIRST FERRY (don't buy the wrong ticket, check your destination, Kowloon or HK island, it makes a diff)...the one way ticket cost HK$155...while the ferry was riding the ocean waves we rested in our comfortable seat and waited eagerly to explore the food and fun in the city of Kowloon...

The ferry took a lil longer because of bad weather conditions....we reached Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Terminal around 12:30pm. The hotel was only a 20 minutes taxi ride away, we reached Newton Place Hotel - 觀塘麗東酒店 before 1pm. The hotel receptionist is hospitable, the check in process is efficient, i got my hotel room access card in 15 minutes and the room is located at 14th floor. We were overwhelmed with the room's conditions: clean, fresh and newly renovated...and they only charged HK$830 per person (for the whole 3 nights of stay!!!).

After taken shower and a lil rest in hotel, we walked to a nearby restaurant to have our first meal in HK. The food menu looks familiar, normal stuff like 干炒牛河, 出前一丁面, 猪扒包 are served. I ordered fried udon mee with shredded pork, and a cup of 西冷红茶 (tea). Overall, the food is "so so" only.

The schedule was hectic in the afternoon, we planned to visit Wong Tai Sin, Temple St, Fa Yuen St. and all the nearby streetsss around Apliu streets...but first of all, we need to walk about 5 minutes to the nearest MTR station - Ngou Tou Kok (牛头角). From there, we travelled to Wong Tai Sin station.

Walking towards the MTR station

The Hong Kong MTR is regarded as one of the world's leading railways for safety, reliability, customer service and cost efficiency. The Octopus Cards are so user-friendly, we can just simply swipe the Octopus Card over the Fare Deducting Processor as we pass through the ticket gates and enter the MTR system. Moreover, the locals used it to pay bills in restaurant, 7/11 and even supermarkets...just incredibly versatile....

We are taking the Guan Tang Line - 观唐线

The MTR station was crowded with busy exceutive, students and visitors....clear signboard displayed everywhere, trust me that u hardly get lost here...3 stations away, we went down at the Wong Tai Sin station, and this is where the well-known 啬色园黄大仙祠 is located. The Wong Tai Sin temple is extremely popular among local residents. Built in 1921, it is worshiped by those trying to pray for happiness, wealth or a smooth life.

After the temple visit, we went to Temple street, Fa Yuen street, Apliu street... we just felt that they all looks like Petaling Street...nothing impressive =)

Walk outside the G Exit of Tsim Sha Tsui underground station and through pedestrian tunnel to the J Exit of Jiandong underground station, we followed the road signs to the Avenue of Stars. Strolling on Avenue of Star, we can view leisurely Hong Kong's famous scenes of Victoria Harbor, featured architectures along Hong Kong Island as well as the brand-new multimedia performance," A Symphony of Lights" (at 8pm, and last for ~15 minutes). Located at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Avenue of Star stretches from the Hong Kong Arts Hall to the New World Centre with a length of 440 meters. The area around is clustered with numerous featured restaurants but we had made our choice of dinner: Mc. Donalds =)

Eating is one of our biggest interest, travelled back to Temple Street, we had some light food there...mainly "claypot rice" and "lo pak gou"...

Remembered that my sister has strongly recommended "Xiu Liu San" (许留山) mango dessert before i depart to Hong Kong, on the way back to the hotel, we have tried out a few types of mango dessert, it is unbelievably DELICIOUS!!!! Highly recommended...must try dessert in Hong Kong!! (You won't miss it, it is everywhere in the city of Hong Kong)

It was only 10:30pm when we reached the hotel room...

Marley and Me

It has been a while that i didn't read a book leisurely ...the book was in my possession since December 2007 and I scarcely had time or interest to read it...I thought that my scotland-bought antique bookmark would lie between page 18 and 19 for all time...nevertheless, there is CNY that i found time to flip through another hundred pages and fishing day out with him which allow me to self-indulge in his thoroughly recommended novel.

3 months after that, Marley and Me has finally come to an end when i finished reading it on a holiday-mood working day...and i was in floods of tears...i miss Marley...and i do think he is irreplaceable...

I will definitely go for the movie played by Jen and Wil, but will never expect the movie to be in full details like John narrated. Bravo! I will keep up the reading habit and be eager to read more pieces of work which is as invigorating as 'Marley and Me'.

Eyelashes extension in STRIP Bangsar

Finally, i have my first trial of eyelashes extension in Strip - ministry of wax. The conclusion is NOT BAD...it is a bit hard, i mean the fiber they attached on my own eye lashes...but the glue is really super...i dun feel itchy for few days...even now, the 5th day, i still feel comfortable, but whenever i touch it, the feeling is different...body perfect's eyelashes look natural and it is soft...this is hard and somehow fake...

RM170 and done in two hours, the staff is patience and friendly...my real eyelashes drop over the few months of non-stop treatment in body perfect, she is patience enough to attach every eyelashes to make it look "consistent".

I think i will stop for a few months after this to have my eyelashes regrow...

Hospitality World Membership

I was cheated in March 07. Being told that "you can get up to 70% discount if you spent in Andaman spa"...bullshit! They call to recruit member, stupidly i signed up and receive nothing good but lots of vouchers which you hardly use it...

First of all, this Andaman thing that i specially asked for is not in the list, my first response is to cancel the membership. Spent endless time and effort, a so call manager told me they have cancel my memebrship and will get my refund if the bank allow???...what the hack...i waited few weeks...no refund...well, thinking positively, there is others voucher i may need in the coming 12 months of time...

First world genting 2 nights complementary vouchers:
I called in August 07 requested to stay in the hotel sometime in September. Their response:" sorry, fully book, do you want to upgrade to.....an additional charge of......" I reply:" No, please help to make reservation on a friay and sat night any time from now till before expiry of my membership, which is next year in March 08." Waited 2-3 days without response, i reluctantly call back and asked and repeat the same request and waited for another 2 days, someone called: "sorry, fully booked, do you want to upgrade to..." Again, i told her the same story and the next day someone called and said reservation can make till december only, next calender year open for reservation only by december. Fine, may be i just have to accept the fact that this company sucks!

I am a frequent traveller, i dun mind to pay for the RM480 if i can get what they promise to offer.

When they persuade you to buy the membership, what they tell is : you can get up to 70% of discount on selected hotels. Well, attractive i would say, but, cheater...

I called berjaya times square hotel for room rate on 29th November 2007, deluxe room RM450. I am thinking the voucher HW gave: 40% discount off 1st night & 2nd night free must be a good offer. I called and they replied: RM445.40, which is 40% off from the tariff room rate (RM759)for a Studio Suite (a delux room is better than studio suite). I go online and check through berjaya times square website, online rate: RM245 per night. Huh....what this card for??

The reply is slow, for people like me who want to make fast decision on the spot and reservation of others like flight ticket and stuff is difficult...you will just end up getting the same reply: sorry, fully booked on that day....

No hospitality world in my life anymore....i would advice you to reject this biggest scam in the whole world! If you are one like me who bought the card...welcome to my world of grieve...well, only for one eyar....=)