Day 2: 海洋公園 玩得痛快！
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 7:53 PM
Probably about 5 years from my first time in Ocean Park. Tbh, that time was kinda boring, we didn't take much rides because my parents don't and my sister was too young. Even the rides were limited.
So I was exhilarated to be back with friends this time!
Early morning shot (okay not very early, probably 10?), just take a look at my morning face.
Always photobombing this girl hahahahaha. You've to admit I was rather good at it.
Just take a look at the morning crowd, where the doors had just opened.
Our first stop! To visit the pandas.
LOOK AT THIS OPPA, staring back at me. Can you believe he's 28?
Well, this was the closest we could've gone to taking a photo with pandas.
Then to Arctic! Where the -waddle waddling- penguins were. Absolute cuteness. They were really good swim-divers. Take a look at them diving into the waters and swiftly glide along.
The grand-penguins with white fur all around them. They hobbled more, but still cute.
Well well, how can we take a miss at the rides! I personally loved the Hair Raiser and Abyss the most.
Look at the creepy clown with hair raising. You could see for yourself how the thrilling the ride would be...
This was the worst, EVER. I felt like I was slapped throughout, actually I was, literally. Never going for a second round or more. It actually explains why the people before us returned with their faces totally BLACK.
The last stop, Dolphin show! We were really exhausted by then. It was a craaaaazy whole day, with only rest in the rides itself. My legs were really screaming in protest by then. It was great that we get to enjoy the dolphins' performances as we rested.
Can never understand how diligent dolphins are. Not to mention, adorable beings.
Finally, took a ride down by the cable car! The wait was horrible, we had to queue for almost an hour. But some boo-boos occurred in midst of our queuing, which actually made it really fun lol.
This group of Chinese aunties tried to cut queue whenever possible, and they attempted umpteen times despite glares from everyone, and even reprimands from the same nationality. So with pride and dignity, we couldn't allow something like that to happen, not when everyone was tired and queuing orderly BUT THEM. So with the 5 of us, we formed a barrier, and refused to let them pass. Well, they insisted, pushing as close to us as possible, grazing our butts ugh. But the bottom line, only one of 'em managed to squeeze through us, while the rest had no choice but take the next cabin after us. It was a proud moment when the Chinese family before us, who reprimanded them, gave us a thumbs-up and smiles.
Mandatory Chinatown shot at the bottom of Ocean Park.
Tired faces, and that was the only time we took a bus!
There was a beautiful light show with fireworks at the exit of Ocean Park. It was wonderful, but we left before it ended, fearing of the crowd that would chase us later.
Well, now we are famished. Bought macs and had our lunch only as while we watched the Dolphins, which was already 5.30pm! Headed to the Central for the night.
Pretty buildings. But I could only say, the streets were not for me, a being with wallet of a pauper.
Dinner! Had a tough time trying to find the place, because the buildings were confusing, GPRS was worse as we headed in the opposite direction. And it doesn't help that I HAD TO ANSWER MOTHER NATURE'S CALL. It was surprising to see no crowd at such a famous restaurant though... But well, we were dead famished and needed to replenish our energy.
Address: 麦奀云吞面世家 77 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong
Since we were exhausted, and it was only the second night! We decided not to explore Lan Kwai Fong but head back to Mong Kok for dessert!
Man, new found love for Matcha. Not to forget my love for glutinous rice balls!
Address: 糖百府- 旺角黑布街 99 Hak Po St, Hong Kong
Labels: graduation trip, Hong Kong, overseas, vacation
Day 1: 靚仔，靚女 我來了！
Sunday, April 27, 2014 8:48 PM
All set out for the cool weather in HK! Tho the sleepy faces because we had to set off from our homes @ 4am, for our 6am flight by Jetstar! (▰˘o˘▰)
Gotta compliment Jetstar, because it's the most comfortable low-budget flight I've took thus far - well, though the only other low-cost carrier I had travelled in was Air Asia. Less turbulence, smoother landing and more spacious seats. I guess you get what you pay. And I slept throughout the flight 'cause I only had 4 hours of sleep, plus a busy week at work.
Catching the beautiful scenery en-route to town, on the Airport Express.
Tip #1: Purchase the Airport Express cards at information counters situated at the entrance to the Airport Express itself, and you'd only have to pay HKD40 instead of HKD60 for the trip down to MTR station. Then, purchase the Octopus card for MTR thereafter.
Tip #2: China Mobile sim, provides really slow internet data.... for the entire trip. For HKD60 (free Wi-Fi for 2 days, additional 7 days with a top-up of HKD18) I was only able to get a H+, never even a 3G. With most of the time on the first day, being unable to connect to Internet. Until I found a trick to it, to restart your phone to detect Internet. Don't start judging yet, it works.
Met friendly Alice, the apartment owner, at the MTR exit of Prince Edward. She shared with us how we could hail a 5-seater taxi for our Ocean Park trip the next day. Bet'cha didn't know that there were 5-seater cabs in HK too! Then, it was time for lunch! We're all starving. Took too looooooooooong a while to find the place, worse still, the long queue outside greeted us warmly and we could only sigh inwardly.
Address: Hong Kong, 旺角運動場道15號京華大廈地舖1-2號
Spent the time waiting, taking photos & selfies. Well, I was busy photobombing, must say I was pretty good at it... :3
Couldn't wait for more food to come, so we quickly snapped a few shots and tucked in immediately! I would say... the food was okay-ish. I love the shrimp dumplings (har gow) though, but then again yummy har gows can be found everywhere in HK!
Famished, so we gobbled down everything, and ended up too full! But, guess what, the bill came up to probably only S$6-8 per person! So we decided to stroll around our neighbourhood for the afternoon.
Love shots of old, worn-down estates like this... Something you hardly see in Singapore. Remembered we were desperately looking for toilets cause of Mother Nature's calling... So please appreciate the abundance of washrooms in Singapore okay ( ཀ͝ ∧ ཀ͝ )
SO! Some girls were feeling heatiness, or having sore throat, so we decided to rest at the first herbal shop we saw. And I ordered a huge bowl of "Turtle Jelly" (Gui Ling Gao) myself... I personally found it too bitter for my tastes, having to pour sufficient amount of honey every bite I take. And this supposedly LARGE bowl, cost me S$5++
So after that, we did shopping at Argyle Center! Supposedly the bugis street / far east plaza equivalent in Mongkok, HK.
Clothes were really cheap, much cheaper than I'd expected. A good S$5-20 range. So the girls splurged, yet there weren't any that specifically caught my eye, so I left empty-handed. I wasn't intending to splurge on clothes in HK in the first place, plus the clothes were more of the commonly seen everywhere type... ╮(•˘︿ ˘•)╭
THEN IT WAS DINNER TIME!
Address: Hong Kong, 花園街104
Were really skeptical about the quality of food when we stepped in, because it was kinda rundown... with mostly locals who were digging in to rice in soup, instead of the thick congee we're expecting.
So we were doubtful with our orders, and decided to just WHACK. It turned out to be really yummy, well cooked in a sense you won't be able to find a grain of rice (whole). But the hor fun was too dry for my liking.
Tip #3: The lower the expectations, the more delicious your food will taste!
Walked more around Mongkok and guess what we saw! The mobile ice-cream truck, which plays soft music, naturally attracting you to it. Well, the softee was only so-so...
Well, we decided we had enough for Day 1 and headed back to the apartment to rest for the night.
Labels: graduation trip, Hong Kong, overseas, vacation