Hong Kong - Day 2

Just a recap of day 1, we spent it in Ngong Ping 360 and right after, we headed to Macau and spent our first night there. So the next day (day 2) we left Macau around 10 in the morning and took the "First Ferry Macau" fastcraft bound for Tsim Tsa Tsui, Hong Kong. Economy ticket costs HKD 139 and the trip lasted for 1hr. We arrived in HK just before lunch time so we decided to take our lunch first before heading to our hostel. One thing I like about Hong Kong is that their MTR (Mass Transit Railway ) stations and ferry terminals are mostly extended to shopping malls so the station's exit is an entrance to a mall. Convenient, isn't it? MTR is their primary mode of public transport, which makes getting around HK affordable and fast. Fare is relatively cheaper. Other transpo options available are buses, taxis, trams and ferries. 

MTR. The pic at the lower right shows the Disneyland Resort line. Its handrails resemble Mickey Mouse. Cute noh?

Our lunch. Our first taste of Hong Kong cooking. Sweet taste prevailed in most of our ordered dishes

Our second day is spent in Disneyland and Avenue of Stars. Disneyland is the most popular tourist attraction in HK, not only enjoyed by kids but by adults as well. As you enter Disney, you will be welcomed by songs from famous Disney movies played in the background. Your ticket gives you one day unlimited access to all Disney rides and adventures. To fully make use of your ticket, be sure to go there as early as possible, or better on opening hours (10am) so you can experience more rides/adventures. In our part, we arrived late (2pm) so we hadn't covered everything, but still the experience was truly magical. It brought out the kid in us, hehe.. :D

Disneyland entrance

Disneyland

After  Disneyland we went to the Avenue of Stars to watch the Symphony of Lights. The Symphony of Lights is a synchronized decorative lights and laser multimedia display featuring buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour accompanied by music. We hadn't taken pictures as our camera wasn't high end enough to capture clear distant views at night.  

Hong Kong - Day 1

It was three years ago when I was first introduced to Hong Kong. That was my first international trip then and my first plane ride, hehe. I was with my family. After three years, I'm back again but this time with a new set of companions, my husband Gigie and bestfriend Vicky. We arrived at the HK airport past midnight and as planned, we settled at the airport till morning of the next day. Since Vicky gets to spend only 2 days with us, we have to maximize our time to cover as many places as possible. And so being in charge of planning our itenerary, I chose the nearest tourist spot to the airport as our first stop which is the Ngong Ping 360 in Tung Chung. With our baggages in hand, we left the airport early morning the next day and headed to Tung Chung through bus S1. 

Hong Kong airport is ranked of the best and biggest airports in the world

  

    

Just before the Ngong Ping terminal is a shopping mall, the Tung Chung Town Center. We had our breakfast there at McDo.

A building in Tung C'hung which caught our eyes. Its amazing how this seemingly heavy structure is only supported by a few pillars. It looks like a floating building, hehe. I think those are residential units, not sure though.

Ngong Ping terminus

Amazingly, Ngong Ping terminal provides a locker facility where you can keep your things for HKD40 per 3 hours. Its self service by the way. Just input how many hours you will rent a locker, then insert your payment and your assigned locker will automatically open. 

lockers for rent at Ngong Ping terminus

In order to get to the Ngong Ping village, you have to take the cable car, which according to their website will cover a 5.7km journey.  Round trip ticket costs HKD187 for standard cabin and HKD250 for crystal cabin. The crystal cabin has a glass bottom so you'll have a view of what's underneath. It kinda looks scary though, as if the glass will break anytime, haha.. Since we are only 3 in our group and the cabin can accomodate 8, we have to  share it with another group. Our cabinmates were Thailanders.

The whole 25-minute cable car ride gives you a panoramic view of the HK airport, the South China sea, the mountains of Lantau Island, and the Tan Tian Buddha Statue. Along the way, you will be lulled by the soft breeze and your eyes will be fed with scenic views. Everything you see is so breathtaking that you have to savor it in silence and after a while you get to utter the word "woooooww". Indeed, God has bestowed us with wonderful creatures that we have to be thankful for.

After the cable car ride, you will now enter the Ngong Ping Village. 

Inside this village are retail stores and restaurants.

Adjacent to the Ngong Ping village is the giant Buddha. According to their website, "the story begins with a unique Bodhi Tree experience in the courtyard. Through the mist and incense, the voice of the Bodhi Tree introduces the story of a man who asked himself 'Who am I and why am I here?'. This is the story of how a man named Siddhartha became Buddha". 

the giant Buddha behind us

Many people come here to pray so guests are requested to maintain silence as a respect. Under the Buddha is a temple but we did not enter anymore. 

We spent 3 hours in Ngong Ping, afterwhich we headed for Macau and spend the night there. The day after we went back to Hong Kong and visited more sights before Vicky comes back to Pinas. 

To be continued in the next blog, hehe...