Hong Kong, the second time around

Though this was my second trip to Hong Kong, I was eagerly looking forward to coming back and exploring the Special
Administrative Region. My last trip took me way off the beaten path, and this time, I’m eager to go where everyone goes. Cheapest way to get to the city Our flight arrived at 10am, still too early to check-in. Before exiting to the arrival hall, I inquired at the Visitor’s Center about the best way to go to South Pacific Hotel in Wan Chai without taking the train. I figured a 40-minute bus ride isn’t so bad if check-in isn’t until 2pm. Also, the HK$40 fare on the A11 bus was a far cry from the Airport Express’ HK$100 one-way ticket.

Hong Kong Airport Bus
Buying a ticket for the A11


Since my roaming failed me again, I opted to buy a local sim to keep my roaming bills to a minimum. For HK$65, I got a PCCW sim card loaded with $65 worth of calls, texts and data. It proved to be a great decision as I had to make a number of texts that weekend. At Php 25 per international text while roaming, I was glad I had a local sim card before leaving the airport. The airport bus was a double decker, with a luggage rack on the lower deck. If you’re paranoid about your things but still want to sit on the upper deck, there are security cameras so you can keep an eye on your bags. You wouldn’t have to worry about getting off at the wrong stop either, as announcements are given in English over the speakers and on the sign at the front of the bus. Forty minutes went by in a breeze as we enjoyed the bus’ free wi-fi.

The hotel was easy enough to find, and we were elated that there are plenty of places to eat within the vicinity. From small hole-in-the-wall eateries to restaurants serving international cuisines, we were spoilt for choice in our neighborhood. There were even three 7-11 stores all not more than a kilometer from where we were staying for stocking up on junk food and cola.

Hong Kong Skyline
View from The Peak

Ferdz, Oggie and I all had a busy week prior to the weekend, so we were all glad for this chance to relax and unwind before starting another hectic week (or in my case, a 10-day holiday). The only thing in our itinerary that evening (we opted to nap instead of exploring after checking in)
was Victoria Peak. Also known as The Peak, this view deck sits in the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island. For HK$25, you get to look in awe at the gorgeous sunset and look down on the towering skyscrapers. As darkness fall, we see each building light up until the scene before us start to resemble the postcards we always see of Hong Kong. If you go in autumn or winter you’ll get the extra thrill of experience strong gusts of northerly winds threatening to blow away any unsecured item and leaving you shivering in your raspberry (faux) fur lined boots.

Hong Kong Statue Square
Tohru at the Statue Square

While The Peak Tram is the popular (and novel) way of going up to the top, we opted for the cheaper alternative: the bus. For only HK$9.80 one way, we enjoyed the scenery as the driver skillfully navigated his bus up the winding road. Though taking the bus doesn’t have the same history as the tram, it also meant not having to deal with the long queues of passengers waiting to board. We started slow the following day, not really wanting to rush and see everything. After the taking the bus the previous day, we were eager to try out Hong Kong’s other forms of public transport. A ride on board the tram was in order, and at HK$2 per person, it’s a cheap way to go from one end of the island to the other. We got off at Central, supposedly to take pictures of the Legislative building. Upon seeing signs that exclaim there is free wi-fi in the area, we settled down and were soon lost in our online universe.

Hong Kong Octopus Card
The Octopus card makes traveling on public transport easier and cheaper

I’m not too fond of taking city buses, as I get to paranoid about missing my stop. Hong Kong’s bus stops have route information for all the buses for that stop, so you can count how many stops the bus will make before you have to get off. But since Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city, you’ll probably end up sitting next to an English speaking resident who can point you to the right direction. Though the bus accept cash payments, the drivers cannot give you change. If you’re particular about only paying the amount you should pay, it’s a good idea to get an Octopus Pass. The Octopus Pass is a card that you can use to pay in buses, MTR, trams, Star Ferry, convenience stores, fast food, supermarkets, cinemas and
vending machines among others. It’s very convenient: you just tap in and you’re good to go. Reloading is easy as well — just head to the nearest 7-11 and hand the cashier the amount you want loaded unto your card. The card is valid for up to 1,000 days after last use. If you travel (or plan to travel) in Hong Kong often, consider getting an Octopus Card.

From Central, we took Bus number 26 to the Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road. It’s a bit disconcerting to see such a small temple amidst all the buildings that surround it. Inside the temple, the air was hazy with smoke coming from dozens
of spiral incense that hang from the roof.

Man Mo Temple
Man Mo temple

We took the MTR to cross over to the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. We were there for three things: dim sum, shopping and the Symphony of Lights. To save on time, we split up after our late dim sum lunch: Ferdz and Oggie to scope out the bargains on gadgets and lenses, me to look for the toy shops friends have recommended. I was overwhelmed with the
throngs of people out in the street and the wide array of choices Mongkok’s shops give me. Despite the temptation, I managed to resist the urge to whip out my credit card and contented myself with a couple of Lego Starwars mini figure to replace the ones I lost last February. I suppose it was lucky that I was pressed for time and wasn’t able to check out the other stores, or I would have totally killed my cards.


Busker at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

I take a bus down to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade for the Symphony of Lights and to meet up with the guys. The light show starts at 8pm every night, with narration alternating between English, Putonghua and Cantonese on specific days. There’s a viewing deck on the waterfront, but seats quickly fill up as the show time draws near. In the autumn or winter, better bundle up (but don’t worry, it’s not as cold as The Peak). The light show features building lights “dancing” to music,
and is a popular cheap thrill for tourists and locals alike. To complete the Hong Kong public transport experience, we took the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai. Costing HK$3 (HK$2.50 on weekdays), this a lovely relaxing way to cap a day of exploring Hong Kong.

This trip was made possible by Nuffnang.


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20 responses to “Hong Kong, the second time around”

  1. Joyceee Avatar

    ooooh. i really loved HK (and Macau) mainly because it’s a cold place. lol but, yeah, liked it better than SG even though most people speak cantonese and not english, the train isn’t as new as SG’s, and a part of it looked like binondo. ๐Ÿ˜€

    1. nina Avatar

      Hehe, may kakaibang charm talaga ang HK. One of that are the outlet stores and doll shops lol

      Merry Christmas Joyce!

  2. John Nulud Avatar

    1st of all congratulations for winning the best travel blog award!

    I love your blogs it makes me wanna travel more and more just like you! ๐Ÿ˜€ I’m truly inspired by what you do! ๐Ÿ˜€

    1. nina Avatar

      Thanks John! I hope to read about your travels too ๐Ÿ˜€

      Happy holidays!

  3. journeyingjames Avatar

    busโ€™ free wi-fi –sana ganito din sa pinas. jac liner palang meron

    1. nina Avatar

      Okay na ring wala… para makalayo naman ako sa Internet XD

  4. chyng Avatar

    Awww, I would love to stroll at HK streets for the 2nd time too! Tama ka, HK has charms na babalik-balikan! ?

    1. nina Avatar

      Go na kasi! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  5. Event Lover Avatar

    HK is a really nice play to visit, and I’m planning to go there too maybe this year if i have enough budget. LOL

  6. bonnie Avatar

    nice! I agree with you, when my friends visit and they want to go to the peak, I always take them up through the bus to avoid the long line up and then they can get the thrill taking the tram down to central backwards

    1. nina Avatar

      Ooh, going down on the tram backwards sounds interesting!

  7. […] Wandering thoughts ← Hong Kong, the second time around […]

  8. […] is the third post of a four-part Hong Kong series. Read part 1 and part two to for our adventures in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. For more pictures, head on over […]

  9. magnetic_rose Avatar

    i love exploring HONG KONG with all the cheap thrills it offers — the HKD2 tram rides and the HKD2 ferry rides, in particular ๐Ÿ˜€ glad you had fun in HK, and i hope we can all go together very soon~

  10. […] is the the last post of a four-part Hong Kong series. Read part 1 and part two to for our adventures in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and part 3 for our adventures […]

  11. john Avatar
    john

    nice post…HK changes every time I go there…last time was last April 2010…previous trips were for work, and shopping…last April with kids and other family along, played tour guide and enjoyed the big buddha,ocean park, disney and other sites…:)

    i need not comment about the food, since it is always awesome!

  12. shelajoy Avatar

    Hi.. pwede po magtanong ano po hotel ang pnka cheap n pwede namin tuluyan? my flyt is on dec.5.. thanks..

  13. […] Proud Mary Source: The video of the busker singing can be found within the post “Hong Kong, the second time around.” He’s hard to understand due to the accent (when I first heard him singing, I […]

  14. MC Avatar
    MC

    Hi! Nina,

    Ask ko lang kung anong Bus number yong sinakyan niyo going up the Peak? Would you also know kung anong MTR station pwede bumaba if you’re coming from Tsim sha Tsui going to the Peak to take that bus na sinakyan niyo?

    Appreciate your help.

    MC

    1. Nina Avatar

      I think we took Bus 15. I can’t remember clearly na, it’s been years since we went there. The Peak’s website has a guide: http://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/2_1.asp

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