A Day in Tsim Sha Tsui Hongkong

promenade overlooking the Central waterfront

Hong Kong is not a sovereign state but they have their own administrative system. It is Special Administrative Region of China (SAR). One of most popular destination among tourists. Filipinos can visit visa free plus it only takes less than 2 hours by plane from the Philippines  and an hour by ferry or bus from Macau. I only had less than 24 hrs to spend in the city.  Here's what I did during my stay. 

China Ferry Terminal

Address: China Hong Kong City, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong (1/F Departure Hall / 2/F Arrival Hall). 

I booked a return ticket from Macau via klook. I heard, HZMB bus is cheaper but it will take the passengers to Lantau Island which is far from where I will be staying.Therefore, I opt for this one. Turbo jet will sail directly to Kowloon terminal. simply present your voucher to claim your boarding pass. You may leave earlier from your scheduled trip without any problem. I didn't expect the weather will be chilly even around May because spring is almost over. 

The sailing was rough due to rainy weather but it was okay. Although, I saw a woman throwing up the whole trip. Boarding was smooth. They will guide you to your assigned seat. Restrooms are clean too. During the trip, the staff distributed an arrival card to the tourist. It's about an hour to get to our destination.The whole process was quick despite the long lines at the immigration. They will not stamp your passport but will give you a small piece of paper like in Macau. Stating the arrival date and the number of days you are allowed to stay.  Welcome to Hong Kong.

My first time to board a ferry

A view from the ferry. A rainy day in HK

Accommodations

 From the terminal, I exited the building without knowing which way to go to find the hotel. All I know is that it is about 15 mins walk away. I didn't bother to ask the locals for the direction because I've read they are not approachable. I stopped over at the mall and connected to the free wifi to access google map.                               

Found it.

There are many affordable hostel in the area. I chose this one because I have read that Chungking  Mansion is always busy. You have to wait in line to access the elevator. This hotel is easy to locate and not crowded. 

                                 
No receptionist around but there was a guide to check-in. I called the staff to get the code. As expected, the room was small. But I was disappointed to see cockroaches on the walls. Killed them with my slipper!!! 

Avenue of the Stars

I grew up watching his movies.

At first, I was having second thoughts if I will go out or sleep but then again, I realized I shouldn't waste my time. I freshen up then started walking around. I went to promenade to see the view of the city. I am in awe to see the buildings that I have only seen in pictures. I am here alone and exploring the city. My excitement started to ease away my exhaustion. 

You can get picturesque shot of their iconic skyline by hiring photographer in the area. In my case, I always ask a fellow tourist especially the ones holding a camera because I know they have the skills to capture the right angle. If they are alone, I would usually offer if they want a picture too.

kept walking then I saw this clock tower.

I boarded Star ferry to check out the other side. its around HKD 2. I didn't stay long because the rain is starting the pour. Bought another token to take me back to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Few minutes sailing

token for boarding the ferry

It was raining hard. I stayed inside the mall and looked for something to eat. It took me awhile to decide because I don't know what to order. There are many choices in the food court but I was afraid I might not like the taste.

Congee for HKD 50 or around Php 300

The rain didn't stop pouring but the frugal in me doesn't want to buy a raincoat. I was touched when an old lady shared her umbrella with me. I have this thought in my mind that they are not friendly but I was wrong. Like in any other country, some people are good, some are not.

Mira Place. The landmark near the hotel.  

One of the reasons why I visited this area because I wanted to see the Symphony of lights. The show is on every 8 pm. I wanted to see the streets at night but  I had a long day. From Olongapo to Manila to Macau then Hong kong. I decided to stay and call it a night.

Egg tart for HKD 6. bought 2 pcs more the next day.

I woke up early. No free breakfast at the hotel but they provide hot water. I brought some snacks with me. Enough to fill my tummy. The shared bathroom is small. Real small. You really get what you paid for. Cleanliness can be improved too.

Kowloon Park

Avenue of Comic Stars

The weather is still a bit cold. I stroll around Kowloon Park, It was perfect for those who wanted to stay fit.  The park was huge and clean. You can also connect to the free wifi. I shamelessly ask a stranger to take a picture of me. :)

took a video of these elders doing Kung fu. Kung Fu figting! :))

From there I walked to the station because I'm going to check out  Montane Mansion before I leave. I borrowed my friends octopus card but its remaining balance was negative 37! I bought a single journey ticket instead.

I got lost.I alighted at the wrong station. I asked someone  where I was but she's Indonesian. It was difficult for us to communicate because she can't speak English well but then there's this elder who voluntarily guided me on what line to take.  Again, I was surprised because I have read somewhere that the locals specially the elders are snob but no. They are actually helpful.

I passed by the market . Obviously, it's still cold

Quarry bay residences is a few minutes walk from the station. This building is famous online. Even celebrities are dropping by on here for the gram. I have seen many cool pics on this spot but its just an old building and people seemed to be living quietly.

Went back to the Hotel and checked-out.  I didn't do much but since I have seen Big Buddha and Disneyland in the past,  I think that's enough for me.  At least, I saw Hong Kong even at a glance. 

Macau: East meets West

Macau is a place where two cultures are existing together. The buildings are of western style, but there is a trace of eastern culture everywhere. Like Hong Kong, Macau is not a country. It is Special Administration Region of China (SAR). It is often described as Las Vegas of the East.

Currency

They have their own currency called Macau Pataca but Hong Kong dollar is widely accepted.

Exchange rate as of May 7,2019 at NAIA : HKD1 = ₱6.85

Mop 1 =Hkd 1

Transportation

Take advantage of the shuttle buses provided by luxury hotels. They are free even for non-guest. 

From the airport board City of dreams Shuttle bus. I think they are the only hotel that brings visitors to the Peninsula where the historical spots are located. 

You may also use public bus. Flat rate is MOP 6, just make sure you have the exact amount for they will not give a change. There are shops at the second floor. Buy some snacks at Mcdonalds  or 7 Eleven to get coins. Bus 26 will take you the San Malo (Senado Square)

You may also ride a taxi. It's a lot faster. My friends arrived late at night, they took a taxi from the airport to San Malo for HKD130.

I came from Hong Kong via Turbo Jet. From Macau Ferry terminal I boarded the Grand Lisboa shuttle bus. It is a walking distance from  Senado Square.

Attractions

Senado Square

Calm and peaceful at night. The rain finally stopped. 

Senado Square without the crowd. 

The Ruins of St. Paul

Few minutes walk from where we were staying. We were there around 7 in the morning and there's already a flock of tourist in the area. We went on here twice,  but it's still crowded no matter how early you visit.

Fisherman's Wharf

From Senado Square turn right, walk straight heading to Grand Lisboa Hotel. For non-guest, you have to get a ticket at the 2nd floor before boarding the shuttle bus.  From the ferry terminal you can walk to Fisherman's Wharf for about 15 mins or board their free shuttle

Doca dos Pescadores

Sands Macau is next to Fisherman's Wharf.  You may board their shuttle bus going to Venetian. In our case, we locked the keys inside our room so we have to go back to Senado to meat the lady owner for the spare keys. After eating lunch at Sands KFC, we took the bus to ferry terminal then interchange to Grand Lisboa.

Shuttle Bus Schedule

Parisian Macau

One of the reasons why we wanted to visit Macau. Board City of Dreams shuttle bus, they are waiting near the Grand Emperor Hotel. From City of Dreams walk until you reached Sheraton Hotel before crossing to Venetian or Parisian. It has the best spot to take a picture with the Parisian Tower on the background.

Grand Emperor is near Sintra Hotel. Few blocks from Senado square, you will see it on the right side of the road before you reach the Lisboa hotel. 

The Venetian

Grand Canal at Venetian Hotel. You may try the gondola ride and do some shopping.

Jagra de Ovos

Custard Egg Tart for Mop 10. Best seller. I recommend this one. It tastes so good. 

City of Dreams

Ferrari Exhibit

They have free luggage storage. Drop bags then explore casinos before heading to the airport.

Accommodations

It's difficult to find a decent hostel. Luckily, I found a post about this home stay  in Senado Square owned by a Filipino. Contact her for availability and reservation.

Room Rates

1pax = HKD 220

2pax= HKD 250

3pax= HKD 280

The flat has two rooms which can accommodate 4pax each. Fully furnished. Air conditioner and water heater are working. TV has no signal though. You can also cook.

They will be asking you to deposit Hkd 100 to reserve the room.

Expenses:

Room for 2 nights  560/3   =  187

Meals  50-60/meal             =  240

Magnet 15/3                       =  5

Total                                   =  HKD 442 or ₱3,027

This budget itinerary is possible if :
* You will be sharing room with two other  friends.
* You will be bringing snack like chips, biscuits, cup noodles, and instant coffee for your breakfast. I have filled my tumbler at the airport so I wont have to buy water outside.
* You will be eating fast foods like Mcdonalds, KFC or Jollibee.

Macau Airport

* If you have no luggage to check-in, you can go directly to the immigration after printing out your boarding pass. Strictly, one backpack and one handbag are allowed on board. We have seen the airline staff scolding the passenger for not obeying the rules. That's how they are :))

*They have confiscated my facial wash and eyebrows scissors. It doesn't matter if it's half empty or full. As long as the bottle size is more than 100 ml, they will get it. 

That's it. That's how we've spent 2 nights 2 days in Macau. There are other spots to check out and it's possible to explore these places in one day. It all depends on your stamina. If you have questions, feel free to ask me :)

Xin Chao, Saigon

Sharing to you my first visit to the largest City of Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. 
                  

Vietnam wasn't my dream country to visit. It doesn't excite me at all. I even wanted to resign when I started working for Vietnamese students. I could hardly understand what they are saying. But that was before. In a short period of time, I got used to their accent. I became familiar with their culture and parts of history. It gave me anticipation to step foot on this nation one day. 

Tet 2019

Tet or the Lunar New Year. When I start searching about this trip, I have read that most of the establishments will be closed during their Tet holiday. Someone even described like it was a ghost town. I expected it to be boring, but not at all. Some shops are closed, but many are still open. It wasn't a nuisance at all. I saw them burning paper money in front of their houses, there are traditional foods too. People are playing cards, singing, all about getting together. A taxi driver gave us a lucky money for a good fortune. 

Chuc mung nam moi

Where to stay

I traveled with a friend. Therefore, I had someone to split the expenses like accommodations. Hotels are affordable I would say. I spent a lot of time browsing Agoda website. I patiently read reviews before I decide where to stay. I picked Meraki Hotel because I like their rooftop dining area. I enjoyed eating breakfast with a view of the city. It's a perfect spot to drink while watching people at night. There are many budget hotels in District 1. 

Currency

We brought US dollar and exchanged it to VN dong before we head to Bui Vien Street. You can also buy VND  at NAIA airport. $1 = VND22000

 Vietnam Dong

Arrival

We arrived past midnight and decided to stay for a few hours because it's still dark outside. There's no comfortable sleeping area around except for the chairs. We took the green bus. Its cheaper than the yellow one. You have to pay for your luggage too. We only have our backpack, so we paid VND5000 each.

At first, I felt nervous because It was early morning and people are still drinking in front of the restaurants. I realized those are staff who were relaxing after a night of work. 

We had breakfast at the convenience store nearby. We stayed a little longer because of their free wifi.

Its hot like the Philippines.

Our hotel is along the road we found it easily. We dropped our bags then we started walking around. 

Transportation

Although hotels and convenience stores offer free wifi,
It's still a must to buy a local sim card. You will need it for Grab. I highly recommend their service. We got scammed by a local driver who approached us for a motorbike tour. It's sad, so please beware! I should have known better, but he got me with his notebook showing testimonial from Filipino tourists. He even has Philippine money. Book Grab instead. If you are active, it's possible to walk. The tourist spots are close to each other. 

Motorbikes are everywhere. Just be careful when crossing the street because they don't stop! We usually wait for other people then walk along with them. 

Attractions

Notre Dame Basilica. It is a Catholic church built by French colonists. 

Uncle Ho's Park. They were having a flower festival during that time. It was crowded. Most women are wearing their traditional attire called Ao Dai.

Landmark 81. The tallest building in Southeast Asia. We negotiated a Grab bike driver to bring us here. From Bui vien to Vincom Center Park to Ben Thanh market for VND 200,000.

We also went to Independent Palace, Post Office next to the church, Pagodas, and Market. If I will go back, I will make time to visit Mekong delta and Mui ne.

Walking Street

Bui Vien gets crazy at night. The bar and restaurants are crowded. They occupied the whole street. It looked like Mardi gras every night. It was peaceful though, for a couple of nights that we were there, no street fight happened even people are drinking like there's no tomorrow. 

They will not be tag as the motor capital of the world for no reason. Grab bike was fun! Don't miss out this experience.

Vietnamese Food

I know that one of the best ways to experience a culture is to try out their local food.

Dinner prepared by my student and her husband. 

 However, I'm not adventurous when it comes to food. I don't want to upset my stomach especially when I'm away from home. I'm also traveling on a budget. Hence, the fancy restaurant is not in my itinerary. We usually ate at the fast food across our hotel.

I've tried some street food because I heard about them and they look similar to ours. 

Spring rolls

Dried Squid

Ban mi

Vietnamese coffee is the one to remember. It's a bit strong, yet it can be perfect with fresh milk. Every coffee shops that we've passed by are packed with customers all the time. I don't know if it's because holiday or that's just how much they love coffee. 

People

The Vietnamese I know are warm and friendly. As soon as I informed my student that I'm in the city, she invited me to her house right away. 

Language barrier should not stop you from exploring this city. Preparation is the key. Do some research beforehand. Many of them can't speak English well, one of the reasons why the local seem cold and distant. They feel frustrated when they can't explain what they wanted to say. I've also encountered those who will try to avoid you when they feel that you will ask for a direction.

I noticed that most of the vendors rely on to their children when they have a foreign customer. They couldn't be any prouder.  It makes me smile.

I've heard that snatching cases are notorious. Whenever we're heading out of the hotel, the receptionist always reminds us to take care of our stuff.   Fortunately, we didn't experience incidents like that.

Pinoy Band. 

On our last day, we bumped into these Pinoy band whom we're very thankful for. I've tried to exchange our peso, but they gave us some dong for free. Awesome isn't it?  That's the Filipino spirit!  Salamat mga kabayan! :)) 

The Experience

I asked her if she enjoyed the trip and her answer is yes! Hearing all those offloading cases, passing through immigration for the first time was a nerve-wracking experience. If you are honest and no intention of doing things illegally, you will be fine. Prepare all the necessary documents like the return tickets, accommodations and a proof that you can afford your trip. Don't hate them because they are just doing their job for our safety.

Ao dai

On the whole, I had fun in this city. The people we've met from all over along the way, the taste bud and cultural differences had given me memories that will always be with me. You don't have to be rich to explore places. It's all about courage and prayers... lots of it. :) 


Cam on Vietnam. Hen gap lai. ❤️

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