Hongkong Tour (Day 1)

Hongkong has always been in my travel bucket list since I was a kid. I mean, who doesn't know Disneyland? Finally, I was able to tick this off my list October last year with my boyfriend and his friends (Yes, my blog post is 4 months late. :p ). This isn't my first out-of-the-country jaunt but it’s my first time to plan a trip outside PH. All it took was my computer and some advice from friends to pull off a 2D-2N trip to Hongkong which I am sharing in this blog post. :)

AIRFARE TICKETS

We scored piso fare tickets from Cebu Pacific. Airfare per person is Php 3, 753.85, inclusive of 15 kg baggage already. Thing is, our departure point is at Clark International Airport so we had to wake up really early to catch the bus from Trinoma to the airport.

ACCOMMODATION

A month before our trip, I booked us 2 budget double rooms at Apple Hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) via HostelBookers.com. Apple Hostel is inside Chungking Mansions which is popular for bargain hunters. A lot of cheap accommodations can be found here. The location is good since the subway (MTR) station is only a couple of walks from the hostel.  

1 room costs 77.40 USD (Php 3,412.95). For each room, I paid a reservation fee of 9.29 USD (Php 409.64) which is deductible in the total bill.  The balance was paid on the day of check-in. This is pretty rad since in other accommodations you have to pay the total bill in full just to reserve. 

PRE-DEPARTURE

Buses to Clark International Airport are at Trinoma Lounge. Since our flight was scheduled at 7:00 am, we had to be at the lounge by 2:30 AM.

The spacious waiting area at Clark Airport Lounge in Trinoma

Our bus left at 3 PM and arrived at Clark International Airport at 4:10 AM.

We still had plenty of time before boarding the plane.  We exchanged our peso to Hongkong dollars at the airport to put off the hassle of looking for money changers in HK. Although I’ve read that there are money changers with pretty good rates at Tsim Sha Tsui, specifically Wing Hoi Money Changer,  I didn't think it’s worth the bother. We also paid Php 1,650.00 each for Travel Tax and Php 600.00 each for departure fee.

ARRIVAL AT HONGKONG

Departure time: 7:05 AM
Arrival time: 8:55 AM

During our flight, we were given Arrival Cards which we filled out and presented at the Immigration Hall of Hongkong International Airport.

Arrival Cards

We bought Octopus Cards at the airport's Customer Service Counter which cost 150 HKD (Php 856.06) each. 100 HKD is the consumable amount while 50 HKD is the deposit. You can use up to 35 HKD of the deposit. The remaining amount can also be refunded but 9 HKD will be charged for admin. fees. The Octopus Card is used for MTR and buses. You can also use this to buy at major convenience stores, such as 7/11, fast food restaurants, Starbucks, supermarkets, bakeries, self-service vendor machines, and major photo service outlets.

From the airport, we rode the A21 bus headed to TST. 

The lobby of Chungking Mansions is filled with stalls selling food, phones, etc. The place is kinda shady so better be careful with your belongings.

I could here Tagalog words upon entering Apple Hostel. Yep, the caretakers are Filipinas so we felt safe and secured. Hihi. Although check-in time is at 2 PM, we were able to get inside our rooms because none was occupying them when we arrived.

We stayed here for 2 nights. In budget double rooms, bathrooms are shared.

DAY 1

Canton's Kitchen

We had lunch at Canton’s Kitchen which is near the hostel. The food was ok but not worth the price.

We're lucky the menu has English translation.

Inside Canton's Kitchen

The Peak

Our first destination was The Peak at Central where Madame Tussauds is also located. Central is only 2 stations from TST. We walked to Peak Tram Lower Terminus where we would take the Peak Tram to reach the Peak. We bought the Peak Tram Sky Pass which includes both Peak Tram Ride and Sky Terrace 428 admission. Return tickets cost 80 HKD (Php 456.56) each. 

We had to queue for 30 minutes because of all the tourists lined up. This was on a weekday. Imagine the line on weekends! 

The Peak Tram

The waiting was worth it, though. The Peak is the highest point in Hongkong Island so the ride was quite steep. The tram can accommodate 120 people and you have to be really quick to get a seat. Opt for the seats at the right side because it offers stunning panoramic views of HK.

Madame Tussauds

At Level 2 of The Peak Tower is Madame Tussauds, a world-renowned wax museum which displays life-size wax figures of national and international celebrities and historical figures.  I already bought Madame Tussauds tickets online prior to our trip so I was able to save some moolah. The online saver ticket costs 180 HKD (Php 1, 027.27) while the regular admission ticket costs 250 HKD (Php 1, 426.76).

There were so many tourists that we really had to line up to take pictures.

The museum has 10 areas: Hongkong Glamour, Royal Family, Historical and National Heroes, TV Studio, World Premiere, SCREAM, The Champions, Authentic History, Music Icons, and Fantasy Kingdom.


Photos at Hongkong Glamour

Too clingy with Edward Cullen

 Mac doing his martial arts pose with Kung Fu superstar Donnie Yen

Playing around with the piano with the famous Pianist, Lang Lang, beside me 

Photos at Royal Family

Queen Elizabeth II of England

Had to be prim and proper for this shot. Hihi.

Photos at Historical and National Heroes

Mao Zedong - founding father of the People's Republic of China

Albert Einstein, his famous equation, and I

Literally rubbing shoulders with Barack Obama :D

Photos at TV Studio

Interview with Sandra Ng

A-list host Eric Tsang and I

Photos at World Premiere

Audrey Hepburn. Such a classic beauty.

Mac and Audrey having breakfast at Tiffany's. Hihi.

Marilyn Monroe: one of the world's biggest sex symbols

Photos at The Champions

Former professional football player, David Beckham

The boyfie playing one-on-one basketball with Yao Ming

Boxing, anyone?

Photos at Authentic History

In the Authentic History section, guests will be able to see the history of Madame Tussauds and the art of wax-figure making.

Madame Marie Tussaud, founder of Madame Tussauds 

Wax-figure making

Photos at the Music Icons

With the Queen of Pop and Material Girl, Madonna

Mac, jamming with the Beatles

With the King of Pop, Michael Jackson

Mac with the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley

Photos at Fantasy Kingdom

Wolverine

Tony Stark's alter ego, Iron Man

 Mac having lunch with the cute piggies

A very livid Hulk and a smug me

Astro Boy and Astro Mac. Hihi.

Monkey King, Ruxue, and Mac

Nope, this isn't a cross between a mermaid and an earthworm. This is me being Nuwa, Goddess of Works. Haha.

Our last stop is at SCREAM where you will be led through the dark corridors of an asylum to find your way out. It's your usual horror house with psychopaths on the loose. The route was pretty short so it was really "bitin" for me. Like I wasn't able to scream my all. Haha.

Sky Terrace 428

After Madame Tussauds, we went to Sky Terrace at the top of Peak Tower. It is the highest outdoor viewing deck in Hongkong where you can revel at the 360 degree view of the city.

Panoramic view of Hongkong from Sky Terrace 428

We were given a gadget and headphone where a narration about the attraction can be seen and heard.

There was the "The Peak - I love You" promotion when we visited. It's a heart-shaped box where you can leave your love letters. 

Our love letters are here! :)

 Majestic Hongkong at night

After Sky Terrace, we rode the Tram again to return to the Lower Terminus. This time, the ride was backwards. Yiiih. :)


Café De Coral

We had dinner at Café De Coral which offers yummy food at affordable rates. It offers various Chinese and International cuisines. It's near Chungking Mansions so we just walked our way back to our hostel after a sumptuous meal.

Each meal costs 35 HKD (Php 200). Such a steal. ;)

Check out Day 2 of our Hongkong trip here: Hongkong Tour (Day 2)