We arrived from Riyadh the night of January 16, met the day after the next to book for our flight, (January 17) and took the earliest Cebu Pacific flight (5:40 am departure from Manila and 7:40 am arrival to Hongkong) of January 18.
We booked for a round trip ticket which amounted to Php 18,600, a very expensive airfare compared to those who had a booking ahead of time.
THE AIRLINE:
Cebu Pacific is a cheap choice, yes. But if you choose Cebu Pacific, “jet lag kung jet lag."
On the positive side, I have to just acknowledge that they were either early or on time, never late.
(moi, aboard Cebu Pacific)
Hongkong, here we come!
DAY 1: January 18, 2010
HONGKONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:
We arrived as scheduled in Hongkong International Airport.
For first timers like us, the airport was a bit confusing. You’ll pass by a couple or more walkalators .
You have to ride a free train (which they call “people mover”) to go to the baggage claim and immigration area. All you have to do is follow the group of people which goes to the same direction. (Hehe, not a very good advice).
After claiming our 3 pieces baggage, the first things we looked for were maps, guides and Octopus card stations.
Maps and guides were everywhere and we grabbed more copies.
Outside the immigration area, we saw the Octopus card stations. One card is worth 150 Hongkong Dollars (HKD). This card is necessary for every traveler because it serves as a token for buses and MTR (trains) and other public transports in Hongkong . If ever you have a friend who has an old Octopus card, borrow it and just load a minimum of 50 HKD to save money.
To those who need to change their money to Hongkong dollars, there are Foreign Exchange centers too in the airport.
The next thing we were problematic about was how to get to Hongkong mainland and look for a hotel where we can stay.
Maybe we were just too lucky or maybe we were just looking extremely stupid and lost, one Filipina approached us and asked if we are unfamiliar of the place and if we are going on a tour. Hesitant to trust strangers, I said that there are some fellows that will pick us up. But the lady still offered her help saying that if we are looking for a cheap hotel/hostel to stay, we can look in Tsim Sha Tsui area. She offered her very detailed map, (which I have until now) showed us in the map where is the area and instructed us that from the airport, we have to ride the A21 bus, use our octopus card and tell the driver to drop us at Tsim Sha Tsui station. She also gave us the advice that when we are going back home, we can refund our octopus cards to money or use it like a card to buy stuffs in selected stores or eat in selected fast foods inside the airport.
Armed with her advices, we exited the airport, looked for the A21 bus. When we found one, we were off to Tsim Sha Tsui. ; )
The travel from the airport to Tsim Sha Tsui was at first like a nature trip until we got in further.
TSIM SHA TSUI:
Tsim Sha Tsui is about 20-25 minutes away from the airport.
The driver dropped us somewhere I can’t remember exactly but I was sure that it was very far from the place where the helpful lady encircled on the map.
Joy and I with our luggages walked several meters to find the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station. I think we walked for more than 5 minutes and found an area where there were several hotels/hostels. Looking left and right and almost feeling dizzy, I saw the sign CHUNGKING MANSIONS. So we entered.
CHUNGKING MANSIONS:
Chungking Mansions is actually a high building housing several low cost hostels. It is located along Nathan Road.
The place is also a business center of foreign exchange services, foods, clothes, cellular phones, internet, and souvenirs. It may appear scary because of many foreigners mostly Indians and other black colored nationalities going in and out of the building. It may also appear crowded, congested because like what I said, it is a business center. I had so many thoughts of fire hazards and all but when I asked almost all of our kababayans passing by, they said the building is one of the safest places to stay in Hongkong because CCTVs are all around the place and several years ago, efforts and investments were made by the owners to keep it fire hazard free. It is also very convenient because it is near 2 train stations and there are several food chains everywhere.
Running on a budget and feeling dizzy from the long walk, we tried our luck inside.
Note: There are more than 20 hostels inside Chungking Mansions. Choose which one suites you.
CHUNGKING HOUSE DE LUXE HOTEL:
We chose the said hostel by chance because when the elevator operator asked us which hostel, we said, “Ah, eh, Chungking.”
Chungking House De Luxe Hotel is on the 4th and 5th floor of the building. We went to 5th floor also by chance. We were greeted by a very friendly Hongkong local who also speaks Tagalog. (I forgot his name) He told us that the rate is 250 HKD per night and allowed us to check the rooms first before deciding to check in. Since my friend and I had no plan to stay in the room most of the time because we were going on a tour and we were also running on a budget, we checked in.
The owner allowed us to pay the down payment of 250 HKD for one night just in case we want to transfer to another place the next day.
The room is made up of a bed for two, a comfortable comfort room with hot and cold shower. There is a cabinet, a mirror and television. The room is really just enough for two. In the reception area, there is a hot and cold water dispenser.
I was not very comfortable with the sheets because my obsessive compulsive nature attacked me that was why, every night I was asking for a new set of bed sheets, bed covers and blankets. The owners were kind enough to grant my wishes.
Also, they were cleaning the rooms everyday including the comfort rooms. I felt safe seeing the CCTVs everywhere.
DAY 1 continues with the trip to Ocean Park and Avenue of Stars.
DAY 2 is a date with Mickey and Minnie Mouse in Disneyland.
Ocean Park
Avenue of Stars
Disneyland
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