Ah Ying eh Blog

Well, revisiting Hong Kong and Macau is totally not in my 2008 year plan. However, when one of my colleagues saw the great promotion from Air Asia early April and invited me to join them and practice to be a ‘tour guide’, I just can’t resist and say “YES! YES! YES”.

So, even though with the stupid open wound on my leg, I just stick with our original plan (but have to bring medicine and dressing along loh~)

Before the trip, I asked that 3 young ladies what are their interest, what do they really wanted to see and wanted to do in Hong Kong + Macau (see, this guide quite professional huh　；p) but there are not much requests from them. Since this is the first visit to Hong Kong and Macau for 3 of them, I plan for a ’standard tour’ lah, there are places that you MUST go for a first timer even though I have been there for many times. So here’s the actual itinerary (slightly deviated from our original plan of course, who will stick to their plan 100% when go for backpacking? at least not me ;p) and I’ll talk about the details in some other posts lah:

Day 1

We arrival at Macau airport at noon, take a taxi to Macau-HK Ferry Terminal (cost us MOP18 only) and take a ferry (MOP142) to go to Tsim Sha Tsui. We had our 猪肉丸面＋冻奶茶 (HKD28 per set) as lunch at 海防道. This was the one introduced by a taxi driver during my previous trip to Hong Kong but I didn’t have chance to try it last time.

Next we bought an Octopus card (HKD150 with HKD50 as deposit) at Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station and head straight to Hong Kong Disneyland!

We stayed at Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. It cost us about HKD1700 (forgot the excat figure), including tax and serive charge, with 2 queen’s bed and sea view! For a group of 4, I think it’s worth to stay there as Hong Kong accommodation is always sky high and instead of getting 2 rooms that cost at least HK900 in Tsim Sha Tsui, this is definely a better deal. Besides, we booked this “Stay and Play for 2 days” package before summer holiday started in Hong Kong and hence entitled to to buy the entrance ticket which cost us HKD350 per person that allow us to play at the park for 2 full days!

After check in, we met Chip and Dale!! I was the first one among the group that rushed to hold their hand and take photos. After refresh, we headed to Disneyland Park without any delay. Welcome us at the entrance of the park is the lovely fountain with Disney characters. We are not in the rush as we have a “2 day pass” so we did spend a lot of time at the fountain to get some great shots (^^)

The highlight of Day 1 is the “Disney in the Stars” Fireworks. It started at 9pm (summer only) every night and everyone gathered in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle 15 minutes earlier just to ensure a great spot for the magnificent firework!

Day 2

We had our buffet breakfast at Chef Mickey, Hollywood Hotel. Again, because we booked before summer holiday, this cost us HKD120 instead of HK154. The food is so so but having Mickey waffle in Disneyland feel so cool! (^^)

Disneyland Theme Park started at 10:30am and you bet we were there at 10:30am sharp. The first thing we saw is Mickey and Minnie at Mainstreet USA. Ching Ching insisted that we must take photos with Mickey and Minnie and hence we queued for almost 45 minutes just to get our chance to take a few picture with them.

Though we are there on Friday, the park is pack with people from all range of age. Thanks to the fast pass else I guess we have to spend most of our time in the queue. My favorite ride in the park is “Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster”, where you actually join Buzz Lightyear in battle against Emperor Zurg (of course, that is before Buzz knew that Emperor Zurg is actually his father ;p). Oh, and you have to love “It’s a Small World”. It’s so colourful, so cute, and that song will end up recorded in your brain for the next few days!

Our original plan is to go to Tung Chong station, take the cable car and move to Ngang Ping for Tian Tan Buddha. However, we stayed much too long than we planned in Disneyland and when we reached Tung Chong Cable Car station, the ticketing counters were closed (Cable car stop operating at 6pm). We changed our plan and enjoy shopping at the Citygate Outlets shoppint center at Tung Chung.

We then took the MTR to go to Shueng Wan. By the time we reached Shueng Wan station, it’s about 7:30pm and we were supposed to watch the Symphony of Lights at Tsim Sha Tsui at 8:00pm. It’s a bit rush but I thought Island Pacific Hotel is just a stone throw away from MTR station so we decided to walk. Apparently when Hong Kong people tell you “it’s just nearby”, don’t trust them.

After check-in, we had to rush to the lobby and get a taxi. The taxi driver is kind enough to tell us where’s the nearest location to watch the Symphony of Lights on time (but without sound system). I have watched this at various locations so far and I think Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, near the Start Ferry Pier, is the best spot for enjoying Symphony of Lights.

We then took Star Ferry to Kowloon, had our dinner at my favorite 牛腩面 at the junction of WuSoong Street （吴松街）and SaiGong Street（西贡街） and concluded the night with shopping at Nathan Street and 女人街.

Day 3

It’s a pleasant surprise to wake up and see the great view of Victoria Harbour. When we reached this hotel at late evening the day before, the first impression was not good as the hotel seems to be a little bit deserted. However, at day time, when I have chance to take a closer look, I immediately fall in love with this hotel. This hotel located at Connaught Road West, where you can actually feel the real traditional Hong Kong, with all the dried seafood, herbal medicine, markets and antique shops nearby. The most convenient public transport to get to the hotel is the Hong Kong Tramways, and this actually enhance the “old Hong Kong feel”. At HKD 588++ (about half the price of Kowloon same standard hotels) , you can have a reasonably spacious room with Victoria Harbour view. For those who doesn’t like shopping and hate the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, this is the hotel that you should check out.

Our initial plan was to start our day at the famous 陆羽茶室 (at 24, Stanley Street). We hopped in a taxi and asked the driver to bring us to 陆羽茶室. While chit-chatting with the driver, he told us not to go to 陆羽茶室. “That’s for Hong Kong rich and famous. The waiters normally won’t serve you as most of the tables are reserved for the regulars (which most of them are multi-millionaires of Hong Kong) and it will cost you about HKD1000 for a dim sun”. Wow, it’s really lucky for us to meet him else we will end up “kena slaughter”. I told him that after the dim sum we would like to go to Aberdeen and hence he brought us to Tong Luo Wan Cui Yuan (翠园). Along the way, he even showed us where to catch out bus, where the most famous 打小人 location in Hong Kong etc.

After breakfast, we went to Time Square for shopping. Then, took bus #70 to go to Aberdeen. Pinky managed to get a 30mins boat trip at HKD100.

We then took bus to Central. Our original plan is to have Cetral Heritage Walk (including Central Mid-level Escalator (the longest escalator), Former Central Police Station, Duddell Street steps and gas lamp, St John Cathedral, Former French Mission Building). However, we were caught in the traffic jam and when we reached Central, I really don’t think we have time for the Heritage walk so we changed plan to go to The Peak earlier than we plan. We had lunch at The Jade Restaurant, IFC, before we moved to the bus stop of bus #15 near Central Star Ferry Pier. I always love bus #15, the open-top double decker that pass through the forest of buildings in Central. However, bus #15 service was temporary stopped due to maintenance. :( 

From the Tram Station, 3 of them bought the 3-in-1 combo package (with Admission ticket to Madame Tussand’s Wax Museum + Victoria Peak Sky Terrace and the Tram ticket) while I used my Octopus card to get on the tram. I’ve been to Madame Tussand’s Wax Museum and I really don’t think it worth a second visit. While there were having fun in Wax Museum and enjoying the view at Sky Terrace, I had my favorite pass time - doing nothing. I bought a novel, ordered a cup of coffee and enjoyed the summer breeze at the outdorr terrace of “The Pearl of the Peak“.

For dinner, we pampered ourselves at the Cafe Deco. It was Saturday night. Almost all window seats at all restaurant at The Peak are fully booked. We were lucky to have one table by the window from 6pm to 7:30pm. The food is mediocre but who cares? We are having dinner with the Hong Kong’s best panorama!

After dinner, we spent some time shopping at the Peak (yes, shopping again). Next, went to The Avenue of Stars for a walk. Then, shopping again at Tsim Sha Tsui, Salisbury Road Esprit Outlets. (^^)

Day 4

We took the tram again to go to Sheung Wan Shun Tak Centre and took a ferry to Macau (The ferry cost us HKD146 this time due to it’s slightly more expensive on weekend). Once we reached Macau, we took the hotel free shuttle at the Ferry Terminal. We dropped our bags at the concierge and straight rushed to 龙华茶楼 (Rua Norte do Mercado Almirante Lacerda No.5) by bus #3 from Holiday Inn. This restaurant is famous for it’s originality. If you are lucky, you will even have chance to meet the uncles with bird cage on their hand! Well, we were not that lucky as we reached there at almost 11am (next time I MUST go there at 8am!!!) but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the food and ambience there.

We took the same bus on the return route but we stopped at San Ma Lou this time. For journeys on Macau peninsula, the buses are at flat fate of MOP$2.50. From here, we started our Heritage Walk, which covers Senate Square, St. Dominic’s Church, St. Paul’s Ruins and Museum of Macau. (oh, this walking tour including shopping Senate Square too ;p)

From Senate Square, we walked back to Holiday Inn. With MOP700, this 4-stars hotel offered a newly renovated spacious room with 2 queen bed and a large flat screen tv. The room is cosy. The checkin/checkout is fast and efficient, the front desk staffs are courteous and friendly. When I asked them the way to The Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes, they even taught us how to go there for free! (Took the Holiday Inn free shuttle bus to go to Macau-HK Ferry Terminal, and catch The Venetian free shuttle bus)

The Venetian is a Renaissance Venice-themed luxury hotel and casino resort. It is the largest single structure hotel building in Asia, providing one stop entertainment. We had our dinner there at Madeira Portuguese Restaurant, did some window shopping, tried our luck with MOP20 at the Casino (slot machine is the only thing that we think we might know how to play), took a shuttle bus to Golden Sand Hotel (we missed the last shuttle bus to Macau-HK Ferry Terminal) and took a taxi to Holiday Inn (saved us about MOP40, if we took taxi from The Venitian!). What a night!

Day 5

Esther and I went for another round of walk around Senate Square while Ching Ching and Pinky tried to catch up some sleep at the hotel. While we were wandering at the streets, we saw a big banner saying “original pork chop bun (猪扒包)” and we were so tempted to try though we were not yet hungry. While we were seriously considering, an aunty passed by and felt our indecisivenss. “Try this! It’s the best in Macau. I always come all the way from Taipa to here to buy this” Wow, I have no reason to say no to her!! So we had the delicious, satisfying 猪扒包 to conclude our 4D4N HK+Macau trip!