Our HK Trip: Aug 2-4, 2007

Finally, I was able to finish our HK trip kwento. It’s the first time for our clan (clan kse 19 kami lahat, lahat – 13 Adults + 6 kids) to go out of the country together.

I started planning for the trip as early as May because I have to book in advance with Cebu Pacific to get the cheapest fare. After booking the flights, I started doing research for hotels in HK. I opted to stay in a hotel but all of my companions wanted to stay in a hostel. I got the website of HostelBookers.com, from my former classmate and co-n@wie, pheng. We booked the hotel with the highest guest ratings.

Through the help of another n@wie, Dick, I was able to find a cheaper service for airport transfers. He gave me a number of a Van-for-Hire service where we can rent a van, which can accommodate 5 persons per van. I also did some research and found a Bus for Hire service, which is also the same price as the van-for-hire service, recommended by Dick. My cousin left for Manila, 2 days ahead of us and so I just asked her to book the Bus to pick us up at the airport.

So after all the planning, finally last Aug 2, we left for HK.

DAY 1: DEPARTURE AND THE PEAK

Our flight is scheduled to leave at 8:00 AM so we left the house around 5:00 AM. Buti na lang talaga maaga kami umalis kse sobrang tagal naming mag check in. We reached the airport around 6 AM. Wala pang masyadong pila but it took us 1 hour to checked in. Nag group check in na kse kami para walang problem sa mga excess baggage pero parang confused yung Cebu Pac staff in charge sa luggage. After I-weigh yung mga luggage namin, we proceeded to the check in section. And just the same, confused pa din yung staff sa pag check in sa amin.

After an hour, we we’re able to check in na. But we have to pay pa pala ng Travel Tax before we can get our boarding Pass. So we have to line up again sa Travel Tax booth ng DOT. After getting our boarding pass, we went in and head straight to Immigration after filling up all the Immigration forms. Nakapsok ata kami sa boarding area mga 7:45 na.

The flight was on time. We left Manila at 8 AM and arrived HK airport at 10 AM. We we’re picked up by the bus that my cousin contacted. From the airport, we head straight to USA Hotel to checked in our luggage. Actually, I was a bit disappointed with the hostel. Medyo maarte kse ako pagdating sa ganyan eh. The building is old and medyo madumi yung corridor nila and I don’t like the smell of the place – amoy luma na talaga sya tapos ang dami pang Middle Easterner sa lugar, kaya nakaka-add sa baho.

And when we checked the rooms, mas lalo ako na dissapoint. Binabaan ko na nga yung expectations ko since it’s really cheaper compared sa mga hotels sa HK (it’s only 1/3 of what I will pay if we opted for a hotel), pero na disappoint pa din ako. The room was really small and some rooms walang window. Yung una nga namin na room, ayaw pumasok ni Bela kse baka na cla-claustrophobic sya.

Lilipat na lang sana kami sa hotel kse mukhang di din type ng brother ko and ng dad ko yung mga rooms but when we told the manager about our plan, he said that we still have to pay for 2 nights for all the rooms that we booked since cancellation should be made 48 hours before the check in date daw. This is the first and last time that I will try a hostel….hehehe…

So after checking in to our rooms we looked for the nearest Mc Do to have lunch coz it’s almost 2 o clock and gutom na kami lahat. After lunch, the oldies decided to go back to the hotel to rest together with the kids, while we (my brother+ his gf, my 2 cousins, my sister, me, howell & bela) decided to go to Park Lane Road. We did some early shopping there.

We met with them around 5 PM to go to the Peak Tower. After reaching the Peak Tram terminal, we we’re greeted by a long queue of tourist buying tickets for the Tram. The guard said that the waiting time is approximately 2 hours. So as much as I wanted them to experience the The Peak Tram ride, we opted to take the cab going to the The Peak.

We reached The Peak Galleria, around 7 PM and we have to do some walking to go up Victoria Peak. My dad, my mom and my aunt was too tired already (because we just walk from the hotel to the Peak Tram Terminal – around 15 minutes walk) so they decided to wait for us at the Peak Galleria na lang while we went up the Victoria Peak to get a good view of HK. We just had dinner at Café Coral and we call it a night after that.

DAY 2: DISNEYLAND

When Bela saw the Disneyland welcome arch, with Mickey on top, her eyes grew big with amazement. You can easily see that she was happy to see Mickey. She was dancing with joy and even humming together with the background music being played. Sobrang init that time pero deadma si Bela sa init, she was just very happy.

We went inside after buying our tickets and we saw there’s already a line at the gazebo for Mickey and Minnie’s meet and great. We immediately line up but we saw there’s another line for Pluto so we line up also and we just left my cousin to line up for us for Mickey & Minnie. Since Pluto was the first character that Bela met at Disneyland, she was a bit apprehensive at first during her picture taking with Pluto. May blooper nga pala ako kay Pluto. During the picture taking with him, I always refer to him as Goofy. Sabi ng ng kapatid ko, buti di ako binatukan. Kse noong nakita ko lang yung dog tag nya, doon ko lang na-realize na di pala sya si Goofy…hehehe

Then we proceed to line up again for Mickey and Minnie naman. 30 minutes siguro kami sa pila pero nag tyaga pa din. We we’re finish with the picture taking around 12;30 so we decided to check the Disney stores na lang instead of going to Tomorrowland since the parade will start in 30 minutes na lang.

Bela really enjoyed the parade. Who wouldn’t enjoy seeing all the Disney characters live? She really is a Disney fan kse kaya na appreciate nya talaga yung parade coz she knows most of the characters.

After the parade, we met with mom & dad and my aunt for lunch. We just ate at one of the fast food stores there. After lunch, we headed straight to Tomorrowland to try out some of the rides. Unfortunately there is always a long queue for almost all of the rides so kaunti lang talaga na try namin. Good thing they have a fast pass system. So what we did, we just get fast pass tickets and just go back an hour after so we don’t have to wait that long.

At Tomorrowland, we we’re also able to have a picture taken with Buzz and have him signed Bela’s Signature book. Some of the rides that we we’re able to try at Tomorrowland were: Buzz Ligthyear Astro Blasters, Autopia, Orbitron & Space Mountain.

Then we headed to Fantasy Land to watch the Golden Mickeys Show. Oh my, my daughter was in heaven while watching the show. Imagine watching all your Disney characters performing. Kaya kahit in Mandarin/Chinese yung most of the shows (yung mga songs lang kse ang in English), happyng happy pa din ang mga bata, specially si Bela.

The attractions that we we’re able to try at Fantasyland were: Mickey’s Philhar Magic (one of my favorite), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and the Cinderella Carousel .

After the Golden Mickey Show, we then went to Pirateland. Bela was already tired by this time because it’s almost 5 PM na ata and di pa sya nag na-nap. So while the kids were waiting for their picture to be taken with Goofy & Pluto, I gave Bela her milk and nakatulog na agad sya. After the picture taking with Goofy & Pluto, we tried the Jungle River Cruise ride. The kids and even the adults enjoyed the ride.

After this ride, we met with my mom & dad and my aunt. While my brother with her gf, my sister, and my cousin went back to Fantasyland to try the Space Mountain ride. While waiting for them, Bela and the rest of the kids tried the Cinderella Carousel and we did some last minute shopping too for souvenirs.

Then the last part of our trip to Disneyland was the spectacular fireworks display. It’s something that you really shouldn’t miss. After the fireworks, we just have dinner and head back to the hotel and call it a night again.

LAST DAY: OCEAN PARK & LAST MINUTE SHOPPING

We spent our last day at HK at Ocean Park. Mom & dad didn’t go with us to Ocean Park because my dad is not feeling well.

The first thing that we did is watched the Dolphin show. The first schedule is at 11 AM so we headed straight to Ocean Theatre. We had lunch na din there while waiting for the show to start. Di gaanong maganda yung show (not like yung napanood namin ni Howell last time we we’re at Ocean Park.)

After the show, we went to the Shark Aquarium and Atol Reef. Kahit madaming tao, mainit, at antok na si Bela, enjoy na enjoy sya seeing all the different species of fish.

After Atol Reef, some of my cousins wanted to try the trill seeking rides at the low land level. So we decided that we part ways and we will just meet them at the waiting area for the Cable Car Ride.

Everybody enjoyed the Cable car experience. Including Bela. Ako, takot na takot kse I’m really afraid of heights pero sya, sumisilip pa sa window to get a better view. Mana talaga sya sa tatay nya. And also my tita na di na maganda pakiramdam - feeling daw nya mag co-collapse na sya sa init. High blood kse sya. Pero after the ride, aba nabuhayan ulit at enjoy na enjoy sya. After the cable car ride, we went shopping again for souvenirs then head back to the hotel.

We only have one hour left to shop before kami sunduin ng bus namin so we we’re only able to shop sa mga shops na malapit lang sa hotel namin.

The bus picked us up at 7PM and we headed straight sa airport for our 9:55 fligth. Efficient naman ang mga staff sa HK airport so there was no problem checking in even if we checked in as a group. Doon na lang kami nag dinner sa waiting area sa Gate 42.

At 11:55, we’re in Manila na. Mas mabilis na kami ngayon sa Immigration, Customs and sa pagkuha ng mga baggage. After 30 minutes lang we’re already out of the airport.

It was really tiring and sobrang gulo to travel in big groups – syempre maraming intayan, matagal mag desisyon coz you have to ask everybody, etc,. Pero grabe, sobrang enjoy talaga sya. Undeniably, all of us did had fun during our 3 day trip sa HK and hopefully we can do this again. Actually, they’re asking me to plan na for our next trip – SG naman daw. Sana matuloy if budget permits. Buong clan ulit kami…hehehe