travel begets kilig

Kilig. A tagalog word for that giddy feeling when you are excited, infatuated, or, mushy it may seem, in love.

There are many forms of kilig. My travels give me the same kilig much like any romantic love. So for Valentines this year, here was what planned. Four whole days of travel to China.

The first and second days were spent in Hong Kong. Third day in Macau. And fourth day in Shenzhen.

The first of a series of blog is here. And hey guess what? What?! It's an itinerary! Hooray!

But before anything else, let me greet Kristine Arada

Happiest Birthday in Hong Kong!

So on to the juicy details.

Day 1. Hong Kong (Lantau Island Tour, Shopping)
03:40 – Checked-in at Ninoy Aquino International Airport – Terminal 3

This is how we wait.

Had breakfast at the terminal. Then slept. *insert sheepish grin here*
Gah. I should learn poise. Really. *laughs*


05:40 - Manila to Hong Kong Flight via Cebu Pacific (5J108). More snooze time!
07:40 – Arrived at Hong Kong International Airport
Went through Immigrations Hall
Exchanged currency to Hong Kong Dollars
Claimed Hong Kong MTR Airport Express Travel Pass 
Visited Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Information Services for maps and brochures

The Cold greeting us. Warming up the China stay

09:00 – Transport to Kowloon Budget Hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui
Rode A21 Airport Hung Hom KCR Station Route (33HKD) 

Our Bus Faces

Dropped off at Bus Stop No.14 - Middle Road, Nathan Road and walked towards Chung King Mansions
10:00 – Checked-in at Kowloon Budget Hostel
10:30 – Brunched at Burger King

11:30 – Transport to Tung Chung Town Center for Lantau Island Tour
Took MTR to Central Station and walked to Hong Kong Station. Switched to Tung Chung MTR Line
Rode the MTR all the way to Tung Chung Station
Sadly on our visit, the cable car was closed for maintenance. Thus we opted for the cheaper, but longer, bus ride. More snooze.

12:30 – Lantau Island Tour
Walked to Giant Buddha

 Explored Ngong Ping Village

 Wisdom Path

Inset: Girl sitting sadly between seats

On our way back, the bus was filled fast. Thus, we had to stand for the 30-minute winding ride. I was tired, and I sloppily sat between seats. A gentleman, who was playing Temple Run and Angry Birds (okay okay I was watching him play), asked me if I was okay. Then offered me his seat. Good tactical strategies. *wink*
16:00 - Returned to accommodation. Short mall break around 17:00 hours. Shopped a bit.

18:00 - Walked to the Avenue of Stars

Florence Who? Kuya Florence! 

20:00 – Watched the symphony of lights show

foggy

 21:00 - Dinner at Cafe de Coral

Best dinner yet.

 22:00 - Transport to Ladies Night Market
Rode Tung Chung MTR line to Central MTR Station
Walked to Central MTR Station. Switched to Tsuen Wan (red) line
Dropped off at Mong Kok MTR Station

Shopped at Temple Street night market or Mong Kok District
Bought an AC socket adaptor in Temple Street for HKD 10.
The minute I emerged from the subway, my eyes always fool me into imagining that it was morning. The lights were too bright. The streets too busy. People buzzing. But we had a good time haggling for a good price for souvenirs.

Day 2. Hong Kong (Ocean Park, Victoria Peak)
06:00 – Wokeup
07:00 – Breakfast
08:00 – Transport from Tsim Sha Tsui to Admiralty Station
08:30 – Transport to Ocean Park Hong Kong
Walked to Terminal of Bus 629 at the corner of Drake and Tamar Sts., beside Admiralty Exit B
Took Bus 629 to Ocean Park – HK$10.6

09:30 – Explored Hong Kong Ocean Park

The gang

Lunch and Lunch View. :)

Ocean Park

Fanatics of Cheap Thrills

Toys

19:00 – Victoria Peak Tour
Ride Bus to Admiralty Station
Ride East Rail MTR line to Central MTR Station
20:00 – Walked from Star Ferry Terminal (Hong Kong Island side) to The Peak Tram lower terminus

Some helpful tips from Chabs' research:

Make sure you have a map with you so you don’t get lost. What we did was to orient ourselves with some landmarks along the way, so it will be easier to find the lower terminus. Just be mindful that it is just very near St. John’s Cathedral. If you think you’re getting lost or don’t know where you’re going just ask around for directions, there are a LOT of Filipinos in this area, especially on Sundays.

What we did, we just walked and walked and walked until we found the Tram!

20:20 PM – Take the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak.

21:30 PM – Victoria Peak Tour/Dinner
The gang went inside the wax museum. I waited and went home. And bathed in the luxury of warm water which is time limited. Ahhhh.

So that's Hong Kong. Ah Hong Kong. :)

P.S.
Will try to sort through 3,000 pictures and arrange them for the Macau and Shenzhen write-ups. :)
Ta Ta! 

P.P.S
Expenses here.