Hong Kong Disneyland

November 19, 2013


It's third day of our stay in Hong Kong and the city had not failed to amaze me , not even once . Everyday seemed to be a brand new day with a new wave of enchantment that came in wherever we'd go . I think I just couldn't get over with the astounding beauty of my city of dreams , Macau , which seemed to have bewitched me even more . I don't want to sound awkward or lousy but that was what I felt when I had my feet set on my city of dreams the first time . It was an awesome experience to be in Macau , and for our next destination , I just knew from the start it would be as thrilling as flying in a magic carpet with Aladdin because our next stop would be Hong Kong Disneyland !

When I think of Disneyland, there's only one thing I'd really love to do, and that's no other than having a photo of me and Mickey Mouse together , and that's it . I love Mickey Mouse . I remember my entire high school life wherein all of my notebooks had Mickey Mouse covers .  So when our Hong Kong Disneyland finally came , I said I would never go back home without a picture of me and Mickey :)


Maecel and I were both excited to finally have our Honkong Disneyland experience on that day . Adjusting to the tour guide's time discipline , we woke up early and had our breakfast at the hotel . In just about 30 minutes after we settled in at the hotel restaurant , staff from Holiday World showed up and called for our names and said the tour would begin in few minutes . We hurriedly finished our food and got on board the bus that was waiting for us . After an hour of bus ride , we reached the destination and , oh my , we couldn't stop that excitement . We seemed to have acted like kids ; we'd run as fast as we could to get in .

When the gates were opened for the guests , we stood up in line and there were hundreds or thousands people in queue. As suggested by Ate Pearly and Ate Cristina , the couple we met in the tour , our first thing we should do the moment we get in would be to get copies of the programs and the vicinity map . It's a huge place and with no idea as to where to go and what to see , we would end up wasting time finding / looking for the shows and other attractions , and that doesn't look nice .


The Mickey Experience

Our first stop was with Mickey Mouse . That was the first thing I looked around when we got in through the Main Street . There were hundreds of people waiting for the chance to get photos with Mickey , and just like them , we patiently waited for that seemingly once in a lifetime opportunity . It took us over two (2) hours before we could get our chance . I didn't mind the long wait . It was Mickey whom I came for a visit after all :)

Next was a stroll around the park . We tried the different attractions and watched different magical shows , and of all the shows , my top 2 most favorite were Mickey and Friends and the Lion King . They both put me into a different level of reflection about love , friendship and magic .



Here are some photos to share :

I thought I was sharing few photos but it looks like I had plenty to share :)  There could have been more to post had I not run out of batteries . While the night was about to begin ,  I lost power on my cam and that wasn't good because that meant missing to capture the fantastic and the most wonderful fireworks and musical display I have ever seen my whole life . I wish I had my spare batteries !


Hong Kong Disneyland is one of the best attractions , not just for kids , but for adults too . I had great time in there and I think that was the best thing I ever got in Hong Kong . If given another opportunity , I will go back :)  It isn't the cheap products we bought at the night market . It isn't the dazzling night in the city . It's Mickey and the magical world of fantasies in Hong Kong that makes me want to go back :) That may not happen  soon but it's a good thought to ponder :)


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Cristina
Mandaluyong City

Macau : The City of Dreams

November 19, 2013

This is it ! My City of Dreams !

Being tagged as Asia's version of Las Vegas in US, Macau has been one of the richest cities in the world , one survey said sometime in 2011. Its dazzling night life and casinos have attracted so many people around the world , and I am no exception . When I saw an episode of America's Next Top Model , one with Macau photo shoot where they showed some nice video clips of the entertainment hubs including the "City of Dreams" , I was like "Oh My God!" what a great experience to be in such incredible place someday ! I was bewitched by the "City of Dreams" , the view of The Venetian and the tower! I had wished to see those things not just in photos but in person , something that I didn't foresee to happen very soon because of my classic , patriotic mindset to travel around the entire archipelago first before I begin an adventure outside the Philippines . But things change . With the rebels that continuously posit threats on security and safety of anyone who would like to reach the southernmost part of our national territory , I had to re-consider so many things and re-do my bucket list . I had to "x" out Zamboanga , Julu and Tawi-Tawi on my list . Then I say "Travel anywhere when opportunity kicks in !" Just kidding . I sure do have list of places I want to visit , but before I do an off-shore trip , I'd like to complete my LUZVIMINDA adventure , which I did ! Hence , it's Macau time :)


Macau is just about an hour ride from Hong Kong so I must not miss it when we went to Hong Kong . Maecel had her heart for Ocean Park and I initially thought I would get a hard time to convince her to exclude it in our itinerary and replace it with Macau instead . Gladly, she agreed! Yeheyyyy!


When our Hong Kong City Tour ended , Anita set our expectations on how our Macau tour would proceed .  It was only an add-on trip so no one from Holiday World would accompany us but they arranged a guided Macau tour for me and Maecel. As discussed, someone in Macau would pick us up at the ferry terminal and bring us to the designated tourist spots up to The Venetian; and from there , we're going to be on our own . Now, as to how we would be able to get back safe from Macau to the hotel , that was the biggest challenge for me and Maecel . Let's find out how did our tour go !


When we separated from the main group , another tour guide led us to a place called Tim Sha Tsui . We went inside a classy mall so I thought we would meet another tour guide in the mall . To my surprise , we headed to China Ferry Terminal , and that amazed me a bit . I never thought of a ferry terminal inside a mall ! We don't have that in Philippines yet so I wouldn't have known that kind of set-up . And that pretty much amazed me :)



Our tour guide handed us our Turbo Jet tickets which were included in our Macau package . He gave us instructions as to what time we should get on-board and all other things . When he left , that's when I got the picture of me and Maecel traveling on our own , in a place where both of us were a complete stranger. Now , that's where the real challenge began .


Boarding time
After we passed through the immigration checks , we followed the arrows and signs that led us to boarding area that's bound for Macau .

Turbo Jets in Hong Kong are similar to Super Cat ferries in Cebu - Tagbilran . The major difference is they are huge . When we got on-board, I was praying to get seats that would give me and Maecel the best opportunity to see a lot in the islands . I'd like to see more of the ports and the buildings , and  we were lucky as we were assigned with seats by the window .

Welcome to Macau!!!

 After an hour of ocean ride with turbo jet , we finally reached Macau . We needed to undergo another immigration check , after which we proceeded to the exit area where a tour guide was supposed to meet us. As I said above , Holiday Wold Tour arranged a Macau Tour for us so someone had to pick us up from the terminal .

Our Tour Guide in Macau

Our Macau tour guide could speak English clearly and fluently so he's very easy to understand . Finally we met a guide whom we don't struggle understanding everything he's saying . And he's very nice too . He's not strict with schedule . He would give us more time to take a moment and feel the grandiose of the place , and more time to take photos .

To get to different tourist destinations included in our package , our guide picked us up with a service van that's very comfortable . This is one good thing of having a guided tour because you will get all the convenience you deserve , just like what Maecel and I got . It's so nice to just be seated and do sight seeing without worrying how to get to different places . Here are some beautiful scenes in Macau . I hope my photography was able to capture the magnificent legacy of men's creativeness and brilliant architectural designs .

Macau Fisherman's Wharf

Our first stop was the fisherman's wharf . This was the first destination may be because it's closer to the pier . They said the best time to visit the wharf is evening because of the best lighting they put on all over the amusement park , plus some other entertainment activities like the roller coaster . I'm not into rides but I had wished to see the Vulcania , a replica of a volcano , being lighted . I am pretty sure that looks good at night .

Vulcania

Aladdin's Fort

We were given 15 minutes to go around the park but that wasn't enough especially that we were fascinated by the place and I felt like I needed to take as many photos I could .


Ruins of Saint Paul

Next stop was the famous Ruins of Saint Paul . I'd like to see old structures made of bricks especially those that are being managed by UNESCO or those that have been part of world heritage . I'm not sure if the ruins belong to those type of thing . I didn't make further research . Anyway , it's nice seeing the facade of an old church still standing on the ground .

Of all the places we'd been to in Macau, the ruins was the most crowded . I'd seen people from Korea and there were a lot of Filipinos too .


Macau Tower

Here's the tower that I'd really liked to see and , yeheyyyy , I had my eyes that seemed glued on it when I saw this in person :) It would have been great if we could get to the top of the tower but I guess I would keep myself in contentment by simply seeing it .

The Venetian and City of Dreams :)

Our next and final stop was a visit to famous shopping centers and casino buildings such as the City of Dreams and the Venetian . I like the name "City of Dreams" and personally ,  being in Macau and be in those beautiful wonders I had wished to see , I could say I had my feet set on my own version of "City of Dreams" .  Literally , I dreamed to be in Macau , and it's my city of dreams ! I'd like to see it's evening beauty because I knew I would be amazed by the extravagant decorations of different shades of lights that give the city the majestic view one could ever imagine .

There were a lot more to see in Macau . With cam batteries had gone dead , I couldn't take photos anymore . Nevertheless , I 'd been very delighted to an extreme level because my eyes was fed with the sublime of every men's perfection in designs and the cleverness to come up with those marvelous architecture . Obviously , I was fascinated by the "Vegas" version and the bright lights in the city . This is one of the experiences I will never forget .


Our tour ended at Venetian and from there we took free shuttle bus to the ferry terminal . We were on our own again , and the challenge we had was to get back to the hotel safe , and we did it! When we reached Hong Kong , there's another immigration check that we needed to pass through . Our passport must always be with us all the time otherwise we'd get trouble with immigration .

So we're back in the mall in Tim Sha Tsui . Next  step was to get a taxi back to the hotel . I thought it was an easy job to do but I was wrong . We went straight to the taxi bay where taxis were waiting in queue . When we got in , we asked the driver to take us to Bridal Tea House in Pak Tai Road and the driver responded in Chinese . He spoke Chinese and when I showed him the hotel address on my voucher , he looked like he could not read it . Oh boi , so what would we do next? Hehehe. We stepped out the cab. Maecel and I thought of taking a bus instead. While we were discussing , a group of Chinese teenagers came by the taxi bay and a guy asked us in English if we'd get a taxi .  He spoke good English so we told him we're having difficulty communicating with the taxi driver . That guy was very kind . When we asked him a favor to talk to the driver on our behalf, he did so . In just few minutes , we got the taxi ! We wouldn't get back to the hotel if not through the help of those young Chinese people . Anyway , we were able to get to the destinations we needed to be , and that was an amazing experience for the two of us .


Up Next : Hong Kong DisneyLand


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Ma. Cristina
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila