Day 11: Ocean Park

This entry will not have many words as I am sure the many photos will be able to tell you how much fun we had at Ocean Park - a marine-themed amusement park situated in the Southern District of Hong Kong!

Breakfast at one of the local eateries - Set meal for HK$25

We took Citybus Route 629 from Admiralty MTR Station (exit B); Fare was HK$10.60 per person and journey time took us 45min or so on board the air-con double-decker bus… Admission fee to Ocean Park is HK$208… At the entrance, all set and ready to go!!

Prehistoric dinosaur exhibition where you can uncover bones of dinosaurs by meticulously removing the sand from them and learn about the different types of fossils and their histories. This is more for kids really, hahaha...

Us trying out the cute animal hats. Nice!! Didn't buy them though, cos we are sure there isn't further opportunity to wear them after this trip... unless you are going to an amusement park in the future of course... =P

Space Wheel whirls us around at high speed, gradually rising and tilting till it is in vertical orbit! AH felt like vomiting after this ride, Emi felt ok, hahaha...

Ocean Park Escalator is the second longest outdoor escalator in the world and stretches over 225 m from the Marine Land down to the Adventure Land. My Mario Mushroom (aka MMM) is having fun at Ocean Park too!

Mine train in action. This is a super exciting and scenic ride (if your eyes are open) as it's beside the sea... I must say this ride is too exciting for me, my heart won't be able to take it, haha...

MMM and a sea lion basking in the sun. Wait, MMM is a mushroom, not a ball...

Pacific Pier is where California sea lions and different species of seals are displayed.

Ocean Park Tower with its rotating viewing deck provides 360 degrees of sun, sea and sky 200m above sea level

Stunning views of the South China Sea, Hong Kong island and the amusement park

Explore the Indo-Pacific marine ecosystem exactly as it looks under the water at the Atoll Reef. That ice cone costs us HK$28, super expensive lor for a cone of favored ice! But no choice, it's a super sunny day and we need something cold...

Designed as a panoramic coral island, the Atoll Reef spans four floors of aquariums and is home to around 2,000 fishes. Check out the nemo fish, sea horse and black spotted sting ray! So cute!

Flying swing which spins you around as you enjoy the breeze and view of other rides around the area. Relaxing ride!

Emi (the brave one!) went for The Abyss Turbo Drop where the 5 second climb deposits you 20 floors above ground level before it drops you in a vertical free fall to the ground. Wow, exciting! The view from above is also very good!

Taking a break at Ocean Theatre while waiting for the dolphin show to start. Argh, sunny...

Performances by the clever and well-trained dolphins

Sea Jelly Spectacular - this is where you find fluorescent jellyfishes floating serenely. We are mesmerized by the contraction-pulsations movements of these bell-like creatures!

It's time for late lunch at MacDonald!

Finally!! We had to queue for almost an hour just to take the cable car from Marine Land to Lowland Gardens...

Inside the cable car, we are treated to panoramic views of the surrounding area, the amusement park and the sea. The queue is worthwhile after all... hahaha

One of the game stalls where you purchase tokens to play the game and collect points to redeem the toys. Anyone keen to get a bigger version of MMM??

A big and colorful helium balloon will soar up to 100 meters above the ground at Skyfair

At the HKJC Giant Panda Habitat, you can meet two precious giant pandas: An An and Jia Jia. I think it's An An in the photo, hahaha, whatever... Panda looks so soft, adorable and huggable... I want one!!

Party of prehistoric creatures and scenes from Ice Age 3 Dawn of the Dinosaurs Live at Ha Ha Factory

Red pandas from the temperate forest of Mainland China can be found at Giant Panda Adventure

Marvel at the hundreds of sparkling goldfish at Goldfish Treasures

We left the park at around 7pm and decided to take one of the direct buses to Causeway Bay for dinner. Emi saw a 香港小巴 with 'Causeway Bay' sign, raised her hand, and to our surprise (cos we thought it's too late to stop it), the driver immediately did a 'emergency' brake for us to board the bus... hahaha, amazing!

Tap your Octopus card to pay for the displayed price on the electronic notice when you board the bus and press the bell to alight anywhere. You just got to experience a ride in 香港小巴 when you are in Hong Kong, fun! Driver isn't as reckless as we thought... =P

Dinner at Yee Shun Milk Company (famous for its steamed milk products) - Double skin steamed milk (HK$20. This is delicious! It's like a cross between bean curd and custard...) and luncheon meat macaroni soup (HK$18. Average.)

Shopping at Causeway Bay - Sogo

Day 10: Shopping, Tram

It had been a rather ‘cramp’ night (if you know what I mean) with 3 gals sharing a tiny double bed… and it took us quite a while to be ready for our first activity of the day – Lunch at one of the many HK’s dim sum restaurants where the restaurant will be dirty / unhygienic, you get rude waitress shouting at you in Cantonese and superb, delicious dim sum at a fraction of what they will cost in Singapore… (Note: That’s what I had imagined of course… kudos to the many hong kong dramas showing on our local television, hahaha…)

An Octopus card (like our EZ Link card but with more functions) on hand will get you anywhere (re: trains, trams, mini-buses) and anything (re: meals, groceries, shopping)… Very convenient indeed!

Nice and clean MTR station

The chosen dim sum restaurant for our purpose is Lin Heung Tea House. Quote from Time magazine: Proletarian clientele vie for shabby seats at shared tables as ceiling fans whir and an ancient wall clock keeps time — rather pointlessly, given that it's forever 1962 at the Lin Heung ("Fragrant Lotus") Tea House. But if you're going to have dim sum only once during your stay in Hong Kong, this is the place. A decades-old parlor in Hong Kong's Central District, Lin Heung makes no concessions to modernity or to English speakers, so be prepared for pantomime or go with a Cantonese-speaking friend. But what Lin Heung does offer is a tasty and unmediated slice of Old Hong Kong. (Don't leave without trying the lotus paste buns or the glutinous rice dumplings.) The city's culinary and cultural authenticity are potently concentrated in a few surviving places like this. (Nearest MTR: Central)

Lin Heung Tea House is located at 160-164 Wellington St, Central

Interior view of the restaurant

Gotta keep an eye for the push cart (and the auntie) in order to lay our hands on the freshly made and piping hot dim sums!

The roasted meat rice (for SY) and the dim sums (for all) which we had for lunch. Cost: Average 100HKD per person. Verdict: This old-school dim sum restaurant sort of fulfilled 75% of what I imagined it to be... Food was so-so though and we think it's slightly overpriced for its quality.

SY in front of H&M store (her last battle ground) with her shopping…

…and waiting for the airport bus to arrive. Today’s her last day in Hong Kong, bye for now!

After we sent SY off, the rest of the planned activities are… 买东西吃东西 (buy things, eat things)! Hahaha… sounds exactly like the advertisement by HK Tourist Board right??

Tea break – mango ice and herbal jelly – at 许留山

At one of the three local toy stores found along Tai Yuen Street (which is very near to our hotel) where you can find and buy collectible toys (as seen in the showcase), children toys, party wares, etc... Emi bought a cute tin clock tower where the bird will pop in/out as the key unwinds. Very simple and cool gadget!

Dinner – bowl of wanton noodles soup – at one of the local eateries near our hotel. Cost: 16HKD

As it’s pretty late (around 9.30pm) and most of the shops have closed or are going to close, we decided to experience a electric tram ride to Western Market and back! Hong Kong Tramways is one of the three tramways in the world that have regular operation of double-decker trams and is the only system that runs exclusively on double-deckers. You will need to enter the tram via the back door and alight via the front door; Fare: NT$2 to be paid when you alight and this can be paid for using Octopus card.

Sceneries along the relatively short journey (abt 20min) from Wan Chai to Western Market and back… We enjoyed the tram ride very much!!

Mini poll

What were you doing on the 9th September 2009 at 9.09am?

Day 9: Hong Kong

We woke up at 6AM (super early hor!!), took a cab down to Taipei Railway Main Station, boarded the airport bus for Taipei Taoyuan International Airport and checked in our luggage for the 10.15AM Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong.

Goodbye Taiwan !! …

Waiting in the long queue to check in our luggage…

Our last purchases in Taiwan… AH got a can of coke with her last remaining coins; Emi got a box of 太阳饼; SY got a guidebook for Hong Kong / Macau

… Welcome to Hong Kong !!

AH proceeded to take a coach from Hong Kong airport to Shen Zhen, Huanggang Port (1hr journey time, cost: 100 HKD) to meet up with her two friends while Emi / SY made their way via airport coach (1hr journey time) and with their own luggage plus one of AH’s luggage to Wan Chai distinct. Our hotel - Mingle by the Park – is conveniently located and a 5min walk away from Wan Chai station. A double room with complementary coffee/tea, free Internet and free video-audio library of 300+ movies (this is so cool right??) where we watched a few movies during our stay on the 26" LCD TV. Cost: HK$260 per room per night – pretty reasonable!

HK room is super small! There is barely any walking space after we lined our luggage along the wall, hahaha.. Oh well, you just have to sit, read, write, etc.. basically do everything on the bed itself.

Emi / SY rested in the hotel for a while (thanks gals! =P I appreciate your help to bring my luggage to the hotel room first…) before proceeding to the nearby eateries for late lunch…

Famous congee stall near our hotel

Dessert chain – 许留山 – serves delicious desserts and can be found all around HK

Street stall selling fishball/ meatball/ etc on satay sticks

…and shopping at Ladies Market, one of the most popular shopping street markets where you can find bargain-priced clothing, bags, accessories, toys, cosmetics and household knick-knacks stalls. Place is open from noon until 11:30pm. Direction: MTR Mong Kok Station Exit E2, then walk along Nelson Street for two blocks.

First time visitor to Hong Kong should not miss 1) Symphony of Lights, the world's largest permanent light-and-sound show, held nightly at 8pm at Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, 2) a romantic stroll down Avenue of Stars and 3) panoramic night view of Victoria Harbour and skyscrapers on Hong Kong island.

Symphony of Lights - an orchestration of music, decoration lights and laser light displays – lasts for about 14 mins

SY and a passing cruise boat

Camera roll – Take 1 – Emi heard someone calling her name…and ????

On the other side in Shen Zhen, AH managed to locate her friends, had a nice lunch, went for a shopping spree at East Gate market (re: quoting my fren ‘cheap cheap clothes, bags and accessories etc’), had a super scrumptious seafood dinner, returned to Hong Kong, and made her way to the hotel…

Lunch. Weird jelly-like vegetable. Such a gigantic bowl of fish broth for less than SGD$5 !!

Scrumptious seafood dinner… baked oysters with cheese, steamed fish, steamed prawns, crayfish, etc…