Our First Day Exploit - Hong Kong / Shenzhen / Macau Family Trip

What more a Dad can ask for if his eldest son was included on top 10 of recently held Marketing Professional certification exam while passing his Business Administration course with flying colors.

Due to this, as a reward to his effort, we decided to return back to Hong Kong and this time with side trips to Shenzhen and Macau. Disneyland and Ocean Park were not included anymore in our itinerary so as to maximize our sight-seeing in Hong Kong. The trip would last for 6D/5N and would cost me my last year's entire performance bonus and a dip in our savings, lol.

We left for Hong Kong on 21st of April from Clark Airport. Sad to say, we can't bring our beloved family car with us so we left her for 5 nights at Clark's Park N Fly.

Our flight from Clark was around 7 AM thus we left our home at exactly 3 AM. Due to excitement, our kids didn't sleep and simply waited until the time we need to leave our home. The travel to Clark was a breeze; we grabbed a quick breakfast at a 24 hour Jollibee outlet outside the Main Gate of Clark Freeport Zone.

We arrived in Hong Kong Airport at past 9 AM and as planned we did the following:

* Proceeded to CTS counter at A04 (take the leftmost exit upon retrieving your luggage). We bought 5 vouchers for Ngong Ping at 135 HKD per person standard cabin round-trip. Don't forget this step in case you plan to visit Ngong Ping. The voucher would allow you to bypass the long queue at Ngong Ping ticket counter. However, you still need to exchange the voucher into ticket in a separate window or counter. Better yet, ask immediately any roaming NP staff where to exchange your NP voucher so you won't waste your time in a wrong queue.
* Bought 5 Octopus cards at 150 HKD each from the MTR counter.
* Bought a local SIM card at 7-11 for 60 HKD

Since our hotel was in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, we took the Urban Taxi (red color) from the airport. The actual fare was 242 HKD plus 80 HKD for toll fee and 20 HKD for our 2 big luggages. Considering that we were 5 in our group, the 342 HKD fare was reasonable since the taxi brought us directly in front of our hotel. Be aware though that you need to show beforehand to both airport taxi dispatcher and taxi driver the hotel address in Chinese characters.

Iron Man at Hysan Place

We arrived at Minihotel, Causeway Bay at lunch time. Since our room wasn't available yet, we left our luggage and strolled at nearby Times Square Plaza and had our lunch at McDonald's. We visited Victoria Park as well. We noticed that most domestic helpers spending their day-offs at VP were from Indonesia; this place used to be crowded with our "kabayans" during Sunday many years back. It is likely that they have a new place to spend their weekly day-offs.

We checked in at 2 PM; after settling down we raced to World Wide Plaza at Central by Ding Ding Tram from Causeway Bay; we plan to visit Shenzhen, China thus we need to arrange our trip with a local tour agency since we were not able to apply for China visa in Philippines. Moreover, travelling by Tram while at the upper deck was a thrilling experience for the entire family. It was like watching a movie about the daily lives of Hong Kong residents. We alighted at Peddler Street and paid 2.30 HKD each using Octopus card.

"Kabayans" at World Wide Plaza

"kabayans" lining up the hallways

Pinoy foods on sale inside WWP

We saw World Wide Plaza at the other corner of the intersection. Being Sunday, it came as no surprise when we saw ant-like numbers of our "kabayans" in and around WWP. So this is where our "kabayans" are spending their day-offs. You can see them occupying even the side street of WWP. Entering the building was an arduous task for us due to crowded hallways. It was pretty difficult as well to reach the 3rd floor where the travel and tour agencies are located.

We searched for a tour agency that can arrange for a trip to Shenzhen, China. Our itinerary was actually flexible; we can either go to Shenzhen or Macau on the following day depending on the release of our Shenzhen visa. Fortunately, we found one small tour agency being managed by Filipinas that was able to arrange our Shenzhen trip the following day. The price of our Shenzhen tour was 350 HKD each inclusive of lunch, transportation (Shenzhen only) and guided tour. More details of our Shenzhen tour on our Second Day Exploit.

After closing the deal for our Shenzhen tour we took our snack at nearby Chee Kei. Initially, my kids wanted to eat at Jollibee. They were caught by "homesickness frenzy" by our "kabayans" lining up the small Jollibee outlet at the back of WWP. Wife raised her voice and the kids returned back to their senses, lol. Family ordered Wanton Noodles while I enjoyed Mushroom Noodles. They found the noodles quite firm compared with our own "pinoy" style noodles. Nevertheless, they enjoyed the experience especially when they noticed that the menu was "para sa mga pinoy" during Sunday and Holidays. Indeed, we noticed plenty of our "kabayans" dining at Chee Kei.

On our way to Star Ferry Pier

After a filling snack, we followed the Star Ferry street sign. After around 30 minutes of walking on elevated footbridge we arrived at the pier. Trust me, you won't get lost when searching for Star Ferry pier while in Central, Hong Kong.

We selected the upper deck and paid 3.40 HKD by Octopus card.

The entire trip was unforgettable for all of us since it was our first time to ride Star Ferry.

We disembarked at Harbour City, Kowloon and after spending 30 minutes inside we opted to visit the nearby Old Clock Tower. The view from here was stunning. In addition, the sea breeze would surely enliven and reinvigorate your tired body. Fortunately it was a cloudy afternoon thus it was bearable to stay outside and exposed to Hong Kong's summer temperature.

Elevated view deck at the Old Clock Tower

We stayed here for an hour before we called it a day. We paid a visit at nearby Cafe De Coral for our dinner before returning back to our hotel by MTR. We need to take rest and do some preparations since we would be travelling to Shenzhen the following day.

Though that was our first day, we had several first time activities in Hong Kong making this family trip another memorable event for all of us.

For our Shenzhen exploit: Our Second Day Exploit - Shenzhen

Happy Stripes goes Hong Kong

Hey ladies! Watch out for Happy Stripes' limited and personally hand-picked Hong Kong collection to be released on 01 May 2013.

During our recent family trip to Hong Kong/Shenzhen/Macau, Happy Stripes has found a great source of Korean and Japanese trendy ladies apparel at an affordable price.

We want you to be the happiest ladies thus we are now bringing you the prettiest clothes from Hong Kong.

Happy Stripes will be selling trendy ladies apparel from Bangkok and Hong Kong from here on.

Like our FB page to have a constant update: HappyStripes

Spotted - Tourist Attractions at Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I spotted this compact list of tourist attractions in Phnom Penh City hanging inside a remork or tuk tuk.

Hence, for undecided tourists in PP, no worries at all. Just take a remork or tuk tuk and select the place you want to visit and negotiate for the fare.

A clever way for a tuk tuk driver to grab the attention of his passenger (tourist) at PP City.

Dad's Review - Travel in Style - Emirates Business Class

Being a Silver Skywards member I am entitled for an automatic class upgrade in case the flight is fully booked; I used to be a Gold Skywards member. Unfortunately, my company decided to change our airlines to Qatar Airways due to Emirates cancellation of flights to Yemen during the so-called "Arab Spring" a few years back thus my membership was downgraded several times.

Anyhow, during boarding, whenever the Emirates ground crew validates my boarding pass and the machine shows red light my blood pressure goes high as well, lol. It means my economy class boarding pass would be upgraded into business class. This usually happens during peak season such as Christmas and summer vacation where throngs of OFW are eagerly traveling back to Philippines for vacation and returning back to their jobs.

Obviously, there are lots of reasons why a typical working Dad loves to be upgraded to business class.

wide touch screen LCD

First and foremost is the welcome drink that will greet you upon settling down on the spacious and comfy seat. You will be offered fresh juices or wines. In my case, I always appreciate a glass of Champagne.

a multimedia tablet controller

Long haul flights can be taxing and boring. Imagine being inside a plane in a company of hundreds of strangers and nowhere to go for at least 8 hours. I remember decades back, when I used to work in Saudi Arabia, after dinner time we would watch a projection type movie on the front partition wall and some small overhead CRT TV's installed in strategic location inside the plane. You have only two choices; either you watch the movie or go to sleep. That was eons of years ago, lol.

On the other hand, imagine having more than 200 movies (some of them are new releases) to watch and hundreds of music collections and countless of games at the tip of your finger with matching 20 inch personalized flat screen in front of you. Sounds great? Yup, especially if you have a tablet as controller where you can even adjust your seat position or check the progress of your flight. Added treat is a full stereo noise canceling headphone. Don't even bother bringing this headphone with you because it is tailor made for Emirates flight and you won't be able to use it on any of your electronic sound system. In addition, you can even place a call during the flight but this service is quite pricey.

Fancy a drink?

I love the Chinese Beef

The food and drinks in any business class would rival a decent fine dining restaurant. In economy class, the flight stewardess would normally ask chicken or beef? Whereas in Emirates business class you can select a mouth watering dish from the menu; you have at least 3 choices. Trust me, the food taste great and the presentation is appealing. After the main course, I asked for fresh fruits as dessert and it came with a heavenly taste Godiva chocolate. Perfect for bottomless french red wine.

After meal, it is now time for my favorite activity during the flight; watch movies until I fall asleep. Aside from thick and comfy blanket and a bigger and fresh pillow, they are putting a 1 inch thick mattress on top of your seat making it somewhat like a bed. Yes, I mentioned like a bed because the seat can be reclined to almost 180 degrees without bothering the passengers at your back. Ooops, before I forget I need to press down a motorized blind as well since I don't want the sunlight seeping through my window while I am asleep. And for a bit of privacy, I can even raise the partition panel in between passengers.

Oftentimes, I read the in-flight magazines using a personalized reading lamp just above my head. This would focus the light directly to where I need it unlike the economy class overhead lamp which sometimes disturb your seat mate if not properly focus to you.

Breakfast comes in several selections. The fresh croissant is superbly soft and buttery while the firm wheat bread is a perfect partner for a steaming brewed coffee. Sometimes I ask for a choco muffin.

During the entire flight, they distribute a thick and steaming hot hand towel so you can freshen up from time to time. All Dads love the feeling of having a hot towel being rubbed on their face and neck after several hours of sleep. It also provides a clean feeling before and after the meal.

Toilet? You share common toilets with the pilot and his co-pilot. Free shaving and dental kits and sealed comb inside, not to mention the Emirates face towel which I love to collect since it can be used by my youngest kid who perspire a lot in school.

After a couple of movies and a few hours of sleep I would be arriving at the airport feeling fresh and well rested unlike when I travel in economy class; I normally arrive soggy and tired. The best thing also is you would be ahead of the pack when you disembark. 

aside from the usual pair of socks and eye cover I collect these complimentary Bulgari toiletries and other personal effects

For my other business class experiences, Qatar Airlines business class seat edges Emirates due to seat massager incorporated to their business class seats. I definitely love that kind of seat since having a massage after lying for several hours is a welcome relief for a Dad of my age, lol. In addition, their complimentary light jacket and pants is a great give away to my brothers. Whereas for Etihad Airlines, they have a small nicely designed cubicle for their business class passengers. Cathay Pacific? It is too generic and basic though I love their in-flight Chinese food.

It is really blissful for any Dad to travel in business class; aside from the complimentary amenities, the service is definitely great as  well. They would really pamper you during the flight. Actually, the in-flight service is really above par in all airlines' business class to say the least. Not to mention the usually gorgeous lady stewardess attending the business class area.

Thailand - Bangkok Temple Hopping 4 - Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat)

While roaming around Khao San area, actually I was quite far from Khao San, a particular structure grabbed my attention. I saw it while walking along Ratchadamnoen Road. Initially, I thought that the structure was some sort of a royal palace. It never occurred to me that I was staring at one of the most unique Buddhist temple in the world.

This temple is the 3rd Loha Prasat (Metal Castle) in existence and built in 1846 during the reign of Rama III. The other two and built earlier can be found in India and Sri Lanka but they are in ruins. Because of this, this temple is not only one of its kind in Thailand but in the whole Buddhist world. Not to mention that this temple, unlike the other two Loha Prasat, was built as a Chedi rather than a monastery.

This temple has 37 metal spires signifying the 37 virtues leading to enlightenment in Buddhism.

It is a 3-storey structure. You would find a museum at the ground floor, a meditation area and library at the second floor while a breathtaking view of surrounding area would welcome you upon reaching the 3rd floor. You can have a 360 degrees view of the surrounding  areas from the 3rd floor. 

A metal spiral staircase is located at the middle of the structure. Likewise, the urn containing the Buddha's relics is secured inside the highest and central spire. 

This Wat can be considered as an off-the-beaten-path-unique-temple due to fewer tourists frequenting this place. You would seldom see this temple in many tourist maps. In fact, it was by chance that I passed along this area on my way to "The Golden Mount." Added treat for tourist, aside from free entrance, is the nearby ordination hall and in case you have sturdy legs you can even visit The Golden Mount nearby.

To know its exact location, you may refer to my post: Roaming around Bangkok - Part 2





You may check my Bangkok temple hopping posts:

- Bangkok Temple Hopping 1 - Wat Po (Temple of The Reclining Buddha)
- Bangkok Temple Hopping 2 - Wat Saket (Temple of Golden Mount)
- Bangkok Temple Hopping 3 - Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
- Bangkok Temple Hopping 4 - Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat)
- Bangkok Temple Hopping 5 - Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha)

Budget Airlines - A boon to Filipino travelers

Many years back, a middle-class Filipino family would find it prohibitive to travel even to nearby Hong Kong due to exorbitant cost of plane tickets; air travel used to be the within the sphere of the rich and elite Filipinos.

Nowadays, many budget airlines have sprouted. They even offer big discount if you'll book your flight months ahead. However, you need to be prepared for no-frills service which means no complimentary snacks and drinks but you can buy them in-flight. Be prepared as well to bring your own gadgets since you have to entertain yourself during the entire flight; there is no audio/video facilities. Well, for around 2 hours flight, it is not a big deal actually. Passengers are allowed to bring packed lunch or drinks (except Air Asia), Ipads and android tablets. In my case, I used my Walkman with noise cancelling while indulging a can of beer bought in-flight.

I remember a couple of years back, when travel ban to Yemen was imposed due to so-called "Arab Spring," my eldest and I went to Hong Kong so I would be able to leave Philippines. We hurriedly booked our ticket at PAL and paid a whopping 19k pesos for round-trip tickets for both of us. Quiet pricey but my company reimbursed all our expenses including Disney tickets. It was great, all Dads love freebies!

Moving ahead, in December 2011, my family (wife & 3 kids) visited me in Hong Kong to celebrate Christmas with me since I can't spend my vacation in Philippines due to lingering travel ban to Yemen. Due to lack of preparation, they paid 48k pesos to Cebu Pacific. This time I paid all their expenses from my own pocket. Anyhow, that was one of our best Christmases.

Few days back, my eldest graduated college and placed no 7 in the Marketing Professional examination board. As our gift to him, my wife and I planned a family trip again to Hong Kong with side trip to Macau and China. This time we did the preparation as early as 6 months back and booked SEAIR or Tiger airways from Clark. We were fortunate because they were having a Hong Kong promo at that time. We paid 20k + pesos for 5 people round-trip with checked-in luggage of 50 kg both ways since aside from bringing tons of snacks to Hong Kong we were planning to search for ladies clothes for our online shop too. Wife and I were elated because of huge savings. More saving means additional budget for shopping, she said. My excitement was short lived :-(

20,645 pesos for 5 people - round trip to HKG & MLA

However, few days back, I received a flight notice from Tiger Airways. Due to network review, their flight back to Clark (DMIA) was moved the following day. Hence, instead of spending 4 nights in Hong Kong, we will stay there for 5 nights. It means additional 1 night hotel, transport, food, Park N Fly, etc. While family is rejoicing, surely, all Dads would fret about this change of plan.

Our Hong Kong plane fare was cheaper than our usual Bangkok plane fares which range from 12k to 14k pesos round-trip for 2 person though I must admit that Bangkok was a bit farther than Hong Kong.

In all our flights using different budget airlines, to minimize the fare, we never avail any of their extra services such as:
- seat selector
- in-flight meals
- first to board
- sports equipment fee

Trust me, you don't need these extra services. I just hope that we will never encounter a cancelled flight with budget airlines since I am sure we won't have any choice but to sleep at the airport. 

Cambodia - Tonle Sap Floating Village from Kompong Khleang

Tonle Sap or "The Great Lake" is quite unique in a sense that its water flow outward to Mekong river during dry season and reverses itself during rainy season. Either way, the locals are able to cope-up with this natural event by living in floating houses. Initially, I simply expected boats converted into houses but I was wrong; I saw real houses with balcony and terraces floating at Tonle Sap.

Moori and some of his friends accompanied me to this memorable trip while we were waiting for their friend's wedding reception to start at Kompong Khleang. We came here by tuk-tuk which made the trip more exciting and dusty, lol. We went to a nearby small pier and negotiated/hired a medium size boat for four of us for 20 USD (round trip) and was worth every cent. Comparing with other boat fare going to other floating villages, ours was dirt cheap. I believe the boat operator can't refuse my new friends who are tuk tuk drivers, unless he is willing to lose tourists/clients from these guys. It was dry season at that time and Kompong Khleang was bustling with life due to lake's low water level.


It took us around 30 minutes boat travel along the river before we reached the open lake. On our way we met several boats with tourists traversing the river as well.

Once we reached the open lake, the sight became stunning and magical. Tonle Sap is really enormous in size. I wonder how huge this lake would be during rainy season.

We roamed around the area and some kids started waving at us; a dog barked at us as well.

While in the area, I saw a bigger tourist boat which attracted some boat vendors. I am fortunate that Moori brought me to this place and not to some tourist traps at Chong Kneas as I read on the net.

Another 30 minutes was spent around the area before we decided to return back to Kompong Khleang to catch-up with the wedding reception.

Indeed, Tonle Sap is one of the most memorable places I have visited since it is quite fascinating to imagine living in that place far from the worries of modern day living.