My Much Awaited HK-Macau Trip

The most common Asian country for Filipinos to visit is Hong Kong. I haven’t been here ever so that is why I call this “much-awaited”. Colleagues told me to switch the itinerary by prioritizing Macau and make HK the side trip. However, with less discounts and travel sked options from Manila to Macau, I opted for the HK fare.

My previous boss, a Swiss and a backpacker, was the one who taught me how to use the lonely planet. So when he left the Philippines to go back to Switzerland, he left me most of his lonely planet travel guides, and one of them was, yes, HK & Macau book. It was perfect!

I went with 2 other friends on February 1, 2012. Luckily, flight was on time. I also prepared a good itinerary and the guesthouse I made a reservation with instructed me to take the Airport Express, then get off at Hong Kong Station.

The Airport Express was so clean! In the cart, there was just 3 of us and 3 other passengers. I am very impressed with the maintenance of this train which charges 210 HKD for group of 3 people. It is a good deal considering this only takes 30 minutes to reach HK Island. We got off at HK stop and took a free bus (H2) that will drop us at Excelsior Hotel in Causeway bay, about 9 stops away.

Alisan Guesthouse offered to pick us up from Excelsior but we wanted to soak into causeway bay so we decided to find our way to Hoi To Court. After a few confusions, we finally found it. You may contact this clean guesthouse through Winda (or the owner named Tommy) through (852)-28380762 or E-mail : alisangh@hkstar.com. Winda replies promptly so feel free to ask a room and book. My travel buddy who was in HK 2 months ago (December 2011) swears it is cheaper and spacious than their hotel in Yau Ma Tei area. As for me, the bed mattresses are nice to sleep on, sheets are clean, and bathroom is small but well equipped with heater and exhaust. Tommy charged us only 700HKD per night.

Alisan Guesthouse Address: Flat A 5th floor, Hoito Court, 275 Gloucestar Road, 23 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay

We rested for a while before we headed to see the lovely view of Victoria Peak at night time. Vincent knew how to get there so please forgive me as I did not lead the route getting there. All I can remember is we took a train going to Admiralty and took an interchange then walked towards a road leading upwards to Victoria Peak. Suggestion: if you are visiting this at night time, go for 7pm. We were there as early as 5pm and the line was going around in circles with too many people. After 7pm, you will notice there’s almost no one lining up outside. Actually, along the way and back, you will get to appreciate many other city spots and parks worth snapping a photo of, so enjoy the view by keeping your itinerary loose.

Airport Express

Alisan Guest House

On our way to Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak

Dimsum at Causeway Bay

Dimsum at Causeway Bay

Continental Breakfast in front of Alisan Guest House

 

Victoria Peak is not for the broken-hearted, I’m telling you. If you plan to do some soul-searching, traveling on your own, and you are recuperating from a bad break-up, do not in any way visit Hong Kong. Do not in any way visit the Victoria Peak. I’ve been to some peaks in Manila, New York, Chicago, and so far, Victoria Peak nails it. I think it is because the view is not too high up that it still brings out the city lights and the building outlines so well, and not too low that it can still be called a peak.

Back to causeway bay, I have always wanted to have a food trip of authentic dimsums. Luckily we found this little store that serves what appears to be steamed siomai and shanghai rolls. Even their fried versions look steamed but I loved it! The consistency of the wrap was just delicious, and the meat was combined with turnip, just like the home made ones back in Manila! Just like how my mom and dad made them!

Day 2 is Ocean Park. We had breakfast across the guesthouse and they serve continental breakfast. Then from the guesthouse, you will just need to walk towards the bus stop which will take you to Ocean park in just a maximum of 15 minutes. Really I was surprised. Walk to Cannon Street, Gloucester Road, take the 671 Bus towards Ap Lei Chau (12 mins, 1 stop), Getting off to Aberdeen Tunnel, Walk to Ocean Park, about 5 mins (280 m).

One thing I missed in Ocean Park? The rides! These rides are so scary that my 2 travel buddies did not support my desire to try them. So if you are the thrill-seeker, bring equally thrill-seeker buddies to Ocean Park and brave the rides!

Do not miss these things in Ocean Park:

1. Cable Car ride
2. Jelly fish
3. Panda

On the way back to Alisan, we decided to check out the malls in Causeway Bay for a bit. We found some really nice flat shoes worth 100HKD, and in HK, they were all about the in thing in 2012: leopard leopard leopard prints in all shades and in all items! Gosh, what a haven for fashionistas!

If you are a person who eats a lot of rice, then you won’t get much from Causeway Bay. We had to settle with a Japanese restaurant (Itamae-Sushi, Cuaseway Bay) on the night of Day 2 just to satisfy our rice craving. I do not find the restaurant a budget restaurant, so after this, we still decided to look for 7-eleven and bought more food. Me and Vincent tried the street food in Causeway bay too.

Not bad for the streetfood by the way! For 4 to 8HKD, you can get a stick of whatever. I am not very familiar with some but I did try the squid. It was tasty!

After Dinner, we went back to the guest house to rest for a bit. Then we took the train going to Mongkok. The night market was in Argyle street. It wasn’t much, I barely bought anything, just a zebra printed flat shoes, a sequined purse with metal hasp and short chain handle, and of course fridge magnets!

So Day 3 is reserved for Macau. It was a long walk really. We took the train towards the HK ferry port, but you have to walk inside this mall where the ticketing booths are. The ferry ride itself is just a short one, a couple of minutes more than an hour, not bad. You will have to leave your luggage in designated areas at the back then take your seats as indicated in the seat number on the ticket. The price can range from HK$133 - HK$175. In our case, I think we paid about HK$175, and it was a Friday morning.

How the ferry looks like inside :)

Moving around Macau

This is the chicken in HK and Macau McDonald's

We arrived at Macau before lunch and we struggled looking for a nice place to stay. We did not have any bookings, but I did arrange for some lodge/guesthouses that we can check out. However, either they were too high up like 4^th floor with no elevators, or too expensive for budget travelers. We got to these lodges by way of a free bus from the airport going to Lisboa Hotel, which is the nearest to the lodges that we sort of picked from the Lonely Planet list.

In all my travels, I have never found it hard to use a map, most of all, a lonely planet map! But in Macau, oh boy, this is just like the small streets in the Philippines. Macau has very clear street names alright, they are even on tiles and stone markers, but the streets just curve in complicated manners. You need a lot of mapping skills on this one. It is not like the grid maps of the U.S. So get ready.

Alas, we found this really nice hotel called the Hotel Nan Tin. In the internet, it is listed as Nam Tin but the receipt says Nan Tin. The hotel charged us 800 MOP for the night which includes a delayed check out of 3:30pm the following day.

Hotel Nan Tin

Travessa da Praia Grande, no. 4, Macau

(853) 2871 1212/(853) 2871 1115

The hotel is not bad, it is spacious for a budget hotel and has wifi but it actually works in the lobby. The rooms are like real hotel rooms. We were on the second floor, but don’t worry about your luggage because they have an elevator!

Now it’s time to eat, and we won’t forget the McDonald’s we saw just after we took a free bus from the ferry port going to Lisboa Hotel. Again, I compared the chicken and it is just very much the same in taste as the McDonald’s chicken in HK (I must say, the McDonald’s oriental chicken wings in Beijing is still unbeatable).

It was the best time to be in HK and Macau, and it is colder in Macau by just 2-5 degrees. We walked towards the Lisboa (yes the Nam Tin Hotel is also very near the Grand

Lisboa and Wynn Hotels) with the plan of going to the Venetian. On our way, I have to say, Macau, I just fell in love with you. The Grand Lisboa was a sight to behold. The building itself was flashing its own lights and messages. The casino hotel was a spectacular play of colors! I can just sit on the gutter, put my hands under my jaws and just stare!

So we had to take the bus back to the ferry port. From the ferry port, we took another free bus that led us to the Venetian. On the way, we spotted a much grander looking hotel than the Venetian and it is the Galaxy Hotel. This hotel just knows what “peacocking” is!

Free bus to the Venetian

Just across the Venetian

Ala Jan Di of Boys Over Flowers

Galaxy Macau

Inside Galaxy Macau

 

So as everyone else, we went inside the gondola areas of the Venetian, promising ourselves to cross the street and visit the Galaxy next. I just had to take photos ala Jan Di of Boys over Flowers, pretending to be crying over Jun Pyo. Fine, I’m a sucker for Korean Novelas! I also bought my usual Starbucks city tumblers from the Starbucks at the Venetian Hotel. We paused for some coffee since it was cold and coffee just sounded such a lovely idea.

We crossed the street towards Galaxy macau. We took some photos and I recorded a video of the hotel because it shoots ray lights everywhere and it was so fun! Inside, we went to look for the tall greeters in Galaxy Macau. Vincent, who already visited the place 2 months ago in December 2011, told us we should go to the crystals area. It was a nice lobby filled with man-made crystals adorned with moving lights. In the other lobby, we missed the show, but we luckily found those tall girls and took photos with them. Really, Jickie and I looked like hobbits beside the girls.

Funny hobbits :-P

 

So Day 4 is the last day, Februray 4, 2012. We had breakfast at the senado square. The stores don’t open as early as in Manila (many shops open for breakfast in Manila), but we did manage to find a lot of rice yay! I had rice and chicken curry.

We hurried towards the senado square itself. Going through the walk leading to the ruins of St. Paul, we enjoyed shopping for treats like nuts (try the wintergreen melon), dried fruit, and beef jerky. Street food near the ruins of St. Paul was a bit pricey so I just opted for the best egg tarts in the world.

I love Macau, everything is affordable! I love Senado Square! This place is my idea of food trip! The weather just helped too, cold and fit for walking forever!

Best Egg Tarts!

I checked out the Saint Augustine church while my friends took advantage of the sale in Esprit. On my way, I found a really nice looking Chinese food store with all those hanging ducks and pork. I bought food for lunch and made a mental note of the place should my friends decide to eat there. It was very affordable. As expected, I went back with my friends and we had our lunch there.

We were rushing back to Nan Tin because it was 3pm. We all took some calling cards so we can refer this hotel for people who want to stay in Macau as it was hard to find. We took the ferry back to HK, and the express train back to HK airport. It was sad leaving Macau too soon. As well, I loved HK. If I get back to HK< for sure, I will hit the rides in Ocean Park.

I also loved my company. It is the best travel mix of 3 people. In my experience, 3-4 people who are all backpackers or at least low-maintenance people will go well with travelling on a budget.