Exploring Hongkong
Before we get further waylaid by the alluring signs of discounted sales in the shops surrounding our hotel, on our second day, we joined a tour group for the complimentary Hongkong city tour (included in our package) led by our animated guide, Jackie. She is the epitome of a person who is really suited for her profession and loves what she does as well --- she has little anecdotes and tidbits of local lore about all the places that we pass by!
The day started with a heavy downpour of rain, enough to cast a really disheartened smile on most of us. I even remarked to J-Blogged “how can we even take a decent photo ops in this rain??”. But amazingly, by the time we arrived at our first destination (it took us 1 hour as we need to pick up other tour members at their hotels), the sun was coming out and the rain has lessened down to a drizzle.
Aberdeen Fishing Village
A ride on a local sampan is a must for all Hong kong first-timers. Located on the southern tip of Hongkong Island, the Aberdeen Fishing Village still shows sign of the old Hongkong with junk boats and traditional sampans anchored in the floating village (reminded me of our trip to Siem Reap a few years back). Due to the housing shortage and the congestion in the city, a lot of local residents still prefer to live on their houseboats.
But modern life does encroach in all aspects of Hongkong life, take a look at this yacht --- reminded me of a Koreanovela (Korean tv series) I saw before where the ultra-rich heroine got drunk and fallen off a similar-looking boat and had amnesia. Oh well, that’s another story…..
Looming in the background is this huge seafood floating restaurant docked in the village as well. The Jumbo Floating Restaurant is another hyped-up touristy place which will cost you about 400-500HK$ per meal. We don’t have that much money so we just cruised by and took a photo of the place! Lol
Repulse Bay
Named after a battle in the 19th century where the British “repulsed” the pirates who came to attack the city. Repulse Bay has white sand beaches and clear blue waters but only a few areas are designated as safe for swimming, roped off with shark prevention nets around it (there was apparently a shark attack a few years back hence the protection measures).
Just a little farther, a few steps away, is the colorful Kwun Yum Shrine with the gigantic statues of goddesses, Kwun Yum and Tin Hau. The place was swarming with tourists and locals alike. We had to find ingenuous ways to take photographs without the hordes as our background!
Again, thanks to our tour guide Jackie, I know where to go to ask for “blessings”. Near the entrance is the god of happiness (characterized by the huge smile lighting up his face) and the god of wealth (siempre, hinaplos-haplos talaga namin! Hahaha). I copied the lady in front of me, when she was praying she was alternately putting her hand on the icon going towards her opened bag, when I asked someone they said that it means put all the blessings/money inside the bag, "pera pera pumasok ka...."
Jewelry Factory & Souvenir Outlet
I think it’s a given that once you go on a “package tour”, the complimentary city tour will always end up with a visit to a place where they will sell you something “discounted”. Our second to the last stop was the Jewelry Factory. When we came into the lobby, we were greeted by a Pinay-sounding lady (she really is 100% Pinay) who proceeded to explain about birth stones and their significance, then she took us around the workshop area where all the craftsmen were busy in their desks (photography is not allowed inside kaya wala akong pic inside) designing and crafting the jewelry items on display.
The tour ended at the Souvenir Shop located in Tsim Sha Tsui area, it sells souvenir items like HK t-shirts in bulk (you can get 3 t-shirts for 100HK$ and other items). Shopping in Hongkong is not what it was (as it was hyped before), it is definitely more expensive that the other Asian cities that we’ve been to. Certainly more expensive than Bangkok or even Singapore for that matter!
A little bit of advice especially for Pinoys who wants to go to Hongkong, it will be cheaper for us to go via a travel agency as they have amazing packages on hotels and flights. For me and J-Blogged , we flew via Hongkong Express then had a complimentary HK City tour and 3 nights twin-sharing accommodation at Shamrock Hotel including free breakfast for less than U$400 each! (If you want the name and contact details of my travel agent, just send me a note!)
Comments