HK (Part 2)

Last November Mabe', Zoei and I went for a little business/holiday trip to Hong Kong. After Mabe's 5 day training course we decided to go to Disneyland and Ocean Park during the weekend.

Our tickets to Disneyland and Ocean Park. I bought these at a travel agency. It's cheaper than buying them at the gate.

Coming from our hotel we took a train (MTR) ride from Jordan station to Lai King station then transferred to another train going to Sunny Bay station. From Sunny Bay station we then transferred to a Disneyland themed train that took us to Disneyland Resort.

People waiting to board the 'Mickey Mouse' train in Sunny Bay station.

First thing we did when we got there was of course take a family photo. Ryan lent me his gorillapod. But I think my camera was too heavy that I couldn't make it stand the way I wanted it.

When we got inside the park, we saw Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. We wanted to have our photos taken with them, but the queue was too long. We settled with Chip and Dale. 

A bubble blowing Stitch toy.

After checking out the gift shops, we saw Buzz Lightyear. Zoei was still asleep...

It wasn't as cold as we had expected so Mabe' decided to change Zoei's clothes. That gave me time to ride the Space Mountain, an indoor roller coaster. It was awesome! I know it's just a roller coaster, but what sets it apart from the other roller coasters is that you don't know which way you are going. The place is pitch black. You don't get to see the tracks. So every twist and turn is a surprise.

Inside Space Mountain.

Zoei finally woke up after Mabe' changed her clothes. 

She really love those boots!

Most rides were baby friendly so we were able to ride together with Zoei. There's a trolley parking area on most of the rides. You just have to pray all your stuff are still there when you get back. =)  Zoei's first ride... the Orbitron.

Then, the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster...

Zoei was also with us to watch the 3-D attraction in Mickey's PhilharMagic. I think she enjoyed it too, though she didn't wanna wear the 3-D glasses.

Inside Mickey's PhilharMagic theater wearing 3D glasses.

We met other characters that day...

Us with the very tall Woody.

Mabe' and Zoei with Alice.

Zoei with her Minnie Mouse hairband.

Inside the Banquet Hall.

Disneyland Train Station.

Fountain outside the park.

I would love to go back to Disneyland when Zoei's big enough to really enjoy it. Another reason why I wanna come back is because we missed the fireworks display! (One person was too busy buying stuff at the gift shop...)

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Getting to Ocean Park requires a train and then a bus ride. Good thing Ate Liza was free to accompany us. 

First thing of course, take a family photo...

When we got inside, we were welcomed with a circus show.

Zoei enjoying the show.

Here I am enjoying myself until the chinese guy told me I'm not allowed to do a flip.

After the show, we headed off to the Giant Panda Habitat.

Giant panda looking over by the entrance.

You see the black and white thing? That's the lazy panda. 

We then went to the Summit area of the park via Ocean Express which was a short train ride through a mountain.

The revolving Ocean Park Tower which malfunctioned when we were about to ride it. Darn it!

The view from Pacific Pier. I was able to ride all of those rides except for the Ferris Wheel.

The seals inside the Pacific Pier.

We then rode the cable car to go to the Waterfront area then back again to the Summit area.

That's me on the right side with both arms up, enjoying the 'Abyss'!

We ended our day watching the dolphins and sea lions show at the Ocean Theatre.

Ocean Park is huge! A whole day is not enough to see and ride all the attractions inside the park. And by the looks of the ongoing constructions when we visited there, they'll be adding more attractions. So next time we go back to Hong Kong, I'll definitely come back at Ocean Park and try out the other rides that I missed.

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HK (Part 1)

Two weeks ago, Mabe, Zoei and I flew to Hong Kong. Mabe' had to attend a training for a week and we decided that Zoei and I go with her. It was Zoei's first time on the plane so we weren't sure how she'll behave during the 8 hour flight. Well, she was cranky and therefore crying. She couldn't get to sleep in the small bassinet provided by the plane. Mabe' had to swing her to sleep. She was able to sleep for two hours of the flight. Most of the time she was either crying or fiddling with the in-flight magazines. 

Zoei sound asleep at Dubai Airport before our flight departure. 

First thing I noticed when we landed in Hong Kong airport was that there's a lot of old people. I mean, there were groups of old people traveling! You don't see groups of old people here in Dubai or even back in my country. Most old people in my country just stayed home. The old people I saw there were having the time of their lives and traveling around the world! 

A cousin of mine, Liza, has been working in Hong Kong for around 13 years now. So before the trip I contacted her and luckily her place is near the hotel we'll be staying at. We stayed at BP International Hotel which is next to Kowloon Park. So she happily greeted us at the hotel lobby on the day we arrived. The room in the hotel was clean but small. I can live with a small room but, what did upset me was there was no bidet!

Mabe, Zoei and Ate Liza at our first night in Hong Kong.

I think, this was the first time I'd ever seen a 13th floor in a building.

Zoei waiting for our room to be made-up.

I was told that the weather there was already cold, that most people were already wearing jackets during daytime. And they were. I, however, have my armpits sweating just wearing a t-shirt. It's like chinese people have thin skins. And they probably do, 'coz during our one week stay there I only saw a handful number of fat chinese people.  You'll be thin too if you live in Hong Kong. Anyone who've been there would know why. The place was literally built on top of hills. And chinese people love walking. And you know what else they love? Exercising. Everyday, when I walk Mabe' across Kowloon Park to take her to her training venue I see a lot of people, young and old, jogging, doing tai chi, sparring kung fu and dancing. 

A group of dancing ladies at Kowloon Park.

A group of people doing Tai Chi.

Kowloon park.

Pink flamingos roaming freely at one of the ponds in Kowloon Park.

I took this during one of our night walks.

I was able to visit two public parks. Kowloon Park, which is located behind our hotel and Hong Kong Park, which is in Hong Kong Island. Both parks were well kept, clean and free for public. I say free, because parks here in Dubai require a minimal fee to get in. Even the aviaries on both parks were free. The aviary in Hong Kong park was huge. It was just like walking in Jurassic Park, where they have the birds flying freely inside a huge dome. 

Turtles sun bathing at Hong Kong Park's pond 

Inside Hong Kong Park aviary.

One of the steep roads inside Hong Kong Park.

What's more amazing about their parks, is that they have free internet wi-fi connection!

Having lunch inside Jollibee Hong Kong.

We're used to seeing flowers in front of bridal cars, but in Hong Kong teddy bears are more popular. There's even a Mickey and Minnie Mouse version of this.

Because of land scarcity in Hong Kong, there's a lot of skyscraper buildings. There's even a new mall called 'The One', which is 25 story high! 

Our hotel was near to a lot of tourist attractions so we tried to visit as much place as we can during nighttime ('coz Mabe' has training from 9-5pm). We visited Space Museum which turned out to be more suitable for younger audience. I was expecting to see more than replicas of space shuttle and astronaut suit.

A sculpture outside Space Museum.

Me trying out to control the Gyro thingy.

One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

Here I am trying out how to feel like walking on the moon (which just gave me a pain on the crotch afterwards).

My two girls.

A replica of the space shuttle cockpit.

Another attraction to see in Hong Kong is the "A Symphony of Lights" happening every night at 8pm which can be best viewed at Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront between the Avenue of Starts and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. It's a nightly spectacle that combines interactive lights of buildings with musical effects.

Near the viewing area of the light spectacle is the Clock Tower. It stands near the Star Ferry station in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Mabe' having a softee ice cream (HK$ 6).

Every night we would walk out of the hotel and have dinner. We had Chinese, Japanese and even Italian food.

Pasta and pizza at The Spaghetti House.

Inside the 'The Spaghetti House'.

Our orders at a Japanese restaurant inside the 25-story high vertical mall, The One.  

Zoei having her own jarred dinner. 

Resting inside the Miramar Shopping Centre... 

Zoei in her boots, enjoying at Kowloon Park.

Zoei may look healthy in these photos but the reality was she got sick during our stay there. We had to take her to a pediatrician. According to Dr. Shum she had slight flu (inspite the fact that she had a flu shot  2 weeks before our flight) and because of this it affected her digestive system causing her to have diarrhea. Not only was she crying of stomach ache during night time but she also had a terrible diaper rash caused by the acid in her bowel. Poor baby.

Waiting for her appointment with Dr. Shum.

Apparently, according to my cousin, all doctors in Hong Kong mix their own medicine.

Wow, this already has been a long blog post! This post definitely needs a part 2. I still have lots of photos to share during our visit at Disneyland and Ocean Park. So for now... zai jian! 

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