Lost in Hong Kong: Epilogue

My nerdy sensibilities satisfied, I decided to explore the rest of Tsim Sha Tsui in a totally random manner with the boardwalk as my endgame. By this time it was already around 4pm, which meant I had approximately two hours to kill before heading back to the airport in time. My phone was also about to die so I had to shut it down eventually to conserve battery after taking exactly ten photos around the boardwalk (I literally counted them just now; didn't know they numbered ten back then).

The soy milk was so yummy I bought another one with a different flavour in a 7-11.

I saw a queue that led to this Vitasoy Go! van upon exiting the park. The tetra packs of flavoured soy milk were given for free so of course, get in line I did. I got the oat biscuit flavour which really tasted good. Perfect since it was also served cold.  

Right behind the Vitasoy Go! van is an ice cream truck called Mobile Softee that sells soft-serve ice cream, drumsticks, ice cream cups and jumbo orange. I got a cone of the soft-serve ice cream to enjoy along with my half-drunk soy milk. What? It was such a hot day, don't judge.

Those super sosi malls and high-end boutiques which I passed by on my way to the boardwalk didn't catch my attention that much, pretty as they are. But almost everything that I passed by along the boardwalk caught my attention that I wanted to see them all at once. So many people all around, locals and tourists alike enjoying the sights and sounds. Photographers who will take your photo with the Hong Kong side as backdrop. People boarding and alighting from the ferry. Junk boats gliding along Victoria Harbour. Stalls that sell fun souvenirs. A local band playing in the amphitheatre which I enjoyed watching. Hong Kong Island glimmering in the afternoon sun. It looked like it was glaring at me as if it knew I wouldn't have enough time to spare in exploring it. And oh wait, I found Jackie Chan's star along the Avenue of Stars (NOT Comic Stars haha)!

Recalling all of these brings such a silly smile. Normally I would shy away from crowds and ultra-touristy places, but I can really and truly say that I've enjoyed every bit of this last phase of my Hong Kong trip that I practically wrapped myself up in all of its touristy glory like a sushi.

Clock Tower.

Junk boat

To have gone on a solo trip abroad for a day is by far the craziest thing I have ever done as a traveller. Bloopers came out of the woodwork: I was mistaken for a local a couple of times (thanks to my generic features), shyness and nervousness got to me in the best of times that I nearly forgot how to speak; and the funniest thing of all, I almost had no idea what my next destination would be until I decided on the spot where I wanted to go... and then I would have to just begin the process of figuring out how to get there.

Talk about inconveniencing oneself, huh. But what the hey, I kinda find it funny. Even see it as an adventure. Something to tell my grandkids in the future. That is, if I ever get married and have kids first.

Here's a confession, though. Since I blended in so beautifully with the locals, I did not even have to try hard to pretend to be one as long as no talking was involved. And then there's also this little thing called running monologue going on and on in my head time and again. Am I walking in the right direction? Where's my map? Don't look too obvious! Look straight ahead! No eye contact! Oh wow, that's a nice view! Lemme call my friend... oops, cannot be. Time and place, there's a time and place for that. Just enjoy the freaking view!

Something to that extent.

When all is said and done, going  on this crazy Hong Kong day tour also happened to be the most fun trip abroad I've had in a long time. It was very much unlike the times I've travelled alone before. There were no family or friends to stay or hang out with this time. I was all by myself in a strange place where I had to rely on the kindness of strangers and even on my meager knowledge of the city. And while Hong Kong was a British Colony, not everyone spoke English, so there's the matter of language. Lastly, the decisions on where to go, how to get there and what to do when I arrive, they were all my own doing.

And it's all so new.

Fun.

Scary.

Exciting.  

Discombobulating.

Ha.

Simply fantastic.

Given the chance, I'd gladly do it again. Just not on a day tour anymore, though. Maybe a minimum of three days would be sufficient.

Very last photo I took in HKG before I shut off my phone.

Fin

Or maybe not. Nyahaha.

Get lost with me on my HKG adventures! :)

A Primer

Kat Hing Wai

Rambling Around Kam Tin

Mong Kok

(Mis)Adventures in Kowloon Park

Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

Lost in Hong Kong: Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre opened its doors to visitors back in October of 2005, but its history goes way, way back when Hong Kong was still a British Colony. Built around 1910, blocks S61 and S62 of the Whitfield Barracks was used to accommodate the British soldiers up until 1967, the year it was handed over to the government for public use. Today, the Centre occupies the two blocks and it houses magnificent permanent and thematic exhibition galleries, educational activity rooms, a lecture hall, and a reference library. Guided tours of the Centre are also available in English and Cantonese.

Let me just say that this is simply perfect for someone born with nerdy sensibilities. Like this silly solo traveller here, who first found the Centre a welcome respite from walking under all that heat. The lovely courtyard even earned only a slight glance as I came in. But it is when I reached the second floor that my sensibilities went haywire, I literally had to stop myself from giggling like a schoolgirl. I was that excited even if I was just by the exhibit's entrance, all because I saw the blurb "Explore Our Heritage". And so just like the little red hen who baked bread from scratch all by herself, I did! Explore Hong Kong's heritage, that is!

Simply amazing.

I wasn't able to catch the guided tour in English so I went on my merry lonesome way inside the exhibit. It is so amazing to discover that Hong Kong is a treasure trove of archaeological sites. Most dated back from the prehistoric period, and a lot of artifacts from China's dynasties were also on display. There is an  architectural exhibit as well which showcases the different architectural designs throughout history that could be found in Hong Kong.

I must say that I am awed at how the people of Hong Kong was able to preserve their historical and cultural heritage. The displays themselves speak volumes on how much they value them. Modern technology meets the traditional way in putting up the exhibit and everywhere I looked was a "Wow!" moment. There were times when I could not contain myself from marvelling aloud. I even jumped in excitement when I saw the Ming Dynasty display. And why wouldn't I, I haven't seen a museum yet in recent history that thought of putting up a display within the floor. The tourists there might have thought me crazy, all giggly and jumpy and excited and talking to myself. Haha!

The LED screen on the left is blank... until you place your hand on the handprint. :)

Pottery shards with different patterns

Audio guide to the artifacts display. The lighted button in the middle (green) is in English. The top and bottom buttons (blue and red, respectively) are for Chinese dialects, I don't remember which is which.

"Self portrait" on the Ming Dynasty display. I can't believe I'm standing on a museum display!

Well-preserved dishes from the Ming Dynasty

This Look and Turn display is within the architectural exhibit. As the name implies, people look in the small windows (there are three) to view the model of the featured historical building. And to see the model in all angles, one should turn the wheel at the base. This one is for the Tai Fu Tai Mansion.

And for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of this building is, only that it is a school. This view is from the bottom window of the Look and Turn.

After satisfying my nerdy cravings, I proceeded to the exit when I passed by an activity room where a workshop was ongoing at that time. The lovely lady at the doorway invited me in and I almost refused even if admission was free. I'm so glad I changed my mind in that nanosecond.

There were two college age-looking guys who were in charge of the workshop. One of them spoke to me in Chinese and he must have seen the confused look on my face so he switched to English. It was a DIY workshop in pen holder making, with emphasis on Hong Kong's archaeological past.

My map just made a cameo. Bwahahaha

The procedure was very easy: just colour the drawings on the sticker paper using markers, cut them out then stick them on the coloured paper. Don't mind the blue cardboard anymore; just put a strip of the double-sided tape on one end of the coloured paper and attach the other end to it, making sure that it will fit the base and the top ring once attached. And voila! Now I have a pen holder! (Not to mention a free souvenir!)

My very own pen holder! ^_^

 

I know I should feel awkward when I am the only adult among the throng of children making a pen holder, but I didn't. Not even when all the other adults in the room were helping their kids make their own pen holders as well as taking their pictures with the finished product. Making the pen holder was such a fun experience for me, it took me back to the time when I was a kid myself and enjoyed arts and crafts. I'm so proud of that pen holder that it has its own special spot in the house. :)

Visiting the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre is definitely a must when one is in Hong Kong. On my next trip there, when I am not so crazy as to go on a day tour, I'll be sure to spend more time in the Centre. In fact, it showed me how Hong Kong is more than just a shopping destination; it is a city very rich in culture and history worth learning. 

 

The Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre is in Kowloon Park along Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Admission is free.

Get lost with me on my Hong Kong adventures :)

A Primer

Kat Hing Wai

Rambling Around Kam Tin

Mong Kok

(Mis)Adventures in Kowloon Park

up next: photo essay, maybe epilogue. i dunno, we'll see. lol

Lost in Hong Kong: (Mis)Adventures in Kowloon Park

My next and which turned out to be my last stop is Tsim Sha Tsui, located in the southern part of Kowloon. It is a major tourist hub where hotels, restaurants, parks, museums, and the like abound. Tsim Sha Tsui is also a shopper's paradise. In fact, there are several shopping malls down one road alone, among other malls that dot the area. So when I got off the train at Tsim Sha Tsui Station... 

I had no idea where to go next since I only planned on going to Tsim Sha Tsui, but not exactly what to do there (cue in my trusty map and the extensive map in the MTR station). At that time I only knew that Tsim Sha Tsui is a touristy place, that's it.

I carefully studied the map in the station and saw Kowloon Park. The map stated that I should go out at Exit A1. I would just like to say that I was by the N and P exits at this time, in which its distance from A1 would be like walking from the end of Building A to B in Megamall. Or at least it seemed like that because my legs were starting to protest and more importantly, I needed to eat already. So I guess walking towards A1 is a mean feat for someone who walked practically nonstop for the better part of the day and only had snacks for nourishment so far. Yay me! Hahaha!

I actually asked the lady at the customer service desk if I could ride a bus from Exit N5 to Kowloon Park, but in a stern voice she told me that it is too near so I should just go to Exit A1. Gulp. It was a loooooong walk from N to A1 but thank heavens I finally got out of the station. Looking at the map again now, I could have gotten out through Exit C1 which is just across from where I was and saved myself some energy. But I guess the lady's directions worked out well in the end. 

There was a Mc Cafe (McDonald's) on a street just off Nathan Road and I made a beeline for it. The place was packed and I didn't care anymore that I was once again choosing the familiar over trying something unique. Arguing with myself proved to be futile since my mind was already set on filling my stomach with something substantial, and fast. I settled on a stool on a table among strangers and enjoyed my cheeseburger meal. Hey, no one can go wrong with cheeseburgers and fries. Ever. :)

While I was studying my map in Mc Cafe, I saw the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre to be within Kowloon Park so that became my main destination. Little did I know that on the way there, I would be wonderfully sidetracked by several other attractions in the park, which included the Hong Kong Avenue of Comic Stars, the Chinese Garden, the Aviary, Pool Complex, Bird Lake, and that fateful bridge, which will have sort of a special mention later on.

Upon entering the sprawling 13.3 hectare Kowloon Park, the first attraction I saw is the Hong Kong Avenue of Comic Stars. It opened in 2012 and features twenty-four larger-than-life-sized famous comic characters and ten bronze handprints of comic artists. Actually had a blooper here. I mistook this attraction to be a part of the Avenue of Stars at first since I thought "comic stars" meant comedians. Learned that it meant comic book characters and it is a whole different tourist attraction from Hong Kong's Avenue of Stars, which is located right at the promenade overlooking Victoria Harbour. Hee-hee, my bad.

Walking further, I arrived at the Chinese Garden. There was a covered walkway on one side where a lot of women converged to relax and have their lunch. In the middle of the garden is a pond with a gazebo and bridge which spans the breadth of the pond. Would have loved to sit for a while in the gazebo but seeing that there were several people already lounging there, I opted to hang out by the other end of the bridge instead. In the lake were several turtles sunning themselves on rocks and fallen tree trunks. There was also a sign there stating not to feed the wildlife that live in the park. 

Chinese Garden

Terrapins

Just sitting there for a while was enough for me to marvel at seeing lush greenery and wildlife in the middle of the metropolis. It is easy to think that I am in some place far away from the hustle and bustle of the city even if parts of the city skyline peeked over the treetops.

The Pool Complex and the Aviary were a nice surprise since I came across them by accident. The pool was open to the public and there were many families enjoying the cool waters on that day. And why shouldn't they, the weather was perfect.

As I rounded the top of a hill, I saw the grand rocky entrance of the Aviary. I had to go down several steps to get to the Aviary but get there I did. The Aviary houses several exotic bird species in addition to the wild ones that reside in the park. I like how it is very well-kept. The birds seemed content in their surroundings too. 

When I exited the Aviary, I finally spied a sign pointing to the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. I followed the path leading to the place; however, the lovely flamingoes hanging out in Bird Lake caught my attention. I was so excited to see real-life flamingoes again since it's been eons since I've seen some. Photo ops, then? You bet. I took as many as I could from my camera phone.

The nearest my phone can reach

Tranquility in the midst of a bustling metropolis

After taking photos, I went on the path which I thought was still the way to Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. But lo and behold, there was no Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in sight. Instead, I found myself standing before a bridge that led to China Hong Kong City instead. Since I was already there, it wouldn't hurt to take a look what's beyond the bridge, and so I crossed it under the heat of the scorching sun.

Taken from the bridge

There were more buildings than trees in this area so there was little protection from the glaring light and heat. Still, I pressed on. There is a view deck just beyond the ferry dock where I had a great view of Hong Kong Island. It just became too hot for me eventually so I retraced my steps back to the park with the intention of getting to Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, making sure to follow every sign that pointed to my destination. 

Victoria Harbour

There were no more lovely distractions this time, except for a group of Filipinos in the thick of a cheerdance rehearsal which I watched for a little bit. Then, continuing on my way, I finally found what I was looking for.

*insert victory cry here*

Get lost with me on my Hong Kong adventures :)

A Primer

Kat Hing Wai

Rambling Around Kam Tin

Next: Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

Lost in Hong Kong: Mong Kok

After my historical rambles in Hong Kong's New Territories, I took the train once more to the two most touristy districts in my book: Mong Kok and Kowloon. In Manila, Mong Kok and Kowloon are synonymous to Chinese restaurants, as are Wan Chai and Aberdeen (Court). Little did I know that the names of these restaurants originated from the different districts in Hong Kong until I travelled there. Funny thing is, I didn't eat in any of the restaurants in Mong Kok and Kowloon. With the exception of having some street food, I forgot to eat a proper lunch because I was so enamoured walking and enjoying the sights.

But here I go again, I'm getting ahead of myself. So let me begin with the time I stepped off the MTR and into Mong Kok Station, which I found to be a very bustling place at noontime.  

I recalled the helpful guy at the tourist counter in the airport say that the Ladies' Market in Mong Kok opens at noon, so that was definitely in my itinerary as well as Sneaker Street. To do that, I got out the exit nearest Sneaker Street and was treated with a visual delight of signs, signs, and more signs. Wow! is the first thing that came to mind. It must look more impressive at night time when all of them are lighted.

My first view of Mong Kok as I exited the station

Busy-not-so-busy street.

While it was a Sunday and there's the underlying tranquility that goes with the day, the tourists and locals made the general atmosphere of the place more alive. I would have loved to stay in a corner and people watch for a while but there were no benches to be seen so I did the next best thing: try out the street food.

Electronic stores and massage parlors abound on one strip with a smattering of street food stalls in between them.  As I walked along the street, I met a couple of Filipinos walking by and chatted them up for a bit. It was fun meeting people from my own country and just getting to know them even for a short while. The couple then took me to a stall that sold interesting-looking street food.

There were the familiar isaw (chicken and pork intestines), fried tofu, lobster balls, squid balls, siomai, and roasted squid on sticks. Then there's waffles, and this bubble wrap-like pastry and most probably another kind of innards stewed in a spicy sauce. On closer look it looked like it's the part that Filipinos cook to make chicharon bulaklak but I'm not entirely sure of it. Bottles of different sauces are available for each. 

What IS that bubble wrap pastry called? It looks so yummy. (regrets, regrets)

These I am more familiar with except for the one in the pan on the right.

I don't know why I chose the common squid balls and not the unique pastry that looked like a bubble wrap that's shaped like a taco AND came in different flavours. Now I'm left wondering what it tasted like. At any rate, the squid balls were still unique as they were stewed in curry instead of fried, which is what we commonly have in the Philippines. The couple I met suggested that I put some sauce on my curry squid balls and I chose hoisin sauce instead of the angry-looking chili sauce that they put on theirs (they also bought the bubble wrap pastry). One styro cup of curry squid balls cost 40HKD.Yum!

Let me just stay that how I wished I had someone with me to share my huge serving of curry squid balls.

Top view. But this is really big I almost couldn't finish it.

After thanking the couple, I walked on, checking out the different stores that sold sneakers of different brands. I was so tempted to buy a pair of Adidas Superstar in one store but the idea of lugging a shopping bag for the rest of my day did not appeal much so just as with my decision back in Kam Tin, I put the notion of shopping off for the next time I visit.

Everywhere I looked, there were signs as to where a tourist can go within the district so it was easy to get to Tung Choi Street, where Ladies' Market is located. Like I mentioned before, no one would have a hard time getting around Hong Kong as there are signs everywhere. Even the street signs are large enough that one can't help but take notice of them. 

Yep, no one would get lost with these signs. :)

Now this IS a street sign!

A large pink sign at the entrance of Tung Choi Street described the street's history. It's interesting to note that most of the streets in Mong Kok are named after vegetables that were previously grown in the area after it was cleared for development in 1924. Tung Choi means Water Spinach. The sign also stated that much of the Street and its surrounding area's development took place between 1924 and World War 2. It was a residential area up until the 1960s when it became a commercial district. The international oil crisis in the early '70s paved the way for the unemployed workers to put up their own stalls along the street, eventually bringing in the trade of inexpensive but fashionable women's clothes and accessories which used to be in Temple Street in Yau Ma Tei. 

Most of the vendors already had their wares up for sale when I arrived at Tung Choi Street. I'm glad I caught the early shopping rush as there weren't a lot of people yet.

The entrance at Tung Choi Street.

This reminds me a lot of Carriedo St. in Quiapo, Manila

Traditional Chinese blouses and dresses are sold alongside more contemporary ones in this stall.

Strolling around Mong Kok felt very much like home. I'd like to stay longer but being on a schedule, I hied myself off to Kowloon by bus. 

Or should I say, I tried. But again, since I was too shy/scared to ask around, I took the train once more, which by now felt like second nature already. 

To be continued :)

Get lost with me on my Hong Kong adventures :)

A Primer

Kat Hing Wai

Rambling Around Kam Tin