If there’s one place in Hong Kong I could go back time and time again, that would be Disneyland. It’s a holding place for happy thoughts. I remember when I was a kid, the only time I could see Disney characters and its other animated film was through a Betamax tape, watching in my grandma’s house. Recalling those memories makes me feel so fortunate today.
Another memorable event was seeing my fellow Filipino — Bataan Peninsula State University Chamber Chorale — performing live in Disneyland in front of hundreds of people.
Inside Disneyland, we went to one of their newest attraction — Toy Story Land. We tried the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop.
In my previous post I’ve said that one of my highlights in my second trip in Hong Kong would go to the places I’ve never been and to try things that I’ve missed. This time around, the highlight was shooting the Victoria Harbor from The Peak at sundown. And it ain’t easy because I didn’t bring a tripod with me all along the trip — everything was hand held. I don’t want to exhaust myself by carrying with me extra 2 kg weight. I want to enjoy my trip casually. So, I make sure that I am shooting the harbor at sundown NOT at night time.
And let me walk you through…
The most challenging part of shooting the harbor was staying warm. It’s no joke. The longer you stay out, the colder it gets from The Peak.
Kowloon, arguably the most busiest urban area in Hong Kong especially at night. Identifiable with its side by side shops and malls; corner street food shops; and its entertaining night market scene.
The highlights of my second trip in Hong Kong was to visit the places I haven’t been — like the Charlie Brown Café in Cameron Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. We arrived too early in the morning hoping for a cup of joe but the café opens at 11am. This was probably one of my highlights of disappointment as well. Maybe there’s a call for a third trip.
Will give the full details soon, from why I’m doing it the analog way to collation of materials needed and setting it up.
Street food. To some, it’s a poor man’s cuisine. But from a traveler’s point of view, this is where one should start, eat what the locals eat — to know more about a country.
This joint at the corner of Lock Road and Haiphong Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong has become one of my favorite food stop after a tedious day’s trip. My fave was the pan-fried turnip drowned in hot sauce. Second was, the pan fried dumplings. And third was the sharks fin soup. Everything was quick, hot and above all, it’s cheap.
The place was always packed with crowds, from all walks of life.
This kind of food joint is ubiquitous in Hong Kong. Most are in the shopping district of Kowloon.
This is my first post of my recent trip in Hong Kong and my last for 2012. More of my Hong Kong photo essay next year. ‘Til then.
“Fundacion Pacita belongs to a friend of mine. I like it because it’s up on a mountain. The view is so breathtaking it’s like you’re in Brittany or in Scotland, only more beautiful. And I like the way they fixed the rooms. I prefer cool air to the warm. I prefer nature to city life.” – Alberto Lim, former Department of Tourism secretary
Excerpt from What’s Your Favorite Room?, InFlight September 2012 Issue
Ways to combat pollution? Try using air fresheners at the same time. I would like to +5 for the driver’s effort of having a tissue and “three” air fresheners inside his jeepney cockpit. Only in the Philippines.
The days of the month of October are literally numbered and it’ll be All Saints Day this coming November 1. I remembered a dispatch we did in Baguio City, as one of the 10 haunted places in the Philippines.
In Baguio, we covered the Cemetery of Negativism, also called The Lost Cemetery.
The Dominican Hill’s Diplomat Hotel.
The Laperal White House.
It was a fortunate time when I and the rest of our dispatch crew was invited by a local family in Cagbalete Island, Quezon Province to witness the copra making process. They offered us fresh, sweet coconut juice and tubo or coconut fruit as a welcome treat.
Copra making is very widespread production in the Philippines. It is one of the major source of income to both locals and government as this coconut oil are for export. It’s a long, elaborate and laborious process to extract these liquid gold, but every drop of it is worth the hard labor.
