First Day in Hong Kong

Yesterday proved to be very productive despite of inclement weather and the lack of umbrella to cover our heads. Days before we left Iloilo, we knew that HK will have marathon rainy days until the 18th. Fortunately, that didn’t dampen our eagerness to roam around and discover the many facets of the Melting Pot of Asia, where East meets West.

Our guided tour was worthwhile. Mr Tommy, our tour guide, had undeniable sense of humor that roused some of us from slumber. He also patiently answered queries about each landmark. And since most of us were Filipinos, he exerted effort to inject some Tagalog words in giving us fast facts about HK.

For those who are thinking of going on a guided tour, you can check out many leaflets about it in the hotel you’re staying. It’s also essential that you bring the following:

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What I appreciate in HK that I don’t get to see in Manila is the efficiency of the transport system. Everything is streamlined, in order and on time, unlike the infamous Filipino Time and heavy traffic jam in cosmopolitan Manila. It’s kinda refreshing to see that after getting used to being lax back home.

It’s also common knowledge that HK is peppered with steals and deals, especially in areas like Mongkok. However, for those who are not new to bargain hunting in the Philippines, you’ll find HK a little bit pricey. But if you want designer clothes, purses, cosmetics and high-tech gadgets, then nothing beats HK’s prices. You really get value for your money. We bought a few gadgets like Macbook Pro 17″, Nikon D300, Canon Ixus 90 IS and a really nice lense for my father in law’s ND60. After our due diligence in checking prices online and comparing prices with other dealers, we saved some US$100 - US$1000 on each item.

Digital and vintage manual cameras are no exception. HK is the ultimate shopping refuge for photography aficionados and vintage camera collectors who are always hoping to save a few hundred bucks just to get their most coveted piece of art. We were told that Kimberly Road abounds with reasonably-priced cameras. After checking out the place, we thought there are some really good finds in there. Another alternative is also at Causewaybay.

We love Chinese food although they can be greasy. But everyday was an experience. We made sure to try new dishes from small Chinese restaurants. We also appreciate the Chinese’s Tea Habit. We have lots of green tea bags at home but we never really thought of serving it with meals. So when we get home, I’ll tell our chef extraordinaire to prepare green tea every morning.

The Mong Kok night market is a sight to behold– for shopaholics that is. We haggled and wrangled at every stalls trying to squeeze out every dollar savings from vendors who jack up prices for unsuspecting tourists. Most vendors tried to convince us that their products are great but when we tell them that we think otherwise, they start babbling in Cantonese– but it’s during this moment when I really appreciate not knowing the language. In the end I got some lucky charms and two pairs of Chinese traditional attire for Daniel.

Hong Kong can be overwhelming but if you’re there to have fun, it will surely give you what you’re looking for and more. Tomorrow we are heading for Macau for a day tour. We’ve already been reading brochures about it and we’re excited to see some Portuguese heritage sites around it.