11th April 2011 - Day 1 @ Hong Kong
Finally we have our first FG Oversea Trip.. and its at Hong Kong! The day began quite smoothly although our flight time was delayed for about 4hours.. but we had the news a few days ago so we managed to get a little more sleep before our journey northwards..
A group photo right at the departure date.. where everyone is grinning with excitement as this is the first time travelling oversea with the rest of us for most of us.. Luggage ready.. passport ready.. everyone ready.. and we enter through the gates.. bidding goodbyes to those that came to send us off.. Thank you..
This is not only the first FG oversea trip.. but also Qiyong's first oversea trip.. The flight take a while so most of us just try to get more sleep in the tiny space we have.. all the way until we touched down at HK International Airport..
Took their Airport Express away from the airport towards our hotel which is at Jordan/Kowloon area.. the trip took a while but it was comfortable and everyone was seated with ample space.. Immediately cameras start coming out and everyone is capturing the precious moments where others are taking pictures of them taking the others..
The difference between travelling alone and in a group is that in a group you can take a group shot! Thus you can expect alot of group shots because this is afterall.. a FG Oversea Trip.. FG FTW!
Zooming pass the landscape from the rural areas to the urban areas.. you can have a clear overall picture of how HK look like at different zones.. It started off with mountains and green patches around to high rises and shopping malls around.. And its definitely alot faster than our MRT..
Armed with only a tiny backpack and a map sponsored by Michh.. we basically survived 4 whole days there and planning the direction to our next destination 5min before we start moving in that direction.. Much thanks to Teh's commando skills of map reading too.. where we are often seen studying the map moments before we head off to our next attraction..
Took us a while to figure how to get to our hotel from the Airport Express Station because it is quite a distance away and we got lost in the shopping mall that we came out to for almost 30min before we found the right exit to bring us a step closer to our hotel..
The hotel was great.. big enough to feel comfortable and the bed are real cosy to sleep in.. Although this cannot be compared to a 5star comfort.. its definitely worth the price we pay.. Stayed here the whole time and it was quite accessible too.. with about 5min walk to the nearest MTR station.. Plenty of food spots around the hotel too so we never have to go back to the hotel hungry..
Settled down quickly and we are out of the hotel.. Didnt want to waste much time there since our schedule was compromised a little due to the flight delay so we got a quick bite at the Dimsum restaurant nearby our hotel.. for that is what is famous in HK!
Filled our almost empty stomach with the wide variety of dishes there.. We were all starving for the previous meal was a snack for breakfast before our flight.. and it was already around 4pm when we reached this restaurant.. imagine the cry for food from our stomach.. Food was delicious and once we were contented.. we quickly went to the MTR Station..
Bought our Octopus Card and tapped in to wait for our train.. it look more or less like our MRT so we had least problems figuring things out.. HK is a small island and with the very advanced MTR system.. getting around to our destination was a piece of cake and inexpensive too.. So that was the better option for all of us.. plus we get to travel together and not risk getting lost somewhere somehow..
Avenue of Star is the tourist attraction there where there will be a performance called Symphony of Light where their "CBD" buildings will play with their lights and synchronised it according to the music that is broadcasted across the river and on radios..
However it isnt really as attractive and half the time we were figuring what are we supposed to look out for.. This is probably something that you can give it a skip although you can go there for the scenery because its quite a pretty sight.. But we enjoyed ourselves there nevertheless.. Thats why the saying always goes.. Its the company around you that counts!
Therefore photos with friends is a must wherever we go.. Snap snap snap..
Of course other than your friends.. you needa take photos with the things around there too so as to make your flight ticket worth it.. otherwise we could just have phototaking back in Singapore yeah.. So picture of boats.. statues.. famous star's handprints.. bruce lee.. anything that can be taken with.. we probably have it..
HK is such a beautiful place.. but it will not be completed without having our friends around us to share the moments.. so while enjoying the scenery.. we just want to tell everyone.. (and a bit of advertising scheme) In FG.. we got everyone's back!
Visited a hotel bar where the manager there is a friend of JC.. so we enjoyed a few cups of soft liquors while both of them catch up and have a chat.. I had frozen magarita and it taste not bad.. =)
Afterwards we quickly head off to the shopping street nearby and were quite disappointed to find out that some of the shops are already starting to close for the day already.. we quickly explore those that are still open and got some loots before every shop along the street has its barrier lowered.. I guess if you are interested in shopping.. it would be better to come earlier so that you can fully enjoy the shopping experience in HK..
Went back to the hotel and since everyone was feeling hungry.. we had ZiChar around our hotel so that we can have a full stomach to sleep with.. It really brings out the family feel when we eat together at a table.. sharing the same dishes and chatting randomly over a great supper.. and i really like that feeling very much..
With that i conclude Day 1.. where we all head back to our hotel.. grab a quick shower and have a rest on our comfy bed.. so that we were be ready and prepared for Day 2..
