Live It. Love It. Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is one of the most visited places for tourists in Asia. At least that's what I know. Not to mention the massive amount of Filipinos going there everyday to and fro. Maybe because it's so near and budget airlines are very accessible? No wonder many of the Hong Kongers learn Tagalog unaware. Exaggeration.

Well, here is a bunch of places in one of two special administrative regions of China, the other being Macau. I suggest that you visit these places because they're worth visiting. Why else? In my part, I am not a lone traveler. That being said, I brought along my cousin and my mom which was supposed to be there for a convention. I love having company during my travels. It's a lot more fun that way. And safer. ;)



The public transportation in Hong Kong is largely similar to Singapore's. I even think they only got the same producer or something like that. It's really the same. Really. The tapping galore, the utter convenience, both countries drive on the left, and simply how the transportation exteriors look like. Only that Hong Kong has these double-decker trams in the middle of the streets (pink vehicle above) which Singapore doesn't.





The Victoria Peak is the highest mountain on the island proper, but not in the entirety of Hong Kong, an honour which belongs to Tai Mo Shan. The actual summit of Victoria Peak is occupied by a radio telecommunications facility and is closed to the public. However, the surrounding area of public parks and high-value residential land is the area that is normally meant by the name The Peak. It is a major tourist attraction which offers views over central Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour, and the surrounding islands. You can go up there via the Peak Tram or the bus. Going up there, it's really cold and the scenery is breath-taking.



We rode the Disneyland train which was so fancy, I felt like a baby while I was inside. The windows were Mickey-shaped and there were glamorous Disney character figurines inside the train; and the seats, sofa, baby. Inside the theme park itself, you will really feel like, 20 years younger. So that made me an infant while we were there. My favorite was the "It's a Small World" ride because it was a really perfect and happy world inside. Guess what, there was a Filipino version of the It's a Small World song and there was, like this "Filipino section" of the small world where Filipino dolls were dancing some folk dance inside this cute nipa hut.



We went to the Avenue of Stars and Ocean Park. I rode the Abyss ride where you're brought really high up in the air that's as high as a skyscraper (you can practically see the entire country from up there, shitters) and suddenly zooms you down with unexplainable speed. The feeling was deadly but in a good way, though.

That night, we attacked the famous Night Market and we got kinda lost at first. It's like a first class Divisoria, bright and packed with shoppers from all over the world. By the way, I got to drink this awesome juice called Ribena (which is not sold in the Philippines) and I died because of its awesomeness. The taste is like heaven even if I haven't gone there yet.

When we were about to go out from the MTR station, two dudes walking beside us were talking loudly in Tagalog. I guess they weren't expecting people around them to understand what they were actually talking about. I think they were backbiting some chick or whatever I forgot because I wasn't really paying attention to their conversation, but it was obvious that they were making fun of a person. Then I suddenly barged into their lives and asked, "Excuse me, anong oras nagsasara yung MTR?" (what time does the MTR service terminate?), and it was obvious that they were kinda shocked up the ass and one of them reluctantly replied, "ahh, errm, 1AM, 1AM...", while trying to get to the side, awkwardly giggling to their humiliation.

The Hong Kong International Airport versus me. As one of the largest passenger terminal buildings in the world if not the largest, it gave me a bit of trouble. I generally got exhausted through the journey from the check-in counter to our gate. See, you have to walk and walk and walk, stride, prance, go up escalators, go down them, ride an INDOOR TRAIN, dive your way, and I can go on forever before you get to see your plane. Yes, a rich airport it may seem, it will also give you a rich exercise. It really is true what they say. "It's not just about the destination, it's also about the journey."

So be warned.

Baguio

I've been to Baguio a couple times before especially when I was a kid and I could clearly remember the moment when my cousins and I were ecstatically blowing deep breathes to the air as to produce that foggy breath you see in the movies - especially snowy winters. Hilarious.

I took this photo one afternoon while my friends and I were touring the city. The streets were literally crowded. Tourists along with the citizens filled the cool city wandering around like there's no other place anymore. You can really feel the fiesta drawing nearer with the suggesting ambiance the place had. Afer all, it's the annual Panagbenga Festival.

Finally, after years, I've returned to Baguio. Since I'm already mature (?), I have greatly appreciated the place. Unlike before, I wasn't really free to do the things I wanna do in the city because I was with the whole family or I was still young to be alone in an unfamiliar city. Another thing, I also realized that strawberries can't/shouldn't be carried around for too long because they are easily squished. No wonder why they don't reach other places in the country. And they're expensive.

Here is a small list about why I love Baguio:

(1) As we all know it, the Philippines is a tropical country and there are only a few places here wherein the temperature isn't warm, or lukewarm, or hot. Therefore, I love Baguio because it's cool there. The coolness is just right. Enough to keep you cool when there's sunlight or if it's noon and not too cold to make you freeze. Well, I think night time's an exception because if you're not used to cold weather like me, you'll freeze to death if you loiter at Camp John Hay at night.

(2) The place is rich in culture and tradition. Even if it's a highly urbanized city, you can still feel the culture that they uphold. The Ifugao culture is present almost everywhere.

(3) There are so many talented people in Baguio. I discovered that there are a lot of artists in the city. My friends and I went to this park I forgot the name, and there's this wide exhibit of different artworks. They're awesome. The masterpieces reflect Baguio's way of life and natural creativity.

(4) The food is great. I have tried a lot of corn (the real corn, not the processed ones) snacks in malls and all that but those huge corns sold at the sidewalks of Baguio are really delicious. They're the biggest corns I have ever eaten, with butter and salt, I can eat a whole corn field. And of course, uniquely Baguio, they have Strawberry taho. I don't really eat taho but with strawberries and strawberry syrup, it's just something you don't wanna miss.

(5) The scenery is awesome. My photograph above is just one of the so many examples. It's like when you see them, you just want yourself stuck there, wishing that the setting would never change. It's just overwhelming in itself. Not only does the scenery make you feel amazed, it also makes you realize that so many wonderful things in life does not come in a silver platter. It usually comes naturally.

(6) There are many things that you just won't experience if you're not there. A few examples would be fresh strawberries, fresh cauliflowers, constant coolness, extensively cheap garments, pink horses, houses built on a steep mountain with a "wow-ing" view, and I can go on forever.

Perhaps the reason why I love the cold so much is because when it is, I feel cold. And if I feel cold, I want somebody to make me feel warm. For me, feeling warm when it's cold is one of the best feelings in life. Especially when you know somebody else is doing it for you.

The Walled City

The many times I've been to the people-filled Manila area, I've only been to Intramuros once. Genuinely, that is. See, the funny thing is, I've been to the Manila Cathedral numerous times in the past but I was never aware that the church was inside the darn place. It's not exactly my fault because nobody ever told me. But then again, I never asked so there's nobody to blame except for my Civics and Culture teacher.

I only found out when I explored the entire place and ended up near the church. That's the time I felt pathetic about myself. At that very moment, I just stood there, stared at that huge church and recollected my past which involved myself being there a couple of times being unaware and all. Talk about being lost in the city of Atlantis.

What I clearly meant with being in Intramuros once was obviously the time when I went there and I was already fully aware where on earth my current location mapped. Though the place was historically rich, I honestly did not find it very interesting. No. Offense. Meant. Perhaps because I had no tourist guide or some history-expert person who would've told me things about the place (or sugarcoat) and what happened there centuries ago which would've made it extra special. I had a flat 1 grade in my Philippine History subject back in college, though. Despite that pride, I still couldn't believe a pseudo intellectual character such as I am can actually get a grade like that -- and History which isn't my cup of tea. Spare me the praise.

But what was very amusing that I noticed in Intramuros was that the external outlooks of popular establishments (Mini Stop, 7Eleven, Metrobank, and I can go on forever) were like really old Spanish-themed architectural infrastructures. The place, however isn't purely old anymore because of some modern institutions which sit inside the walled city, not to mention renovations and all; but I guess I managed to capture very interesting photographs which tell a lot.