2014 Hongkong & Macau Trip - Day One

Exactly a month ago, I, together with some family members, set foot in the airport of Hongkong. After almost nine months of waiting upon purchase of our discounted fare, finally we were there. That was for our 6 days and 5 nights stay. Hooray!

What exactly did we do in Hongkong and in Macau? Honestly, I regret not documenting everything. BUT I hope I can give you an idea of what you can do in Hongkong with the few pictures I have. I will just allow the images to do the talking rather than me recalling and typing a blow-by-blow account of what happened. Lazy me. 

Look up! This is what you'll see inside the Hongkong International Airport.

This is the bus station outside the airport. It took 20-30 minutes before the doubledecker bus A21 arrived. A21 is basically the same as the bus in the picture but the route is Hung Hom Station bound. Its bus stop is almost in front of our hostel. That, we learned after we got lost. Haha! 

Our hostel is located along Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui [TST] area. The closest MTR Station of our hostel is Exit B but when we got off the A21 bus, we realized we were somewhere near Exit L already. We were in the opposite side of where we should have gotten off. For short, we got lost and had to walk long distance. But... when you're in Hongkong, finding your way is not a problem. It is the most tourist-friendly country. There are signages in every road, street, and alley. Plus we had our maps ready. That's why I strongly suggest that before you set foot in HK, do your research. Know what bus or MTR line to board, what bus or MTR station to get off. Also, grab a map in the airport!

Our first meal in Hongkong but definitely not the last. Haha! Love ko 'to!

Avenue of Stars. Have you been to or heard of Hollywood Walk of Fame? This is Hongkong's version. You can have your photo op here during the day since the view is pretty interesting or you can watch the Symphony of Lights at night. Make sure you tag along a bottle of cold drinks, an umbrella, and a washcloth or tissue coz it gets really hot during the day.

After Avenue of Stars, we decided to go to Peak Tram Lower Terminus to catch the tram going to The Peak for more sightseeing. Whew! It took us forever to get there. First challenge was locating an MTR station near Avenue of Stars. Thus the street signs picture. Second, when we exited J2 Central MTR station, little did we know that we need to take a long walk along Garden Road to reach our destination. No choice actually.

On the other side of Garden Road where we were is the Citibank Center. If you happen to see that on your left, you're good. You're on the right track. Long walk ahead.

This is the Peak Tram. You have to endure the long walk to experience the ride going to The Peak. Pretty interesting. I suggest that you take the seat on your right so you'll have a view of nature. 

Once we reached the Peak Tram Terminus, we saw the long queue. Again, we had to wait for some time to get in the tram and had our butt cheeks kiss the wooden seat. Only 25% of energy was left of our body that time that's why every chance we get to rest, we grabbed them. I can't remember exactly how many minutes it took us to reach The Peak but it was enough to rest our exhausted body. Two or three tram stops after, then our destination -- The Peak! 

One of the attractions at The Peak is the Madam Tussauds. I didn't bother buy an entrance ticket because I've seen the Madam Tussauds in the U.S. My companions bought theirs from China Travel Service [Hongkong] Limited. I suggest you buy your combo ticket covering Peak Tram, Sky Terrace 428, and Madam Tussauds there. Their booth is located at the lower ground floor of Hongkong International Airport.

Souvenirs! Souvenirs! You'll find lots and lots of them in Madam Tussauds Gift Shop. Being a magnet collector, I ended up buying the magnet. Of course! 

Sky Terrace 428 gives access to the panoramic view of Hongkong. In our case, we waited more or less 3 hours to capture these beautiful images. We were in a hurry to stroll The Peak because afterwards we went straight to Sky Terrace viewing deck to secure a good spot where we can catch a glimpse of supposedly the Symphony of Lights. To our dismay, none of the display of lights was seen. Actually, the best place to experience the light and sound show is in the Avenue of Stars.

It was a tiring 1st day. We had our late dinner in Yoshinoya in Cameron Road near our place. It was my 1st time to taste Yoshinoya eventhough they have branches here in the Philippines. Not bad in terms of food, but cleanliness and customer service-wise? huh! Forget it! Nevertheless, I finished that bowl of rice, meat, veggies and soda. Afterwhich, we all had our well-deserved rest. ZzZzZzZz... Dreamla-la-land.

A hoarder by profession.

What A Roller Coaster Ride!

Hi! I'm back. Sorry for being away for more than a month. I was kinda busy the whole month of February looking for work. Whew! Until now I am still in the process of finding the best job for me. I just realized that "selling" myself to prospect employers is such a difficult job. Add to that is the fact that I am exploring a totally new working environment. No experience at all in this field I am trying to pursue. 

Oh well, tomorrow I have two interviews. I fervently wish that one of them will take me in and offer a good compensation package. I am getting old and I badly need a job that can provide well. I also want to pursue my Oplan A and to achieve that, I have to get a stable job.  In addition, the expenses I incur from attending interviews [including post interview activities like eating out, little shopping of clothes, basic necessities and sometimes of trinkets. haha!] is no joke. It already cost me an arm and a leg.

Dear God, guide and empower me to be able to attain what You plan for me. It has been a roller coaster ride for me but as always, I lift everything to You. 

"Usually your biggest trials come right before your biggest breakthroughs. Keep pushing on!" 

A hoarder by profession.

Discovering Chinatown in Manila

Last January 11, a  couple of my friends [J and E] and I explored Chinatown in Manila. Initially, our main purpose there was to taste what bloggers say as authentic Chinese food. However, as we jumped from one eatery or store to another, nothing impressed us so instead of sulking, we just enjoyed the experience of visiting Buddhist temples, lucky charm stores, some famous landmarks and eating spots which bloggers hail as must-visit for their must-try food.  

As a treat, since I know not everyone wants to walk under the sun for more or less 4 hours, let me give you a peak of some of the places we've been to. Who knows, you might be tempted to see for yourself what Chinatown has to offer.

Sto. Cristo de Longos Shrine 

Located at the corner of Binondo and Tomas Pinpin Streets

Dong Bei Dumplings is famous for their kuchay or chives dumplings and Chinese pancakes. We ordered half a serving each of pork dumplings and pork with chives. A serving costs PhP 100.00 for 14 pieces. My  verdict? Hmmm... Something new to my palate. 

Located at 842 Yuchengco [Nueva] Street, Binondo, Manila  

Formosa Bakeshoppe and The Tea lifted our spirits after a disappointing lunch date at Estero. 

Blueberry cheesecake [PhP 80.00] from Formosa Bakeshoppe plus black milk tea [PhP 70.00] from The Tea. Who said you can't buy happiness? We did! How? You can visit these establishments and grab whatever you crave for. Where? They are located at the 1st floor of Mandarin Square, Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila. 

In one of the stores we dropped by which I cannot remember the name, the Buddha statue and Chinese lantern captured my attention. These two are the more popular and significant Chinese symbols. They are gold and red which are the dominant colors of Chinese. I have yet to find out the meaning of all these. Indeed, the Chinese culture is rich and very interesting. 

Buddha and Chinese Lantern

Along Ongpin Street, you will find vendors selling these very colorful and interesting pieces of good luck charms. Well, atleast during the month of January, I think, since the Chinese community will be celebrating the Chinese New Year at the end of the month. My friend E bought one of those for her Mom. I missed the chance to ask the Chinese vendor regarding the "ritual" for the charms because I noticed that even in the store we went in, they performed the same "ritual". Oh well, there will be another encounter with them for sure. Hopefully.  

Good luck charms along Binondo

Shanghai Fried Siopao is one of the must-try food according to bloggers. My friends and I searched for it and were surprised to find out how affordable they are. Honestly, it fell short of my expectations. Fried siopao is simply a bola-bola siopao, and I am not fond of bola-bola. I prefer asado siopao. Haha!

Located at the corner of Ongpin and Bahama Streets

Once my friends and I reached the other end of Ongpin Street, we went back to look for the most popular fresh lumpia. On our way back, I took a picture of this arch. A pretty sight, right?

One of the archs you will see along Ongpin Street

New Po-Heng Lumpia House is where you will find the most popular lumpia at  least in Binondo. After our walkathon along Ongpin, we found a place to rest for a few minutes while we ate the  fresh lumpia we bought. Among the Chinese food we tasted, I would give my thumbs up to this. I like it best with more garlic and crushed nuts. If you happen to pass by Quentin Paredes Street, spare some time to taste their specialty.

located at Uy Su Sin Building, 531 Quintin Paredes Street, Binondo

From Quentin Paredes Road, our feet led us to Lucky China Mall along Lachambre Street. We decided to freshen up after that long and tiring Binondo walk. We stopped by Samsonite, Payless and another footwear boutique to check out some items on sale. After making that rounds in the ground floor of the mall, we left and walked another 750 meters to reach Seng Guan Si Temple. 

Facade of Seng Guan Si Temple located at Narra Street, Tondo, Manila

Since we didn't have the courage to ask people about the temple and their culture for language barrier was a problem, we tried to explore the place on our own, hoping we can make sense of what we saw. Take a peek at some interesting fixtures you can see inside.

I think our short stay inside an airconditioned building energized us and allowed us to travel by foot to reach Tondo or the other side of Recto Avenue. Mind you, our DIY tour didn't end in Seng Guan Si Temple. We pushed ourselves to reach Wai Ying Restaurant even if it meant walking at 6:00 - 6:30 pm. Just imagine how fast we walked just to reach our final destination. Hehe!

Wai Ying is located at 927 Benavidez Street, Tondo, Manila [near Hope Christian High School].

Food on display are fried dumplings in curry sauce and beef noodles. We decided to order only two dishes since we were full and too tired from the walkathon. 

Overall, it was a good experience primarily because I get to bond with my PNU friends whom I haven't seen for some time. But I must admit that in terms of the so-called must-try food, I was very disappointed. Will I do it again? Nah. I will try other Asian cuisines. Watch out for my next food trip! 

One Fun Saturday

Ladies and gentlemen, let me present my loot last January 18, 2014, during the National Bookstore Warehouse Sale in Quezon Avenue. Pardon me for the hard to read comparative pricelist for I still have to figure out how to make it readable. You see, I'm a newbie to this blogging thingy so be patient with me. 

Anyway, I will no longer get into the nitty-gritty details when we [meaning me and my brother's gf, A] arrived and queued to pay for our books. Long lines. I am pretty sure you know what I'm talking about. However, there's this indescribable feeling that I bet you don't know when you find out that you're only paying 10% of the actual amount of books you purchased. From PhP 8,721.50 reduced to PhP 907.50. Heaven! :)

My purchases composed of HARDBOUND children's books, parenting book, James Patterson books, scrapbooking paper, and sticky notes. I just hope my friends won't find out how much I paid for the quite late Christmas gifts I gave them. Hihi!

As for the books below, they are for my nephew and niece [or possibly nephews and nieces]. I just love buying stuff for them. Always. Even if meant almost cutting off my arm because the books are so heavy. Huh! That is how much I love them. By the way, see that book in the middle? That book is included in the Top 100 Children's Books of All-Time [according to http://childrensbooksguide.com/top-100] that we/they are collecting for their mini library. I/We can cross it off the list. Yay!

Newayz, enough of this "show-off". I'd rather save up my energy and moolah for the next Warehouse Sale of National Bookstore. When? That we have to find out. Where? Stay tuned. Hopefully by then, I'd be fit enough to be able to carry more books so I can stock up on my supply that I can give out as gifts not just for Christmas but for other occasion as well.  

Till my next blog.

I'm a hoarder by profession :)

National Bookstore Warehouse Sale

Hear ye! Hear ye! National Bookstore Warehouse Sale is coming! 

Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Book-Store/72546266913

I don't know with you but the mere sight or mention of the word sale makes me crazy. As in! So just imagine how I was when the announcement appeared in my FB newsfeed. Just to give you an idea, 

     I froze...

     My heart skipped a beat...

     I took a deep breath...

     I screamed, "It's baaaaaaaaaaack!"

All that happened at the same time. Oh well, kinda.  I thought to myself: A self-proclaimed superb bargain hunter me just can't, couldn't, and wouldn't let this pass! Even if it is so much hassle to get to National Bookstore Quezon Avenue branch from Paranaque, I will be there. Take that as a fact. A pact.

You see, sometime last year, I got hooked to forums, blogs, FB pages looking for good bargain deals. And when I saw NBS' warehouse sale, a voice within dictated me to go. So I did. Even if it meant searching for books from what was left after 6 days, it was not a bad idea at all that I went. Actually, it was a good idea. Oh, wait, it was a great idea! Just imagine, I got a number of hardcover children's books for less than PhP 180.00, and some activity books for less than 40 bucks! Beat that! When it was time for me to pay for my loot, I almost made a cartwheel stunt upon learning that all I purchased amounted to PhP 1,445.00 ONLY. That was almost 80% off the actual prices [of course, that I found out after I computed for the original price of the items with me when I got home :)]. 

Here, take a peek at just some of my loot from NBS Warehouse Sale last November 2013:

Here's also the comparative pricelist I made.

Orig Price   Sale Price  The Flintstones Sticker Book                            89.00                              10.00 Scooby Doo Wipe-Clean Book                          105.00                              10.00 Black Book of Universe                            35.00                              10.00 Pirate Party Pages of Sticker Fun                            89.00                              10.00 Let's Go Green: Picture Puzzles                            75.00                              20.00 Fun to Learn Wipe-Clean Book                            89.00                              20.00 Eye Trix #1                          175.00                              20.00 Eye Trix #3                          175.00                              20.00 Eye Trix #4                          175.00                              20.00 Ben 10 Wipe & Clean Book                          135.00                              35.00 Marvel Heroes Colouring & Activity Pad                            35.00                              35.00 Eric Carle: A House for Hermit Crab                          215.00                              50.00 The Quiet Book                          459.00                              50.00 Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday                          359.00                              50.00 Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale                          359.00                              50.00 Rainbow Fish and the Sea Monster's Cave                          359.00                              50.00 Guess How Much I Love You My Baby Book                          525.00                              75.00 Dooby Dooby Moo                          609.00                            150.00 Llama Llama Home with Mama                          729.00                            175.00

See? The upcoming warehouse sale is surely a grand way of welcoming 2014. Who would've have thought that right after the holiday season and about 11 months early, you can grab and stock some Christmas gifts errrrr special occasion gifts for your family and friends. I bet you can't resist bringing home a handful of titles or knick-knacks or supplies for yourself, too. Anyway, it wouldn't hurt your pocket. So better save the dates, January 15-19 [Wednesday to Sunday] and show up! 

See you there!

Perfection in Imperfection

I love this IG photo! Is it just me or you see some beauty to it, too? Oh well, I took this picture last year using my inexpensive, no-brand tablet after finishing that rosebud made from satin ribbon. I simply love the effect, thanks to Lo-Fi Instagram filter. Hehe!

Seriously speaking, what makes this picture perfect is its imperfection. You see the trail of thread in the pink satin ribbon? How about the washed-out washi tape? Look closely.   

Faith, Fate & Feat...

seems like a very serious title or label for a blog. I don't intend to keep my first writing venture that way. It's just that it sounds cool [at least for me] and pretty much covers everything I want to share. In as much as I want to sound a bit spunk, poor vocabulary or mere lack of creativity stops me from coming up with a more enticing and catchy label. Well, for now, let's leave it as is. 

So, happy blogging to me, happy reading to you, and happy 2014 to all of us! :)