Hong Kong and Macau: Sights and Scenes

See the pics here.

Hong Kong, T minus 2 hours

Had a great time in HKG with my Dear. On our way home, waiting at the HKIA lounge. Back to reality.

Hong Kong, Day 1

(USD 1 = HKD 7.17; HKD 1 = PHP 6.68)

Arrived in HKG after a day with a lit of hiccups, including having the misfortune of picking the line staffed by slowest NAIA immigration officer ever.  But all's well that ends well, and we're at the hotel having some rest before we head back out and get acquainted with the city's transport system (thanks to Carol and Prince for lending us their Octopus Cards).

A few price indictors: HKIA-Mongkok hotel transport = HKD 130.00; big and high-quality turkey sandwich = HKD 20.00; ham and egg bun = HKD 5.50; pork floss bun = HKD 8.00; 1.5 litres distilled water = HKD 9.00.

Manila, T minus 18 hours

My Dear and I are going to Hong Kong tomorrow, our first overseas trip together.  I've been to the Fragrant Harbour many times before, but I've never really been there since my previous visits have mostly been in transit to LHR or SFO.  So I'm quite excited about this trip since it would practically be a new place for me to visit, not to mention I'm going there with my Dear.

We will be staying in Mongkok, which is the busy but affordable shopping and dining part of Hong Kong in the Kowloon Peninsula, and whose name supposedly and aptly means "busy corner".  So now you know our priorities for going to Hong Kong-- one of our first stops is going to be Sino Centre, upon the insistence of my Dear because that's where she plans to buy some K-pop stuff.

We haven't sorted out our complete itinerary yet, and we're not sure if we want to have a detailed tour plan-- one of the joys of travel is getting lost (and finding your way back, of course).  If time allows we may even make a side trip to the former Portuguese territory of Macau.  Maybe I can use some of the stuff I learned in Portuguese 11 more than a decade ago.  Onde e o banheiro no seu restaurante?