HK & Macau Day II - Countdown to Xmas at Tsim Sha Tsui

Did not have a comfortable sleep at the airport on the previous night. I was very tired and exhausted.

We left the airport on a coach to Hung Hom Station on bus A21 at 6am. This bus was 10x better than the airport coach we have back in Malaysia....

We arrived at Tai Wan Hotel at 7am. The condition of the hostel was alright but the environment of the walkway was a little scary as there were lots of Africans and Indians around...trying to sell their hostels and hotels to us...And at the reception counter, it was worse. They claimed to have 24-hours check in service but when we arrived, the counter was closed. We was so hungry and tired. All we wanted was hot shower and warm bed.

After waiting for sometime, finally the unhelpful Assistant Manager appeared. Puzzled with why we were there at such an hour. We asked for the room but was told that the earliest check in time was 12.00pm. Damn it...worse when the Asst. manager asked us to pay the full amount inclusive of the other 3 nights at Li's Hostel. We were reluctant to make the payment as we thought of surveying around first before we finalized with that hostel...as we still have 4 days to go before checking in into that hostel. The damn asst manager threaten us that saying that it was peak season in HK, we will not be able to get any room in HK and moreover he has my friend's credit card detail. Even if we did not check in into his hostel, he will still charge it on her credit card....darn!

Leaving us with no choice, we made the payment and left our luggage at the hotel and headed for hot and filling breakfast at McD. McD here provided more variety but taste the same as in Malaysia at a higher price.

over a hundred years of history...this is Star Ferry of Hong Kong...

After the meal, we started to explore the city. We started walking down South along Nathan Road towards the Tsim Sha Tsui Pier. For the first time, we saw the Hong Kong Island, the Central and Wan Chai across the sea. We spent a lot of time in front of Harbour City taking photo and window shopping.

in front of Harbour City Hong Kong

it was so Christmas feel here...Santa Claus is coming to town

Then we walked into the Hong Kong tourist center in Tsim Sha Tsui ferry terminal to grab more brochures and made reservation for Duk Ling on the coming Thursday...
Then we walked around the terminal, passing the Former KCR (Kowloon Canton Railway) Clock Tower. :-( no photos here as it was under maintainace. Next to the tower was the Hong Kong Cultural Center. We continued walking along the seaside and arrived at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Free admission fees for it was Wednesday. The collection was marvellous and my favourite was 'Looking For Antonia Mak'.

We then continued on to the Hong Kong Space Museum. I found that HongKis love museum and they really have quality time with family members. Many parents brought their children to museum and museums here were so visitor friendly....so much of interaction and activities for visitors.

that was Wan Chai on the background

the iconic trophy...the symbol of fame and success

what are they busy with...I don't seem to see any actors or actresses around

at Avenue of Star

Then we walked to the Avenue of Stars, 星光大道...seaching for my favourites and idols...It was so exciting to see both Jackie's handprint there....Jet Li and of course Andy Lau's print there. We have also came across other senior celebrities' prints there...Josephine Siao, Patrick Tse, Sam Hui, Michael and Sam Hui and many more which were too senior for me to know....haha...There was Bruce Lee's too but without his handprint. Anyway, it was indeed a great spot to enjoy the great scene of Hong Kong Island...sky scrappers everywhere and the seagull mimic of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

with Patrick Tse print

my favourite....And Lau...arrrrr

半只马 with Jet Li...actually I was too tired for any other post....

yes...that's Jackie Chan

the heroic icon of Cantonese File Industry....Mr Bruce Lee

Lay Fang and got back to the hostel at about 3pm. After a cold shower, we took a nap till 6pm when we were awakened by the noisy crowd downstairs. Everyone seem to flood Nathan Road, waiting for the countdown. Nathan Road along Tsim Sha Tsui was closed from traffice in waiting for the countdown to Christmas.

We were back on our feet at 7pm. First we walked along the Peking Street and got out first stick of 魚旦 and 燒賣. Then we had a superb dinner...our first time in 茶餐廳. The fried spagetthi was delicious with the tender meet....yummy! And the milk tea was so smooth and great aroma. The egg tart's crust was crispy with the just right sweetness level filling.

After one great meal, we continued walking and shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui. Though there was not much clothing suitable for Malaysian weather, I still managed to get 3 very nice T-shirt from Bossini. There were extremely cheap however limited choices available...visited Espirit outlet, Adidas and Nike shop too...and Sasa, Mannings, Watson and 7-eleven were everywhere...almost at every 1 or 2 streets away....

see...there were thousands of people along Nathan Road....so happening here

By 10.30pm, we was walking towards the pier. Many police officers were deployed to maintained the traffic and crowd. Roads were blocked and divided...all pedestrians were moving in 1 same direction. We walked along Salisbury Road, passing many nicely lid building....

That was Duk Ling...the ancient trade symbol of Hong Kong

Mr Bruce Lee looks so macho under the light of stars

We finally stopped at Avenue of Star in hope to be able to catch the countdown and firework show on the island but left with regrets as there was no firework performance for Christmas eve on the HK island. I just could not understand why the locals were packing up the whole of Tsim Sha Tsui just to have a very dry and plain countdown. If we were aware of this we would op to countdown at some other more interesting places may be Lan Kwai Fong or SOHO...
Anyway it was great to be able to witness such a lively and nice city of Hong Kong.
Merry Christmas!

at Avenue of Stars...looking at Wan Chai Hong Kong

HK & Macau Day I - A night to remember

After long waiting and hassle that we: Siew Hoon, Jessie, Lay Fang and me have got due to cancellation of our accommodation, our dream vacation plan came true.

Back(L-R) : Jessie, Siew Hoon
Front (L-R) : Lay Fang, me

We finally flew off from Penang International Airport on Air Asia's AK6315 flight. We departed and arrived on time at LCCT. Upon arriving at LCCT, we quickly grabbed our luggage and hopped on the badly maintained Airport transit couch to KLIA Main Terminal. It was really ashamed for we have such a poor bus at our front line greeting our guests and tourists.

syok sendiri at KLIA

As we have ample of time after checking in our luggage, we went round KLIA for photographing time...trying to prove my skill with those artistic shots....haha....

:-( ...my photo not that artistic aft all...cant hold the camera for myself

Then McD time before we flew off. There was no crowd at KLIA. It seemed so deadly...LCCT was much more happening compared to KLIA Main Terminal. Custome clearing was very fast and we arrived at our departure gate C26 much more earlier that we thought it would be....I even have some time to blog....haha.

On our flight to HK, MH74 ...I have a great time resting and watching The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor, starring by Brandon Fraser, Michelle Yeoh and Jet Li. With the white wine taking effect, the movie seem good and exciting. And I really appreciate the comfortable seat on MAS...3 and a half hour on that seat was great.

We arrived at Chek Lap Kok International Airport Hong Kong at 10.15pm...15 minutes earlier than our scheduled arrival. Anyway with the long Q at the airport custome clearance, we only managed to get to the arrival hall at 11pm. I found Chek Lap Kok airport much more better that KLIA as it was well lid and more crowded. More crafts here...the schedule has long list of arriving and departing planes. Really one of the busiest airport.

this was only partial of the departing list...see how many plane leaving between 8 to 9 am

still there are people checking at 11.43pm

airport worker busy at work...transporting luggage into plane

Then we strolled around and took some nice photographs of the airport while huntung for best sleeping spot....yes, we put up a night in the Chek Lap Kok International Airport. The weather was very cold and windy. I could only managed few minutes of sleep from time to time even with the eye shead on....:-( Siew Hoon, Jessie and Lay Fang had a sleepless night. While for me this was not such a bad experience for it wasn't my first night ever in an airport. My previous night in Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Bombay India was worse...solo traveller and first time abroad and first time travelling to South Asia...scary!

nice deco at Chek Lap Kok International Airport

Anyway as a whole this was still a great and smooth day...all our flights were on time and Chek Lap Kok Airport condition was much better than expected minus the cold breeze. And bravo to this airport...nicely lid and super clean! You can easily find anti-bacterial hand sanitizer everywhere.

clean our hands to avoid H5N1

self portrait in the clean toilet

outside of the terminal 1

bump bump bump ...3...2...1

just wanna kill sometime....

Am now in KLIA, departing gate C26....finally this trip has come true after all the hassle that we have been through... hope that everything ll go well from here...

"Kita tambah kat Utara, kes berlaku di Selatan. Kita tambah kat Timur, kes berlaku di Selatan."

Yes...this was quoted from one of the many policemen we have in Malaysia. Thanks to our PDRM academy for training such an idiotic officer and thanks to JPA for even consider hiring such an irresponsible officer.

This was the answer my dad and I got when my dad asked if they would take any action on my case...perhaps increase the frequency of police patrol around the neighbourhood?

And he answered 'we increase in North, cases happens in South. We increase in East, cases happens in West'

I was not joking or trying to make up some case here. This was real and I have heard it myself. Those words were from an Inspector during the investigation session on the robbery case that happened on me recently...Yes I have have to admit that it was my wrong for not rebutting or filed any complain on this incident.

Firstly, after the robbery I was emotionally and mentally half paralyzed. I could not further question him on his remark. Secondly, I didn't believe and do not believe and not convinced with the performance and efficiency of these officers. They have always claimed to uphold their most dignity with the slogan 'Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah' but I doubt it. Thirdly, filling another complaint against that officer might get me into more trouble. 2 police report and 2 investigation sessions were enough for the day. Who would want to stay on in that damn cold place for minutes or hours longer?

Not to forget to mention about the so called investigation that took place. It was barely a Q&A session. I was seated right opposite that officer while looking at him writting at a super slow speed...but applause for the tidynesss in his handwriting...see...the investigation trend that we have here...oups or perhaps his way, 'investigation = Q&A'....unlike what we have seen in those CSI...so if I was the robber, I will surely continue looking at the way the officer carried out their investigation was going no where, no conclusion or solution...

So from this experience I could conclude on how the officer carried out his duty...

Investigation = Q & A

Hence

Policemen = Documenter a.k.a Clerk

Then days after my case, there was an accident which happened right infront of my house. It happened at close to 11pm involving a car with 1 driver in it and a motorcyclist on a motorcycle. The motorcyclist was badly injured, so my family called the police station and for an ambulance.

The scene was crowded with passerbys aka 'kay poh ci' and the traffic was initially in the state of chaos. But thanks to a group of people from the efficient and well networked tow and mechanic shops, the traffic was under control. They arrived at the scene within minutes...and they were using walkie-talkie just like the PDRM but I guessed theirs would be older and less expensive models.

Could you guess how long it took for the 'clerks' to arrive at the scene? They arrived 40 minutes later with their loud siren on...announcing their late arrival to the public...the police station was at most 15 minutes away counting in the traffic lights...but wonder who actually believe police car with siren on would wait for traffic light?

Can we still trust policemen? I mean as in relying on them to maintain our national safety and protect lives. With the increasing criminal rates and more cases reported on the media daily, are we safe now?

Looking at these 2 cases, I have lost my very least confidence on PDRM...and counting in bribery practise, I dispice them...dispice the career...dispice the force...

I am THANKFUL...

Thought of sharing this forwarded mail with u all...
I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE/HE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE..
...well my intention wasn't to tell you to be thankful but to remind you on how unthankful you are..