HK & Macau Day IX - Countdown at Disneyland, Hong Kong

My last day of year 2008....

It was a very long day. The day started at 8am.

First I went to the Watson on the opposite road. I bought 1 more Oral-B Vitality Precision Clean. It was only HKD199 where else in Malaysia this toothbrush will cost me more than RM120.

After an instant breakfast at 7-eleven, we left Tsim Sha Tsui for Disneyland on MTR with an interchange at Lai King and Sunny Bay. I was really excited the moment I boarded the train at Sunny Bay. The train to Disneyland was so nice and different. It has special Mickey shape window panels and many Disney related decorations in the cabin.

the Disney MTR...connecting Sunny Bay to Disneyland station

First we queued to get our ticket...it was really very expensive...HKD350 for a day... :-( We were given a special hologram goggle for firework watching at the entrance. At the entrance, there was a Mickey face shape plant arrangement. Really fantastic...felt like I was living in my childhood. How lucky children today?

at the main entrance...so excited...

the Main Station of Disneyland Hong Kong and Mickey plant at entrance

We walk into the Main Street, USA. First we walked into the Main Terminal and boarded the steam train. The train took us round the whole park, passing through the mysterious Adventureland, the children dream park of Fantasyland and the futuristic Tomorrowland.
Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad. After the train ride, we went on another ride on the Main Street Vehicles. It was a double-decker bus. It went round the Main Street of USA passing through those old shops of USA and the beautiful Sleeping beauty Castle on the back.

double-decker...dont look at the double decker only...see the 'yeng chai' ...he was the operator of the vehicles

Next, I managed to join in the Animation Academy. Believe me, I would surely be one of the best student of the day...everyone were admiring my drawing...my Santa Mickey was perfect. Well I did thought of being an artist. Did dream of living as an artist, living leisure and no stress life but another side of me was too realistic...telling me that this world was very realistic...money is something, though not everything. Next to the academy was the Art of Animation Gallery. There were lots of hand-drawings...they were perfect drawings from those animations...I will need to brush up my drawing skills to be able to join their team :-)

very nice isn't it? original piece of....

Lim Sze Wan...i have my signature there...no kidding :P

the Mickey and friends...they are older than you and me

another great piece...and it was not mine...haha

Xmas tree at Main Stree, USA

with Santa and great gals

We walked around the Main Street, USA. We took photos at the UPS delivery van, the grand Christmas tree and a big happy family photo with Mr Santa Clause. We enjoyed window shopping along the main street. Then we quickly reserved our set in front of the stage for the Royal Christmas Ball. It was a dance ball by Mickey and friends with the Disney Prices and Princesses. Glad to be able to catch the show. We visited the Mickey's Christmas House too...such a happening Christmas! I was so happy to get a big hug from Mickey Mouse...and we bumped into Mulan...

Princes and Princesses of Disney appearing in Royal Chrostmas Ball

at Mickey's fire place and with the X'mas socks

trying on Minnie's shoes...almost fell off

with Mickey...say cheezzzzzz

typical Mulan look...guess only available at Disneyland Hong Kong

Then we rushed to Adventureland to catch the 3pm Festival of the Lion King show at the Theater in the Wild. This was the best show of the day. The performers sang and dance very well...and with the fire and drum, they made the Lion King and all the animals of the kingdom alive.




After the show, we took our late lunch at the Tahitian Terrace. I got myself a hot dumpling noodle soap to warmth myself in this cold day. The dumplings were good but surely didn't worth the price. :S

We continued our excitement on the Raft to Tarzan's House. The raft was the only way we could go over without getting ourselves wet. The Tarzan's House was situated in the middle of the lake on a huge tree. We met Tarzan and his lady as well as King Kong at their home.

Tarzan's house on the other side

Then we took the Jungle River Cruise. We were accompanied by our Canto speaking guide. They did have English and Mandarin speaking guide service but the queue for Canto was the shortest. I was glad that I could understand and speak Cantonese fluently. The cruise took us through the man made tropical forest..passing through the fire cave, the naughty baby Elephant which water us. Before leaving the Adventureland, we manage to catch the Liki Tikis...

Jungle River Cruise Pier from Tarzan's House

Then we moved on to Fantasyland...this was where all our childhood dream situated in...all princesses and castles here. First, we walked into the Sleeping Beauty Castle with high towers and cone roof and bridge leading to the entrance of the castle. Upon walking into the castle, we came to the Pooh Corner. Lot's of Pooh items on sale here...

the Sleeping Beauty's Castle

me and the Sleeping Beauty Castle

my dream castle...don't mind sleeping long

at the gate of the castle

Pooh Corner

Pooh for sale...

We watched the Mickey's Philharmagic to catch the 3D show. This was one of the best 3D show I have ever watched. Mickey and Donald came alive...with all the water splash and wind, it was so real and at times, I tried to catch it with my bare hands...The whole show has been planned and projected perfectly.

Siew Hoon and me in our 3D syok sendiri goggle

After the show, we turned to one of the most kiddy game around. We were on the Dumbo the Flying Elephant. I thought we were the only 2 adults there besides parents who were accompanying the young...really childish but we just love to dwell in childhood. Half way through the long Q, we remembered about another highlight of the day. The last round of Let It Snow Christmas Parade was on. But we just could not give up our places after queuing for such a long time.

By the time we finished the elephant ride, we rushed to the Main Street of USA and we were glad to be able to catch the last few minutes of the show. So at least we didn't missed anything major :D

Let It Snow Christmas Parade

Then we went back into the Fantasyland. Again we were in long queue at Fantasy Garden to catch some close up shots with Mickeys and friends. However it was very disappointing that we were unable to meet Mickey and Minnie. We only managed to take photographs with Donal, Pluto, Pooh and Goofy.

with Donald...and it's a she there

Pooh pooh doesn't seem to be photogenic and active enough

with Goofy...

we love Pluto

Next was the visit to "It's A Small World"...yes the world was so small...within minutes, we passed through all 5 continents, listened to hundreds of languages of 1 song. Then it was the dizzy mizzy Mad Hatter Tea Cups and followed by the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

at the It's A Small World

from Scotland....with the lucky cloves

in Europe...so many countries at one go

Pooh greeting us at 'Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh'

I stopped for a short while for a few hot and spicy fish balls. Though it tasted not as good as those in Mong Kok, it was still very satisfying. A hot snacks to warm my body. Then we visited the last park of the day, the Tomorrowland. Space Mountain at Tomorrowland was the best ride of the day. It was a indoor all dark roller coaster. It was not that steep but the roller coaster was fast and in the dark, you just didn't know what to expect...when it would rise and when would it fall. And the track just seem to be right on top of your head....honestly my body just curled up...so scared that I might knocked them.

the angle...effect from the Hologram Goggle

Then it was time for the "Disney in the Stars" Fireworks...very beautiful with the Sleeping Beauty's Castle on the foreground. Oh yes...with the special hologram goggle...it was like angles flying in the sky. Love it very much but it would be better if it could last longer...5 minutes were just too short.

fireworks on the background

fireworks with angel flying effects

Next up was "The Golden Mickeys" at Story Theater. This was another highlighted show in Disney. The show included scenes from my favourite cartoon, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Hunchback of the Notre Dame, Tarzan, Lilo and Stich and Mulan. Those performers have gifted voices. They could really sing and dance very well.

at the Golden Mickey Award

now u see...Beauty and the Beast

now u don't...it's Beauty and the Handsome

Then we have a chance of Encounter with Stich. This place was way beyond my expectation. First he could speak fluent Cantonese. Secondly he knew what was happening on ground. We really had some impromptu interactions with him. Technology ahead my narrow mind...just wondering how could this be done. All seemed to happen so fast. I wonder how complicated the processing got to be for such an effect.

Next was another round of flying elephant like or Orbiton. Then it was the Autopia, a much better generation of gold cart in Genting. We got on another ride of Space Mountain before we gathered in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for the Club Disney's New Year Eve Countdown Party. It was really happening there...a lot of crowds and with live band performance.

crowds overlooking the lighted up Sleeping Beauty Castle

Another round of fireworks marked the end of year 2008 and the beginning of health and prosperous new year 2009. I was glad to be at there to share that moment with my friends and all visitors there.

Happy 2009!

crowds ruching home after the countdown...but great transportation and planning in HK...not such a hassle even on such a day

HK & Macau Day VIII - Ngong Ping 360, Po Lin Monestery, Tian Tan Buddha, Wisdom Path and Lan Kwai Fong

It was a lovely sunny day but still freezing cold especially with the light drizzle and strong wind at Ngong Ping Shan.

We started our day with a yummy sandwich from the 7-eleven convenient stall. 7-eleven here really very convenient for user. You can easily see one at every corner of Hong Kong just like Watson, Mannings(Guardians of HK).

We took the MTR to the Tung Chung Station with an interchange at Lai King. There was a lot of crowd today ....From the Tung Chung MTR station, we walked out towards the NgongPing Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal. We got our return ticket of Ngong Ping 360. We prefer to take cable car for both the way as the traveling time was very long and it was drizzling today.It was not suitable to travel by bus over the winding and hilly road.

interchanging at Lai King

The view from Ngong Ping 360 was interesting. First we got to see high rise building, then fishing village nearby. To the mid of our ride ont he cable car, the fog was very thick. We could only enjoy the white sky but it was still very beautiful and an enjoyable ride.

on cable car

so foggy...it's all white

We stopped at Ngong Ping Village to take a few photos of the Tian Tan Buddha Statue which was sitting on the top of the hill. The village was filled with many merchants selling cultural item, souvenirs and food. The village was built with ancient Chinese architecture...with pointing roof and hexagon shape building.

drizzling...it was so cold

Then we climbed up slowly passing a total of 268steps to the 天壇大佛. The weather was cold and especially freezing cold when the wind blows...I was shivering at times...The Tian Tan Buddha looked super gigantic from here. It was dark bronze brown in colour. From the bottom of the statue, there were entrances to the inside of the statue. The admission was by using vegetarian lunch ticket but we did not buy the vegetarian lunch ticket earlier as we thought it was expensive. So we bought separate ticket to go in. Anyway there were not much to see in the statue. There were only 2 levels.The first were where they exhibit collections related to Buddha's teaching. On the 2nd level were the resting place of the decedents.

天壇大佛...268 steps to the top...slightly lower than Batu Caves

at the Tian Tan Buddha Statue

one of the few surrounding the Buddha

great view from the top

Next we visited the Po Lin Monastery, 寶蓮禪寺. Lay Fang and I took our lunch here. They were the complimentary snacks provided with the purchase of the entrance to the Buddha statue earlier. The bihun and the snacks were good. I loved the 砵仔糕. This was much better than the 砵仔糕 which I had few days ago. And the red dates cake 紅棗糕...yummy...really value for money....visit + yummy food only cost us HKD24.

view from Po Lin Monastery

the main altar of Po Lin Monastery

yummy dessert...I love 砵仔糕

bihun...healthy and great taste

After the meal, we walked into the main altar of the Po Lin Monastery. Again, I was trying out my luck. This time I asked about my dad's career and I got a promising hint from the goddess.

When we were about to leave Ngong Ping, I recalled about the Great Wisdom Path. So both of us walked towards the opposite direction. The whole hike took us more than 10 minutes even the signs showed that the journey would only take us 10 minutes. Perhaps it was due to the rain, we were moving very slow. Better late than slow!

view of the Ngong Ping Village from cable car

The view at the Wisdom Path was breath taking. The Wisdom Path or the Heart Sutra Inscription featured 38 calligraphy inscription giant wood planks arranged in the ∞ pattern. One of the famous line there was '色即是空, 空即是色'. This was surely a must see in Ngong Ping.

Wisdom Path...wiser path and it's a must take route

another shot of me at Wisdom Path

great shot at Wisdom Pathanother shot from Wisdom Path

another shot from Wisdom Path

few meters from the Wisdom Path

By 3pm, we left the Ngong Ping on cable car to Tung Chung. Here at Tung Chung, we shopped at the Citygate Outlet Tung Chung. This was surely the place to go for mid-end or high-end items...lots of brand for you to chose. I managed to buy 2 pairs of Adidas sports shoes here...yeah!

After that we went back to our hostel and refreshed for a while before we went for dinner at 大家樂. After the great meal, we went to the Lan Kwai Fong. I was there in the day time last 2 days but found nothing interesting there since this place was famous for its pubs and clubs. So we went there again to witness the peak time but were disappointing to find that the crowd of today was low....much lower than expectation based on what I have seen in the dramas... :-(

Lan Kwai Fong

Next we boarded on the tram towards Sham Shui Po. We took a detour...a big round to Sham Shui Po then turned back and stopped at Sogo, Causeway Bay. We saw some street performance there...a group of youngsters was rapping impromptu of items handed in by the crowd.

I boarded this tram to Sham Shui Po

busy crowd at Sogo, CausewayBay

from the upper deck of the tram

As we walked along the road, we pasted the famous 港澳義順牛奶公司, Yee Shun Dairy Company. This shop was famous for its 雙皮燉奶(double stewed milk), 燉蛋(stewed egg), 紅豆冰(red-bean punch), 西多士(french toast) and etc. But I was too full to taste them all...only got to eat the 雙皮燉奶....the texture was very smooth...much smoother than tau fu fa...with the ginger, it was perfect...I craved for more... :P

I want more stewed milk...

So that supper ended my day...great activities and foods...this was a really a fulfilling day!
yeah...another great experience...wanna know more...stay tune!

HK & Macau Day VII - Museums of Macau

Normally in my trip abroad, I would want to get the most out of it but i would love to sleep till late day...but in Macau, I have to woke up early as I have only few more hours in Macau.

I woke up at 7.30am. After a long hot shower, I went off sight seeing alone...didn't want to wake my friends from their comfort bed. I left my hotel room at 8.30am. First I moved out to Senado Square. I walked up straight to the ruins of the St Paul's church...It looked so beautiful under the broad daylight.

St Paul's ruins in daytime

The Museum of Sacred Art behind the wall opened at 9am. There was nothing much in the museum but the descriptions and photos of the ruins St Paul. However this place was a must for both day and night time. Then I walked downhill and stopped at 大三巴...this was a fast food pallor selling local famous delicacies...yummy 豬排包 and 珍珠奶茶. They were MOP20 only.

Next I visited the Holy House of Mercy. The collections were very limited but the exterior of the building was superb. This was the best place to see the whole of Senado Square. And not to forget the kind uncle. Uncle has been very helpful...he has suggested many great shots to me and offered to take photos of me...thanks uncle!

taken in the Holy House of Mercy

Then I walked to the Cultural Club blocks away. This club is situated in an old pawnshop along Av. Almeida Ribeiro. This was a superb place for Western tourists. They have a Boutique Gallery, Arts Plaza, Jin Yong Library, Water Teahouse, and the Bamboo Hut. Lots of Chinese art and culture offered here...tea drinking.

in the Cultural Club...lots of great artwork here

My 3rd museum visited of the day was Pawn Museum, Heritage Exhibition of a Traditional Pawnshop Business. Though there were nothing much left in the shop, but it was still a very interesting museum to pay a visit to. I loved the entrance ticket which they printed. With the shop stamp, it looked so real...really a unique pawnshop receipt.

按 (àn) literally means press. So in pawnshop one has to press in their properties for quick money

the Lisboa Casino

I was back at Metropark Hotel for check out at 11.15am. But my friends were lost...so I got to transfer all our luggage down to proceed with check out or else we would ended up paying for another night...After checking out, we left our luggage at lobby while we headed to the Museu Do Vinho or the Wine Museum and Museu Do Grande Premio or the Grand Prix Museum. These two museums were must go museum in Macau. They would only cost you MOP20 for the joint entrance ticket to both.

with my dream car...dream of having them but not driving them :-)

see me driving....ss only

The Grand Prix Museum has many cars for your admiration. Those AI cars were so nice....this was the first time I see them in real. I have been a fan of F1 many years ago but never got a chance to see them...the Wine Museum housed many old equipments used to make wine but what attracted me most was the wine tasting session. Lay Fang and I shared 1 glass of red wine and a glass of white wine. The red wine was very strong with mild sweetness while the white wine was sweet with nice fragrance. It taste a little like ice wine...it was cold in throat. We learned to taste wine here...we turned, smell and sip in small portion at a time. The wines were great...definitely worth more than what we paid... :-)

stealing grapes at the grape yard.... :P

models of Portugal wine maker

me + white wine = red face

2 of us have emptied our glass...2 more to go

We went back to hotel to catch the shuttle at 3pm. And we were in good luck to be able to catch the 3.30pm boat to HK. We rushed through the crowded custom and managed to board the boat....The ride was horrible. The sea was rough and bumpy. With the after effect of the wine, I was a little dizzy.

Arriving in Kowloon, he headed to our hostel straight. We were so tired and needed a short rest so badly. We rested till 6.30pm. We headed to the Cafe de Coral, 大家樂, a local fast food restaurant offering local dishes for dinner. The food range there was good with reasonable price and I was glad that I have no difficulty reading the dual language menu :-)

Then we walked along Avenue of Star where we watch the Symphony Of Light. The show was great. Watching it from Tsim Sha Tsui was better in terms of the light and music coordination. It felt like all the building came a live and dancing to the rhythm....bravo! Glad that I was able to catch the show from both shores.

prior to the Symphony of Light

Hong Kong gets alive every night at 8pm

symphony of light...the lasers and spotlights...eye-opening!

After the show, we split again. First I went to Espirit Outlet with Jessie and Siew Hoon....lucky enough to be able to get a nice pair of jeans for myself and 1 for my aunt...the price was half of what we pay in Msia. Then I went to Mong Kok alone. I wanted to get my bro's G10 lens. At first I could not get any better offer that what I have got days ago but finally settled with 1 telephoto lens, 1 wide angle+macro lens and an adapter for HKD1250...

And not to forget I rewarded myself with another great dessert from 許流山...yummy! It came in 3 small dishes. I love the mango sorbet and jelly most... :P

It was a fruitful days... lots of buying with great activities and great food... I love Macau! I love Hong Kong!