Hong Kong Day 3 and 4: Mong Kok + Tsim Tsa Tsui + Central

Monday 24/6/24

I managed to get about 3.5 hours of sleep, waking up at 2:30am and again at 5am. After that, I could not fall back asleep.

Staying in a hotel with such an amazing view, the first thing I did every morning was to check out the scenery. It was only 5.40am and the sky was already bright, with natural light flowing into the room through the slightly opened curtain.

We arrived at Essence restaurant to have 40 minutes buffet breakfast at 9am. The selection was exactly the same as yesterday, so I ended up taking almost the same things I liked from yesterday. I was expecting some variety as hotels typically switch some dishes to offer guests a different experience each day.

After the breakfast, we went back to our room for toilet break and to take our bags. We set off at about 10.15am. 

We took a train down to Prince Edward Station. It was quite a long journey to the city area, which took us 50 minute traveling time, requiring us to change to the red line at Lai King Station. Finding not much to explore at Prince Edward, we strolled down to Mong Kok instead.

It was about 20 minutes walk to Mong Kok, we strolled leisurely along the street, immersing ourselves in the vibrant surroundings and soaking in the atmosphere.

I spent about half an hour shopping at  Argyle Centre and picked up a skirt for myself and some souvenirs as gift. I remembered the shopping centre being quite crowded with youngsters during my last visit. Today was surprisingly quiet, with only half of the shops open. We visited around 12pm, so perhaps it was only crowded on weekends rather than weekdays.

It was 12.50pm when we settled at Chrisly Cafe (Mong Kok) 華星冰室 for lunch. With so many popular restaurants and cafes in Mong Kok, it was hard to choose just one, but I had shortlisted this renowned cha chaan teng. 

Despite the cafe being packed, we were fortunate to have a table to ourselves without sharing, even though a sign indicated that table sharing is required during peak periods. It took us a while to decide what to eat, and the staff kindly guided us through the ordering procedure without any scolding. Their attitude has definitely improved.

I had Regular Set 常餐 at HKD52 (or S$9.06). The set came in huge portion, consisting of spaghetti with BBQ pork, two perfectly cooked fried eggs with runny yolks that oozed out with a burst, two slices of ham, lightly charred buttered toast, and an iced milk tea in classic Hong Kong style.

It was 1.25pm when we finished our meal. We quickly left the cafe as there was queue forming outside.

Chrisly Cafe (Mong Kok) 華星冰室

G/F, 107 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok

Operating hours: 7am to 9pm daily

On the way to Mong Kok station, I chanced upon a shop called Xixi which looked like a great spot to pick up souvenirs for my family and friends. This shop sells bag, cosmetics, accessories at affordable pricing. I got four items at HKD98 (or S$17.07).

Right beside Xixi was another similar concept shop called Uniso. I bought a mini tote bag and two pairs of sock at HKD60 (or S$10.45). 

Satisfied with my purchase, we took a train down to Tsim Tsa Tsui which was just three stops away from Mong Kok station. It was nearly 2.30pm when we reached. We stopped by at K11 Art Mall for toilet break (mall toilets are always my preference). We then slowly made our way towards the Clock Tower for the view of the harbour.

One thing that will make me want to come back to Hong Kong is their shopping. While prices here might not be as low as in other countries, I still enjoy the shopping experience. I bought a shirt from Believe at HKD60 (or S$10.45).

We settled for Lei Garden, a Cantonese-style restaurant awarded The Plate Michelin in 2020. As we were not very hungry, we only ordered Yang Chow Fried Rice and Deep Fried Chicken Wings Marinated in Shrimp Paste. The chicken wings had a juicy and crispy bite with shrimp paste fragrance. The fried rice was too much for us that we could not finish. The total bill including tea and service charge was HKD262 (or S$45.64).

It was a 40 minutes journey back to Tung Chung station, we reached the station at 8.50pm. I returned the octopus card at the train station and got back HKD100 balance. Most of the shops were already closed by 9pm, the only place I could still shop at was Taste Supermarket and I got a pack of Dried Mango at HKD42 (or S$7.32). 

We reached hotel at 9.30pm. I spent some time packing since I had bought quite a fair bit of items today. 

Tuesday 25/6/24

It felt like déjà vu as I woke up at exactly the same times again, 2:30am and 5am. At least, I managed to get a few hours of sleep to ease my tired body.

We headed down to Essence restaurant for a half an hour breakfast at 8.45am. Everything was the same selection except for the donut. We then went back to hotel for final round of packing and check out the hotel at 9.45am.

Novotel provides a complimentary shuttle bus service to and from airport at 20 minute intervals from 6am to 11.40pm. We patiently waited for the 10am slot, there were only 3 of us on board the shuttle bus.

I had a wonderful stay at Novotel Citygate. It provided a temporary escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, allowing me to unwind and let my stress melt away.

I was very impressed by Hong Kong's smart Check-in kiosks, which can even be used by international passengers. The departure process can be done on our own, making it fuss free and fast, leaving us ample time for shopping. We did not had lunch at the airport as meal will be provided on plane.

Even though things at the airport were more expensive, this was my last chance to make purchases, so I bought some snacks using the remaining notes. 

Hong Kong Day 2: Hong Kong Disneyland

 

After half an hour of train ride, we arrived at Disneyland Resort Station at 12.30pm via the Disney train with Mickey Mouse's shape windows, handles and figurines in it. We entered a magical kingdom inspired by 7 themed lands to explore. 

The first themed land we passed by was Main Street, USA, where we came across Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad. You can hop on to the train at this station for a scenic tour of Hong Kong Disneyland Park. I decided to save this ride for later.

Main Street, USA, is a replica of 20th-century small-town America. It felt like we were being transported back in time, with the vibrant energy of the street filling us with excitement.

The colourful framed buildings lined up along Main Street gave it a vintage feel. Many souvenir shops can be found in one of the buildings, offering a refuge from the brutal sun and a chance to purchase souvenirs to bring home.

A variety of shops and eateries made Main Street, USA, outstanding. As we reached the end of the street, we eagerly ventured into the other lands awaiting us.

The weather was insanely hot till I had use an umbrella for shade. Throughout the time in the park, I only managed to take only one or two photos of myself as I could barely open my eyes. I have to applause to the performers who braved the intense sun, singing and dancing on stage with enthusiasm. Below was filled with visitors carrying umbrellas.

This cute castle caught my eye, it felt as if it had been lifted straight from the pages of a storybook. This attraction turned out to be "It's a small world" which would be our first ride.

The queue was moving fast and we only waited 15 minutes for the indoor whimsical boat ride that brought us around the globe to the Seven Seaways canal with classic song of "It's a small world" in their native language. During the 9 minute journey, we were treated to a rainbow of diverse cultures with some Disney characters along the way.

With no storyline, just visual aesthetics and songs, we felt connected to this small world through child-like eyes. The ride brought joy and happiness. We even spotted Woody, Bullseye and Jessie from the Toy Story series.

As the ride was coming to an end, we enjoyed the cool refuge of the air conditioning. Next time, we need to avoid visiting Disneyland during summer.

The next attraction we came across was The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, another indoor ride. The waiting time was 20 minutes.

We hopped into a 4 to 6 seater Hunny Pot vehicle, which took us through Hundred Acre Wood, immersing us in the stories of Winnie the Pooh. The 4 minute ride ended with Pooh finally got his paws on some yummy honey.

We came to Mickey's PhilharMagic for a 10 minutes 3D concert movie starring Donald Duck and other Disney characters. We queued 15 minutes for the show, but fortunately, the theatre can accommodate 492 seats, so everyone got in at the same time.

It was already 3pm when we settled at Royal Banquet Hall for a late lunch, since we were not feeling hungry after a filling breakfast buffet at the hotel. As the indoor seating was fully packed, we had to opt for an outdoor seat.

I had Tempura Prawn Ramen at HKD150 (or S$26.13). I was surprised that the egg yolk came in a shape of Mickey Mouse, adding a magical touch to the rather normal Chinese style ramen. The tempura was very crispy and enjoyable.

It was 4pm when we resumed back exploring the attraction. We boarded the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad at Fantasyland Station for a 20 minutes ride around the park which only had two stops - Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland. We took a round trip back to Fantasyland, admiring the scenery along the way.

The third themed land we visited was Toy Story Land, where a giant Woody welcomed us. As the name suggested, this area was based on Toy Story movies and many themed props were being used. I wanted to play Slinky Dog Spin but the scorching sun made me decide to skip it.

We finished this area in 3 minutes with Giant Rex awaiting us. Beware not to be caught on its rope.

We moved on to the fourth themed land at Mystic Point and we joined in the queue for Mystic Manor which took us half an hour. We took a Mystic Magneto-Electric Carriage for a 6 minute enchanted gallery tour ride of Lord Henry Mystic's manor house and private museum. It was a dark ride with exotic artifacts from around the globe come to life right before our eyes. We also came face-to-face with the Mythical Monkey King.

It was 5.15pm when we finished the ride. When we came out, it was raining. We followed the route down and it led us to the cross juncture of Main Street, USA and Fantasyland. Fortunately, the rain stopped 15 minutes later.

The colourful frozen treats with the cute Disney characters ice cream from the pushcart stall made me stopped by to grab a stick. I chose a Minnie Mouse Ice Cream Bar at HKD45 (or S$7.84). It turned out to be a disappointment as the shape didn't quite resemble Minnie Mouse and it melted quickly. 

It was already 5.40pm when we arrived at the fifth themed land - Tomorrowland, that brought us into the future with its focus on technology, discovery, and science fiction. A place where heroes gather.

We queued 15 minutes for  Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! It was a 4 minute shooting ride where we fight alongside with Ant-Man and The Wasp to prevent classified S.H.I.E.L.D. data from falling into the hands of Hydra. We used guns to shoot targets disposed in the different scenes.

We queued about 20 minutes for Iron Man Experience. Stepping into Stark Industries, we learned more about their groundbreaking technology set to shape our future. The thrilling 4 minute 3D ride was the best ride we took today.

It was 6.40pm when we arrived at the sixth themed land - Adventureland. We went on a Jungle River Cruise which was about 15 minutes waiting time.

We sailed off for a 8 minute cruise to the the mysterious and untamed Rivers of Adventure. There were surprises along the river route such as a pool of playful elephants, cobra, giant spiders and hippos.

The sky slowly darkened, we only had time for one last ride. Since Adventureland was close to Toy Story Land, I decided to head back for Slinky Dog Spin. We queued 15 minutes for this one minute ride. It was a mild thrill ride that started with a gentle circular ride up and down incline, chasing his tail around a giant food bowl. With each round, the speed increased, adding to the excitement.

It was 7.30pm when we finished the ride and we navigated our way back to Main Street, USA.

Since there was still half an hour to the show, we had Mickey Waffle at HKD70 (or S$12.20) from Main Street Market as our dinner. The Mickey Mouse shaped waffle was a feast for the eyes, adding a whimsical twist to my Disney experience. The waffle was thick and fluffy with a buttery aroma, accompanied by mixed fruits with jam and whipped cream on the side. This was so much better than the lunch.

The most mesmerizing 20 minute night show “Momentous” began at 8.30pm. We watched the sky illuminated by light and fireworks with a series of classic Disney songs. It was a beautifully magical scene that brought smiles to our faces.

Nearing the finale, there was a sudden drizzle that lasted less than 5 minutes. Thankfully it was just a short one. The exit from Disneyland was chaotic with everyone leaving at the same time after the show. Thankfully, our hotel was only two train stops away and we managed to reach our hotel by 9.30pm. It was a pity we could not cover the entire Disneyland, which calls for a second visit to Hong Kong Disneyland in the future.

Hong Kong Day 2: Exploring Novotel Citygate Hong Kong

I managed to sleep for a few hours during this trip as compared to my past few trips. I went to bed at 11.45pm, woke up at 1.50am and stayed awake till 3am. The next time I woke up was already 6.40am.

Sunrise came early in Hong Kong. By 6.45am, the sky was already so bright. Since our itinerary for today was only Disneyland, we can enjoy a slower pace and no need to get out of bed so early. I rest for another hour before getting up to prepare.

I finished preparing by 9am. For this trip, I brought my slipper along because my toenail was injured and hurt when walking. To add an extra layer of protection, I had to put on a plaster. I wore the slippers out to the morning buffet and changed into sport shoe when heading out for exploration.

We headed down to Essence restaurant at level 1 for breakfast buffet at 9.10am. The selection was decent with a fusion-style Chinese and Western dishes. I was leaning more towards the Western dishes.

The swimming pool was located at level 3. From our room, I could see an outdoor area for guests to roam around. Captivated by the view, I decided to check out this area.

We enjoyed staying at Novotel Citygate Hong Kong so far, experiencing the best of both worlds with the stunning views of the hill and sea.

The breathtaking sight of the surrounding nature with its green hills, transformed the area into a serene hideout from the bustling city. This is the charm of Tung Chung. I always appreciate beautiful scenery whenever I travel.

The sun lounger was probably too hot to sit on it at the moment, the morning sun had heated it up.

I couldn't take my eyes off the stunning hill view. It was a rare and enchanting sight for a city girl like me. Staying in such a picturesque place made mornings worth waking up early for, allowing me to breathe in the fresh air.

This was the view that guests staying in the room opposite ours would see, I still preferred our room view. From this angle, you can catch a glimpse of the cable car on the left side of the hill.

We went back to hotel to drop off our loots. By the time we reached Tung Chung MTR station, it was already 12pm. I went to the customer service counter to purchase an Octopus Card at HKD200 (or S$34.84). We then took a train to Sunny Bay MTR station, just one stop from Tung Chung, to transfer to the Disneyland Resort line.

Disneyland, I am coming.