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.
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