Looked for the Central-Mid levels escalator...bumped into some people who were asking for donation for their flag day or something...asked them for direction...but apparently not all hongkies know where is where...so i walked until i saw some signboards that showed the direction of the Central-Mid levels escalator...found the escalator but had to wait till 10am before it starts to go upwards...so i went up through Soho area all the way to Mid-levels...saw all the cafes at the side of the escalator along the way...the Mid-levels have really amazing architecture...solidly cemented slope with plenty of high-rise apartments and condominiums on the slopes (i guess this is where the rich hongkies stay)...and there were roads on top of roads...they were like roller-coaster tracks...
The HK Zoological and Botanical Garden was nearby so i walked towards where the signboard showed...got a little lost along the way cos the signboard disappeared and there were too many paths to take...a Caucasian man came along with his huge white furry dog and asked me if i was lost...it felt refreshing to be able to speak English without worrying the other person won't understand what i was saying..phew!! so i told the man where i needed to go and he showed me the way...the man came from England but he lives in HK (i guess he's the resident of one of those nice apartments in Mid-levels)...he asked me where i came from and i told him i work in KK..he said, "oh, i have some relatives in KK...i'm planning to visit them next year.." so when we reached the Garden, we parted ways...
Walked around the Botanical Garden..saw lotsa primates...some racoons, turtles and birds...after i had my fill of animal kingdom, i walked back towards Soho...saw a Mannings and found the beauty diary masks that Che asked me to buy...so i bought like 3 boxes...shouldn't have bought so early cos then i was lugging it around in my backpack the whole day...walked along Hollywood Road which has many shops selling antiques and arts stuffs...walked till i reach Man Ho Temple...not really into temple so didn't go in...
So i walked back to Lan Kwai Fong...yes, the famous 'red-light' area in HK...but i was there during the day...so only saw lots and lots of closed bars and pubs...and lots of Japanese tourists taking photo under the signboard that reads "Lan Kwai Fong"...while i was walking back to where i got off the tram, i went into Coach shop to do price compare...they were having sale...even with 30% off, the wristlet still cost the same as what Cam paid for hers in Taipei Airport...
Next, i took the tram to Wan Chai...walked to HK Convention and Exhibition Centre which was at the water front...went in from Grand Hyatt Hotel through to HKCEC...very posh hotel...and HKCEC is huge...it's connected to 2 hotels, the Grand Hyatt and Renaissance...so i exited from Renaissance...just to check out the lobby...had beef noodles for lunch at a restaurant at Wan Chai.. then walked around Wan Chai...walked through Li Yuen Street Market...passed by Wan Chai Market...and walked till i reach the Happy Valley Race Course...it was still early..so no race yet...then i walked into Morrison HIll Road...to check out Butterfly on Morrison, South Pacific Hotel and Hotel Bonaparte by Rhombus...these were the few hotels i initially had in mind to book...but since i booked late, they didn't have rooms anymore...serve me right...
After that, i took the tram to Causeway Bay...gosh, i thought Wan Chai was packed with people...Causeway Bay made an agoraphobic out of me...i guess it was cos it's already nightfall and all the hongkies are out to play...Causeway Bay has plenty of big shopping malls with high-end boutiques...even the not branded clothes are expensive...tried to look for clothes but they were selling mostly winter clothings...too thick for the tropics...but saw a bright pink tunic top that wasn't too thick and thought Che would like it...so bought for her...
Had sweet and sour pork rice for dinner...i've given up trying to decipher Chinese writing and just pointed at pictures..hehe...after dinner, walked along the Jardine's Bazaar and Cresent...they're like our Petaling Street...tried to look for leggings but they were selling for HKD29-69 per pair...i didn't buy coz i thought they'd be cheaper in Kowloon area...anyway, tonight was the opening ceremony of the East Asia Games 2009...i wanted to go back to the hotel, but the policeman that i asked regarding where to take bus told me to stay and watch the fireworks and all before i go back...
So i walked to the World Trade Centre where they had a big screen showing the opening ceremony live...watched it for a while...but by 830pm, i was quite tired and my right knee was giving me problem after a whole day of walking...caught the no. 5 bus that supposedly stopped near my hotel...but the bloody driver told me to get down so far from my hotel that i walked about 1km back to my hotel...crap!!..and when i reached my hotel, my mobile had limited service again...i was like WTH???!!! i was just using it on the bus earlier and it was working fine...
Went to a 7-11 few roads down my hotel and bought a local SIM card...the guy told me i had to recharge my SIM card once i've used it...initially i was like huh? why do i need to recharge my SIM card? does it run on battery? he explained in Chinese...i lagi lah don't understand...so he was at a lost as to how to make me understand..eventually i realized he was talking about reload/ top up...chey!!! apalah...recharge...as it is, i'm not prepaid savvy since i use post-paid...i must have looked like an idiot to the guy..Chinese also don't understand, English also don't understand...oh well, thank God i won't have to see him again...hehe...
So that was my day of adventure in HK...was super tired by the time i got back to my room...had no problem falling asleep this time...
Wow!! So you bought my stuffs already on Day 2! Can't wait to see the tunic top! So you got 3 boxes of MBD masks? Thought it's a 30-pc sampler?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, sis! xo
You discovered previous my daily commute. :) Thank God for company apartments :)
ReplyDeleteche, i got you a box of the 30-piece sampler and 2 boxes of the nano thingy 4-in-1 pack...you're welcome...
ReplyDeleteeric, you used to stay at mid-levels? must be fun to be travelling up and down the escalator daily...hehe...