Kikai's Corner: HK

I just got back in Hong Kong last 16th of May and it's going to be for good. I'm so blessed that I finally got my working visa approved by the Immigration. My husband and I are moving in Hong Kong with big dreams of having our own kids here through God's grace and start promising careers for both of us...Yes, we have a new life here...new job...new friends...new city! It's always exciting to move into a new place. I really love to explore and experience diverse cultures and have joy with my eternal family.

Then I heard about the bun festival from http://www.discoverhongkong.com. Luckily it falls on May 25th and it's holiday in Hong Kong for it's Buddha's birthday. They celebrate it here big time so off I go to Cheung Chau Island.

I live in Wan Chai so I ride the tram for only 2.30 HKD fare going to Central then I walk all through the Central Piers and Pier 5 is the right pier going to Cheung Chau island. I used my Octopus card for an ordinary First ferry ride which costs around 19+ HKD for an hour sailing going to the tiny island of Cheung Chau.

The tiny island was so crowded because of the bun carnival happening that week. After descending the ferry, I turned left going to the plaza. Along the way I saw several stalls selling all sorts of food, drinks, dried fish and several souvenirs. I tried the big fishballs, 2 round balls for 10hkd. Ofcourse I also tried the buns and I love the red bean stuffed bun. It was such a great experience to witness the parade of their deities that look like Pinoy version of black sto. Nino...hmmm...I also saw the temple where they keep the deities. For more stories on how the bun festival started, just go to http://www.discoverhongkong.com or google it baby!

I always wanted to write something about my own experience in going on a trip to Hong Kong in my blog and this is it! I have posted some helpful tips that I think would be helpful to first timers in going to Hong Kong. I'm actually writing all of these for my mom who will come to Hong Kong soon for the first time.

Let me start with booking a flight going to Hong Kong. I did it online with cebupacificair.com and paid it via the nearest "bayad" payment center in our place but you can also use a credit card. After getting a reference booking number,it must be paid not later than 24 hours upon booking or you might need to re-book your flight. If you want much cheaper plane ticket, try booking via Clark International airport as your point of origin. I have such a wonderful experience in Clark airport that's why I kept coming back there...less stress and proximity wise on my part.

online booking ticket

There are required fees before you can board the aircraft on your scheduled flight such as Travel tax P1,620.00 and P600.00 for Clark International Airport Terminal fee. The good thing about this is that when you go back from HK to Clark, you don't have to pay anything like this anymore... only in the Philippines.

Travel tax (Php1620.00)

board pass Clark to HK and Terminal fee (Php600.00)

Boarding pass (this boarding pass is from HK to Clark)

On the actual day of your scheduled flight, be sure to be at the airport 2 hours prior to your scheduled flight to avoid any inconvenience.

Clark Int'l airport departure area entrance

But if you are way too early on your scheduled flight and your flying via Clark...no worries! you can do yoga or do more selfies while waiting for the baggage counter to open.

Clark International airport baggage counters area (not yet open)

Departure Card (fill this out before going to Immigration counter in Clark)

boarding gate waiting area

boarding the aircraft (sometimes you need to walk afar from the gate to board the aircraft)

Now all you need to do is sit back and relax and don't forget to listen to the pre-flight safety instructions demonstration conducted by the airline cabin crew.

After approximately one hour and 45 minutes, you have arrived in Hong Kong International airport where you have to ride bus transfer and train to the Immigration area where you will be issued with a VISA. It's a small sized paper that you should be careful not to misplace. I suggest you bring with you a paper clip to attach with your passport and to secure them properly. After getting a visa, you may now proceed to the luggage conveyor area to pick up your luggage then off to the customs area and then to the arrival area of the airport where you will see several fast food chains.

Mcdonalds inside HKIA

Don't forget to get yourself a HK map before you leave the airport. It would be very helpful for the first timers in Hong Kong based on my own experience. You can find the map just before you go inside the Immigration area or approach customer service inside the airport for a copy of HK map.

bus train transfer (HK International airport)

Arrival Hall (HK International Airport)

Welcome to Hong Kong! If you have someone to pick you up from the airport then good for you but if you know your way around the city, all you need to do is just ride a bus going to your hotel accommodation or ride a train at your convenience.

I prefer the bus as usual because it is much cheaper than the express train going to Hong Kong proper. In our case, we ride the E11 coded bus going to our accommodation in Wan Chai HK. This E11 bus will also passby Central where you can find money changer Pinoy style in the World-Wide House.

Double Decker bus (upstairs seats)

Des Voeux Road Central

(1 hkd = 5.72pesos) as of Feb 2015 currency conversion

Tram (always try the top level seat)

cheap Tram fare (2.30hkd for adult)

Octopus card 150hkd (50 hkd deposit which is refundable when you return the card)

I love riding the Tram aside from it's cheap fare, I get to see the city in a more relaxing way...just like riding a "kalesa in Luneta". If you have coins, save it for your next tram ride for only 2.30hkd for adults. You can also use your Octopus card if you like, either ways make no difference at all...everything is at your own convenience. I got my Octopus card from the MTR station.

If you want to buy a HK prepaid sim card, you can go to the World-Wide house in Central or Circle K, Wellcome or 7-Eleven stores nearby. I bought mine from World-Wide house and it's a CSL prepaid sim for 38hkd. If you want to buy a simcard before you leave the arrival area in the airport, you can look for 7-Eleven store in the arrival area of the airport. There are several other sim cards available in the store. You can use it in texting and calling your loved ones back in Pinas and use its 3g data features to connect to the internet.

I was still able to use the CSL simcard back here in the Phils upon my return without even registering to roaming unlike our simcard (globe or smart) that you still need to activate the roaming feature manually before you leave the country. CSL prepaid sim automatically activates its roaming services once you arrive your country of origin and it is powered by Globe.