Direct Flights Only

I had been thinking of heading to HK for a few days and I finally did it. I decided to book a flight one week before the actual trip so I didn’t get to fly with my favorite airline as the suitable flights were fully booked.

Instant holidays are costly (more expensive air tickets, lesser time to research clean but reasonably priced hotels, etc). However, having a relaxing trip and doing what I really wanted to do (shopping, spending time on my own, catching up with friends & meeting new ones) is truly satisfying.

Welcome back to HK! (Photo taken in one of the newer posh areas near Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui

I was impressed at my ability to go on impulse and whirlwind shopping.

After 1.5 days of  :

• hopping from one train to another and enduring the congested MTR walkways
• shielding myself from the sun
• sweating like a pig(let)
• exercising my arm muscles with the clothing-filled bags; and
• eventually forgetting I had set a shopping budget …

I felt the need not to do anything much on my 3rd and last day. I just walked around a few areas with very minimal purchase and had a haircut (as I was seriously getting bored).

Some interesting info about my trip:

• Number of hours being restless in the plane : 3 hours (most of the Singapore to Hong Kong journey)
• Number of people met : 5 friends (including 3 new ones) + 2 acquaintances
• Liquor : only 2 bottles of beer and 1 cocktail over two night outs (really don’t like drinking)
• Favorite train stops : Central, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
• Pleasant discovery : IFC Mall near Hong Kong station, Jia Hotel in Causeway Bay
• What I wanted to do but ran short of time : Explore Lantau Island (I attempted but could not get out of Citygate outlet mall) ; clubbing
• First set of purchases : 2 Gorilla pods (funky short tripod for electronic gadgets) and a Belkin adaptor for multiple iPods
• Last purchase : Pictionary Man boardgame – believe it or not, I got the item from a shop next to my boarding gate. And I thought I was done with shopping by the time I reach the airport.

Thanks to Ron and William for hanging out with me during the weekend and for introducing their friends to me during my trip.

Photos

1) Accommodation

Jia Hotel, 1-5 Irving St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong ( http://www.jiahongkong.com/JIA.html )

Thanks to Vincent A for the recommendation!

Jia Hotel is the 1st boutique hotel in Asia designed by Philippe Starck

The other side says "Seriously Messed Up" :p

Playing around in the lobby

2) Shopping

IFC (Nearest station: Hong Kong)

City Super -mostly food. I bought some useless stuff from this place.

Club 21 Outlet @ Citgate Outlet Mall (Nearest station: Tung Chung)

Harbour City (Nearest station: Tsim Sha Tsui)

3) Catch Up’s and Walkabouts

With good HK buddies - William and Ron

Cathy and Lydia - new friends I met during my trip

The bar we went to had some function rooms -- Heaven, Hell, Eden. Took a photo of my target destination.

Awesome Sunday night food in the Whampoa area

With William, Larry, and Ron

Drinks by the harbour. Panasonic Lumix at its best.

Haircut at HH Il Colpo Group (Harbour City mall)

This is the "benchmark" hairstyle. You have to see me in person to confirm if the result is the same!

4) Random

Ad for the HK subway system

Yeah, clean is in.

Taken at IFC mall. These kids were initially body slamming the in-house ad, with parents watching them from a few meters away. The kids were acting like human mops here.

"End of the world" scene. Rainy Monday afternoon in HK.

Best dessert I've tasted in recent memory. Too bad, I have to travel all the way to HK for this one.

Also took two days of leave and spent them in Singapore so I could say I was able to rest, re-energise, and enjoy the local scene before heading back to work.