Random Cake: Hong Kong : The Dim Sum is YUMMY!!!!!

Well. It was my travel experience two years ago. But I think it is a waste if I dont share it to anyone. It was a memorable experience. :)

Why choosing Hong Kong? Because the flight cost is almost the same with Bangkok yet we found more interesting places there. Our target was Ngong Ping, Macau and The Peak.

After doing some research, we choose Airbnb as our accommodation and choose to stay in Wan Chai. Normally, accommodation in Kowloon or Tsim Tsa Tsui is less expensive than in Wan Chai, but we didnt find the comfortable one. Eventually we think our choice was a better one because it is so close with Islamic Canteen (5 minutes walk) and Times Square (15 minutes walk). It becomes convenience because looking for Halal food but delicious food is rare in Hong Kong.  

We didnt force ourselves too much or greedy about itinerary. It was only one or two places a day. But it was superb holiday. Hahaha.

Here is our itinerary :

Day 1 : Macau

We arrived at 7 in the morning. Took a bus from airport to Wanchai. It took about one hour to arrive. After thattt we slept!!! and went to Macau at 1 p.m. Hahaha. There are two recommended ferry port in Hong Kong,

1. Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Shun Tak Center, if you stay in Hong Kong Mainland
2. China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Tsa Tsui of you stay in Kowlood/Tsim Tsa Tsui area.

St Paul Church Ruin

One thing you should aware at Ferry terminal is there are many illegal ticket agent. Second advice is know how long you will stay in Macau and get return ticket beforehand. It would be hard to buy ticket in weekend. I dont know if we are lucky or not but our ticket is exchanged by a person who we thought a official guard (but not) so we have to depart 1 hour earlier in a very short time. Because we didnt buy online we had return ticket at 11 p.m so close to the last train schedule. The journey took about 1 hour. From what I read, the bridge between Macau and Hong Kong is already built so we can take bus and only take 40 minutes. It is a better option I guess.

Walking Path to Senado Square

In Macau you need to know where the free bus shelter is. And in weekend it has a very long line especially to The Venetian. The free bus is provided by the casinos and hotel there so mostly it would stop in front of hotels/casinos, thus it was so awkward for me.

In Macau we only visit Senado Square/St Paul Cathedral and The Venetian. The bus is not having clear direction about the route it take and it was hard getting direction online thus we was afraid getting lost. So we just back to the terminal at 8 p.m.

For muslim, you need to know that it was harder looking for halal restaurant in Macau than Hong Kong. Besides not many people speak English or if they speak somehow their accent make it hard to understand. And you should prepare for your foot too. I've only been to two places but my foot feel extraordinary weary.  

Day 2 : Kowloon, Ngong Ping
The second day we choose Ngong Ping and their cable car. Again we went after 10 p.m after sleep for so long. Hahaha.

The ticket price is rather expensive. But the scenery was beautiful and the cable car was a very pleasant experience. After riding cable car you would find a kind of folk village and of course a huge statue of Budha. The stair is longer than in Borobudur but the effort was worth it. If you save your budget just buy one round cable car and ride bus afterward.

Folk Village in Ngong Ping

FYI, Ngong Ping is where the IP Man film taking place.

After Ngong Ping, we went to Kowloon mosque to pray. The mosque is huge and has an easy access since it is near the subway station. Near Kowloon, there are many tourist spot you can go such as: Avenue of Stars, Mongkok, Kowloon Walled City Park, Nan Lian Garden and some musseum. Unfortunately we only visited Hong Kong Museum of History and strolling around Chunking Mansion to eat. Then went home. Hahaha. 

If you like wandering around museum, you should go to Museum in Hong Kong. They are sophisticated and has complex story telling. In the same area likely there are more than one museum. Like Hong Kong Cultural Center is near Hong Kong Space Museum while Hong Kong Museum of History is just besides Hong Kong Science Museum.  I choose this museum because it has highest rating (in google). Can not go to Science Museum, because strolling around history museum is already took a lot of time. One plus things is the entrance ticket is so cheap. 

Day 3 : The Peak, Times Square

This time before going, we have late breakfast first and Osman Ramju Islamic Center where only 5 minutes walks from our Airbnb. A regret come at that moment, why we dont eat to this place at very first. Their menu is so delicious. Seriously! Especially the dimsum. And the prices are surprisingly cheap. Waw. I was so happy at that moment.  

This dimsum is just amazing

They would offer the dimsum at 9 a.m till 3 p.m. They also offer Cantonese food from 6 pm till 9 p.m.

Then we start to depart for The Peak. We chose to ride the bus since it is easier (well, going up and down subway station is tiresome). You need to be prepared to visit the peak in the afternoon especially when you want to try the tram. It has a very long queue line. At that time we need to wait for about half and an hour to ride the famous tram. From The Peak, you can see the landscape view of Hong Kong mainland. It was a pleasant experience except waiting for the tram. Hahaha   

View from the Peak

Day 4 : Times Square, Flight

I guess no more story I could tell you. The rest of the itinerary was shopping. :)

Ah yeah, I want to give some suggestion to enjoy travelling :

1. Dont get too ambitious with your itinerary. Hong Kong is the most enjoyable experience until now and I find it why. I got enough sleep, enough time to rest my body. It would decrease the tension among your travel-mate because you has relax body and brain. When traveling, we most likely argue with our travel mate, though they are the one who we feel most comfortable with. You just need to visit two or three places at maximum and enjoy the rest of time. Dont make excuse like, we would never visit this place again so we must try our best. For an office worker like me holiday should feel like holiday so we could be back to work with more refreshed mind.   
2. Choose person who you are comfortable with and if you can choose the one who share the same interest with you. It is what everyone knows actually. I would just add sharing interest could also means sharing the same faith. Because I am moslem, I need to pray 3 times a day (because we did jama') at least and need to find halal food. I've been travelling with person who doesnt share the same faith as me. And it made the journey rather not enjoyable. I dont say it not enjoyable at all, it was fun. Just it would be better if we have a friend to pray and eat together. :')
3. Find a good food and a comfortable place to sleep. A good food could become our strength booster and kind of reward after walk for a day. While comfortable place is important to get enough sleep and rest. 

Kkeut~