The break I deserved! Hong Kong, here I come!

Singapore

I am all packed and waiting for my taxi at the void deck (lobby) of my apartment. The taxi uncle was very comical. We chatted a lot. It seems that lugging a huge luggage is always a good conversation starter. He got more excited than me when I told him that I was heading to Hong Kong. On hearing that I like Taipei, he fervently defended that Hong Kong is far better than Taipei and that I would enjoy it more. I told him that I would keep his feedback in mind. Upon paying his fare, he even gave me some candy and wishes me journey mercy.

Checking in at the Singapore Changi Airport was a breeze, though I was a little worried that my luggage was already 12.5kg. What did I pack that is so heavy? The camera tripod? Oh well, just have to be careful about the shopping on the way back.

Went through the customs earlier to do some window-shopping at duty free zone. As I did not have time to get anything for the HK girls, I decided to go to Bengawan Solo to get pandan cakes. Alas, they only sell them in slices.

Hong Kong

Landed at Hong Kong airport at 7.30pm. There was a very long queue at the customs, but was smooth. The custom guy looked at my photo in my passport at least 3 times before he put in the immigration stamp. I could not help it but broke into a grin.

Judy was to pick me up from the airport. I went out and saw Daisy who insisted that she was Judy! Now, since university, I always get Judy and Daisy mixed up. So, prior to my trip, I went to Facebook to check their photos. I was sure that the person who was in front of me was Daisy, but she was pretty insistence about her identity. So well, maybe I made a mistake again.

‘Judy’ brought me to the bus station after we got the Octopus card (八达通). She said that the bus is more convenient than the airport train as we do not need to change train lines to get Mong Kok (旺角). After some running up and down the bus station, we took bus no. A21 to the city.

As we chatted on the bus, it became more obvious that I was right. My companion is not Judy!

(Her greatest pitfall: she could not tell me which company she is working for.  I knew where Judy worked.  Thanks! Facebook)

We had a good laugh. Daisy had originally planned with Judy to come pick me up from the airport but got held up at work. Judy could only join us later with Erica in Mong Kok.

First impression of Hong Kong: A very vibrant city! Lots of neon lights and signboards are on almost every other building.  It was about 9 plus when I got to the city and there was no sign of the city quietening down.

Mong Kok @ night

Accommodation

I decided to stay in a hostel this time.  I figured that I am going to be out of the hostel shopping and sightseeing, so there was no point for me to stay in an expensive hotel.  Hence, Ah Shan Hostel (阿山旅店) was picked from Hostelworld as my accommodation for this Hong Kong adventure.

Ah Shan Hostel is located at Sincere House (先施大厦) on Argyle Street (亚皆老街), a block away from Mong Kok Centre.  A 5 mins walk from exit D2 of Mong Kok MTR.

The first thing that hit me in the face was the pungent smell of Smelly Tofu (臭豆腐)! I LOVE IT! I had Smelly Tofu in Taiwan, but to me it was still not stinky enough. So, when I saw that the stall sells Smelly Tofu and right at my doorstep, I went crazy! Incidentally, Daisy love smell Smelly Tofu.

Two lifts serve the building, one serving the odd floors, the other even floors. Odd and even floors lifts sounded like a good idea till the last day when I had to check out.  More of that later.

We went to the reception located on the 14th floor. The Innkeeper was really nice, very chirpy and keeps laughing. She told me that the room reserved for me has not been checked out, so she will give me a 3 persons room for the night. *yeah* She will change the room for me the next day. The helper will help to move my luggage to the new room.  I have nothing to worry about.  The downside was that they do not accept credit cards. I had to pay my room rental in cash.

My room is on the 15th floor. It is actually a unit divided into smaller rooms. I am surprised what they have for a budget hostel:

* A super single bed
* A single bed
* A LCD TV mounted on the wall
* Phone for unlimited free local phone calls
* Air conditioner
* Wireless in the room (quite stable)
* Ensuite bathroom (tiny but self sufficient)
- shampoo
- shower foam
- bathroom slippers
- heated shower (Daisy said that the heater is a good brand and latest model)

All these for SGD50 per night! One cannot complain!

Dinner
After checking-in, Daisy and I went to Mong Kok MTR Exit D2 to meet (the real) Judy and Erica. It has been 5 years since I last met Judy (Erica about 3 years ago when she came to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur).

After some rounds of hugging and greetings, we decided that we are all dying of hunger! They asked me what I want to eat; I asked them what is good to eat! Hahaha! We did not get far with that question! So, we went round the neighborhood to just check it out. We settled down for some roast meats – Hong Kong style.

After dinner, we went for a walk nearby and this officially marks the start of my crazed photo taking for THE AWESOME Hong Kong adventure!