TravBuddy: Ape

All photos with Ape copied from TravBuddy Ape
i was laughing so hard. hahahahaha!!!!!!

i think you remember my post about Ape?
Here he is again! This time... I think Herbie & Ape
missed each other like just a few days apart! Awww..
It would be fun to have them in the same picture!!!
This is Herbie, May 21st at Big Buddha, Hong Kong.
GRAY DAY

This is Ape, May SOMEDAY at Big Buddha, Hong Kong.
CLEAR DAY

This is Herbie & I right outside Hong Kong Hostel, Causeway Bay.
NIGHT.

This is Ape, right outside Hong Kong Hostel, Causeway Bay,
DAY

This is Herbie - thinking about going into the casino.This is Ape - who probably lost $$$money at the casino
(his face is so solemn!)
All photos with Ape copied from TravBuddy Ape

We Are Running Out Of Budget Because We Shop Shop Shop

Citygate Outlets is a factory outlet.
Directly on the RIGHT SIDE of the Tung Chung MTR exit.
We visit it after the 1 hour big buddha tour just to spend time
and discover some really fantastic bargains!
(note that it may NOT be as trendy as those in the retail outlets)
(NOTE: ARIEL, this place is like that Manchester shop,
where you went crazy shopping for a few Nike shoes!!)
Designer Fashion - if you like Christian Audigier's Ed Hardy,
there's a store Seven7 which carries it (Level 3)
others Vivienne Tam, Laura Ashley, Calvin Klein etc
Sports Brands - Nike, Puma, Quiksilver, Adidas etc
Accessories - AGATHA outlet !!!!! but me no more $$$$
P.S. the ESPRIT STORE IS HUGE!!!!!
(but honestly when i was there, there were more mini tees,
not so much of trendy up scale stuff.... maybe u can spot some?)
I bought a big ass LIDS bag, cost only HKD149.
(that's not the bag, bag's hidden)Anyway, WZ and I, we were in a dilemma.
seating there on the bench in the mall,
counting our budget for today & tomorrow our last day,
for meals for ferry for miscellaneous and contingency.
You see, WZ really like this jacket from A|X,
So i'm like...... okay lah..... you're my brother
so i spend less (HKD150)
then you can spend more (HKD600)
for ONE item.
seriously i want to save that
to buy one Edison Chen's shirt,
bcos i can only shop for EDC's only on my last day,
cos then i am dead sure i have extra dough....
but no........ i feel so bad,
if he had to walkaway without it
so i mah say "NAH."

We head to TST to meet Crystal for dinner before we leave,
i took some pictures of TST Hostel area after MTR exit.so i could show ariel the difference between staying in
Hong Kong Island & Kowloon area.
we definitely prefer the quieter side.we head for Tai Zi after dinner, to look at gold fishes and pets.

i must say, markets very 'you xing ge' / 'yao xing gak'
literally, with striking personality.we head to the ladies market, by this time,
my battery ran out of camera,
OOops, i mean....
my camera ran out of battery.
hahaha gotcha didnt I??!?!! LAUGH la.
so Crystal use her phone to help us take this.
i love this. its so hong kong.

we went into a dessert shop, i look at the name, Xu Liu Shan.
its so familiar....oohhh...its the shop highly recommended
by Felice, who's been here, and she's coming here again!Ordered that famous -kind of mango pudding-
super yummy, cos its not too sweet,
with a little pomelo bits & ice cream.
As usual....the feeding time comes and...
Herbie doesn't like weird Asian Dessert
(just like his Baba.....I super cannot tahan!)
look at him, 'beh zui'!!!!~~ yuck.
before we say bye bye,
this is the last picture we took on the streets of HK.

Day Tripping to Big Buddha, Hong Kong

baru saja (just) complain about 24 hours is not enough...
we woke up abt 12noon the next day (=_=)
GREAT WEATHER, NO RAIN!!!!!!
to make do for the Ocean Park/Disneyland plan canceled,
we MUST head to Big Buddha in Tung Chung today!
We switch train in Hong Kong Station. so significant.

A 35mins ride to Tung Chung Station,
Walk out to the Bus Terminal, took bus No23
Return Tickets cost only HKD30
another 1 hour ride, up hilly scary one lane road.
(you can opt for the Ngong Ping Cable Car)
and we saw a different view of Hong Kong, scenic/hazy
and Oooohhh...PRISON BREAK! hahahahahaha
Foggy i suppose. its highland.

we spend about 2 hours here,
visiting the Po Lin Monastery first
and walked up the Batu Caves like stairway
towards the Big Buddha.....whooo...

we were lucky the fog cleared when we reach the top.
simply magnificent.

even Herbie
(who is a Turtletian* by the way)
showed his respect, paying homage 'bai bai-ing'

and also his skills of meditating in mid-air.
not bad Herbie's yoga skills.
something i never knew until today. hmmm.

*Turtletian, is a term created by Mr Ling Wei Zhen,
suggesting that Herbie's belief in saving the world of turtle
and religiously patiently, moderately and calming the
rolling waves and uneveness on earth by floating on it
rather than against it, this practice is said to be oriented towards
Turtletian.

as usual, WZ's super carefree pose in significant places.
OH YAH, by the way, if you stand in the middle of that circle.
(where Herbie is posing up there)
you hear your own ECHO!!!! we love it!!!
try it!!! hehehehehehe

seriously, this is the bus ride back to Tung Chung. (@_@)

What Can You Do When It Rains 24 Hours In Hong Kong?

First, you must use the MTR!
(superb system, WZ cant stop admiring the map!)
We purchased an Octopus Card for HKD150
HKD50 for Deposit with HKD100 for Value To Use.
That's where we stay, 'Tong Lo Wan' = Causeway Bay.
Its on the side of Hong Kong Island, the higher end area.

This is Kowloon side, the downtown the busy bustle area,
lots of people to see and feel the vibrancy of this city
Its 10am in the morning and drizzling, we are looking for
DIM SUM BREAKFAST IN HONG KONG!!!!!

We know there's lots on Canton Road, (TST Station, Exit A1)
We got a flyer from a promoter, and head into Sweet Dynasty.
Something we can afford, hehe, we have HKD200 for DIM SUM today!

We recommend it for the delicacy art of preparing & serving it
in good and exquisite quality. its a PETITE, work of art.
We also recommend it cos it has PICTURES. (^_^)!!
i must confess i'm STUPID when it comes to FOOD WORDS.
yes, i can get confuse between DUCK & CHICKEN
(do not laugh! you will too if you dont pay attention to cooking!)

After a full meal for only HKD133, we wander around TST streets,
its a MAZE, seriously, arm with no map, standing at a junction,
you have a left or right, or straight, or back,
with no rules no time tables no obligations.
its the best kind of wandering and getting lost in a city.
i loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee freedom like this.
then we saw............this..... and we (I).....quickly....
COVER HERBIE'S EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they make chinese dessert with turtles???
omfgawd!
then i remember, Chinese would eat anything, lol!

We head back to Causeway Bay after we finally comb
Mongkok & TST malls....i was so adamant about edison's shop,
we were searching for it.....head back to the hostel to use the FREE INTERNET,
i re-look the address on CLOT.com,
cos i am DEAD SURE, we're staying on the same Patterson Street,
and i'm DEAD SURE, we're just a FEW BLOCKS AWAY...
and i'm DEAD RIGHT, it is indeed!!!!!
i practically run down (LIFT)
from our hostel to the street!!!!
Cos we're staying in No47, edc's shop is No53.
i start singing 'nanaanananananananana....we are...
THREE THREE THREE F*** blocks away!!!"
(on 2nd floor, please ask the GUARD to open the gates)
hahahahahaha happy until can swear and sing!
it was such a bliss and happy moment, nervous too!
what if edison is in his shop??? WHAT DO I DO???
hahahahahaha, DREAM ON ler.....
i wont be so lucky one.
anyway, we took photos outside, cos we're NOT ALLOWED
to take any photos inside, i dont think telling the sales girl that
"i came all the way from malaysia just to shop here"
would convince the serious face sales girl anyway,
so i might as well be naughty, hehehehehehe!!!
but the goods are sooooooo expensive, i mean,
if i had more cash for shopping in JUICE
i'd consider the parka/hoodies in CLOT's branding.
but no...it cost like HKD1,100 and above.
and i cant even wear it in stupid hot malaysia.
we cant find any Alienegra design or shimmering ones.
so damn sad. very very sad. most of the stuff looks more
suitable for males.... for WZ, not me....
so we left....EMPTY HANDED.
seee seee seee???
the carpet is CLOT designed!!!!
the GLITTERING WHITE is JUICE,
the bearbricks are everywhere in the shop,
and the items display are AWESOME!!!!

as if the items in edison's shop are not 'impactful' enough,
we took the MTR to Central, to IFC MALL.
and we were like HKD$$$$$$ x 10, IMPACT.
Christian Audigier, (directly across JUICY) is NOT OPEN yet.
and i'm like "HA!yeah yeah SLOWER than MALAYSIA!!!"
hahahaha. so evil. me.
its still raining, also dunno what picture to take.
so mah take RANDOMLY lor.it keeps raining sooooo long winding.
even HERBIE is SIEN DIAO.
We took the Star Ferry (apparently an attraction)
from Central to TST, so we can check out the bay ,
from the TST side and wait for the Symphony of Lights.
The ferry ride was WOBBLY, waves are STRONG.
HERBIE is SICK.
you can tell that he is WOBBLING
from left to right trying to balance,
but actually cannot balance....

FINALLY. its worth the ride though.
and we're WET anyway.its very very very pretty, sparkly, like champagne.

how can you not go 'awwwwww.....'???
(despite the TERRORIZING COLD WEATHER.)

WZ fav photo, i had to post here.
cos i dont think its that great, but he says its great,
you say leh????

Symphony of Lights
er.............. i think its kinda disappointing.
maybe cos of the weather???
8pm, the introduction of the buildings were cool BUT
the laser wasnt that long or impressive
the music ESPECIALLY THE MUSIC.
SOOOOOO..........something i dont enjoy
something i will laugh and roll my eyes at. hahaha
hahaha, Ariel, tell me what you think ya, when you're there!!!
maybe im just being bias, cos its so cold!!!!

then we actually took Star Ferry back to Central,
took the MTR to Causeway Bay back to hostel, TO SLEEP.
until about 11pm, then we head to Lan Kwai Fong (LKF)
its WEDNESDAY la....what do you expect???? PARTY???

but there were soooooooooooo many Kwai Lo's there.
when i look at 'em, i see my boss, Julian. everywhere!
its like he is haunting me for having a holiday now!!!
hahahahaha!!!! but yeah, there were still crowds,
we stayed well after 3am, partying....really!
its a fun life. it may be raining,
but there's always something to do in HK.
24 hours is still not enough.

Ferry To Hong Kong (Day 1)

can't wait to check out that San Va dump,
i woke up 8am to get ready for a business appointment,
even tho this is a holiday trip, but i can't IGNORE
the fact that i'm only prbbly a few miles away
from my potential clients n i really wanna excel in my work.
so an hour meeting wont harm my trip.
and it turn out to be a good meeting,
i learnt so much about broadcasting in macau,
and the most important thing is, we talk money. good step!
we checked out, got some final Fishball near St Paul's Ruins,
we walk all the way there just because....
(WZ lost his RM150 Mercedes Benz shades, yesterday evening,
while posing in that super carefree/frivolous stunt
so we return to the scene ... but of cos its GONE already lor)
we took a cab to the Ferry Terminal only HKD 32.
Between Turbo Jet & First Ferry, we chose First Ferry,
cos the signs are easier to spot, har har..... it cost HKD140.

we were really ambitious, thought we wanna get DIM SUM
the moment we arrive in Tsim Sa Tsui (TST), Hong Kong.
But we were sooooo delayed at the customs,
so we decided to head straight to Causeway Bay via MTR
to check into our Hong Kong Hostel.
(We highly recommend/prefer it, compared to TST area)
I ACTUALLY FEEL GLAD n SAFE n SATISFIED here! :)

Private Bathroom (small but well equipped)
hot shower & fan to exhaust smelly poo.

GOT FREE INTERNET EY! (Level 3)
AIR COND EY!
GOT TV EY!
GOT FRIDGE EY!
Even Herbie Heaved A Sigh Of Relief!

We were famished, its 4pm by the time we settled.
We head out onto Patterson Street,
(dont even have mood to go see EDC Clot/Juice shop)
just wanna eat eat eat, first thing we saw.
MC DONALDS!!!!!!!

Highly recommended, as we GOBBLED like GHOST.
(we look so touristy, holding burger in one hand,
digital camera on the other)
Wasabi sauce to go with McNuggets AND
Kimchi flavored seasoning to shake with Fries AND
the PORK VERSION of Sausage McMuffin!!!!!
(cant get that in Malaysia mah...)
Throughout the whole HK trip,
i had 2 McD's, while WZ had 3 sets.... (@_@)

it was drizzling, so we shop in the iconic
Time Square in Causeway Bay.
easy to locate, we don't even have a map.

shop shop shop and shop.... spent the most in
ZARA, nothing much to boast about,
except for good bargains and lovely colors.
and yeah, TRAVEL LIGHT please.
we wore slippers and shorts while we're there.
looking like bummers with no proper work, haha!

We meet up with our Piano Teacher's Best Friend,
Crystal JieJie who now resides in HK.
She's so sweet eh! She drove all the way
just to fetch us from our hostel,
and head to TST (paying HKD25 for the toll) for dinner
send us back to our hostel (paying another HKD25 for toll)
and drove back to Kowloon to her home! (paying another HKD25!!!)
no wonder she say "Buy Car Easy, Car Maintenance Hard"

View from MegaBox carpark (brand new mall in HK)
isnt it.... DAZZLING???
it was so breathtaking, we stood there for a while. admiring.
Hong Kong...City Of Lights.... in a very superstitious ideal,
its Sparkling with Gold / $$$ / Luck / Prosperity. lol.
(special note to Amanda, MY COMMENT SO GT right?????!!!)

We had dinner in this POSH Chinese Restaurant.
we were GAP-ed looking at the $$$,
this is coming to THE END of our meal,
still so much for THREE OF US.

MegaBox has one of the biggest iced-rink in HK!!!
Herbie so excited, keep pointing inside and bobbing his head
"Baba! Baba! Baba! Baba!"

But Herbie wasn't at all excited about the fact that
we ordered DURIAN DESSERT
(just like his Ba, he doesn't like Durian)
Look at him, making ugly faces, so rude. EY!