Hong Kong Trip 2010: Day 3

December 22-27, 2010

Woke up by the beautiful sunshine peeking through our room window with the curtains draping. It was a beautiful morning indeed. We had a rested sleep not to mention the comfort of our bed wrapped in soft white fabric bedsheets. After getting dressed, we had our Disney themed breakfast which we booked together with our hotel room and themepark tickets. The mood was very festive with all the food choices. From dimsum, breads, rice, sausages and hams, cereals, desserts, juices - I could barely choose where to start. But I was actually eyeing on the Mickey waffles! It was tasty too. I super enjoyed our breakfast. The price we paid was worth it. Right after breakfast, we went back to our rooms and check-out. Since we still would be going inside the themepark again, we just left our luggages in the lobby provided with claim tags. We got the 2-day stay in the park to save on money yet enjoying it double. We took advantage of the free bus shuttles going around the hotels and themepark. First we dropped by the other Disney hotel. The design is different from the other one. Upon entering the premises, you will notice Victorian style structure. Inside the hotel is also beautiful with the big chandelier and Christmas tree. They also have a beautiful garden where kids can play around.


We got to the themepark, we decided to go first to the rides and shows which we failed to visit the first time we went there. (First was in June 2008). The last time we were there, the train was in maintenance, so hurriedly queue up to experience the ride. The next was we watched the Lion show which was spectacular! We also waited for the parade which is Christmas themed. After that, we had lunch. We watched the Golden Mickeys the second time around and Philharmonic Orchestra which was kinda boring since it was still the same. Nothing has change. We just tried the other rides, this time with my sister - the Space Mountain. I think the second time was scarier! I can't explain why, probable since I already anticipated what to experience. Haha. Then we just stayed until 6pm in the park. We opted not to wait for the fireworks at 9pm since we watched already the night before.

table + other stuffs

Mickey waffle

different breads and pastries

outfit: purple floral dress - Forever21, black coat - Esprit, black tights- random find, black boots -Forever21, violet scarf - random find, brown satchel - Bangkok

breakfast lounge/restaurant

Disneyland Hotel

castle

balloons for sale

Minnie Mouse

ladies dancing during the parade

Let it snow float

The Golden Mickeys

Lion King show

Disneyland at night

Around 7pm, we got our luggages and rode a taxi back to Kowloon where we checked in to another hotel. This is where we will spend Christmas. First time away from home. We basically just walk along the streets and followed the people to where they're going. We actually walked going to Avenue of Stars but it was crowded already and the police won't allow anymore people to go there. So we were left to nowhere. But watching all the people come and go was fun. This is the first time I experienced such celebration. Little did I know that they don't usually gather around their houses for Christmas but rather with a group of friends to have fun. Everyone was dressed up in their most stylish coat and boots.

did a little shopping at Cotton On because of the massive sale

saw this cute dog in winter costume while walking along the streets of Peking road

Merry Christmas with our big bow headpieces!

Hong Kong Trip 2010: Day 1 & 2

December 22 - 27, 2010

My second time to visit HK. We left Manila past midnight already via Cebu Pacific flight to HongKong. The flight was delayed 2 hours for some reasons which was ruined our plan that night. We arrived HK around 4am already. Supposedly, we'd exchange a few US dollar to HK dollar in the airport to buy Octopus cards. Unfortunately, shops were closed by past midnight. We just decided to take the bus N21 to our hostel. We just slept for barely 2 hours in the hostel, which is not a bad thing because we just paid a small amount for our stay. In the early morning, we had our breakfast at Mcdonald's just located a few steps from our hostel then we travelled by taxi to Lantau Island where we will transfer to Disneyland Hollywood hotel. We opted to travel by taxi since we had big luggages to carry and there were 6 of us. So 2 taxis were enough. By the time we arrived, it was not yet checked in time so we just left our luggages at the lobby. Our plan for the day was to visit Ngong Ping village. We then bought Octopus cards at the Disney MTR station. From there, we rode the MTR from Disneyland to Sunny Bay and interchanged at the Tung Chung line. We entered the CityGate Outlet store just and had lunch at the Food Republic. At around 12noon, we rode the escalator going to the cable car station. The queue for the ride was so long, but good thing my mother booked our tickets online so minus the hassle of lining up. It was really a straight walk going up there while others barely moved on their feet. Hay! So the ride was about 25 minutes overlooking the beautiful place. We also enjoyed the sights in the Ngong Ping Village. The weather was fine too. It was cold about 15 degrees yet the sun was shining through which was perfect because I didn't sweat eventhough we walked and walked. They also had Christmas decorations with matching snow, well artificial only but it was still cute. We really had a great time taking pictures. We went back to Disneyland hotel through the same route. We rested for 2 hours and then went inside the themepark by night time. Was able to catch the Procession of toys and later ended the night watching the spectacular fireworks display.

cute Mickey Mouse handrail in the train

very cozy that I wanted to sleep already there

crystal cabin where the bottom part is glass so you can see what's under 

outfit: black and white striped top - Dept. store find, red floral skirt - Bayo, Black trench coat - thrifted, black stockings -random find, black boots - Forever21, brown satchel - Bangkok find

Coke in a different shape of bottle - awesome!

random find figurines in a store in Ngong Ping

real or not?

I love Doraemon!

cozy Disney theme room - spacious room and big beds

bathroom stuffs

Hollywood Hotel view by night

for my chictopia! haha

swimming pool in the hotel

I love bokeh photography!

going to the cafe

sweets before sleeping time

mango cream cake?

Roadtrip to Negros Occidental

 Last May, my family and I had the best roadtrip going to Negros Occidental, particularly Bacolod City. Since it was summer time, we decided to go on a funfilled trip together with our ever trusted Pajero SUV.

starting point: Dumaguete City
1st stopover: Manjuyod for some refreshments

2nd stopover: San Carlos City for lunch, specifically Jollibee. (It was the only place where we thought we could have lunch super fast because we were all hungry and thirsty, it is located inside the Gaisano Mall)
3rd stopover: next town to look for more ice for our drinks inside the cooler.
3rd stopover: Tuboso for picture taking of the vast area of sugar cane plantation.

4th stopover: Silay City where the Jalandoni museum and Balay Negrense can be found.

 Big sign as you enter the museum of the Jalandoni's

 this is what used to be their refrigerator before, ice were still exported from Europe to preserved their food

 Don Victor Gaston's house built in 1897

 stairs divided separetely for girls and boys

 4- poster bed with intricate carvings

5th stopover: Talisay City. The picturesque view of the Ruins. What made it more interesting is the rough road going there and we even got lost on our way finding where it is. Mama's and I's research on the net wasn't that helpful enough!haha

 picturesque view of the Ruins

burned down in WWII

 entrance to the mansion

 the "Ruins"

garden

Finally, we reach Bacolod City and had of course chicken inasal for dinner. Off to the hotel.

The next day was spent searching for the famous Calea cakes and pastries. Bought chocolate cake thinking it was the one being raved in the blogosphere but actually it's the otherchocolate cake partly hidden in the cafe with the name 'imported chocolate cake'. Darn. We also tasted their blueberry cheesecake. This one is kinda different because of it's crust is made of honey oats and nuts pressed firmly.

 Calea cakes and pastries (Robinsons Mall branch)

 blueberry cheesecake

After satisfying my cravings, we went to Mambukal as we heard that it has improved alot since the last time we went there years ago. It wasn't even functioning the last we were there but to our surprise when we reached there, the whole area was crowded! Well, it was a Sunday and there were a couple of people having their convention something, some having their reunions and family gatherings thus we just decided to look for another place since parking area was crowded as well. We tried asking for the route to Buenos Aires - a mountain resort but ended up going to Pata-an, another mountain resort with falls. Haay, a long trip indeed. We just had lunch there and after awhile back on the road again to go home.

man-made lake

 bridge

 butterfly sanctuary

All in all we almost toured the whole Negros already considering that we came from Siaton the day before that.

P.S. towns that I still haven't visited in Negros - Cauayan, Sipalay, Hinoba-an and Basay!