A Short Visit to Shen Zhen 深圳

Travel is like knowledge. The more you see, the more you know you haven't seen. - Mark Hertsguard

An hour of ferry trip, take us from Macau to Shenzhen.
It's better trip rather than former ferry trip. Maybe, the waves wasn't too big.
Oh well, after all we reached Shenzhen around evening, drop the luggage at the hotel, and we just end of night by strolling around the Luo Hu Commercial City, where cheap stuffs are sold. A 10-mins walk from our hotel. 

We stay in this hotel..

Century Plaza Hotel
Address: 4001, Chunfeng Rd, RenMin NanLu,
Luohu QU, Shenzhen Shi, Guangdong Sheng,
China 518000

Phone: +86 755 8232 0888

One thing you should know before you go to Shenzhen, Shenzhen needs another visa, different with HongKong and Macau, it is not a visa on arrival thing, so make sure you prepare your China visa, before you go. And they are very strict about it.

The very next day, we went to one jewerly place, I am sorry I cannot remember the name. And also a medicine house, sort of. Besides those two, we went to the tourist attractions, which were Windows of the World 世界之窗 and Splendid China 锦绣中华民俗村

1. Windows of the World 

it is a theme park located in Shenzhen City, featuring more than 100 miniatures of the world's famous iconic landmark. Some miniatures are small, I mean smaller than us when we take picture with the building. But some are big enough, like Eiffel Tower, you even can go up to certain level, using elevator or stairs. It is just not as tall and as big as the real one. But it is one of the iconic landmark that is bigger than the others. We rent a small car (I called it car, though) fit all of us, around 18-20 pax + 1 driver, so that we do not waste our time to walk all the way around the park. We got not enough time for it. If you got more time, it is nicer to walk around, and take lots of pictures. And the car that we rent inside there, got explanation as we go around the theme park. 

After finish one round, we are allowed to go ourselves around, for 30mins like that, there is a musical show below the Eiffel Tower, I am not sure there is some similar show every period of time, or it is once in a day thing. You can ask for more information about it to the information counter if you would like to see. 
This theme park brings you see the whole world is all about, the beautiful Amsterdam, Italy, England, Asia, and more.

Here is the details:

Windows of the World

Address: 9037, Shennan Ave, Hua Qiao Cheng, Nan Shan Qu,
Shen Zhen Shi, Guang Dong Sheng, China 518053

Phone: +86 755 2660 8000

Public Transportation that you can use if you are not using Tour and Travel to go here:
Subway/MTR: Line 1 (Luo Bao Line), take exit J
Bus: no. 101, 327, N4, 21, 26, 32, 54, 79, 90, 101, 113, 121, 123, 204, 209, 223, 234, 245, M388, B603

Admission Ticket: 
RMB200 for adults and children above 150cm,
RMB100 for children 120cm-150cm and senior citizens, 
Free for children below 120cm and seniors above 70 years old
RMB80 for Show (after 19.30)

Opening Hours: 09.00-22.00, except Public Holiday open until 22.30

2. Splendid China

it is also a theme park which are separated into two areas, Splendid China Miniature Park and China Folk Culture Village. This park describes the history of China, culture and art of China, Customs and Habits of various nationalities, and more. It is known as one of the largest parks in the world. There are more than 100 miniatures of attractions according to the map of China. They provide cars and trains for visitors to see around the theme park. This park brings you to see more about China. You can see Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Potala Palace, and many more in a day. Besides all the miniatures, they also have few shows to visit, like shows about Chinese History, Cultural Shows, and some others. You can take a brochure around the corner to check the location and timetable of the shows.

Here some details about Splendid China:

Splendid China 

Address: 9003, Shen Nan Ave, Hua Qiao Cheng, Nan Shan Qu
Shen Zhen Shi, Guang Dong Sheng, China 518053

Opening Hours: 10.00-22.00
Phone: +86 755 2660 0626

Admission Ticket: 
1 Day
RMB180 adults
RMB90 child (120-150cm)
Free for child below 120cm

Annual
Solo: RMB360 (only 1 person can use)
Parent: RMB460 (1 Parent, 1 Child under 150cm)
Family: RMB660 (2 Parents, 1 Child under 150cm)
*double check again with the counter for the latest information

Transportation:
Subway/MTR: Take Line 1 (Luo Bao Line), take Exit D
Bus: No. 21, 26, 32, 54, 59, 79, 101, 113, 121, 123, 204, 209, 222, 223, 234, 245, 311, 323, 324, 328, 365, 369, 373, 383, 390, M433, M435, B603, N6

It was fun trip in ShenZhen, see whole world in just one day. the Cultural shows were both incredibly good and worth to see too. 

The next day we do not have any places to visit, so I decided to walk from the hotel, walk all the way almost at the end of the street, just to enjoy the city of Shen Zhen, buy some snacks like Pao, Red Bean Porridge, and Milk Tea from 一點點. I used to drink this Nai Cha during my study in Shanghai. :D. And those snacks that I bought around the corner of the street, it's all so cheap, you should enjoy the street foods from Shen Zhen while you can. 
Before we going back to Hong Kong, me and parents ate dim sum in small restaurant nearby the hotel. And it's all nice!

大家好餐厅
Address: 2003, Ren Min S Road, Luo Hu, Shen Zhen
Phone" +86 755 8225 3936

the journey is the destination - Dan Eldon

Thank you for reading. Leave your comments.
And don't forget to follow my blog :D

~Pris

pricillchandra@hotmail.com // @pricillchandra (instagram) 

Macau Day

It is better to see it once rather than hear it thousand times - anonymous

It is all about travel. if we heard so many times from other people, we heard this place is awesome, that places are worth to go, and many others. But we, ourselves never see it by our own eyes, it will not the same. So as long as you got chance, travel more, experience more. Travel gives you hundreds of experiences to learn.

This post is gonna be a day in Macau. 

Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast in the hotel. The variety of breakfast buffet was okay. I found it quite strange that the staffs did not allow us to sit on some tables, they forced us to sit together with other people. Well, maybe they do not want to open all the tables, less tiring. 😅

After all of us ready to go, the tour guide brings us to Macau's iconic landmark, The Macau Tower. Built a long time ago, very famous landmark among tourist and local people too. Inside the tower there is an observation deck where you can enjoy the view of Macau, featurin dining places, and you can do shoppings too. The offer you a hrilling experiences by walking around the outer rim of the tower, and bunggee jump from the height of 233meter. (source: wikipedia) 

Brave enough? Try the skyjump and release the stress, overcome the fears!

Macau Tower

Address:Largo da Torree de Macau, Macau

Phone: 853 2893 3339

For more info, pricelist, what's on, check the link below

https://www.macautower.com.mo

Unfortunately we did not get chance to go up to the deck, we just take photos from outside the tower. Next time should plan it well. It will be a memorable experience.

Next!

We go to the old Catholic Church that was built in 1602, three times burnt by the fire, so that in 183, they left it just like that, without rebuilt the church. In every single pieces of the building has their own meaning, why it should be put that way, why they built with those materials, and so on. I didnt get the information about the building itself, only know that it has been destruction for 3 times. Some people really love the history of the building, they ask people, or research in the internet, but some people say it is boring because basically it is just a wall. And you take photo of it.

Along the ruins, there are lots of small shops, but I didn't manage to see down there, you can stroll around there. Take the stairs in front of the church, and walk down the stairs.

Ruins of St. Paul's Macau
Address: Rua de Sao Paulo, Macau, China

Last place to go before we depart to Shenzhen, is The Venetian Macau. It is a super luxury hotel, and resort, owned by one of the American company, and it is a sister casino resort with the Venetian in Las Vegas.  The Venetian Macao known as the largest casino in the world. People from all around the world come to Macau just to play in their casino. Besides hotel and resort, you can do shopping too, there are lots of stores to look around, you can hop on to Gondola if you never try before, it is one of the entertainment there. There are lots of foods to choose as well, so you don't need to worry about getting hungry inside there. 
You will just love it to be inside there.

The Venetian Macau
Address: Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macau
Phone: 852 2882 8888

Oh, by the way, as in Macau well known with their Portuguese Egg Tart, so I tried one in the small stalls, located at same floor with Starbucks. Actually there is one stall very famous with their Egg Tart:
Lord Stow's Bakery
popular as the best seller of Portuguese Egg Tart. The queue is damn long. So end up, i buy the egg tart from other stalls, but the taste also good. 

After all this is all my day in Macau, very short one, but definitely will come back and visit Macau again. We depart to Ferry Terminal and take ferry to Shenzhen, it took around one hour. I will share my journey in Shenzhen after this. 

Stay tune! and Do comments and follow my page! 
Thank you :D

~pris

Hong Kong Trip Part II

Hong Kong Trip - Part II

I had breakfast at Fairwood not so far from the guest house. Fairwood is similar to Cafe de Coral. It offers a wide variety of Local Chinese dishes, and Western dishes too. They have mentioned that according to the preference of the customers, they have "no MSG" food series, and authentic dishes from other parts of Asia too. Nowadays, they already have more than 140 outlets in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

I ordered Breakfast Ah Wood Menu, the scrambled egg with toast + Pork and Salted Cabbage with Rice Vermicelli in Soup, comes with Hot Milk Tea. It is a set menu. And add on Oatmeal with Milk. We shared our breakfast. Taste was good, but the rice vermicelli, just so so. It is my opinion. Let me tell you here, if you want to eat there, before queue, make sure what you choose to order. Because it is very fast, if you reach the cashier counter already and you still thinking what to order, and a lot of people are queueing, you can get panic, and wrongly order maybe? 

Here's the menu http://www.fairwood.com.hk/eng/menu/fourdaysparts.jsp

Fairwood - Humphreys Avenue
Address: Grand Centre, 8 Humphreys Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2856 4468
Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday 7 am to 9.30 pm, Saturday 7 am to 10 pm

 

 

 

Since we chose to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui, so after we had our breakfast, we stroll around the area. Unfortunately, not a lot of places open in the morning, Usually they open at 11 and above, some start at 10 am. I actually want to buy their egg waffle. It is just so close from my Fairwood, but they just start selling the Egg Waffle in the afternoon. Few months ago, when I was visiting HongKong, I have researched the most famous egg waffle in Hong Kong, and this place is the one. Small stall, but always long queue. What makes it different is the waffle is crispy at the outside, but you will get the chewy from the inside. Here's the details, if you would like to try:

Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Waffles 利強記北角雞蛋
Address: Hong Kong, 178 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: Everyday 11.30 am to 12 am

Around 11 am, we need to gather at the bus, to go to Hong Kong Avenue of Comic Stars, it is one of the must visit place when you go to Hong Kong. It is located at Kowloon Park, and next to the renowned tourist spot, Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard, build on 2012. This place is featuring the designed figurines of local comic characters and a lot of handprints of famous artists. Unfortunately, two times I visited this place, but the Characters area is under construction now, so I just got a chance to visit the handprints area. It was so windy that day, when we took photo, all hairs are messy. LOL.

If you love photography, I need to tell you that there are lots of good spots to take pictures. You will love it. And, for the transportation, there are lots of buses, and got MTR also that you can use in order to go to this place. Do check Google Maps out, find out how to go, or ask people, ask concierge, or if you go with the tour, it will be so much easier. Because I used one. 

Hong Kong Avenue of Comic Stars 香港漫畫星光大道

Address: Kowloon Park, No. 22 Austin Road, Hong Kong

Phone: +852 27 8859 68

Website: http://www.comicavenue.hk/transport-eng

 

 

 

"What about Lunch?" - sayswho

Yeah, it is Lunch time. We went to Paramount Banquet Hall. Basically it was Chinese dishes, good for group, if you come with lots of people, this place should be better. They served us like 8 dishes if I can remember correctly. The taste was quite good. Actually this place is more towards for wedding reception like that. It is just they open for public or normal dinner or lunch like that. I think you should put on reservation first if you want to have your meal here and you come with lots of people.

 

 

Paramount Banquet Hall
Address: LG, South Seas Centre, 75 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.
Phone: +852 2721 8821

For more reviews, what to order, etc. Check this >> https://www.openrice.com/en/hongkong/r-paramount-banquet-hall-tsim-sha-tsui-guangdong-dim-sum-r23670

 

 

Next, our schedule was going to Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong. It is known as the first Madame Tussauds museum in Asia (Source: Wikipedia). Madame Tussauds Hong Kong opened at the Peak in 2000, featuring around 100 wax figures of international actress, singers, presidents, and other famous people. As a tourist, or visitors that never been to Madame Tussauds before, I suggest you to come and visit, it is very interesting on how they build the wax figures, really similar to the real person. Prepare your camera, and take your pose with the figures, you will having fun there. There are several themes inside, like Hong Kong Glamour, Music Artists, Historical and National Heroes, World Champions

Madame Tussauds Hong Kong
Location: at Peak Tower - 129 Peak Rd, The Peak, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm
Phone: +852 2849 6966
Website: https://www.madametussauds.com/hong-kong/en/plan-your-visit/how-to-get-here/

To reach there, I used bus then I took Peak Tram, for additional information, if you are single visitor, better you check this >> https://www.klook.com/activity/523-peak-tram-3-in-1-combo-ticket-hong-kong it will help you a lot to go around the Peak there. Because if you go straight away go to the counter, I have to tell you, the queue will be super long! Do consider to buy from those kind of travels. 

Unfortunately, I went there during the peak season, beginning of this year, so yea, when you want to take pictures with the figure they all, it is kinda hard to get the clear photo where no other people inside our pictures, and sometimes you need to queue and wait for other people to take pictures, then only our turn. 

As the sky getting dark, we all need to to Ferry Terminal, because we need to depart soon to Macau. Hong Kong to Macau it just took 1 hour by Ferry. We used this >> http://www.cotaiwaterjet.com/ferry-schedule/hongkong-macau-taipa.html

My experience inside the ferry, even though it just took you 1 hour, the seats was comfortable, wifi for free, you can bring your own food inside, cold enough, but because the waves on the sea very big, it brought me headache, and feel like want to vomit. 1 hour felt like super long. 

After all, we reached Macau safely. Checked in to the hotel. Golden Dragon Hotel. Put all our luggages, then we went to dinner. Restaurant nearby, selling Chinese dishes as well. Then we stroll around the area, the weather was super nice, not cold, windy, and not hot as well. Took some pictures,  bought some fruits and went back to hotel, and rest, because the next day we are going to see around Macau, which is exciting. 

 

 

 

 

Golden Dragon Hotel
Address: 88R., 78 R. de Malaca, Macau
Phone: +853 2836 1999


To be continued....

Hongkong

Trip to Hongkong, Macau, and Shenzhen

Part I

Travelling ~ it leaves you speechless, and turns you out to be a storyteller

What a good start of 2017, I can go travel again at the beginning of this year. I went to Hongkong, Macau and Shenzhen. Departed on 2nd of January. I went travel with my dad, mom, grandma, and my parent's friends. We used Cathay Airline to go Hongkong, because it is direct flight. If you love to travel, lots of promotions ongoing lately. The ticket we bought only around IDR3,000,000+ not more than 3,500,000 though and it is return ticket. And, it is direct flight. Only Cathay and Garuda Indonesia that provide a direct flight from Jakarta to Hongkong. the other airlines, you should transfer first, either in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, etc. But we bought it around 4 months before the flight, that's why it is cheaper. So, if you plan to go to Hongkong, or travel to other place this year, plan it well. Find some travel exhibition and buy cheaper ticket. Save up some money. :) :)

My flight was early in the morning. 5 am, and reached HongKong around 10.30 am (GMT+8). Once i reached airport, me and others tried to find transportation to go to the place we going to stay. We found out there are buses from airport that going to the city. Let me tell you, Hong Kong’s public transportation is incredibly convenient! From airport itself, you have buses, airport express train, or taxi. You can use bus, and change to mtr/subway as well, as there are lots of buses will stop on the mtr station. They provide sufficient information on the board, clear enough to be undersood, or else, you can ask the person at information counter, which bus that going to specific area, the place you want to go. It takes me 43HKD to go Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui area. 

Just additional information, If airport express:

	Adult (incl. 65 and above) Round trip single journey/same day return/octopus	Child (3-11 y.o) Single journey/same day return/octopus
Hongkong - Airport	180HKD / 100HKD	50HKD
Kowloon - Airport	160HKD / 90HKD	45HKD
Tsing Yi - Airport	110HKD  / 60 HKD	30HKD

Group Travel	Group of 2	Group of 3	Group of 4
Hong Kong - Airport	$170 $85 per person	$230 $76.7 per person	$280 $70 per person
Kowloon - Airport	$150 $75 per person	$210 $70 per person	$250 $62.5 per person
Tsing Yi - Airport	$100 $50 per person	$140 $46.7 per person	$170 $42.5 per person

(Means if you buy 2 tickets, or more, you will get special price)

We stay in  Pearl Premium Guest house for first night only. Basically if you choose guest house, usually it is very small, even hotels in Hong Kong, the room mostly smaller than normal hotels in other countries. It is located in one building, the reception is on 6^th floor of that building, but actually the building not only for the guest house. Once you see the building, you can see a lot of stores inside the building. Start from certain floor only used for guest houses. Don't feel shock, k! The elevator only two, one is going to even number's floor, and the other is odd number. 

Rooms are very simple, got TV and aircond inside. The Bathroom definitely super duper small. But there is a water gallon nearby the office so you can refill the mineral water for free. They provide amenities like shampoo, soap, towel too. I have to stay that eventhough it is super small, but the guest house is clean. Free wi-fi too. Surround this area is always busy, lots of shops surround the building, easy to find local food, just few minutes, walking distance you can find Miramar Shopping Center, and 1881 Herritage. Just across the road, you can find the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station. Really convenient.

Address : Room 6A, 6/F, Mirador Mansion, 54-64 Nathan Road,

                       Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Telp: +852 581 977 14.

After check in to the room, and put my luggage, I go to Café de coral, which is located in one of the building nearby, tooks only 2mins walking. Café de coral is a Chinese fast food corporation that has more than 140 branches in Hong Kong. They usually provide Sets Meal, you can choose which one you like, price is below 50hkd.

Café de Coral Nathan Road

Address: 2/F, Chung King Mansion (Woodhouse),

                     36-44 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

Phone: +852 2367 0802

Operating Hours: Mon – Sun 07.00-21.30

http://www.cafedecoral.com/

After filled in our tummy with enough food, then me and parents go to Tsuen Wan area, to send my Grandma to meet her friends. It is super far from Tsim Sha Tsui. But fortunately, by mtr, we don’t need to change line, Tsuen Wan is at the end of the red line, which is the line of Tsim Sha Tsui too. Per person is 14hkd, but I used Octopus Card (Public transportation Card), so there is small discount, around 10 only. After she already met her friends, and go to her friend’s house, three of us go to central, IFC mall, using mtr again. And again, no need to change line because Central and Tsuen Wan is located at red line. But it is quite far, from one end to the other end. IFC Mall is in Hong Kong Island already. If you confuse why I mentioned "island" at the end, because inside Hong Kong itself actually separated into 3 Islands, Tsing Yi, Kowloong and Hong Kong Island. (Check Google Map to see further :D)

IFC contained an exclusive combination of reputable offices, shopping malls, and finest hotel (Four Season Hotel). one of the Airport Express station is here as well. So place extremely huge, there are buses, MTR (interchange station), airport express, ferry terminal, altogether in this place. And if you stay around the Central area, you can find there area free shuttle bus to some hotels around Central. Every 20minutes. Even if you stay at the hotel that is not include in the list, you just tell the driver your hotel's name, the driver will drop you at one of the hotel that he will pass by based on the route, which is the closest to the place you stay. The counter located nearby the airport express train station. So, we had our dinner at IFC, my dad's friend brought us to the famous dim sum called Tim Ho Wan. 

Tim Ho Wan is a well-known Michelin one-star Chinese restaurant, Dim Sum Specialist (添好運點心專門店), they ensure the freshness of the food, mean that all the dim sums are cooked right after customers order. Most famous dish is Barbecued Pork Bun Pastry - 21HKD (酥皮焗叉燒包) . Then we ordered Steamed Dumpling Chiu Chow Style - 14HKD, Traditional Style Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf - 30HKD (古法糯米雞), Steamed Rice Rolls stuffed with Barley and Pig's Liver - 23HKD (黃沙豬潤腸), and 2 kind of soups. 

If you love Dim Sum, you should come to Tim ho Wan, and go get a try. People said, Tim ho wan always has a long queue. Even last September I came here too, we came at 8am, the store hasn't opened yet, but the queue has been there. Win liao! But it is definitely worth to wait.

Tim Ho Wan
Address: Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station, Podium Level 1, IFC Mall, Central, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2332 3078
Open Hours: Mon to Sun 09.00-21.00
Exit A from Central MTR Station

#really sorry that I didn't take photos of the food for the today. 

to be continued.....

:D


have a good weekend! 
thanks for reading,

regards,
pris

pricillchandra@Hotmail.com // @pricillchandra