The looming tenebrous clouds was the perfect signal that we may not be unable to observe the entire lighted city in her stunning beauty as such during the airy and foggy uphill climb by the famous HK peak tram. It was a fun ride. It would have been more wondrous had the Rain Gods dispelled the water-laden clouds completely. Still, it didn't rain. Every cloud has a silver lining, pun intended! After reaching the top, the guide bought us tickets to Madame Tussauds. As it was my first ever entry into the world-famous wax museum, I couldn't hide my glee when I saw Mahatma Gandhi or Einstein or Wolverine or Spider-man who seemed so life-like like an artificial flower when viewed from a distance. No need to say. Selfies galore. Once when the pics were taken, our guide dictatorially told us that it's a criminal waste of time and effort to even go to the observatory deck due to the fog over-shrouding the city. With nothing else to do, the bus left us at our respective hotels giving a brief glimpse of the city in the night.
As the food prices were well-above my budget in my hotel, I decided to get something from the nearest 7-eleven convenience store which I had seen when our bus dropped me off. The funny thing was that there were 2 7-eleven stores diametrically opposite to each other. It made me wonder who is that marketing genius to open two shops on the same roads and opposite to each other. Convenience stores ought to be convenient but this was stretching the retail concept a bit too far, pun intended! Getting a coke and Doritos, my dinner was served in my room after paying out the cashier in the store.
The adrenaline-rushing day began on the next day when the guide told us to assemble on a spot at the designated time once when we finished our adventure in the mind-blowing aquarium. To see so many different varieties of fish, sea horses, jelly fish, sharks etc. face to face was amazing. Not to mention the adorable and cutesie Pandas lazying around without a worry in the world. My only regret was that I couldn't feed those endearing bubbly mass of fur out of my own hands. Nevertheless, it was a freaking super moment that I wouldn't forget at all. Also, it's a worthy mention of the HK's aquarium to maintain the freezing temperature for the penguins. My Gawddddddd! Their swimming abilities were like a rocket! Too fast. It was then time for high octane rides especially the upside-down-whole-city viewing I-forgot-the-ride name. I was chuffed to bits at the sheer sight of the fabulous view at the top from my riding seat when being inverted like a bat! Though I missed out on one of the major attraction - Cable Car as the queue was longer than those standing during the Demonetization times in front of the ATM, it was a long and tiring mesmerizing day of hectic activity which set the right tone for what was to come the following morning - Disney Land(DL).
I was squealing like a little girl, No! not being sexist here!, and jumping with joy internally when our guide gave us exclusive timings to attend the miss-me-not shows at the magical land that had captivated my imagination since childhood through the numerous shows of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy etc. that used to be telecasted in DD 2 which was later changed to DD Metro afterwards. Saying a silent Thank You to the legend Walt Disney for he was chiefly responsible in the character's creations, Disney Land was the stuff of dreams that every person on the planet should at least visit once in their lifetime if they don't like or believe in cartoons or fantasies or fairies or talking mouses but just to immerse and enjoy in the dream marvel for a day. The live shows were out of the world like the Lion King, Tarzan's story setting, boat ride around the small river or the evening and night parade. 3-D movie featuring Mickey Mouse was simply unbelievable. It's extremely difficult to pick and choose which was my personal favo but the top 3 honors goes to the rollicking Space Traders roller coaster, an U-shaped hair-rising ride and the dazzling display of fireworks before the park closed for the day.
It was hypnotizing. You could actually feel an overwhelming and unspeakable swell of positive emotions arising within yourself wondering why the world is such a mean and cruel place when it could be exactly wowed and be happily ever after just like that moment. If there had been my queen then, it would have been the most romantic moment interlocking our hands which would have been the cherished and valued instances in our life. But, as I was all alone in that delightful setting, it was a sort of intense, fierce and deep bittersweet transience of the flowing time. But, one thing is certain. NEVER EVER GET ANYTHING INSIDE DL. Ice cream or the only Veg Indian Thali or even HK tea - it doesn't just burn a hole but reduces your pocket to cinders in no time. The cyclical conundrum is that you have no other option but to have your lunch or dinner within the park itself as you are sure-fire to have fire in your belly after the extensive walks, intensive rides and exhaustive waits at the queues.
There was nothing much to see in Macau as it was extremely dark on that day which ensured that we couldn't go to the observatory deck in the tallest building though the high-speed ferry ride from HK to Macau was outrageously good where I was promptly picked up by the guide-cum-driver @ Macau who showed the famed Lady Buddha, an amphi-theater kind of place, museum, decent sit-down veg lunch @ a pre-booked restaurant as a part of the tour package and then dropped me at the iconic and largest casino in the city. Even Janice would have shouted Oh.My.Gawwddddd at least ten times on seeing the sheer size of the mall-cum-casino. As I wasn't much of a gambler, the mall was a huge place to even walk by to do window shopping. Finally, the D-time arrived to head back to the terminal to catch my return ferry to HK and then fly to Thailand first up in the following morning.
The only massive problem I faced during the stay was food. Being a vegetarian, I had a hard time to get good food. Even 'good' was secondary. At least, the food. Though I had an excellent choice of breakfast in the hotel, lunch and dinner was a torrid affair. I had managed on coke and chips for the first 2 days. On the 3rd day, I had a costly veg dinner @ Disney Land. But, it was at Macau where I found it difficult to ask the servers not to add any non-veg item. In fact, as I was in the mall @ Macau, I had to walk out of even McD as explaining to the attendants that I needed only veg food became a tiresome process. Finally, after I landed in HK and reached a restaurant adjacent to my hotel, barring a couple of items, the complete a la carte consisted of all possible combinations of sea food. Till date, I have no idea whether the attendant gave me pure noodles with vegetables to the extent that I started asking specifically whether it's really not non-veg whenever there is a non-veg counter nearby just to make sure. SO, ALL VEG BEWARE! Unless you have the spending power to dine out on your meals.
I will not blame HK in any way as it is their culture and their way of life. From a business perspective also, it doesn't make any sense for the restaurants to stock up a veg menu just for budgeted once-in-a-blue moon tourists. Nevertheless, the people of HK were very friendly. Right from the receptionists at the hotel or the guides, they were good-natured and amiable. In fact, there was a cutey cutey small girl and with her mom's permission, I took a snap of them. I think it was @ DL. Likewise,in the Aquarium also, a random elderly couple wanted to have a pic of me near a group of red parrots with my permission. HK has indeed good people.
Yes. Even the Immi Officer who was extremely efficient and clinical by only following his standard operating procedures to ensure that his country was at no risk. So, despite the steep costs, I would love to visit HK again in the far future, maybe not as a solo traveler but as a family, just because of their people. IMHO, it's the people who is the face of their country along with the premiers of the respective countries. Of course, there will always be rotten eggs in a basket. That's why persons like the Immi officer are very much needed.
As soon as I landed in India, I went straight to my travel operator friend and thanked him profusely for having included HK as a part of my itinerary to relieve me of my mental stress and torment because HK was not in my tour radar at all. He asked me whether I had faced any issues at the Immi.
I was surprised at his question and answered him yes saying that the officer quizzed me like I was not a tourist. He laughed it off and simply said that HK is the gateway to China and stringent measures are taken so that no illegal people enter into China. Also, the trip aggregator @ the HK airport made him calls asking about my whereabouts from the airport. Allz well that ends well. Right?
No. Wait. How did I directly fly to India after HK? I am sure you must be asking this question. Simple. Touristy Thailand is for another blog....eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..:) :)
I felt myself that this write-up was way too long.But, if you desire and decide to go to HK, you should be well-prepared especially if you happen to be a veg. Just wanted to give you a heads up giving the reality as such from the perspectives of both a budgeted traveler like me as well a person who can afford to spend their money.
X---Concluded---X
PS:
A word to the wise. Please don't forget to take your power banks wherever you go. Not just in HK but which ever place you feel like to go. I couldn't take any pics of the night parade in DL as my mobile ran out of juice and had to be contented by watching the colorful exhibition of the night's extravaganza in live which literally took the breath away from us. All that remains now are only memories, in fact fade now!, that I had to depend upon at that moment. So, it's your choice. Get yourself a power bank if you are the heavy type of photo-taker and want to relive the spectacular moments of your life even after the good moments are washed away by the pushing force of time.
The only massive problem I faced during the stay was food. Being a vegetarian, I had a hard time to get good food. Even 'good' was secondary. At least, the food. Though I had an excellent choice of breakfast in the hotel, lunch and dinner was a torrid affair. I had managed on coke and chips for the first 2 days. On the 3rd day, I had a costly veg dinner @ Disney Land. But, it was at Macau where I found it difficult to ask the servers not to add any non-veg item. In fact, as I was in the mall @ Macau, I had to walk out of even McD as explaining to the attendants that I needed only veg food became a tiresome process. Finally, after I landed in HK and reached a restaurant adjacent to my hotel, barring a couple of items, the complete a la carte consisted of all possible combinations of sea food. Till date, I have no idea whether the attendant gave me pure noodles with vegetables to the extent that I started asking specifically whether it's really not non-veg whenever there is a non-veg counter nearby just to make sure. SO, ALL VEG BEWARE! Unless you have the spending power to dine out on your meals.
I will not blame HK in any way as it is their culture and their way of life. From a business perspective also, it doesn't make any sense for the restaurants to stock up a veg menu just for budgeted once-in-a-blue moon tourists. Nevertheless, the people of HK were very friendly. Right from the receptionists at the hotel or the guides, they were good-natured and amiable. In fact, there was a cutey cutey small girl and with her mom's permission, I took a snap of them. I think it was @ DL. Likewise,in the Aquarium also, a random elderly couple wanted to have a pic of me near a group of red parrots with my permission. HK has indeed good people.
Yes. Even the Immi Officer who was extremely efficient and clinical by only following his standard operating procedures to ensure that his country was at no risk. So, despite the steep costs, I would love to visit HK again in the far future, maybe not as a solo traveler but as a family, just because of their people. IMHO, it's the people who is the face of their country along with the premiers of the respective countries. Of course, there will always be rotten eggs in a basket. That's why persons like the Immi officer are very much needed.
As soon as I landed in India, I went straight to my travel operator friend and thanked him profusely for having included HK as a part of my itinerary to relieve me of my mental stress and torment because HK was not in my tour radar at all. He asked me whether I had faced any issues at the Immi.
I was surprised at his question and answered him yes saying that the officer quizzed me like I was not a tourist. He laughed it off and simply said that HK is the gateway to China and stringent measures are taken so that no illegal people enter into China. Also, the trip aggregator @ the HK airport made him calls asking about my whereabouts from the airport. Allz well that ends well. Right?
No. Wait. How did I directly fly to India after HK? I am sure you must be asking this question. Simple. Touristy Thailand is for another blog....eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..:) :)
I felt myself that this write-up was way too long.But, if you desire and decide to go to HK, you should be well-prepared especially if you happen to be a veg. Just wanted to give you a heads up giving the reality as such from the perspectives of both a budgeted traveler like me as well a person who can afford to spend their money.
X---Concluded---X
PS:
A word to the wise. Please don't forget to take your power banks wherever you go. Not just in HK but which ever place you feel like to go. I couldn't take any pics of the night parade in DL as my mobile ran out of juice and had to be contented by watching the colorful exhibition of the night's extravaganza in live which literally took the breath away from us. All that remains now are only memories, in fact fade now!, that I had to depend upon at that moment. So, it's your choice. Get yourself a power bank if you are the heavy type of photo-taker and want to relive the spectacular moments of your life even after the good moments are washed away by the pushing force of time.
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