26 Nov 2013
Dear one,
While I wait for you, I'll work on my dreams one by one. And I'll travel the world. Because life has to go on; it doesn't stop for me. And because I want to be happy too.
I've made mistakes. I'll make mistakes. But I'm still trying to save the best version of me for you.
I don't know if I'll ever meet you in this lifetime; maybe not. If I don't, then I'll just see you on the other side.
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Friday, 8 November 2013
Hong Kong: Beyond Disneyland and the shopping
08 Nov 2013
Dear one,
Bali, Phuket, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur (KL), Ho Chi Minh, Malacca, Bintan, Macau, Hong Kong - I've been around Asia. Yet I've never been to any of these places more than once except for KL and last weekend, Hong Kong. But while the second trip to KL with my family who were visiting Singapore that time was customary, this second trip to Hong Kong was something I have been planning to make because of some unfinished business: one, the fireworks at Disneyland that I have not seen; and two, the dolphins and pandas at Ocean Park.
Two years after my first trip, I finally found the perfectly priced air ticket and the perfect timing, a three-day weekend, to visit Hong Kong once again.
The happiest place on earth
A couple of my friends had told me that the Disneyland fireworks display is a must-see. Hence, this time around, I stayed until park closing to see it for myself.
All-time favorite Disney movie theme songs played while colorful fireworks graced the sky just above the Sleeping Beauty Castle. But the fireworks weren't dancing to the tune of the music so that was a bit of a disappointment for me. In many ways, Singapore's Songs of the Sea at Sentosa has set the bar in terms of pyrotechnics spectacles - at least for me, that is. Nonetheless, Disney in the Stars fireworks was a magical ending befitting a whole day at "the happiest place on earth."
The "happiest place on earth" turned out to be a tiresome place on earth too. It, being a Sunday, queues to the rides and attractions were unbelievably long. Even a very boring kiddie ride like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh had a very long queue with a waiting time of 45 minutes. (Seriously?!?) The only two rides that I had the patience to line up for were It's a Small World and the Jungle River Cruise. And for the second time, I watched the shows: Festival of the Lion King (a concise version of the movie), Mickey's PhilharMagic (a 3D animated show) and The Golden Mickeys (Disneyland's fun version of the Golden Globe awards). Of the three, the Lion King show is still my favorite; I think the quality of this show may even rival that of the musical theater production. Another first for me to see was the Flights of Fantasy Parade which was a parade of almost all, if not all, of Disney's well-loved characters.
 |
| Singaporean Pooh meets Hong Konger Pooh |
But of the eight hours I had spent at the theme park, this photo about sums up all the reasons why Disneyland is my happiest place on earth (next of course to whichever place on earth I am with my family). My travel buddy toy, baby Pooh, finally met its literally BIG brother from another mother.
This meeting almost did not happen because I was stuck in the Mickey Mouse photo op line when Pooh made its appearance at the Fantasy Gardens. For something as trivial as that, I actually begged to God in silent prayer that I wouldn't miss the photo op with Pooh. He didn't disappoint me! I'm a spoiled child of the Father. Hehe.
I must say Hong Kong Disneyland is not as "magical" the second time. Still, I wouldn't mind coming back again. After all, I'm always a kid at heart (and a crazy kid at that. What kind of 30-year-old in her right mind carries around a baby Pooh stuffed toy in every out-of-the-country trip? Only my kind.). Hopefully, dear one, when I come back a third, fourth, nth time, we'll have our kids in tow.
New appreciation for Hong Kong
Hong Kong is Disneyland and shopping; that was how I thought of this place ever since. It was bigger than Singapore but for some reason, I found it more crowded than the latter. So while I did consider coming back every now and then for vacation, I would never have thought I would fall in love with the place.
Okay... Maybe love is too strong a word to describe it but my feeling of affinity and awe for Hong Kong can only be comparable to how I felt for Australia which was the only country so far that had me at hello.
Lantau Island gave me that fresh perspective on Hong Kong - a new appreciation for what this place still has to offer. This island, Tung Chung area in particular, is so much unlike Mong Kok or Tsim Sha Tsui where it was just buildings and markets and crowds and more crowds. Tung Chung does have a mall and an outlet stores mall at that - Citygate Outlets, a shopaholic's paradise. It has crowds but is not congested. It has buildings but with lots of empty spaces, too.
Even better is the fact that Tung Chung is less than an hour away by bus from nature. With a Lantau day pass, one can access the beaches, a fishing village and of course, the Tian Tan Buddha shrine. Unfortunately, I couldn't spend a whole day since I was flying back to Singapore that night. Nonetheless, I was still able to enjoy my three-hour stay at Ngong Ping.
When I arrived at the place, I immediately walked my way to the Buddha shrine; after all, the main objective of my day trip was to see the famous Big Buddha which was a 34-meter high bronze statue of the founder of Buddhism. And big it really is; I could only compare it to the one I saw in Phuket three years ago.
Lantau's Buddha sits atop Mount Muk Yue. Tourists and Buddhists alike have to climb several flights of stairs to see the statue up close. Above, I got a 360-degree view of the surrounding towns and other mountains/hills.
I managed to find a fellow Filipino to take my picture with the giant statue at the background so I didn't have to settle for a selfie shot. After which, I had a short talk with Buddha. Yeah, I'm a Catholic but I do talk to Buddha every time I visit a Buddhist temple or shrine (which I realized had been quite often this year). This time, the talk was mostly about Ama. I don't really know how it works in Buddhism so I just told Buddha to take care of her soul. The Catholic in me thought someone should be taking care of her in the netherworld and since she's a Buddhist, the best one to get the job done would probably be Buddha himself.
Then I went down in search of what other sights there are in Ngong Ping. Some 60 steps away from the foot of the shrine was the road to the Wisdom Path - 38 wooden columns with calligraphic inscriptions of the Heart Sutra which articulates the doctrine of emptiness.
I know I am definitely coming back to Hong Kong a third time to climb all the way up to the 38th column. And when I get that chance, I will make sure that I will also witness the so-called breathtaking sunrise at Lantau Peak.
A picture of lightheartedness
My weekend visit came at a rather sad time for the Yeung-Ting family. They were in mourning because Ama, my friend Ben's maternal grandmother, had just passed away the week before. Yet, the family was so kind to welcome me. Ate Rose accommodated me in her posh apartment which was located about five minutes away from the MTR station. On the other hand, Rowina lent me a mobile phone with a local SIM card. With these conveniences that the Ting sisters provided for me, I lost all chance to get lost in Hong Kong the Maleta Girl way. Hehehe.
Not to be outdone in kindness, Mr. and Mrs. Ting treated me to the authentic Hong Kong dimsum. I had met Ben's parents last December when they had spent a month-long vacation in Singapore. Much to Ben's surprise, even then, his mom had been nice and warm to me. I would jokingly explain to him that the reason for that is because: "Alam kasi ng mama mo na mabait ako."
Even at their time of loss, the family remained a picture of lightheartedness. During their family dinners which were always occasions for catching up and banter, the siblings would share funny anecdotes about the funeral traditions. I guess it also helped ease the burden of their heavy hearts to have little adorable Sophia around to shower everyone with cheery smiles and sweet kisses.
A few days after my trip, I was sorely disappointed to hear that Hong Kong lawmakers had voted to withdraw the Filipinos' visa-free access to the city. Sadly, the Hong Kong and Philippine governments may just never see eye to eye anymore after that hostage-taking incident of 2010. But that doesn't really matter. Ben and I will remain friends for life; no failed government relationships can change that.
I will still try to go back to Hong Kong where I know there are other adventures that still await Maleta Girl. (I still haven't gone to Ocean Park!) And the wonderful Ting family - of course, I'd like to meet them again. Thanks to them, Hong Kong became a notch lovelier the second time around.
Even better is the fact that Tung Chung is less than an hour away by bus from nature. With a Lantau day pass, one can access the beaches, a fishing village and of course, the Tian Tan Buddha shrine. Unfortunately, I couldn't spend a whole day since I was flying back to Singapore that night. Nonetheless, I was still able to enjoy my three-hour stay at Ngong Ping.
 |
| It isn't called the Big Buddha for nothing. |
Lantau's Buddha sits atop Mount Muk Yue. Tourists and Buddhists alike have to climb several flights of stairs to see the statue up close. Above, I got a 360-degree view of the surrounding towns and other mountains/hills.
I managed to find a fellow Filipino to take my picture with the giant statue at the background so I didn't have to settle for a selfie shot. After which, I had a short talk with Buddha. Yeah, I'm a Catholic but I do talk to Buddha every time I visit a Buddhist temple or shrine (which I realized had been quite often this year). This time, the talk was mostly about Ama. I don't really know how it works in Buddhism so I just told Buddha to take care of her soul. The Catholic in me thought someone should be taking care of her in the netherworld and since she's a Buddhist, the best one to get the job done would probably be Buddha himself.
Then I went down in search of what other sights there are in Ngong Ping. Some 60 steps away from the foot of the shrine was the road to the Wisdom Path - 38 wooden columns with calligraphic inscriptions of the Heart Sutra which articulates the doctrine of emptiness.
 |
| The wisdom of the Heart |
I know I am definitely coming back to Hong Kong a third time to climb all the way up to the 38th column. And when I get that chance, I will make sure that I will also witness the so-called breathtaking sunrise at Lantau Peak.
A picture of lightheartedness
My weekend visit came at a rather sad time for the Yeung-Ting family. They were in mourning because Ama, my friend Ben's maternal grandmother, had just passed away the week before. Yet, the family was so kind to welcome me. Ate Rose accommodated me in her posh apartment which was located about five minutes away from the MTR station. On the other hand, Rowina lent me a mobile phone with a local SIM card. With these conveniences that the Ting sisters provided for me, I lost all chance to get lost in Hong Kong the Maleta Girl way. Hehehe.
Not to be outdone in kindness, Mr. and Mrs. Ting treated me to the authentic Hong Kong dimsum. I had met Ben's parents last December when they had spent a month-long vacation in Singapore. Much to Ben's surprise, even then, his mom had been nice and warm to me. I would jokingly explain to him that the reason for that is because: "Alam kasi ng mama mo na mabait ako."
Even at their time of loss, the family remained a picture of lightheartedness. During their family dinners which were always occasions for catching up and banter, the siblings would share funny anecdotes about the funeral traditions. I guess it also helped ease the burden of their heavy hearts to have little adorable Sophia around to shower everyone with cheery smiles and sweet kisses.
A few days after my trip, I was sorely disappointed to hear that Hong Kong lawmakers had voted to withdraw the Filipinos' visa-free access to the city. Sadly, the Hong Kong and Philippine governments may just never see eye to eye anymore after that hostage-taking incident of 2010. But that doesn't really matter. Ben and I will remain friends for life; no failed government relationships can change that.
I will still try to go back to Hong Kong where I know there are other adventures that still await Maleta Girl. (I still haven't gone to Ocean Park!) And the wonderful Ting family - of course, I'd like to meet them again. Thanks to them, Hong Kong became a notch lovelier the second time around.
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