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Hong Kong Travel Guide 2024: 10 Things To Do When Visiting Hong Kong

Meghy — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 02:08:29 +0000

Hong Kong has been one of the most popular travel destinations among Filipinos for years now. I remember when I was young, I often heard about Hong Kong being the first out of the country destination among relatives, peers and acquaintances. Aside from being 2 hours away from the Philippines by air and being visa free for Filipinos, this small region is also famous for its cheap finds before Bangkok came to the limelight for cheaper shopping options. As the years passed by, many of us noticed how traveling to Hong Kong became somehow expensive. From hotel accommodation, food and transportation expenses, it is no longer considered as cheap as it was years ago. But is it still worth it to visit Hong Kong as a Filipino traveler? I would still say yes! Its captivating charm, culture that still shines between its concrete jungle, vibrant night markets, and mouthwatering gastronomies will still leave you in awe and fill you with joy. Don’t miss the fact, that it houses every child and child in heart’s dream destination, Disneyland. You can fly to the happiest place on earth without worrying about getting a visa.

Continue to scroll down to this blog to discover exciting things to do and visit in Hong Kong, and make your next travel itinerary jam-packed with fun and amusing adventures.

Ride the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

Ngong Ping 360 cable car experience is an approximately 25-minute gondola ride along Lantau Island. It might be a nerve-shaking experience for those afraid of heights but the view you’ll see from the top is top-notch. You can either choose to ride the regular cable car or a crystal cabin for an added thrill and excitement! This ride connects Tung Chung and the Ngong Ping Village, where you can stroll around to see the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery.

Climb to the Tian Tan Buddha

Tian Tan Buddha, also known as The Big Buddha, is one of the iconic landmarks on Lantau Island. This huge statue of Buddha in a sitting position made of bronze took 12 years of planning and completion. I am simply amazed at how big it is and how it beautifully stands even from afar. You have to take a total of 268 steps to reach the top. Tiring? Yes, but good thing the place is located in a mountainous area so the weather there is cooler compared to the other parts of Hong Kong.

Stroll along Avenue of Stars

Avenue of Stars is a walkway along the Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui that honors celebrities who put Hong Kong’s entertainment industry in the limelight. It showcases statues and handprints of big celebrities such as Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan. The best time to go here is during the early morning to avoid the crowd, late afternoon to watch the sunset and during the night at 8:00 PM to watch the Symphony of Lights. The walkway stretches along the Victoria Harbour, so this is also a good spot for boat sightseeing and to see the Victoria Harbour skyline.

Shop until you drop at Mongkok

Looking for the cheapest finds to shop in Hong Kong? Mongkok got you covered! From cheap items from the famous Ladies’ Market, to street foods, and up to the pile of shoe store along the Sneaker Street, you’ll go crazy about where to go and buy first. If you’re looking for things to bring home, you might find many options in the Ladies’ Market such as bags, Hong Kong t-shirts, accessories, ref magnets, key chains and many more. You just have to bring out your haggling skills to get the best price possible. And for shoe lovers, Sneaker Street would be a heaven on earth for you. There are a lot more choices of shoes here, a lot of colorways compared to what we had in the Philippines, and of course, at a cheaper price. Mongkok is a vibrant district and definitely a vibe for shoppers.

Be the happiest at Disneyland

What’s a Hong Kong trip without visiting the happiest place on earth? Of course, you have to visit Disneyland at least once in your lifetime! Most of us probably once dreamed of visiting Disneyland when we were kids, so we didn’t miss the chance to fulfill it. Aside from riding Hong Kong’s Disneyland prime attractions such as Frozen Ever After, Ironman Experience, Grizzly Mountain Mine Cars and many more, you have to witness the much-anticipated show at night filled with magic and lights, Momentous. Tagged to be the most magical show, it highlights a fireworks display and a projection mapping show while playing Disney’s iconic songs. My favorite part of this trip, my kid in me is so happy.

Trek at Braemar Hill

If you want to do a less touristy activity in Hong Kong, trekking is always a good option. We visited Braemar Hill in our last Hong Kong trip and this is one of my favorite activities on the island next to Disneyland. There are few summits here, but we visited this majestic viewpoint that we just saw in a video online. Unfortunately, there’s no name pinned in this location so we can’t confirm the exact name of this summit. We started our trek at 55 Braemar Hill Road just beside the St. Joan of Arc Secondary School and it took us about 25 minutes to reach this summit. The trail is well established but still be careful, especially climbing the last ascent to reach this vantage point. The view from here is amazing and you’ll be blessed by the mesmerizing scene of the Hong Kong skyline. We were fortunate that we were the only group at this time, so we were able to take all our time to get those perfect shots.

Indulge yourself with Hong Kong’s best cuisines

A good trip will be completed by trying the best cuisines the place could offer. Hong Kong is known to have the best dim sum and noodle dishes that you should try when visiting. There are also a lot of establishments awarded by the famous Michelin star and bib gourmand that you could choose from. Some may have long queues but definitely worth the wait. Here are some of the local restaurants and bakeries we tried on our last visit: Yat Lok, Dim Dim Sum, Kam Wah Café, Café De Coral, Australian Dairy Co., Mak’s Noodles, Bakehouse, Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai

If you’re the kind of tourist who likes to try fast foods in different countries and compare their differences, you can also visit McDonald’s, Jollibee and KFC. For my personal favorites, I love the angus beef burger from McDonald’s, roast goose from Yat Lok, pan fried buns from Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai and the sourdough egg tart from Bakehouse. Yum!

Ride the Peak Tram and see the Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is considered to be the highest hill on Hong Kong Island, so for sure it will give you another good vantage point to see the skyline of Central and Victoria Harbour. To get the full experience, ride the famous Peak Tram which is one of the world’s oldest and famous funicular railway. The railway is so steep, that the ride made me dizzy on our both ascent and descent. Once arrived at The Peak, head to Sky Terrace considered to be the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong located at the top of The Peak Tower to see Hong Kong’s panoramic view.

Recommendation: For the best view and experience, sit on the right side of the tram when going up and sit on the left side when going down.

Go get that instagram photo at the Monster Building

Monster Building probably once appeared on your feed because it is a popular location for photography and has been used as an inspired location in films such as Transformer and Ghost in the Shell. The building’s actual name is Yick Cheong Building which is a complex composed of five linked buildings located at King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong. Being here made me realize how densely populated the city is and the reality of how normal residential areas actually looks like for a local Hong Kongese. I’ll describe the place as “delightfully chaotic” because regardless of how crowded and dense the place is, it gives a distinct charm that is reflected in its photos. Tourists are allowed to take photos in the area but please be mindful of your actions. Make sure that you won’t cause any interruptions and still protects resident’s privacy in the complex.

Ride the longest Multiple Level Escalator at Central

Central Mid-Level escalator is the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator and walkway system. It initially opened in 1993 which is about 800 m long and runs over 135m in elevation. It stretches from Queen’s Road Central up to Conduit Road which gives locals convenience in their everyday lives. Not only it transports the locals but it has become a popular destination now among tourists. It is a good way to roam around central which houses famous restaurants and the famous Hollywood Road, which links to several streets best for photo ops.

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Fantasy World: An Abandoned Theme Park In Lemery, Batangas

Meghy — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 05:27:29 +0000

I still remember me looking on the pages of my fairytale book and fascinates of becoming a princess that lives happily ever after. I think most of the children once dreamed of becoming a prince or princess that lives comfortably on a big castle. But no worries, you don’t need a passport, a visa or thousands worth of plane ticket, you can fulfill those childhood dreams by visiting Fantasy World in Lemery, Batangas! Though it is “abandoned”, the place is still dreamlike and it is just 3-4 hours away from Manila.

About Fantasy World

Fantasy World intended to be the Disneyland of the Philippines but due to the lack of funding of the Japanese owner, the medieval-themed park left unfinished up until today. It has four grand castle structure as main attraction that were meticulously designed just like those real century-old castles found in Europe as it attempted to be the grandest theme park of the country.

It enchantingly stands in the middle of hill-like Brgy. Mayasang, Lemery, Batangas along Diokno highway far from the town proper that made it more fascinating.

The first time I saw this enchanting place was when I used to watch the GMA TV show “Majika”. The place really caught my attention and I can’t actually believe that my country has its own fairylike park that I can only see before in the pages of my fairytale book and on TV documentaries that showcases medieval castles in Europe. And I promised myself that someday, I would stand there and be my own version of a travelling princess.

How to go to Fantasy World

Manila to Fantasy World

(Via Nasugbu)

Ride a bus bound to Nasugbu, Batangas and ask the conductor to drop you off on the ‘Boundary’ near the Nasugbu Arc then ride a Lemery bound jeepney that passes on the entrance of Fantasy World or simply chartered a tricycle that will take you directly to the Fantasy World but this could be pricey compared to riding a jeeney.

(Via Lemery)

You can directly ride a bus bound to Lemery from Manila (LRT- Buendia or Cubao) but this is a longer route compared to the Nasugbu route. Upon arriving in Lemery Bus Terminal, ride a tricycle to “Boundary” (take note that this is a different boundary from the Nasugbu Arc) and take a jeepney that passes Brgy. Mayasang and ask to be dropped in front of Fantasy World. You can also chartered a tricycle from the Lemery town proper but then again, it can be pricey.

Tagaytay to Fantasy World

From Tagaytay (Olivarez), you can ride a bus or jeepney bound to Nasugbu. Ask the driver to drop you off on the boundary near the Nasugbu Arc. Upon reaching the boundary, you can either ride a Lemery bound jeepney or chartered a tricycle that will take you directly to Fantasy World.

Fantasy World Entrance Fee

Most people is still not aware that this abandoned theme park is open to the public that’s why tourists will simply take photos from afar but actually this place happily accepts visitors who wants to see the beauty behind its unfinished structures. Rate will be P1000 maximum of 10 pax so whether you are 10 in the group or less than that, you still have to pay P1000.

If you will be coming on lesser group then it will be better to wait for other groups on the entrance of the park to lessen your expenses. The park is open from 8AM to 5PM.

Getting Around Fantasy World

By just standing inside and staring on the castle-like structures will already leave you in admiration. You will imagine yourself walking on your own fairytale story but unlike other abandoned theme parks, Fantasy World is now being maintained by the homeowners association.

Before coming to this place, I was too worried that the park might give me eerie feeling but it is the other way around. The place is smoothly beautiful and every corner is perfect for IG-worthy photos.

One castle that serves as the main tower has a cafeteria where you can order food and has stairs that leads to the rooftop. Here you can enjoy a 360-degree view from above. The second castle standing was designed to be the church.

The other two castles were merely castle structures that are perfect for photoshoots. Fantasy World is now perfect for prenup and debut pictorials.

Aside from its castle like structures, there are still rides installed on the area. Though, it is no longer operating you can still take photos on it.

Another main attraction of the Fantasy World is the two tree houses connected by a hanging bridge.

You will be seeing as well a beautiful fountain that is still operational perfect for a snapshot.

Other attraction is the Fantasy World maze, which is for me, is somewhat unfinished and no longer maintained. You can also rent fairytale costumes on the main tower near the cafeteria for P300 good for whole day.

Things to Know Before Going to Fantasy World

Bringing of foods are not allowed upon entering this park but there is a cafeteria inside if you wish to eat but food serving takes time.
There’s an additional P5000 fee if you wish to do photoshoots inside Fantasy World. This includes pre-wedding and pre-debut pictorials.
This can be a sidetrip of your tagaytay trip or you can go beach swimming in Nasugbu or Lemery after visiting Fantasy World depending on your time and choice.

Have you been to Fantasy World? Share your experience below!

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