This post is an update of my Hong Kong Tip day 2. If You missed the day 1 post, you can read it at My Trip To Hong Kong - Day 1 before reading this post.
I woke up around 8.20am, then wash up and get ready. We started our journey for the day at 9am. From our hotel in Yau Ma Tei (油麻地), we walked to the main road - Nathan Road (彌敦道). We had a Hong Kong Dim Sum Breakfast at Tou Heung Restaurant (稻香) in Jordan (佐敦) area. The Dim Sum there was just superb! We ate a lot there too.
After our breakfast, we went to settle and collect our Ocean Park day pass at a travel agency. Then we started our journey to the famous Avenue Of Stars (星光大道) which is situated in Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀). Along the way, we went into a boutique shop - Chapel. Then, we came across a shoes shop having discounts on all the shoes. Alan and I bought ourselves a pair of K-Swiss shoes.
Half way walking, suddenly William asked Matthew where is his "bazooka gun" (tripod for his camera), then only Matthew realize that he had left it at the boutique shop while trying out some clothes there. So, I accompanied Matthew back to the boutique shop to get the "bazooka gun".
When we reached the Avenue Of Stars (星光大道) was around 12pm. We spent our time there taking photos and playing around. At the same time enjoying the view of the scenery. Along the walkway, there were lots of Hong Kong celebrities palm-print and signatures on their stars. We spent our time looking at taking photos with the celebrities star. We also took pictures with the bronze statues there and with a Bruce Lee's bronze statue.
After that, we proceeded to Kowloon Public Pier (九龍公眾碼頭). We boarded on the Star Ferry (天星小輪) at the Star Ferry Pier (天星碼頭) to cross over to the other side - Hong Kong Island (香港島). Our purpose was to visit the Hong Kong Convention Center (香港會展中心) which is in Wan Chai (灣仔). The ferry ride cost us only HKD2.50 per trip, which was very cheap. No wonder many people prefer to board the ferry to cross the strait instead of subway, taxi or bus.
There were bus loads of Mainland tourists at the Hong Kong Convention Center (香港會展中心) which was quite annoying. We took picture at the Golden Bauhinia Square (金紫荊), which was a gift from China to Hong Kong when Hong Kong was returned to China. The air there was very cooling and breezing.
After that, we went back to Kowloon Peninsula (九龍半島) by Star Ferry at around 3pm. This time our mission is to EAT! We went to Harbour City (海港城) shopping area and stop by a restaurant called Sugar Dynasty (糖朝). I forgotten what I ate there but after that all of us shared a wooden pail of Tau Fu Fah. It was very delicious!
After eating, our shopping spree begins! We split into two groups. William, Matthew, Alan and me were in a group. Audi, Allen, Rock and Aerric the other group. We decided to split into groups in order to save time. My group went inside Harbour City (海港城), where there were plenty of branded stuffs like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana etc.
The 1st boutique store we stopped at was Zara. They had discount. After that, it was K-Swiss time for William and Matthew while Alan and me just followed. We went around searching but could not find the K-Swiss boutique shop. After asking the customer service, finally we found it. At first, only William and Matthew was looking for limited edition shoes but while I was looking around this gold and white limited edition shoe caught my attention. At first I didn't want to buy another shoe as I've already gotten a pair of K-Swiss shoes in the morning. End up I still bought it anyway and we were given 20% each for buying 3 shoes there. So, end up I bought 2 K-Swiss shoes in a day.
After that, we came to a ESPRIT Boutique at Miramar shopping Complex (美麗華購物中心)where there were sales and discount signs all over the store. Everyone was lost there, because of the super low price. We just take the clothes like nobody's business. I bought a few clothes for my mom, friends and for myself.
Then we had our dinner at McD. I ordered the prosperity burger set. It's totally different from the one you can get in Malaysia. Their service there was excellent too. Oh, they don't have the free refill service like we have in Malaysia. =)
Next stop was Temple Street (廟街). William and Alan wanted to print some Christian T-Shirts for people that's why we went there. We waited at the t-shirt printing store for quite a long time.
Then we went sight-seeing around Temple street night market. There were plenty of things to see there. For example: souvenirs, clothes, bags etc. What ever you can think of I think you can find it there.
We returned to our hotel at around 12.30am. My legs was so exhausted and pain after walking for the whole day since morning. Now who says guys can walk that long for shopping. End up I had to dip bought my feet in hot water while I was bathing before going to bed. It did help a little to relief the pain. After that it was time for bed. I was so tired.
Here is a summary of the time-line for our Day 2 journey in Hong Kong:
Yau Ma Tei (油麻地) -> Nathan Road (彌敦道) -> Tou Heung Restaurant (稻香) in Jordan (佐敦) -> Avenue Of Stars (星光大道), Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀) -> Kowloon Public Pier (九龍公眾碼頭), Star Ferry Pier (天星碼頭), to board on the Star Ferry (天星小輪) -> Hong Kong Island (香港島), Hong Kong Convention Center (香港會展中心), Wan Chai (灣仔) -> Star Ferry (天星小輪) -> Kowloon Peninsula (九龍半島) ->Sugar Dynasty (糖朝) -> Harbour City (海港城) -> Miramar shopping Complex (美麗華購物中心) -> Temple Street (廟街) -> Hotel.
Here are the day 2 photos:
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
My Trip To Hong Kong - Day 2
Monday, July 6, 2009
Congas - Latin Percussion Drumming Instruments
The most popular of the Latin Percussion drumming instruments are the Congas and Bongos. One of the common American dance forms that is based on Latin American rhythms is Salsa. Salsa has registered a steady growth and now dominates the airwaves in many countries in Latin America and other countries throughout the world.
These instruments have their roots from Cuba. Although, there is a theory that it can be traced back all the way to Africa. They are usually played with bare hands without any sticks and are also known as hand drums. However, it can also be played with sticks or Mallets.
The drum is usually made of wood and the drumhead used to be traditionally made of animal skin that is heated and well beaten. However in modern times, synthetic materials are used for drumheads, which can get the same sound tone.
Conga Drums are played in sets of two to four with the hands – usually the fingers and the palm. The basic strokes of congas are open tone, bass tone, muffed tone, slap and touch.
Congas have many manufacturers like LP, Meinl, Gon Bops, Remo, Toca and Tycoon. The more preferred and popular ones are LP Congas and Gon Bops Congas. You can purchase them from a retail drum shop like California Percussion LLC.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
My Trip To Hong Kong - Day 1
Hi there, sorry for keeping you waiting for my long awaited update on my trip to Hong Kong. It's been almost 5 months since I came back from Hong Kong and now I'm gonna finally update you on my trip.
I'll be breaking down my trip to Hong Kong in days if not it will be a very long post. There will also be pictures for you to see.
I would also like to give credit to Alan in order for me to refer back to his post to update my trip to Hong Kong. It's already been 5 month since the trip and you can't expect me to remember everything in details. =)
This trip to Hong Kong was really a good deal compared to other times. It only cost around RM2200++ (around USD 611) including flight (through and flow), hotel (which was eventually upgraded FOC), and ticket to Ocean Park. Was that a good bargain or what?
Hong Kong Trip Day 1
I arrived at Penang International Airport at around 5.50am then boarded Cathay Pacific at 7.30am to KLIA around 8.00am. Waited in the airplane for around an hour for refueling and for passengers to board from KLIA. We also took pictures while waiting on the plane.
While on the way to Hong Kong, I had a very bad headache on the plain and I was hungry at the same time. I think the headache was caused by my lack of enough sleep the previous days. I did took my breakfast that morning before going and on the first flight I ate two pieces of cake too. I don't know why so fast I was so hungry.
I should have ask for something to eat but I didn't. Of cause I myself was to be blamed for not asking. Lesson learned was it wouldn't hurt for asking. While lunch was served, I could barely eat because of the headache. I did try forcing myself to eat but I felt like vomiting so I just laid there to sleep without touching a small portion of my food. I didn't feel better until I step down from the plain at Hong Kong.
Some may say it's air sickness but I don't think so. It didn't happened to me during my previous trip a few years ago to Japan for my basketball competition, which was an 8 hours flight and to Macau 3 years ago for my church mission trip. =)
After arriving in Hong Kong International Airport at 1.15pm, my group of friends and I went to collect our luggages. We boarded a double-decker bus to our hotel which was situated in Yau Ma Tei (油麻地), Kowloon (九龍).
While we checked into the hotel, we were told that there weren't enough rooms so we got an upgrade FOC! After checking in to the hotel and putting our luggages in the rooms, we started our sight-seeing and shopping immediately in Kowloon (九龍).
We boarded the subway from Yau Ma Tei (油麻地) to Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣), which is on Hong Kong mainland across the sea. By that time I was still a bit blur caused by my headache on the flight. Look a me still being blur in the picture below.
We arrived at Hong Kong Times Square in Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣) at 4.10pm. Immediately we went to the market area to eat. By then I was already dead hungry! We ate at this traditional shop which sells all kinds of roasted food. We ordered chicken and duck. The food there was very delicious.
Now our shopping journey begins. Firstly we went around the market area, which we saw a seafood stall selling live fishes which we seldom on don't get to see in Malaysia. The prawns was very HUGE too.
Soon we went to the shopping area to walk. We split into two groups. The first group (William, Audi, Rock, Allen and Aerric), went to G2 Black Label to shop. Matthew, Alan and me went over to Giordano Concepts Store to shop. The 3 of us bought some clothes there. I only bought a long sleeve shirt at Giordano Concepts Store. The other group also bought some clothes from G2 Black Label. Then we went to Sogo department store to walk.
By around 6.00pm, the sky is already dark. Can you imagine being able to see the moon around 2.30pm in the afternoon? Amazing!
We also tried some "Tong Shui" at this shop which sells many kinds of "Tong Shui", especially mangoes. The mangoes was just so sweet and delicious! After eating, we boarded the subway headed for Admiralty (金鐘). While we were walking to the bus station, we also took some pictures. We took pictures with the Bank Of China Tower as the background. It was so beautiful at night as it was lighted up at night.
The first thing we did as we reach the top of The Peak (山頂) was to put on our sweaters and jackets as the temperature there was 12 degrees celsius. It was really cold for us as we come from a country with temperatures of an average of 31 degrees celsius in the morning and an average of 25 degrees celsius at night.
We took many pictures up at The Peak (山頂). From up there, you can get a birds eye-view of the whole Hong Kong skyline during the night and it was just so gorgeous. All the buildings was lighted up. That was just an amazing experience. This is why Hong Kong people are so proud of The Peak (山頂).
After taking pictures, we went into The Peak's plaza. In there we visited the ESPN Sports Game Center. We also took photos with the wax-figure of Bruce Lee and Cecillia Cheung outside Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. We didn't go in because it was already closed by the time we reach there.
When we went out of The Peak's plaza, some guys went to get ice cream.
At 9.30pm, we had to board the last public bus down from The Peak (山頂). If not we will be left with a choice of taking a cab/taxi down. While on the way down to Central (中環), situated in Lan Kwai Fong (蘭桂坊), we had a short nap in the public bus. We were just so tired from the whole days walking.
This time around, we didn't stop by any places as we were all hungry. We just took pictures while walking to find for food.
William suggested that we go to Temple Street (廟街), which was in Jordan, Kowloon (九龍). We had our meal at the roadside, the traditional style of Hong Kong.
After our meal, we went sight-seeing around Temple Street (廟街). Before heading back to the hotel, some of them said they were hungry already, so they went to McDonald's to grab some food before going back to the hotel. We reached back at the hotel at 12.15am.
After bathing, I straight went to sleep because I was already so so tired.
Here is a summary of the time-line for our Day 1 journey in Hong Kong:
Penang International Airport -> KLIA -> Hong Kong International Airport -> CityView Hotel, Waterloo (窩打老道), Road Kowloon (九龍) -> Using Subway, Yau Ma Tei Stand (油麻地站) -> Causeway Bay (銅鑼灣) -> Admiralty (金鐘) -> The Peak (山頂) -> Central (中環) -> Lan Kwai Fong (蘭桂坊) -> Jordan -> Temple Street (廟街) -> CityView Hotel.
Here are day 1 photos for you to see:
















