ENJOYING THE WORLD-CLASS TOURIST DESTINATION OF HONGKONG

 

The vibrant Victoria Harbour of Hongkong

Hongkong is a vibrant, densely populated Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, famous for its stunning skyline where East meets West, blending British colonial history with Chinese culture, creating a unique cosmopolitan hub known for world-class shopping, diverse cuisine, and a bustling economy built on free markets and finance.  It features a mix of towering skyscrapers, lush countryside (with 40% preserved as country parks), and Victoria Harbour, while maintaining its own legal, economic, and cultural systems distinct from mainland China.

While on board with my Cebu Pacific flight from Manila to Hongkong

This trip is a part of my February 1 - 6, 2025 Hongkong-Jeju Island (South Korea)-Hongkong-Macau trip.  This was intended for four climbs, two of which are in Hongkong and two are in South Korea. This was availed from the services of Jonah Chavez Ranchez.

Arrival at Hongkong International Airport

I woke up as early as 2:00 A.M. where I stayed in Pasay near OWWA with my friend, Rome Frias.  I booked for a Grab car to NAIA Terminal III for P200 and arrived at the airport 3:24 A.M. just timely to have  my breakfast at the airport's Kenny Rogers for P721.43.  I also paid P1,620 for the travel tax. My Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 110 left NAIA Terminal III at 7:25 A.M. and arrived in Hongkong International Airport at 9:45 A.M. with a total air travel duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes.  In this flight I was with  Nel OpolentoNel Opolento, a climbing buddy in my Mount Fuji (Japan), Yushan (Taiwan) and Mount Kinabalu (Malaysia).

While at Hongkong International Airport

Nel and I waited for his friend, a Filipina working in Hongkong for we will climb Tai Mo Shan. While at the airport I had exchanged my P10,000 cash to Hongkong Dollars for 1,023 at a currency rate of P0.10230.  I bought Octopus Transport Card for P1,184.35  or HKD 121.  

Hongkong International Airport

From the airport I also bought local internet data for HKD 88 or P860.21.  Just from the airport I already spent HDK 209 or P2,044.56.  

Fresh flowers at the airport

It was not boring to stay at the airport.  The airport is far more clean, orderly and spacious compared to NAIA Terminal III.   Comforts room are so clean and from the airport you can already buy the transport card and internet load.

Citygate Outlets Mall

From the Airport bus terminal, we took S1 Bus heading to Citygate Outlets Mall for HKD 10.20 or P99.71.  There were two quick stops since it was very close to the airport. The point where the bus stopped was Tung Chung MRT Station, the main destination for shoppers which is right at the gate of Citygate Outlets Mall.

My lunch meal at the Food Opera in Citygate Outlets Mall for HKD 65

It was at the mall, that we met Nel's friend. Prior to that we deposited our luggage at the rented lockers at the basement of the mall.  For a big luggage, was charged with HKD 40 at 10:55 AM. But  when I retrieved it at 6:32 P.M. after our Tao Mo Shan climb, I had additional of  HKD140 which made my locker rental to a total of HKD 180 or  P1,75953.  Compared to Japan's locker rentals, 600 yen is fixed for one day or P225.

My initial charge for the locker was HKD40

I learned that for larger luggage the charge is HKD 40 for every 2 hours for the first 6 hours, but the rate will increase as soon as it is beyond 6 hours, thus, I was charged for a total of HKD 180.   But that was okey, at least I was not carrying my luggage when I climbed Tai Mo Shan.