Hong Kong Days 4 & 5: Shopping in Hong Kong

The last two days of our stay in Hong Kong were a blur. SRSLY. “Exploring Hong Kong” meant shopping for us. Hihi. For Day 4, we headed to the other island and explored Causeway Bay and Central.

 

Since our agenda for the day is mainly shopping, I wanted to wear something I could easily change in and out to. I chose the blouse+skirt combo. The weather was still a bit chilly since rain showers were  here and there, so I opted to add a cozy sweater.

 

Sleeveless blouse and skater skirt (similar here) from Pixie Dust, Sweater from Forever 21, Bag from Longchamp, and Flats from Charles & Keith

 

From our hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui, we rode the MTR (Tsuen Wan Line) towards Central and dropped off at Admiralty station, where we boarded the Island Line towards Chai Wan. We dropped off at Causeway Bay station. The whole trip took us about 10-15 minutes in total.

 

First stop is, of course, Forever 21 at Jardine’s Bazaar. It’s the first thing you’ll see once you get out of the subway station. It has 5 floors, I think. Forever 21 at Causeway Bay is the flagship store in Hong Kong. Prices are relatively cheaper compared to here (duh!), so it’s worthwhile to shop here. Scored some dresses and makeup items since they have tons of makeup here. Didn’t get to “hoard” items since I was overwhelmed with the items in the store. Haha. Parang ang dami masyado, eh. My sisters and I spent about an hour or two here.

 

Photo from Katz

Photo from Tourism Hong Kong

 

We then headed to Times Square to visit SOGO, which is the last standing Japanese department store in the area. Times Square was really crowded, even if the weather wasn’t really nice.

 

SOGO is the biggest department store I’ve ever been to! It houses tons of brands, but mostly luxury brands, like Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, etc. I love their makeup “floor”! Kaso, ang daming tao so ‘di ako nakapag try masyado. They have Chanel, Shiseido, MAC, and many more! I wanted to try out the Japanese brands coz of its high quality, but I got too lazy to do so.

 

I also suggest you visit SOGO if you’re a brand-aholic (is there such a word???). Plus, as I’ve mentioned earlier, prices in Hong Kong are cheaper compared to Manila. Was able to buy a Longchamp Planetes Tote bag and LM Metal Tote bag, both large and long-handled, at only HK$1250 each (around Php6700). If bought at Rustan’s, I think the bags retail at around Php10000 to Php12000. Pretty good *steal*, huh?

 

We went to other malls as well, since Causeway is another shopping mecca. My sisters and I went cray cray at Etude House coz of the cheaper price. Since we really didn’t have enough time already to visit The Peak, we headed to Central instead. Guess what we did there? Yep! We shopped again. Haha!

 

Going to Central, we rode the tram, which cost us less than HK$4.  The tram ride was relatively slower than the MTR, but we couldn’t pass up this experience! Haha! Ang cute cute kaya!

 

 

When we got to Central, the first thing we did was to visit H&M. To be honest, I wasn’t aware that there’s an H&M store near the hotel (at Silvercord City, Tsim Sha Tsui) kaya dinayo pa namin ‘tong sa Central. This is the flagship store kasi kaya ito yung pinuntahan din namin. It has four floors, and houses tons of clothing and accessories for men, women, and children.

 

Photo from Hong Kong Digital PhotoVision

 

The items at H&M are a tad bit pricier compared to Forever 21, but the quality’s ok din naman. I particularly like their selection of dresses. My favorite is their jersey dresses (bodycon dresses) at only HK$79 each. The fabric’s really comfortable, plus it’s really flattering on my petite frame. Too bad I only got one jersey dress.

 

After 2 hours in the store, my family and I were hungry already and were craving for rice. Good thing my tita brought us to Jollibee, which is near the Central station.

 

 

Jollibee in Central has two floors. The staff were all Filipinos, and most of the customers are also Filipinos. Nakakatuwa kasi ang babait nila. Hi-hello forever ang peg. Don’t convert HK$ to Php when eating! Hahahaha. Kasi, lalabas talagang mahal. When it comes to food, don’t be stingy! LOL

 

For me, the taste was quite different compared to the Jollibee in the Philippines; but heck, IT IS STILL JOLLIBEE AND CRISPY-LICIOUS CHICKEN JOY!!! Haha! Their menu is a tad bit different though; some of the items they were offering are exclusive in Hong Kong, so it’s worthwhile to visit Jollibee, too.

 

So for our last day in Hong Kong, we were supposed to visit Lantau Island to see Ngong Ping. But we had too much stuff, so it’s a hassle for us to carry all our things all the way to Ngong Ping. So, we decided to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui instead and stroll one last time. Good thing the hostel allowed us to check out later than usual at a fee (HK$20 per hour).

 

We visited the malls around the hostel. They were pretty much empty since most stores open at 11AM or 12NN.

 

 

Since it’s our last day, and we’d be heading straight to the airport afterwards, I wanted to wear something that would keep me warm if the airport (and airplane) would be chilly. I chose to wear this blouse my friend got for me in Bangkok, skirt, pink socks, and flats. I know I won’t be able to sport the socks+flats combo in Manila, so pagbigyan niyo na. Haha!

 

Studded blouse from Bangkok, Skirt and Flats from Forever 21, Bag from Longchamp, and Socks from Hong Kong

 

Picture below is my makeup loot from Hong Kong. I went gaga over the clothes, so I was able to buy few makeup items lang.

 

Left to right: Lash Perm Eye-long Mascara and Oh m’ Eyes Liner from Etude House, Liquid lipstick from LUSH, and Sheen Supreme Lipstick (in Insanely It) and Pro Longwear Lipglass (in Full Speed Ahead) from MAC

We had a late lunch at Paisano’s. We’ll surely miss this one-of-a-kind New York-style pizza! My parents and sister (Erika) are so funny in this picture!

 

 

Sadly, we had to leave to Hong Kong and end our vacation *cry*. The good thing about leaving Hong Kong is how easy and convenient to go to the airport. From our hostel in Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui, we crossed the street towards Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard. There’s a bus stop there, where Bus A21 (same bus from airport to TST) will pickup passengers going to the airport. Ain’t that easy???

 

 

We arrived at the airport at around 5PM, and our flight’s scheduled at 9:55 PM. I super love their airport! It’s really spacious, and there are tons of things to do there while waiting for your flight. This is such a convenience especially if your flight is delayed (ehem, delayed flight namin when my boyfriend and I visited Hong Kong last October. More on this later).

 

Goodbye, Hong Kong, and Hello, Manila!

 

 

I hope you guys enjoyed my first travel entry, which is my first trip abroad! I had so much blogging about this trip. You can check out my previous posts on day 1, day 2, and day 3!

 

Would love to hear from you!

Dianne

Technorati Tags: travel,Hong Kong disneyland,family,trip,abroad,Hong Kong,airport,airplane,fashion,shopping,H&M,Forever21,MAC,Lush,Etude House,Cotton On,Longchamp,Bangkok

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Hong Kong Day 3: Hong Kong Disneyland

We’re halfway through our week in Hong Kong already! You can check out my previous posts for day 1 & day 2, too.

 

For our third day in Hong Kong, we went to the happiest place on Earth: Disneyland!!! ‘Twas truly the highlight of our trip; well, at least for me, it was.

 

Anyway, just like our trip to Ocean Park, we wanted to get to Hong Kong Disneyland as the park opens (10AM). From our hostel, we walked to Tsim Sha Tsui station and boarded the train (Tsuen Wan Line) towards Tsuen Wan, which is around 17 minutes or 9 stops. We alighted at Lai King station, and rode the Tung Chung Line towards Tung Chung (around 11 minutes, 2 stops). Then, we walked to Sunny Bay station and rode the Disneyland Resort Line train. The travel time is around an hour. The fare is less thank HK$20; forgot the exact fare. Again, we used our Octopus Card.

 

Oh, a tip for you guys: you can also bring snacks and water into the park. Water costs HK$22 inside the park, but you can buy the same brand of water in 7-11 at only HK$3!!! So if you don’t want to spend so much money on water and snacks, you can bring your own water and candy.

 

 

The train’s design is absolutely gorgeous! The theme, obviously, is Mickey Mouse. Can you find the Hidden Mickey?? LOL! But yeah, the windows are in the shape of Mickey’s head. The plush blue curved sofas are really comfortable. Also, lots of Mickey décor adorned the train. Definitely picture-worthy!

 

 

HELLO, DISNEYLAND!!! Disneyland’s gate is a tourist spot on its own.

Hello Kitty top from Forever21, Highwaist shorts from Pull & Bear, heart-print tights from Hong Kong, and flats from Forever21

 

We also got our Disneyland tickets at Asia Travel because it’s cheaper. Tickets cost HK$390 (around Php2000) at the entrance, but we got our tickets at a lower price (forgot the exact price). Some hotels also sell Disneyland tickets at lower prices especially if you book with them, so do check out their rates as well.

 

Disneyland has 6 main areas: Grizzly Gulch, Toy Story Land, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Adventureland, and Main Street, USA. My favorite is Fantasyland, where Sleeping Beauty’s castle is located.

 

I enjoyed Disneyland more compared to Ocean Park. The rides are more child-friendly, less-extreme. Aside from the rides, there are loads of performances to watch, like Mickey’s PhilharMagic, The Golden Mickeys, and various Street Performances. Your eyes will drop with loads of things to see!

 

 

One of the highlights of the park is the Flights of Fantasy Parade everyday at 3:30 PM. It begins in Fantasyland near the entrance of Storybook Theatre. The weather wasn’t nice when we visited the park, so instead of having the Flights of Fantasy Parade, the visitors enjoyed Mickey’s Rainy Day Express Parade.

 

 

Aside from the rides, we also got to meet several Disney characters. Do check out Disneyland’s Daily Calendar, so you’d know where and what time to catch them. They were really nice and friendly! Such a fun experience to meet the characters we love since we were kids. Each character has an assigned photographer to take “official Disneyland photos.” But you can also give them your own camera for your own copy.

 

 

Disneyland also has lots of shops where you can buy gift items, clothes, and other knick knacks. My sisters and I bought matchy-matchy charm bracelets in memory of our Disneyland trip. Souvenir items here are a tad bit pricier compared to Ocean Park, but they’re too cute to pass. Oh, except for the Minnie Mouse headband, which is around HK$128 to HK$168 each.

 

Another must-see attraction is the “Disney in the Stars” Fireworks signify the closing of the theme park. At 8PM every night (9PM every Thursday until Saturday), watch the skies light up. This is best viewed on Main Street, USA. Crowds flock in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle minutes before the fireworks start, so be there earlier than 8PM to get good seats.

 

 

The fireworks display was truly beautiful! I got teary-eyed (hehe) while watching coz they’re just soooo pretty! I felt thankful to God to be able to experience this together with my family. Cheesy, eh?

 

 

The fireworks display lasted for about 15-20 minutes. Then, it was the closing of the park. We lingered for a little while at the shops at Main Street because we knew the lines at the MTR will be crazy long.

 

Three different train lines after, we were back at Tsim Sha Tsui. Our feet were too tired from walking for the past three days, but ‘twas definitely worth it.

 

‘Till next time, loves!

 

Love,

Dianne

Technorati Tags: 2013,abroad,travel,hong kong,hong kong disneyland,family,trip,outfit,ootd,fashion,forever21,pull & bear,longchamp,train,commute,fireworks

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Trip Down South

Last Saturday, my family and I headed down south for our last trip before the holiday break ends. We visited Paseo de Sta Rosa and Solenad at Nuvali.

Top from Topshop, Maxi skirt from SM Store, Bag from Charles & Keith, Shoes from Parisian

I have a love-hate relationship with maxi skirts. I feel so intimidated by it because I’m petite, and I don’t want to look any shorter. The trick for petite girls to make maxi skirts more wearable is to choose dainty prints, such as the one I’m wearing. If you choose to don solid colors, the color should be on the lighter spectrum. Choose pastels to get that girl-next-door vibe. In addition, the fabric should also be light. Think chiffon or light cotton fabrics. Avoid the heavy structured fabrics coz it will make you look heavier. I looooove this particular skirt (which was also 50% off at the SM Store; talk about a great deal!) because of its floral print. I also like the pleats, coz I think it made me seem taller. ;)

Paseo de Sta Rosa is an outlet store heaven. It has tons of outlet stores which will make one’s wallet whimper. Haha! More stores have been added in Paseo 3 & 4, so better check it out. I especially love the Bench Outlet, Nike Park Outlet, and Nine West Outlet stores. You can score items at 20% to 80% off the tag price! Great deal, huh?

Ooooh, my 4-month old Shih Tzu, Princess Kate, made new friends!! YEY! She was a good girl the entire trip! She was quiet during the trip to Sta Rosa, and she was asleep the whole time going home.



Next stop was Solenad at Nuvali. This is one of my favorite places to dine. I used to go here often in college, since ‘twas less than 20pesos away [before the SLEX toll hike happened!] from school. Perks of being “away” in college; you can stay out really late. LOL



Nuvali has two different “areas”: Solenad & Solenad 2. Solenad area has loads of restaurants to choose from! Favorites include Crisostomo’s, Conti’s, Yellow Cab, Claw Daddy, and, of course, Starbucks! I love the Starbucks branch at Solenad coz it’s really cozy! The interiors are also aesthetically appealing. In college, we used to visit this particular branch of Starbucks because it’s “conducive to learning.” [Echos lang. Gusto lang talaga gumala haha]

Solenad 2, meanwhile, contains lots of shops. Unlike Paseo de Sta Rosa, it doesn’t have much outlet stores. A few lang, like Payless, ALDO, Shoe Salon, and Stoked. Forgot the others, but yeah; you get the idea.





My mom LOOOVES Christmas a lot! Especially Christmas decors. So, when she found pictures of her friends and their families posing on a quaint Christmas village, she wanted to visit the place.



Apparently, it’s not a Christmas village; rather, the model houses of Brittany & Crown Asia were dressed up in Christmas themes (Candy Land & Santa’s Toy Box) especially for the holdays.





Here’s a picture of my adorbs puppy, Princess Kate! I think she’s too hot from spending so much time under the sun. Poor, baby!



Aside from dining at Solenad, there are activities that you and your family can enjoy. There’s a boat ride at the lake (Php30/head), bike around the area (bikes for rent at Php60/hr), enjoy a picnic (totally free!! Lots of “grass” to lay down on LOL), and feed Koi fish in the lake (Php15/packet of fish food). We chose to do the latter because the heat was totally unbearable, so we opted out the boat ride & riding a bike.



Sadly, wasn’t able to buy anything. I became more kuripot ever since Pixie Dust came to life. HAHA! But I enjoyed this last trip that we had. My cousins from the province really enjoyed their vacation. There’s nothing like spending the holidays with the family <3

How did you spend the last few days of the holiday break (and the first few days of the year)? Hope you had a blast, just like I did. ‘Till next time!

Love,

Dianne

Technorati Tags: family,love,fashion,topshop,SM Store,ootd,outfit,puppy,puppy love,Shih Tzu,paseo de sta rosa,nuvali,laguna,shopping,fish,koi,fish feeding,parisian,charles & keith

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