This travel post may be a bit late, well, very late, a year late, and have forgot some price and time details but still worth the share. Here’s for another budget travel adventure.
I will describe this adventure as sleepless nights in Macau and a magical tour in Hongkong. We arrived at Macau Airport on November 4, 2012 at 9:30PM. Considering the boarding time for the ferry terminal the next day (which is 4AM) and thinking that we can survive the challenge of not sleeping in Macau and staying up all night touring the Las Vegas of Asia, we did not book any hotel.
I will describe this adventure as sleepless nights in Macau and a magical tour in Hongkong. We arrived at Macau Airport on November 4, 2012 at 9:30PM. Considering the boarding time for the ferry terminal the next day (which is 4AM) and thinking that we can survive the challenge of not sleeping in Macau and staying up all night touring the Las Vegas of Asia, we did not book any hotel.
DAY 1: Macau at Night By 10:00PM we were able to check-out and have our passports stamped by the Macau immigration. Outside the Macau airport, there are free shuttle buses going to the famous Venetian Macau. There are also free shuttle buses offered by the other hotels and casinos you may choose from, but since we arrived in the evening it would be safe to wander around Venetian and the casinos nearby. Plus you can leave your luggage at Venetian Macau for free. On the road, I was giddy and excited with Macau’s grandeur buildings and its fascinating lights attracting my still very awake senses but our stomach that time wasn’t cooperating well, hence we decided to eat at the Venetian’s food court. We decided to roam around the Venetian, bet a few, took some photos to pass some more time but the night was still young. We decided to go to the nearby casino, Galaxy Macau, and did the same activity. My energy was depleting but the tea at the casino was good enough to keep my senses awake but we still have 3 hours to survive the no hotel booking challenge. We took a cab to the City of Dreams to make use of the time we have to tour the Vegas of Asia. Some lights were off, some fountains were not flowing anymore and my eyes are having their bags. We head back to Venetian, and I, being hungry again, thanked the heavenly gods of Macau as Starbucks is still open. Yes! *high five, bro fist* We survived! |
DAY 2: Hong Kong
We left Venetian at around 4AM to the Ferry Terminal. Since there are no shuttles yet, we went there by cab. The terminal was quite packed already when we came. We bought our tickets, boarded by 6AM, departed Macau by 7AM and arrived at Hong Kong by 8AM. The ride was only an hour of ferry from Macau to Hong Kong. We got out of Hong Kong Ferry Terminal by 9ish as we ate still ate at Mc Donald’s to have another breakfast. Outside the Hong Kong ferry terminal is a view of the usual Hong Kong: busy street, busy people and us, the lost tourists. As per experience, it’s nice to get lost on a foreign country; you’ll get to know the streets and the locals more. And I believe I did. We booked an inn somewhere at Tsim Sha Tsui called Yiu Fai Guest House. The guest house is conveniently located near Tsim Sha Tsui station and is just a 15-minute walk from the ferry terminal. Well, ours became a 30-minute walk due to loss of sense of direction (first time at HK at map wasn’t cooperating, blaming this to the map) and our walk was not Hong Kong style walk that time (Hong Kong walk – brisk/fast walk). Since we have not had a good sleep yet, we took a shower, an hour of nap and went to The Peak to experience the famous tram, the peak itself and the Madam Tussaud’s wax museum. The tram goes through a railway heading to the peak. It runs with a slow speed but there would be instances that the tram needs to stand for about 45 to 50 degree angle. It’s quite a thrilling ride especially on the way down from the peak. The Peak tour ended at 3PMish and went back to the guest house at 4PMish to re-charged ourselves. We then went to the Avenue of Stars, Clock Tower and watch the Symphony of Light. There’s nothing really much in here especially if you already have seen Singapore’s lights and sounds show at the Marina Bay but it’s still worth adding to the list of the must-see at HK. We still have plenty of time so we rode the MTR and went to Mongkok to do some shopping. Mongkok is a long walk, a long walk of shops selling authentic brands and Class A, B, C, D to Z items. Since Mongkok, the long walk, was tiring, we just rode the cab all the way back from the guest house, plus it was already 12MNish. |
Day 3: Disney Land
DISNEYLAND! No tourist leaves Hong Kong without going to the happiest place on earth. Disney Land is very accessible, from Sunny Bay Station interchange to the MTR going to Disney Land. The MTR ride itself makes you feel very excited as the train is Disney designed - with Disney characters and lots of hidden Mickeys. The rides at Disney Land are mostly for kids, while Universal Studios Singapore offers better exciting rides; though Toy Story Land is operational at Disney on the time of our visit, still, USS is far better in terms of rides. By the time of this writing, the areas and attractions that are being constructed at Disney might have been finished and is operational. USS might have better rides but at Disney Land, the magic stays with you! The magic might be because of the parade float or the dreamlike fireworks show or just because it’s Disney. I tell you this, do not leave Disney Land without watching the fireworks performance. It’s just spectacular! | |
DAY 4: Macau at Day
Day 4 was just the vice versa of our Macau-Hong Kong ferry ride. But this time from, our guest house, we were able to go to HK ferry terminal the 15-minute Hong Kong walk style, proud to say, with our luggage with us. Very tourist look. LOL We went straight to Venetian to leave our bags and tour Senado Square, St. Paul Ruins and more casinos (Wynn and Grand Lisboa). The Senado Square pretty has a lot of tourist than I expected. Never part ways with your group especially if you have no phone connections or if you plan to separate make sure you have a meeting place. From Senado Square you may walk your way up to the St. Paul Ruins. You won’t get lost since there are signs plus there are also many tourists doing the walk to the ruins. There are a lot of souvenir shops as well at the Senado Square. After Senado Square, we went to Grand Lisboa, and then to Wynn hotel and casino; then from Wynn there are free shuttle buses back to Venetian. We got our bags, rode the free shuttle to the airport and checked-in. | |
Cost
The trip was certainly one of my most budgeted travel; taking opportunities of the free shuttles of the casinos and not to forget the survival of a-night-of-no-hotel-booking. The travel at first was a bite off more than I can chew, as no one from our group have been to these lands, but surely, if you’re having fun along the journey, it just turns into a luscious piece of cake.
COST PER HEAD
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*The amount is computed in Philippine Peso. Your expenses may vary depending on your appetite; where you shall be dining at and the things you will buy. There are less than Php150 meal enough to fill your hungry stomachs and this may lessen your expenses. Also I bought several souvenirs and a few Christmas gifts, nevertheless, I believe 15k is enough.