Remembering my very first day in Hong Kong

EXT. ARTHUR STREET, YAU MA TEI, KOWLOON, HK. NIGHT

a disheveled girl carrying a big travel bag walking around confused. She's now in front of a nondescript mini hotel called The Bridal Tea House. She's holding a map and hopelessly mimes infront of a confused China boy. She's insisting that she has a reservation at this hotel. But in one last irritating shake of the head, the China boy dismisses her and closes the door. 

Yep. That was me. How did it happen?

First and foremost, I woke up at 7 am to ride a 7 am flight. I re-booked my trip to a 4 pm flight because no one can damn stop me from going to Hong Kong. Failed to activate the roaming service. Well catually I activated the roaming service but I got confused because my call doesn't complete. And only later that I found out that the roaming service I activated works on only text messages.

So anyway, I went to the flight alone. And then when the plane landed I talked to the airport staff and asked where my hotel in Nathan Road is located. They told me that it was in Kowloon, in Yau Ma Tei exactly... after so many miming and big actions. 

So I took a train from the airport and alighted at Yau Ma Tei. Once there I took the taxi and the driver had to contact a translator told him to go to Arthur Street near Nathan Road.Only to find out later that my friend is not checked in there! And with great strength of chiming and charading, asked receptionist call every branch - 6 branches in Kowloon! But to no avail.

So I wandered the streets of Yau Ma Tei alone in search of a place to stay the night! I couldn't contact my buddy to prove that I am reserved at the Bridal Tea House. And heck I am not even sure that it's the same Bridal Tea House in Hong Kong since the damn hotel has six branches in Kowloon alone!

So I had no choice. I checked in at New King's Hotel (which is only two blocks away from Bridal Tea House Yau Ma Tei) for a double bed overnight stay alone since I came in at a later flight. I was scared and alone and unsure of what to do...I went down and walked. observed them Chinese, small talked with a guy and drank a bottle. Took a drag or two.

In the morning, I got up early to find a cheaper hotel for my stay, in case I never get to meet with my buddy. In my head I knew I will never be able to see my buddy in our entire trip to Hong Kong, that our vacation is ruined, so I had to accept the fact that I will have to travel alone.

So at 8 am, I left my baggage at the hotel, determined to find a cheaper hotel before I check out. I was roaming around until I saw a familiar face at the backstreets of Nathan Road --- my travel buddy! Apparently he is staying at the Bridal Teahouse Yau Ma Tei - the same hotel I inquired the night before. Obviously communication barriers was the reason why the receptionist did not let me in the hotel.

Top 30 things about Hong Kong (part 1)

 

a capsule of what I have experienced during my 7 day stay in Hongkong last November 2008. 

It was one fun stressful but fun and adventurous trip! EVENTFUL being an understatement!Here are things I will never forget about this trip:

1. Come prepared whenever traveling abroad. My friend and I opted to stay in Kowloon, Hong Kong. He was the one who arranged the trip - from the Cebu Pacific flight to our residence in Bridal Tea House in Yau Ma Tei even to the itinerary. I know I was a bit of a brat or really busy (I was writing for a TV series during this time) that I was totally unprepared. I was not able to activate the roaming service and I did not have an address or a copy of receipts for the hotel where I was supposed to be staying. Why am I harping on this? It's because I should ...

2. Never be late…at all times, especially during flights. Our flight is seven in the morning and I came from a writing lock-in at Linden Suites in Ortigas Philippines. The writers went home at two am...so naturally, I overslept! I promised my friend that I'll be at our meeting place at four am for the flight but I woke up at exactly seven am, saw my mobile phone which had 40 plus messages and missed calls!

3. The Hong Kong MTR is oh so efficient! People don't care that much about each other so if you're a lone traveler, the MTR and Hong Kong won't put you out of place. 

4.  I loved H and M. I heard of the brand before because of the unique and quirky-cool accessories. Perfect! I made a promise to myself to shop for finds that are cheap and cannot be bought in the Philippines.

5. In Hong Kong, you have wake up early because you'll have time to do a lot of stuff and travel and see more places! Because there are a lot to see in Hong Kong!

6. Be friendly to the locals and to other foreigners. Traveling is about meeting people and knowing each and everyone's background. Traveling is enriching the soul. On our third night we met Mimi, a Cyprus-ian. Here's what happened. It was in Mes a Mes bar in Tsim Sha Tsu. My friend got a pint of beer from the bar and I got a champagne flute...just like what this white girl who is sitting on the bar ordered. So she looked at us and then voila! conversation sparked! My friend and I learned a lot from her. She introduced us and me in particular with the concept of TRAVELING er, BACKPACKING ALONE...which was a scary scary thought at the time (November 2008).  She used to think money over matter until she traveled to Goa, India alone where she was able to soul search...and where she found her center and real purpose...which is to travel!

7. Whatever you feel like, just do it. At the end of the day, whatever your choice it’s your decision, so you couldn't really blame anyone.




8. Take a lot of pictures, every step of the way! Since it's my first time abroad I took a picture of anything and everything! And why not? Traveling is about making memories.

9. Always think: it could get worse.really. This was what i was thinking my first night in HK =) Really. Crappy things happened which made me appreciate good things! keep 'em coming! I realized too that I can survive Hong Kong, even alone, for a day at least .I learned that in Hong Kong, the city feels for you. It will comfort you. Like when I was in New King's Hotel in Yau Ma Tei alone. The place looks familiar yet strange. But somehow, traveling gives one perspective...that it's not so bad, that Hong Kong is not too far from home =)




10. Chinese guys can be cute too! Chinitos (Chinese guys) aren't my type. but there's this one guy at Mc Donald's Admiralty Branch (after our shopping session in H and M) who looked really cute. I bet he was a college dude. I never mustered a breath in trying to talk to him. I just gawked. Damn.




11-20 things about Hong Kong on my next post! 




Click for the top 30 things about Hong Kong (part 2)
Click for the top 30 things about Hong Kong (part 3)