Lost in Hong Kong : City of Smog

Day 1: The City of Smog

A quarter before 9AM, we were all gathered outside our hotel in Natham Avenue waiting for our tour guide. The weather was perfect. It was cool and partly cloudy. The sidewalk was busy with people going to work. It felt like standing along the sidewalk of Ayala early morning. There was a magazine stand near the hotel entrance and I took a quick glance of the chinese versions of FHM, Maxim, Cosmo... too bad no Men's Health. I will certainly buy it even if I don't understand, y'know just for collection.

Avenue of the Stars, Waterfront

Bitoy arrived five minutes after nine and he led us to the bus. While the bus was rolling he told us our itinerary for the day. Our first stop will be the waterfront by the south bay of Kowloon facing Hong Kong Island. When we got there, it was a breathtaking site. It looked as if you're on Roxas Blvd but unlike it, in front of you is the coastline area of Hong Kong island and the endless stretch of tall buildings from east to west. Unfortunately the view was slightly obscured by a thick, dense fog. Eric corrected us that it wasn't fog but pollution. In addition, Eric told us that in 20 years, this waterfront will be gone since the this bay area we be reclaimed to accomodate more buildings.

Our next stop was the TSL, makers of world-class jewelry. It was a waste of time going here since we don't intend to buy jewelry, not to add that they are too expensive ranging from 50HK$ to 2000HK$. It's good that they have free sodas and tea so that you can have something to sip while oogling over the gold and the diamonds. Next we went to the factory outlet to buy our souvenirs. I bought a set of champoy, 3 boxes of milk tea and a Hong Kong souvenir shirt. They were also selling Disney products at a cheaper price but they don't look that good.

Noon: Disneyland

It was about 12NN when we finished shopping and it's time to go to Disneyland. We were all starving and we asked Eric if we could have lunch first before going to Disneyland but Eric said it would be better if we take our lunch in Disneyland to save time. So we endured 30 minutes of hunger as the bus rolled towards Disneyland back in Lantau Island.

It was really hot and humid, not to mention that we're all too hungry when we arrived in Disneyland. Everyone in the fam was quite in an irky mood so we took pictures quickly by the entrance and by the fountain where the water was blowing up from a whale's blowhole and Mickey Mouse was bobbing up and down on a surfboard. It was really cool. We got quickly inside, grabbed out maps and brochure guides and looked for the nearest fastfood along the Main Street. We found an italian resto and we got quickly inside. The food was quite pricey about 60HK$ and up but since we're too hungry we didn't mind spending a lot. We were entertained by the performers of High School Musical just outside in the Main Street.

Philharmagic

After lunch everyone was quite refreshed and was in the good mood. My sister was poring over her map checking the rides that we're going to take and the shows that we're going to see. We need to budget our time so that we can have time to see the fireworks display behind Sleeping Beauty Castle by 7:30PM. So first we went to the Adventure land and rode the boat for the Jungle River Cruise. It was quite nice seeing the fake elephants spraying us with water and the piranhas, the crocs and the giraffes. I apologize for the sarcasm but the cruise was quite boring. By the end of the cruise I was taken by surprise where we reached this area where there was a huge caved shaped like a giant frog and and the water srated to boil and fire was everywhere on the rocks and the water started to steam. Woah, this is what it should be. I just wish that they will have the earthquake effect that will capsize the boat next time. LOL.

We went next to Fantasy Land and our first stop was at Philharmagic. It was like IMAX but it is 4D since you also get to feel sensation like wind or water sprays. The show was a suite of memorable scenes in Disney Classics like Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, etc. It was nostalgic for me because I grew up watching Disney Classics, memorize the songs like Mickey Mouse Club, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Beauty and the Beast, A Whole New World, etc. It brought me memories of my "unadulterated" childhood. It was like 2:30 PM when the show was finished. Next we went to Mad Hatter's Tea Cups where we went got dizzy spinning and spinning making sure to turn the steering wheel full counterclockwise to spin us very fast. After te ride we went to buy some cotton candies, we met some of our fellow tour mates and asked to join us since they weren't really familiar with the how's and to's. Back in the Main Street, the Disney Parade was already starting, so we hurried to get into our places. It was just in time when we got there, Mickey Mouse through the years float was just looming into view and floats representing themselves came into view like Chip and Dale, The Disney Princesses: Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Little Mermaid (though she's a princess but she doesn't have feet so maybe a separate float was dedicated for her), Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie in Toy Story, and my favorite, experiment 626, aka Stitch, lastly the trail was the float of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto.

After the parade, everyone was tired standing, so it's time to give the oldies (my parents) to sit down and relax so we decided to take a slow ride. So we went to the Fantasy Land Train Station and rode the train that travels around the periphery of Disneyland. I'd expect the ride to be boring (read: not dangerous and heart-stopping) but surprises await you just around the corner: Mickey and Minnie Mouse would just appear and wave hello and those pesky little aliens in Toy Story would pop out and take pictures.

Donald Duck in Disney Parade

After about 20 minutes of train ride, it's time to do the extreme, so went to Tomorrow Land to ride the Space Mountain. When we got there, we were surprised that there was no queue by the entrance. I guess most people were chickened out to go on this ride. My father opted to stay outside because of bad experience riding this in Disneyland Anaheim, CA. He said he almost passed out after riding this one. My mom was quite adventurous so she joined us. When we entered, it was pitch black and there was a lone car waiting for us. So I and my brother jumped in as my mother and sister waited for the next car. As the car wheeled slowly into darkness, lights start to flicker from a distance and it felt as if you're traveling in space. I was mesmerized looking around and didn't quite noticed that we're slowly going up and it was by a jiffy that all go suddenly fast and felt ourselves zooming in every direction. By then, the view started to change and we encountered huge planets, stars and nebulae. The ride's highlight was the downward plunge, as a huge supernova blasted right before our very eyes which we realize later on that it was the flash from the camera to take pictures of us in our ugly expressions of fear and hysteria, for some, epilepsy perhaps... not to mention that they cost 90HK$ each. We bought them anyway.

All were very frantic as we went out from the Space Mountain. We'd like to ride one more time but my mother swore that she would never ride something like this again. For me, this is a less scary version of the roller coaster since you don't get too see if you're already looping up or going sidewards unlike in the "The Dragon", the roller coaster in Ocean Park. Next stop was at "The Golden Mickeys". We only have the slightest idea that it would be a mini production number featuring all Disney Classics through the years. We were just in time for the 5:15PM show as people were now allowed to enter the theater. The production was themed like an awards night as Bebe(one hot Chinese chick) goes onstage presenting awards for heroes like Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan in Tarzan, Mulan in Mulan, and romance scenes like Belle and the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Goofy comes in ruining the show (as he always does) and takes Bebe out from the show and brings her into his adventure. And suites from A Little Mermaid, Lilo and Stitch gave their huge shots. The show ended with the complete ensemble of the cast.

Lilo and Stitch, The Golden Mickeys

It was about a quarter to six when the show ended. We decided to have dinner early so that we can get good seats early on in the Main Street for Disney in the Stars, a fireworks presentation, making a spectacular backdrop of Sleeping Beauty castle. This also is the last main event in the park. By 7:00PM we got on Main and Street and found good seats. The fireworks display will start on 7:30 so set our cam to fireworks mode but unfortunately the battery was dead by that time.

Everyone was excited as the voice over announced the start of the fireworks display. Sleeping Beauty castle was bathed in colored lights as fireworks start to shoot upwards, orchestrated and in sequence. No words to describe it and I feel like I was back in my childhood, just experiencing this awesome wonder that dates back when my father used to bring Disney VHS every weekend. They could be a Disney Classic movie or cartoon series of Mickey or Donald Duck or The Merrie Melodies, Sing-along Songs. I can't help feeling nostalgic and lost in the memories of my childhood, innocent, wonderful and exciting, devoid of the complications of being an adult. I was in that moment for a while. After 30 minutes, all was over and I wished it would never end but it's time to go home. As we made our way to the exit, my bro and sis sang those old Disney songs and I'm quite surprised myself that I still memorize them, the ones like "Merry Un-Birthday" or "Mickey Mouse Club" and "It's a Small World".

As our bus rolled towards our hotel back in Kowloon, I told myself I will go back here some time in the future.

to be continued: Lost in HongKong : City of Ingenuity