Hong Kong 4D3N

Hong Kong, the city that never sleep, always offers impressive tourist sight, delicious food and inimitable fashion things. Hong Kong people are helpful and friendly instead of rude.We would like to thanks for those Hong Kong citizens who help us along the journey!

Night View of Hong Kong

Heading to Hong Kong from Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Macau/ 外港碼頭/港澳碼頭.

One way to HK cost 166HK

Tips:

• Before buying ticket, confirm the location of your hotel in Hong Kong, whether it is located at Kowloon or HK island.
• Websites for the sailing schedule:
  http://www.turbojet.com.hk/en/routing-sailing-schedule/hong-kong-macau/sailing-schedule-fares.aspx

Tourist Spots:

• Pottinger Steets/石板街,historical street with granite stone steps which is rarely found in HK.
• Cental-Mid-Levels escalators/半山自动扶手电梯, if you are Running Man fans, it is definitely on your bucket list
• Starbucks, the typical Hong Kong style Starbucks. Why it is so unique? Because they provide Cantonese food style and drink. Located at Duddle Street.
• Duddle Street/都爹利街, it is famous for the last four gas lamp in the city. Another favorite filming location too. 
• You might wondering why Ding Ding Tram/叮叮车exist in this ultra-modern city. Don't be fooled, it is a great additional to HK. Ding Ding Tram only can be found in certain area and cost 2.30 HKD per ride, why not take a minute-long ride.

Cheung Chau/ 长洲

For visitors who want to escape from the skyscraper, bustle and hustle city, Cheung Chau is absolutely the closest thing you'll find.

Transport:Exit MTR from Central station A-Exit and walk thru the bridge. Heading another small distance to Central Ferry Piers, then go to 5th Pier/Cheung Chau. No need buy ticket if you have the Octopus card.

Website for sailing schedule:
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/tc/plan-your-trip/practicalities/transport/getting-around/ferries.jsp

Cheung Chau offers visitors from cycling, hiking, mouth-watering food and boat-visiting around the island. It is also a great place for family fun.

Cheung Chau is best know for Cheung Po Tsai Cave/张保仔洞.  Cheung Po Tsai was a pirate and the cave is the place to hide his treasure. The cave is relatively small and narrow, only allow one people to go in. All that and the scenery is breathtaking, believe me, I've been there, and it is one of the beautiful sea view i' ever visited!

Say Hi to Bruce Lee!

Avenue of Stars on Victoria Harbor 

Symphony of light, the famous laser lights and music show in Hong Kong happens everyday 8.00pm with 15 minutes showtime. Avenue of Stars is located at Tsim Sha Tsui/尖沙咀 on Victoria Harbor.

Transport: Exit from East Tsim Sha Tsui Station/尖東站 J-exit.

Say Amitabha to the Big Buddha!

Lantau Island

The cable car connects Tung Chung station and Ngong Ping Market/昂坪市集 with 5.7 km distance. From the top, we saw some people hike along the trails that lead through the old-growth forest. We shall try this next time if we have the chance!

The price is different for level of cabin, refer the website below for detail information.     http://www.np360.com.hk/en/

Tips:

• It is recommended for you to buy single trip cabin as you can visit other places and go back to Tung Chung by bus with a cheaper price. 
• There is no better time to visit Lantau Island than during weekdays.

Transport: Exit MTR from Tung Chung Line/东涌站 B-Exit and walk 5 minutes distance to the cable car station.

Get ready to see the wild and pinky dolphin at Tai-O/大澳 after the Big Buddha!

Tai-O/大澳

Tai-o proudly boasts its landscapes and preserved the old-folk houses throughout till present. Family business outnumber chain stores and the seafood! The village offers travelers looking for a relaxing holiday.

• Boat rate is 15HKD per person to seeing the pinky dolphin. 

Summary: 
Tung Chung -> cable car-> reach Ngong Ping Market/昂坪市集 - > visit the Buddha -> sit bus to Tai-O -> sit bus back Tung Chung.

Accommodation: 

Micro Hotel

Micro Hotel , with 240HKD per twin room.
Location: Alhambra Building, 385 Nathan Road, Jordan, Hong Kong/ 平安大厦，佐敦
Transport: Exit from Jordan MTR

Tips：

• Advise from genuine taxi driver in HK, avoid stay at Chungking Mansions, so called "unofficial African quarter of Hong Kong".It is not feeling safe for girls to stay at that area.

Food:

This website Open rice (http://www.openrice.com/en/hongkong/restaurant/index.htm) is useful for us for food searching.Please check it!

Cheung Chau/ 长洲 

Strongly recommend the bread at Cheung Chao, the homemade bread with reasonable price!

Hong Kong Food

• Cafe de Coral/大家樂 is famous chain stores in Hong Kong. Nice food and big portion is served!
• Kim Wah Cafe/金華冰廳, with the name of The best restaurant in Mong Kok, don't miss their signature dishes: Pineapple Bun/菠萝包, egg tart/蛋挞 and milk tea! Avoid come here during peak period (~2pm).
  Transport: Exit from Princess Edward B2 and walk 3minutes.
  Location: G/F, 47 Bute Street, Princess Edward.
• Australia Diary Company/澳洲牛奶公司， best know for its scrambled eggs and milk products. The waiters are extremely retro after we sit down 2 seconds, they left you no time for you to choose the menu in slow tempo!
  Transport : Exit from Jordan Station C2    
  Location: G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street

Hong Kong, definitely a place where you can eat until your tummy explodes. It is an amazing experience of a lifetime to visit here!

Transportation:

Buy a Octopus card at MTRs station and go wherever you want in Hong Kong. One card cost 150 HKD but only 100HKD is available for us to travel. Buses, MTR, ferries make navigating the city extremely easy and easy accessible. 

Macau 3D2N

Macau offers visitors and travelers an eclectic mix of sight. It surrounds with Europe atmosphere but not in Europe and making it picturesque travel destination. Thanks to the colonization  by Portuguese! Despite it is very small region in map, there is plenty to do and see in Macau.

Tourist spots:

Ruins of St Paul/大三巴

The iconic facade in Macau, original for the Ruins of St Paul is Church of Mater Dei. There are several stories surrounding this church which was created in 1604.
It is opened to public 24 hours but the museum is opened from 9:00-18:00.
No ticket is needed.

Located in the old town of Macau, we walked and searched the four beautiful colonial-style Portuguese architectures : St. Dominic's Church, Senado Square, Macau Cathedral and Ruins of St Paul.  In the same neighborhood, just behind the Ruins of St Paul, there is a historical Chinese temples.

Small tips: Free wifi in front of the Senado Square & Ruins of St Paul

Grand Lisboa/ 葡京

Macau is best known for its casino. For a such small region, Macau seems to have a lot of casinos- The No Way Out Playground. Even you are not a gambler, it is worth to visit. Just step in and see lavish decoration and experience how the high roller live.

The Venetian/威尼斯人

The Venetian, one of the popular place to visit. It is built based on the Venice sight. They provide gondola service if you want to seek another angle of the peculiar charm of the building.

*You might take a free shuttle bus provided by their hotel.

Macau Science Center, Fisherman's Wharf,  Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre

Fisherman's Wharf is a definite must if you' re looking for places for a taste of Rome in Macau. It is located by seaside and you can grab some best view of the "Rome". No ticket is needed. =)
Walking another short distance, we'll find Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre & Science Centre. 

Macau Tower & Pte de Sai Van

Taking public transport, we reached the Macau Tower, the world's highest bungee jump hails at 764 feet. Just forgive me, I am not that brave to play the game.

-The wifi in the tower is extremely strong and it is free. =)

Public transport info: 

Tips:
-Please keep small change for your public transport. 

-Macau Pataca is not user friendly even in Hong Kong. 

 But we can use HK dollar in Macau with ratio 1:1
-For some destinations, you might use the free shuttle bus to reach.
 Just set jetty or airport as transfer station to the places where located near to the hotel. 

Accommodation: 

Since this is our budget trip, we spent 2 nights at different level of hotels.

First night: Chan Heng Hotel/镇兴宾馆. 

-It costs us 550 Pataca per night. 

-It provides full of facilities and located at the old town area.

Last night in New Central Hotel/新中央酒店. 

-It just cost 290 Pataca per night with no wifi and hot water. 

-It just located beside the Senado Square.

-No booking is needed. They have a lot of rooms.

*FYI: The hotel prices is changing thru the day thus Friday and Saturday is more pricey.

Angkor Wat @ Siem Reap

Angkor Wat is the world's largest Hindu Temple. One of the best place of sunrise in the world and you will see the ultimate silhouettes of Angkor Wat.  However, every corners of Angkor Wat is the best spot for shooting too.

Second station: Angkor Wat @ Siem Reap

It cost  USD16 per person travel from P.Penh to Siem Reap

We are plodded along the country lanes from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Without any exaggeration, we had a free "body massage" and it took us around 7 hours to reach Siem Reap.

Tuk-tuk tour information.

There are plenty of tuk tuk drivers along the road side in Siem Reap and try bargain with them about the price. However, you may get cheaper price if you buy the tuk-tuk driver 3~4 days tour. No worry with the Khmer drivers, they are always humble, genuine and friendly.

We get our tickets with pictures spontaneously.

• 1day pass=20USD, 3days pass=40USD, 7days pass=60USD
• Visiting hours start from 5.30am till 5.30pm
• Keep your ticket carefully as it is needed for every visit in the park.
• Don't buy anything from anyone in Angkor Wat as a group of  people will do the same on you after that.

Angkor Wat and the stairs to heaven

Angkor Wat, the favorite ancient Asian wonders. The stone carving is ornate and intricate which is hugely impressive and beautifully preserved as it was many thousand years ago.

Tips to Heaven: long skirt or slack and sleeves on your top

Angkor Thom Bayon Temple, 高棉的微笑

Unlike Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple was built based on Buddhism. Four smiling face are carved on 54 gothic towers, so made 216  smiling faces of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and King Jayavarman VII.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm, the filming location for Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider movie. The significant and interesting feature for this warren-temple is how the gigantic roots of banyan trees wrapping themselves around the ancient building.
Tip: Discuss with your driver to avoid crowds to shoot amazing photos.

Neak Pean

"Neak" means dragon while "Pean" means pond. Neak Pean was built for medical and beauty purpose and there are four animals (elephant, bull, horse and lion) were designed faced to the center of pond.
Check out the scenery here while you are walking on the bridge.  The scenery of "Mirror of the sky " really made our day and you will start drooling over the stunning view.

The lake also provides the dock if you prefer boat visiting.

The way to Beng Mealea

If you're looking for an abandoned and ancient structures, Beng Mealea still plays hosts to a number of temple ruins and sculptures. It is located 40 km east from Angkor Wat and takes 3 hours to reach by tuk tuk. Ticket with USD 5 is bought before entering the main gate of Beng Mealea. With the good timing, we secretly followed the tour guide to explore the mystery of Beng Mealea. It is simply adventurous and quite the experience for Tomb Raider fans. 

Total expense (accommodation + transport+ food + flight)= RM1500
Days in Phnom Penh: 2D1N
Days in Siem Reap: 4D3N

Phnom Penh

There are many backpackers out there in search for the low budget （~RM1500)  tourist destination around South East Asia countries. For this time, I choose Cambodia as our gateway to the exotic area and thanks to the mystical and more exposure in Cambodia. Speaking of Cambodia, absolutely we will think about the Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat, one of the most incredible historic site in Asia.  The place where we can't even miss during this vacation.

Let's start our journey at Cambodia.


First station: Phnom Penh, national capital of Cambodia

Tuk Tuk: It cost us around USD 8 from airport to Eight8 Backpackers hostel

Warm reminder: When tuk tuk driver ask you whether want to go to bus station to buy ticket to Siem Reap, just say no. As you can buy it at your hotel. Else tuk tuk driver will charge you extra transport fee.

Independence Monument located at the centre of the city

The field in front of the palace

Due to certain reasons, we decided not to visit Killing Fields Museum of Cambodia where record the horrendous event happened from 1975-1979. Despites all that, we witnessed how the country regenerating itself from the devastating and traumatic event.

Morning Market & Central Market
And thanks to our friend as our tour guide.

The big markets: Central market and Russian market offer you a lot of things to buy. Shop for clothes, bags, souvenirs, jewelry, shoes, food and fruits. You may see how Khmer people goes along on their day to day life and feel the atmosphere at the market place.

• Russian Market: Mainly shop for pirated clothes, shoes and bag. You may bargain with the seller, price to bargain can go to 50% of the original price. Don't feel shy to bargain!
• Central Market: Mainly shop for fruits, food and clothes.

The irresistible food

Khmer Surin Restaurant

Cuisines in Cambodia really blow our mind. Enjoy popular dishes such as Amok, pineapple fried rice and vegetable spicy soup. Besides, we really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. The restaurant is well- decorated with Asia furniture and Khmer style. Besides providing us a true gastronomic treat, the restaurant also provide us the traditional music. You may enjoy the food while listening the music.

• One dish normally cost USD 5~7.
• Warm reminder: The portion of food is big, you may share it with your friends.