I never imagined that Hong Kong would be the destination of my very first trip abroad. The thought of visiting a vibrant and culturally rich place was beyond my wildest expectations.

We were at NAIA Terminal 3 with my companion. Our hearts were racing with excitement as we passed the immigration and final security check. As we boarded the plane, the reality of our upcoming journey began to sink in, filling me with exhilaration and nervous anticipation.

Fast forward…

Our plane landed at Hong Kong International Airport. The smells, sights, and sounds aren’t familiar to me now—the conversations I heard are in Cantonese and English; the signage became visible in Chinese and English characters; and the people—I know they are not my fellow countrymen. I realized I was no longer on familiar grounds. The bustling energy of the airport was overwhelming, with travelers from all corners of the world rushing to their destinations.

As I navigated through the crowds, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation for the new experiences that awaited me in this foreign land.

We took the airport train heading off to the immigration. The officer did not stamp my passport. He gave me an arrival card. Then many things came fast: we got our luggage, ate our dinner at McDonald’s inside the airport, and bought our Octopus Card for HK$150.

The Octopus Card is a reloadable transportation card that would be used for all our transportation needs in Hong Kong. We took the City Flyer A21 double-decker bus to our guesthouse at Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui at Kowloon. The double-decker bus has CCTV, free WiFi, and a luggage rack.

Hong Kong is one of the most progressive and rich countries in Asia. Their mode of transportation is very efficient, clean, and very travel-friendly too. The bustling city is full of glitz and glamour, and its busy streets are full of everyday people rushing—both locals and tourists. We reached Golden Crown Guesthouse in Tsim Sha Tsui safely and were so tired. Ours is a single room good for four people with a private bathroom, TV, free WiFi, and hot and cold drinking water.

Our hotel’s location is great. It is near the MTR stations, restaurants, shopping areas, and many tourist-walkable attractions. The point-to-point double-decker buses to the airport passed by here.

DAY 2: SPENDING THE DAY IN DISNEYLAND

We left our guesthouse at 8:30 AM, had some foreign currency exchanged, and looked for something to eat. We tried the dried seafood noodles and a milk drink for HK$20 at the food stall near the street, and it wasn’t bad.

Before we went to Disneyland, we stopped by the serene Kowloon Park. We saw a lot of middle-aged ladies doing their morning exercises. And the flamingos in the garden are so cute! We went towards the famous Avenue of Stars, where they honored Hong Kong superstars like my favorites Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

We took the MTR Tung Chung Line from Kowloon Station to Sunny Bay, then transferred to the Disneyland Resort Line. Disney characters have been a part of my childhood years. I never thought of meeting them at this age. Meeting them in person was a dream come true and brought back so many happy memories from my youth.

Like, how come I never had this in mind before? The nostalgia and joy I felt at Disneyland were unparalleled, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to relive those cherished memories. It truly is a place where dreams come true, and I can’t wait to visit again in the future. I wanted to meet the Disney characters; that’s why I am so excited and eager to go to Hong Kong Disneyland.

After the Flights of Fantasy parade, which lasted an hour, we were hungry and decided to grab something to eat. We went to this coffee shop, bought some mint chocolate and an egg tart, and continued our way to Tomorrowland for a ride.

It was already past 9 PM when we found ourselves on a packed train heading to Mong Kok after the fireworks display. We were exhausted but happy after such a fun day at Disneyland. From Disneyland Resort Station, we headed back to Sunny Bay Station (Tung Chung Line), interchanged at Tsuen Wan Line, and then went to Mong Kok Station.

Mong Kok is a place known for its lively, loud, and colorful night market, mostly selling souvenirs at cheap prices. It reminded me of our very own “Divisoria,” where some vendors kept on chasing passersby to buy their items. The bustling atmosphere of Mong Kok was a stark contrast to the magical tranquility of Disneyland, but it added another layer of excitement to our day.

Despite the late hour, we couldn’t resist exploring the vibrant night market. We settled in a small restaurant (that I even forgot the name of) and ordered something to eat. The food was pricey. I ordered a hot bowl of beef noodles to satisfy my great hunger.

The broth was rich and flavorful, with tender slices of beef and chewy noodles that hit the spot. Despite the higher prices, the quality of the food made it worth it for a satisfying meal. After some little shopping, we hopped on the train back to Tsim Sha Tsui and called it a day. We were exhausted but happy to have explored so much in just one day.

*I traveled to Hong Kong on November 01 – 05, 2017 with my friends. This adventure wasn’t just a vacation; it was the beginning of a journey of exploration, learning, and unforgettable experiences out of the country. This is a migrated/re-posted blog*