On our 3rd and last day at Hong Kong, we went around Causeway Bay to try to do some shopping with the last HK Dollar that we still have before flying back home that night. It was still a bit early so the malls are still closed but some smaller stores are already starting to set up. 

Across Sogo Mall at the Lockhart Road side, hubby and I entered a compu-electronics stall called Sunlite. He inquired about a small tripod that can be used in tables. The store attendant was quite attentive and while paying, hubby also inquired for a battery grip with remote control for his Nikon D3100. However, like I said we were already down to our last HKD so we could no longer afford it with the remaining change we have. I tried to be honest and the store attendant made some computation. He remarked with a smile "no business", I think he was trying to imply that they wouldn't make any profit at all. But I honestly told him the change from the tripod is the only money left on hubby's shopping budget so after a few minutes the attendant asked for additional $10HKD to have a good "morning business". Buena mano I think is what he means. I reached out for my pocket and there was a $10HKD coin.

So we started laughing and the attendant introduced himself as Jack. While testing the items, he took a picture of us and said "maganda". The more we laugh because he said he knows "konti lang" Filipino words. In case you are within the area and want to score good deal with some camera accessories, try out Sunlite and look for the very friendly Jack.

Find them at the Causeway Bay Area
(Click the image to view larger picture)

In the previous post, I mentioned that the HK-Macau packages quotation of the different travel agencies are basically the same except for the hotel accommodation. So after reading hotel reviews in TripVisor, I decided to avail the package trip from GJM International which includes accommodation to The Emperor Hotel in Happy Valley Hong Kong.

Our 3-day trip is jampacked with activities, we basically reach the hotel every night by 12mn and wake up at 7am so other budget travelers might consider booking cheaper hostel but for us, we still prefer to go home to a nice-looking room at a reasonable price. So we are quite satisfied with the facilities in Emperor Hotel and here are some of the highlights of our experience:

• The location is 20 minutes away from Causeway Bay and 5 minutes walk to the tram station or terminal. This distance is quite acceptable except that when you are already tired from walking all-day the time could be longer.
• The bus and taxis are available in front of the hotel but we were not able to try out these one. Also, coming from Mong Kok you can ride Bus 117 but take note last trip is at 9:45 pm so if you are doing the Ladies Night Market you won't be able to ride it.
• There is a free hotel shuttle coach with routes going to Causeway Bay so check at the front desk for the times and reservation
• McDonalds and convenient stores such 7-11, K Circle, Market Place, Vingo are within 5-10 minute walk radius of the hotel
• The hotel staff are helpful but not too friendly compared to the hospitable Filipino hotel staff
• Allows guests to leave their baggage at the front desk during early check-in/out 
• Nearby landmarks are Happy Valley Racecourse or Jockey Club and from what we learned is that this is one of the most popular form of entertainment during Sunday where a lot of people come to watch and bet that allows them to earn billion of US Dollars
• Other landmarks are Hindu temple then our tour guide also jokingly pointed out the location of AIA Building (Insurance), the hospital and cemetery right beside each other.

Anyhow, The superior room is at 230 square feet which already includes the bathroom area. According to our tour guide the average unit for a family in HK is only 50-60 sqm and the price is not about the size but the location. Thus, there is no complaining to the hotel room size. On Day 1, I was disappointed to enter to 2 single beds in the room that I immediately called the front desk and informed that I booked for a double room. They explained that it was not noted during the booking however no need for us to change room number and they will  just change the bed during housekeeping the next day. True enough, we finally came home to a double bed in our Day 2. By the way, since the travel agency processed our booking, I actually sent an email directly to the hotel a week before our arrival to verify our reservations just to make sure.

Hope this review will be helpful to those looking for accommodation in the HK Island side near Causeway Bay. Also, several Filipino families were staying at the same hotel as well and here are some of the pictures of our room located at the 17th floor.

Gold kung gold ang mga fixtures 

Inside the room you will find the following: 

Choice of Double or Twin 

Private bathroom 

Electronic card keys 

in-room safe 

Individually controlled air conditioning 

Mini-bar 

Coffee & tea making facilities 

Cable TV with 39 channels and 2 radio channels 

Writing desk 

IDD telephone system 

Wireless broadband internet access 

Hair dryer  

Alarm clock

Manila, Philippines - Nowadays, budget Filipino travelers mostly opt for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tours in Hong Kong since the place has very efficient transportation system and tourist friendly. However, during the planning stage, Hubby prefers to get guided tour to maximize our time instead of getting lost. So several months ago, I contacted different local agencies here in the country to get quotations for their 3D2N Hong Kong with Macau Package tour for 2 pax. The itinerary are basically the same and the main difference is just the hotel accommodation.  After comparing their prices and getting hotel reviews, I decided to avail the service of GJM Travel & Tour Services. Their travel agent, Mhel, is quite responsive to inquiries and details. They also have several payment options and acceptable terms for the competitive price package.

Mhel Otalla

GJM TRAVEL AND TOURS

www.gjmtravelandtours.com

#122 DSM Arcade (in front of Robinsons Lucky Gold)Ortigas Ext. Pasig City

Contact Numbers: (02)547-5536; Telefax:  (02)625-3175

Mobile Numbers: (0928)3060205; (0927)9808386

Email: gjm_international@yahoo.com| info@gjmtravelandtours.com | Skype: gjm_international 

YM: mhel_gjm@yahoo.com

Office Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | Saturday and Sunday: by appointment

Hong Kong, China -- GJM was the one who hooked us up with their HK travel agency counter part which was Ann's Travel Service Co. Ltd. 

What I love about Ann's Travel team was how organized and efficient they were having more than 30s year under their belt, I have to say that their service is highly recommended. They were true to their company statement: to provide one of the widest selection of hotel web sites in Hong Kong with the best rates offered. Composed of teams of experienced travel professionals and its own fleet of private passenger coaches to ensure that all the guests have a memorable journey with us.

We met our assigned tour guide, Frank Chan, at HK International Airport Arrival Hall in our assigned picked up area. Immediately, Frank double checked with us the details of our stay and handed us our daily breakfast voucher for McDonalds. He also provided foreign exhange from Peso to HK Dollar at a lower price compared outside and offered us several optional tours for our Day 1 night activity (which we took since we were already planning to go there anyway). Frank has a good command of English so communication was not a problem. 

Tour Guide, Frank Chan

I believe one of the best benefit of availing guided tour is that you get to learn bits of information regarding the place you are visiting. Frank had a lot of stories and side comments while we were going around. I can't remember him not talking over the mic inside our bus. He points what to do and not to do mostly when shopping and how not to get ripped off as soon as we get off the bus.

Here is the sit-in-coach: clean, new and comfortable. Also, below are the rest of our tour guides and I hope I got their names right from L to R: Kelvin (with Frank) who takes pictures of the guests, Asmi our Victoria Peak tour guide who waves his little flag so we could see him during the night time among the crowd and John our Macau tour guide. John is from another travel agency in the Macau side but was also contacted by Ann's Travel. He has a slight Portuguese accent, loves Filipinos in Macau and even wants to get our natural tan (kayumanggi) color.

When deciding whether you want DIY or guided tour make sure you have a clear objective why you want to go to your destination. Obviously, HK is a shopping haven so if this is your main purpose, you can skip the guided tour. However, in our case we wanted to get familiarize with the other parts of HK so we did not mind going to the Aberdeen Village and the public beach. So learning about how the fishermen lives is quite interesting for us couple. 

Of course, there are also some cons for guided tour especially when you are in a budget because there are certain activities that you need to shell out some more for you to enjoy like $50HKD/head to ride a small boat called sampan to see the Jumbo Restaurant up close, $200HKD Souvenir Plate and Photo but if you are running low in cash just politely decline. Also, the lunch time could be a bit late than what we are used to since Pinoys like to eat especially when on vacation. This is not really a biggie to us but might be an issue for those travelling with kids. Lastly, sharing a bus with other guests could be time consuming for instance we were staying in Hong Kong Island and the others are from Kowloon Island. During arrival pick-up we were the last passenger in the bus and we got stuck in the Saturday traffic jam.

Overall, Ann's Travel Services will give you your money's worth. Licensed, up-front and no shady transactions.

If you are my Facebook friend and have been to Hong Kong, most probably you have tagged me in one of your photos of a cosmetic retail store that has the pink background with "Sasa" logo.  Surely, I don't mind being tagged. I can't blame you because you won't be able to help yourself since the Sasa store has these cute little branches practically in every street scattered around the shopping areas.

Facebook Tags

So in my last HK trip, I wanted to buy few trinkets from their shop as my pasalubong (gift from traveling) for the 2 girls in my work team. But I wanted something from "Sasa" line of products so it would have my name in it. Hihihi... Hubby and I did our shopping in Causeway Bay near the Times Square. Going around I saw one of their store that was much different from the rest - the signature pink color was combined with elegant gold background and reads as Sasa Supreme. My initial reaction was 'Why the Supreme?' as in Lucky Me Supreme Noodles I jokingly said. It is a famous instant noodles here in the Philippines.

But as soon as we entered the store, I kinda understood the idea why it was called 'Sasa Supreme' having very spacious aisles that stretches across two storeys of approximately 20,000 square feet. My second thought was 'Mahal ata dito'  (It might be too expensive in here) and worried because I was down to my last 100 HKD since it was already our last day in HK and was about to fly back home that night. But everyone is so friendly greeting us and the place is just quite inviting so I decided to go around while Hubby sat on the couch in the lounge area and connected online through their free wifi since he is already tired from all the walking.

I was able to find something for the girls and one lipstick for myself from Sasatinnie line. While paying in the cashier a very nice lady approached me and asked what I thought about the store. Suprisingly, she is actually the Director of Training and People Development, Mary Suen. Later, one of the branch Supervisor also introduced herself as May Leung. 

We chatted for a while and from them I learned that the 'Sasa Supreme' in Leighton Road, Causeway Bay was launched only last August 2013 and actually the very first lifestyle concept store. According to their official press release in their website, not only that it house prestigious beauty brands but the shop in itself is a beauty luxury-leisure hotspot. Just check out the Sasa Supreme sections below:

It is truly a one-stop shop for the women and even men who wants a day of pampering and shopping. Here are some more photos from their website photo gallery.

Elegant Facade

Counter

Cafe inside the store

Lounge Area

Many thanks to Ms. Mary and Ms. May for taking time to chat with me. More power to 'Sasa Supreme' and see you again in my next visit!

Sasa Supreme Location Map

I am way passed my narcissistic phase when Instagram became I big hit. But what do you do when you are on out of the country business trip and just made a quick sight seeing alone? Last resort was to take selfies!

Selfie by definition is a self-taken picture mostly at arms length. It is quite easy to do this nowadays since most of the phones have front and rear camera. Anyhow, here are a dozen of my selfie mostly at Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong last February. I know, none of of them are flattering but just for fun I am sharing it with you.

The clock tower

Giant Lantern

"She" Statue, Avenue of Stars

Bruce Lee

Avenue of Stars

Victoria Harbor

All the more reason why I wished hubby was able to go with me in this as he takes good photos during our travel. Will surely comeback to HK with him.

I was ecstatic to hear the news that I will be part of the two teams who will go on for an onshore assignment. I quickly thank the Lord for answering yet another of my faith goals this year. It was awesome!

But when the travel dates were confirmed, it dawn on me that I won't be here for my hubby's birthday... a first for both of us after 15 years. Though he was sad when he heard this part of the news, he was still very supportive. So I had to make major bawi with some pre and post birthday celebration.

My last Friday Night before leaving, dinner at YakiMIX Alabang Town Center

Early morning flight NAIA Terminal 2

'Happy Birthday' via Skype

Birthday Giftssssss - Camera Bag, Starbucks Hong Kong Tumbler, Casio Edifice watch and jacket

Tamrac Camera Bag

Lunch at Mann Hann Market Market Taguig

Whew!!! Yung per diem ko napunta na lahat para makabawi lang for missing out on his actual birthday. Joke hahaha! 

Me: "Ayan ha, bawi na ko sau. Kse kung andito lang ako on your actual birthday - isa lang ang gift mo at isa lang yung kain natin sa labas"

Hubby: "Alis ka ulet next year sa mismong birthday ko ha!!!"

But for being such a loving and kind husband, you are definitely worth it... Praise God for your life and may He continue to use you for His glory.

Hi Lovelies!!! I just got back yesterday from my two-week business trip to Hong Kong. Quite an experience I have to say but I truly thank God for this career opportunity. I'll be definitely going back but next time for leisure and I won't be leaving hubby behind anymore. Hahaha!

So for the first of my HK series, I'm featuring Harbor Plaza North Point Hotel located at Quarry Bay Hong Kong. I especially love going home from work to a neatly clean and made up room every night. So thank you very much to the housekeeping I always get a good night sleep.

Request either WIFI or Broadband Wired Connection | One Device per Room Only

2 Complimentary Bottled Water Daily

 Now let us take a peek at the bathroom.

 

My business associates and I enjoy the breakfast buffet daily before riding the complimentary shuttle bus that takes us to our office.

Must have Meal Stub

There are a lot more food being served kaya lang medyo nahiya naman akong picturan lahat. Basta you get the idea na. The only downside is they have the same menu daily so if you are staying for a while, just get from one station per day so you could have a variety.

Hotel Restaurant - Green

Harbour Plaza North Point
665 King's Road North Point Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2187 8888

Perks:

In front of a Starbucks and convenient Store

Few walks from MTR - Quarry Bay Station

Within Hong Kong Business District

Complimentary Shuttle Bus with scheduled route

English Newspaper