Cebu Pacific's 10 - 10 - 10 Seat Sale [Update: Promo ended]

      In a few minutes, Cebu Pacific's Systemwide Seat Sale this 10/10/10 will start.  Here are the details:

Hong Kong Adventure - Last Day in Hong Kong Riding the Tram and the Star Ferry

  

     After our Shenzhen adventure, we went back to Hong Kong via train to Hung Hom and the MTR going to Nathan Road.  I didn't eat dinner anymore.  Well, I was so tired anyways. After resting for 30 minutes or so, I took a quick shower then I retired for the night; I don't sleep without taking a bath whenever I spend a whole day outdoors.

     The following day, we checked-out early, before 12 p.m., because we were planning to ride the tram around the city and do some last minute-shopping.  We knew that we would not be able to return to the hotel before our check-out time.  We left our luggage at the hotel considering that we have to return there for our bus pick-up going to the airport.

     We ate lunch at Kanamizu in TST, near the MTR exit.  I had their saba set meal, and I took a picture of the cute guy who was preparing the sushi at the conveyor.  Heehee.  After lunch, we headed to the Star Ferry terminal.

     We walked quite a distance to the Star Ferry from our hotel.  I like walking, and I rarely get tired from walking.  But see, the sun and the heat are not my friends; they can turn me from fab to wasted in a couple of minutes.  Well, when we finally reached the station, I was a mess.  Thank god for the huge ventilating fans at the waiting area!

     After a few minutes, the ferry arrived.  There weren't many people; after all, it was lunch time already.  The view, as always, was great. A little foggy, but still great.  We alighted at Central and set out the daunting task of finding the tram station.

     We found a tram station alright, somewhere in Central, but only after asking people where we could find it.  Again, please learn from my experience: research and preparation are really important.  Getting lost or walking too far a route will just waste your precious time.

     And so, we queued at the tram stop and we were able to ride a jam-packed tram.  You enter from the rear and you exit at the front.  For a fixed price of HKD 2.00, I stood on the second floor as there was no more room on the first deck.  The tram was so narrow. A couple of times, I almost lost my balance.  I was standing near the stairs so I was afraid that I might fall down.  It was an experience nonetheless.  I was able to get a seat two stops before alighting at Sogo, Causeway Bay. 

     Although it was a weekday, Sogo was teeming with people; shoppers everywhere!  It was such a busy place; so busy that we didn't stay for long.  Besides, it was almost time for our bus to pick us up.  This time, we returned to the hotel via the MTR.

     Back at the hotel, we scoured the nearby Sasa for treats and souvenirs for our family and co-workers.  By 5 o'clock, the bus going to the airport picked us up.  I was so happy because the driver had Totoro plushies and tissue holder on the bus.  Definitely a fan of My Neighbor Totoro, like me.  

     Finally, it was time to leave Hong Kong.  I was tired, but I was happy.

Shenzhen Adventure (Part III) - Splendid China and the Dragon and Phoenix Show (with videos)

     

     After going to two factories, the guide told us that she'll accompany us for some shopping.  We told her that we'd like to avail of their services for Splendid China so we'd see the performances later at night.  Touring with them wouldn't be cheap.  They charged us RMB 280 per person inclusive of the ticket for the show.  I know that the entrance is RMB 120, so, assuming the show is RMB 50 for VIP seats, the tour company raked in around RMB 110 per pax.  We'll I don't know if our tickets were VIP because, if not, general admission tickets should have been free. But we're in the middle section, very near the stage, and it was reserved by our guide beforehand, so what do we know? 

     Anyway, what matters is that we had a tour guide who led us to significant places to visit during our short period of roaming around the park.  And we had a chauffeur-driven van.

     According to our guide, the park is divided into two: the wonders of China (I made that description, I forgot how she said it), and the ethnic tribes of China.  We can only choose one because each part would take two hours to visit, and it was 4:00 p.m. already.  We chose the wonders of China.

     Having a tour guide really helps.  They know where to take you the easiest way possible.  We had an expedited wonders of China tour, and she said it was only a third of it.  We got to see the Potala Palace, the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Xian warriors, and many, many more.  The tour guide told us  the names of each sight we visited but I wasn't paying attention, so there. 

     I know, I know.  I'll be in Beijing in two months' time for a six-day trip.  Yup, I'll get the chance to see the Forbidden Palace, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and of course, the Great Wall of China, among others, for real. But it's still a treat to see these sites' mini-me versions, reminds me of  the former Nayong Pilipino  near the NAIA terminal 1 airport my family used to visit when I was just a little girl.

 

 

     It was nearly nightfall and our much-anticipated activity was about to start.  The highlight of the day: the Dancing of the Dragon and Phoenix performance.  The outdoor theater was packed with Japanese and Indonesian tourists; the stage was huge, and so was the video screen.  We settled in our seats early, and there were security people present to usher guests to their seats.  The video screen was playing snippets of the parks three performances: the Oriental Apparel (or something), the Horse-back Battle, and the Dragon and Phoenix  Show.  I have a video of the Horse-back Battle below (people around us were noisy):

   

     The Dragon and Phoenix Show? It was spectacular!  It had everything: comedy, dancing, folklore, customs and traditions, acrobatics, beautiful people and colorful costumes, fire, water, lanterns, flowers, dragon dance, battle scenes, weddings, feasts, horse-back riding, sheeps, and of course, magnificent fireworks, among others.  For one hour, I was transfixed by the show.  Suddenly, I felt that my RMB 280 was worth it.

    An excerpt from the show:

Shenzhen Adventure (Part II) - Luo Hu Border to the Window of the World, Lunch and Factories

  

 

     You'll definitely get a different vibe once you step outside of the border.  Immediately, the pace gets slower, really, no joke.  And it seems that there are less people milling around; the place is almost sleepy.  Well, it was 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon already, so, perhaps, the people were taking their siesta.

     We, on the other hand, were feeling famished and started eating the bread we bought at the Lowu station while walking with our guide.  She lead us across the Luo Hu Commercial Center, into the almost deserted parking lot, and then to an overpass going to the main street (see pic below).  Apparently, our van was waiting for us there.  The guide told us that she'll be taking us to lunch, which was included in the tour, but we had to stop by the Windows of the World for some picture taking.  One shot would be free, and the others, optional for a fee (they'll print your photo onto a plate, like in the Hong Kong city tour).

     Our guide was friendly and informative.  She told us a brief history of Shenzhen, how the city differs from Hong Kong, why Hong Kong people are starting to buy condos in Shenzhen, about the border crossings, etc.  Of course, she told us about the sights worth exploring in Shenzhen.

     After some twenty minutes or so, with no traffic, we finally reached the spacious grounds of  the Window of the World. We only took pictures outside. But what we saw was beautiful, and though the Eiffel tower's just a replica, it's still huge.  We headed for lunch after taking pictures under the scorching sun.  It's summer after all.

     The lunch we had was a feast.  There were four dishes, a soup, watermelon for dessert, and the hot tea was flowing (by the pitcher).  It's definitely tasty.  The restaurant services tourists by the busloads.  Guess dining is part of the tours in Mainland China.

     The tour guide told us that we're going to two factories, and since we opted to join the tour, going there is compulsory.  Of course, we know why this tour was just for free and optional.  You'll never get around to see anything at all.  If you do, it'll be very little and the time it'll eat, a large chunk.  You'll be ushered into factories whether you like it or not.  Anyway, that's what tours usually do.  When I go to Beijing and join a tour, it'll probably be the same.  The tour companies need to earn money, right?  Anyway, just don't buy at the jade or jewelry factory.  Most likely, it'll be fake.  Jade and gold jewelry at dirt cheap prices?  Nah.  Remember, real gold is never cheap; on the other hand, gold-plated and costume jewelry is cheap.    Anyway, we asked our tour guide about the items inside the factories and she told us that they call it gold but it's not the gold that we know.  She might be referring to gold-plated jewelry. So buyers beware.

  

Updating my Travel Entries

     

     I'm in the process of checking and re-checking my blog for errors.  I'm also re-uploading pictures, and adding some new ones.  I started this blog a couple of months ago not knowing how to post and edit pictures.   In fact, I didn't even know how to post and edit my entries.  I'm so technologically-challenged.  Please bear with me.  

     Thanks for reading my blog!  I hope you find some information somewhere along the lines. ;-)

Just Dance! Cebu Pacific's Dancing Flight Attendants

     Who says the in-flight safety demo is boring? [Raises hand].  I've flown quite extensively internationally  for vacations, and locally, especially in 2008 till the early part of this year, because of my job. I usually take the Cebu Pacific flights; they're cheaper if you buy tickets during their seat sales.  Well, the first time you ride a plane, you watch the demo with a hawk's eye, but as you fly more often, it gets boring, then, so so so boring, to the point that you don’t pay attention to it at all.

     But then again, Cebu Pacific makes the safety demo interesting.  Their flight attendants are keeping with the beat to Lady Gaga's Just Dance and Katy Perry's California Gurls while demonstrating the safety features of the plane and emergency guidelines.  Yup.  They're demonstrating and dancing.  What a fun idea.  However, don't enjoy it too much lest you end up forgetting about what's really important: the safety demo.

   With almost 1.5 million hits, enjoy the video courtesy of wingco1129:

Shenzhen Adventure (Part I) - Half Day Trip from Hong Kong

     We boarded a train going to the Lowu border.  Keep in mind that the East Rail station services both the Lowu and the Lok Ma Chau borders, so before you hop on that train, make sure it is the correct one.  There are 12 stations in all from Hung Hom to either Lowu or Lok Ma Chau, so it's quite a ride, around 30 minutes or so.  And unlike the MTR, the train runs above ground so there's plenty to see.

     Really, if I could just press my nose against the window, I would.  Though it might be unsanitary, it'll be worth it as the view from the train is really nice: mountains, grass, flowers, buildings, and the vast expanse of  sky.  Besides, I really love trains and train tracks.  It fascinates me.  Yup, maybe because I'm just a crazy girl.

     When the train stopped at the Lowu Station, I felt my anticipation rising.  Really.  I was just a few steps away from Mainland China.  Yipee.  My companions and I walked going to the immigration area which was not hard to find.  Just follow the signs and you'll definitely see it.  On a busy day, our tour guide told us  about the horde of people we'd see, so we should just keep on walking; don't stop along the way lest you get swarmed by fast-moving people.  For non-HK and mainland tourists, keep to your left.  The center sign says for "Hong Kong residents" and the right side for "Mainland Chinese visitors." Then, we finally reached the turnstiles!  It was a good thing that we came on a weekday.  It was not as busy as expected.

     By this time, we've seen the China Immigration sign and we met our tour guide at the immigration counter and she handed our group visa, which was merely a printed document with our names on it and some other details.  We were asked to line up according to the list on our group visa.  And guess what? There were no stamps on our passports that we entered Shenzhen.  We only had a stamp beforehand that we left Hong Kong.  The Shenzhen arrival stamp was placed on the group visa.

     And, we've officially reached Shenzhen!  Once you step into Shenzhen, Lowu becomes Luohu!  Ni hao, Shenzhen!