Got back from a trip to Hong Kong. Left at around 7pm August 9 and came back on August 12 at 4pm. I came back with the realization that HK was a wet and windy place to be... Must be raining every day... hehehe... Kidding aside, I did learned a lot from my experience.
1. From a practical sense, make sure that you check the forecasts before planning your travel; even if you plan it for more than 6 months ahead of your trip. :) Make sure also you spend your time well. When you book a flight, it's not just the PhP 1.00 that you should be looking at, you should also sometimes consider the time. It would have been better if you leave for HK in the morning and fly back to Manila at the evening, that way, the evening when you arrive and the morning before you return are spent on other things aside from packing and rushing to the airport.
2. When being a visitor in another country, we should learn to give some respect and appreciation of their culture. It is one thing to go and see the sites, and another to actually feel and be involved with everything else. One does not need to rush through every moment all the time. Sometimes, stopping to marvel at the difference is also an awesome experience.
3. You don't have to push yourself to much to get ahead. All you need is a little time and patience. You'll get there. Not as fast or as quick as you'd like but you'll arrive. What's most important is you get to help a couple of people along the way and never stepped on other people's toes to get ahead.
4. HK has an excellent emergency response system. When typhoon signal number 8 was hoisted, every store closed and every employee headed for home. Their MTR increased the frequency of trains to accomodate everyone, and their trains were at a 15 second interval. It was not a perfect system though, there were still long lines, but the point is that every body still got home much faster than what you'd expect some place else. :)
5. Filipinos are more tolerant and more hospitable with visitors than HKers. Important points for the Pinoys. Just my observation, in case some people might contest. :)
6. I liked Oceanpark a lot. Not because of The Abyss, which I was not able to ride even if that was the one thing I was really really really looking forward to, nor of any of the other rides which were all closed due to the typhoon, but rather it had much heart for really taking care of our oceans and seas, and everything else that lives in them. It felt great spending almost HKD 200 for something you know is worth it.
7. Disneyland, even if it is just the one in HK, is still A Whole New World! :p Brought out the kid in me...
Pictures and videos may be found on my Multiply. :)
