T&J Travels #13: Hong Kong 2019 (Part 3)

We still have time for the day and Reagan suggested we go to the Kowloon Walled City Park. We have to ride those small shuttles that took us nearest which is easier than the rest of the options.

Before getting there we got a glimpse of the less glamorous side of HK, buildings that are quite decrepit and the atmosphere is a bit laid back. There are shorter towers for apartments and most stores are not chain. 

The park is a nice respite from all the buildings we're clustered in these past few days. Even on a Saturday it's not crowded. We were able to play Pokemon Go here (there are three gyms) and have enough time to visit some parts that were kept from the old walled city. 

The opened rooms can be walked into and even without a guide. They have also installed motion sensors that automatically play for visitors to look at. 

On the last room we found ourselves joined with a group who happened to have a tour guide who tried to explain what the sensors are showing. A bit problem on my part though, I'm quite accent deaf :-(.

We've walked some more but I was anxious in leaving already because it could be evening soon and we are still on another island from our hotel. Which is why I suggested we visit Victoria Park! It's sort of infamous because of the stories how our OFWs loiter over there. I haven't been and wanted to see it myself.

We arrived there almost evening and was surprised to find an event. Some of the gates were closed so we had to walk to the main gate just to get in. We're lucky it's free!

We have no idea what the non-English words meant but we came in anyway. It seemed like a fete, because the people manning the booths look like students.

Wasn't too hungry yet so we just got some drinks. I forgot what Reagan ordered but mine was unforgettable because it was too funny. I got a pineapple ice drink and it's essentially it's name. It's a cold water with some pineapple on it. I still giggle when I remember it.

There's a concert at the far end of the park but it's also gated. We sat near it instead because it looked like you have to pay (?) because there are people guarding the entrances... or so we think. Once the first singer came up we finally realized what the concert was about.

She was crying, and was barely singing, more like lip syncing. The audience were cheering her on to continue. Later on she started talking in between sobs. We can't understand anything but we eventually understood that we found ourselves on a concert rally. They even tried to hand out ballers which we had to refuse because we don't want to be banned in HK :-(. We left after the second singer came in because we thought that we can't be caught here being aliens and all. It's much much more dangerous to us I think. 

We took a different route going back and found a familiar store that made me really giddy:

We went in, and was glad being serviced by a Filipina. We've only been here a few days yet seeing this store gave me so much comfort like as if I was out of the country far longer. We're not hungry but I would not pass an opportunity to know what our burger taste like anywhere. Verdict: it's much drier and!! much more expensive! 

+ Last Day +

It's souvenir shopping day! We went to the nearest SOGO where we had our fill of Japanese (!!) snacks at the basement. I intend to buy bags but I was too conscious being around Reagan so we just hunt for souvenirs instead. 

In one of the strip of stores in front of SOGO we found a jackpot store where they have various snacks and chocolates. We bought so much from here we were able to fill our luggage with various food products we had to arrange it at the hotel. I liked that they allowed us to leave our bags even if we're already checked out!

Another perk I love about our hotel is how it gave us a free ride to Central where we can take the train to HKIA. We've also tried the In Town service where we were able to check in our bags and were able to roam around luggage free, we have even had our late lunch at Shake Shack!

As of writing (which is around 2 months later) there is still some chaos on HK shores. I hope they find what they're aiming for and hopefully, in the near future would be as stable as it was the last years. In that time I would love to visit again. I'm not yet done with what HK can offer.