Experience Hongkong All Over Again (2011)

I can remember clearly when I first went to Hongkong in the late 80's.  A bunch of us relatives went there for a much awaited family trip vacation.  We were of course, all filled with excitement and anticipation.

The late 80's was the time when Philippines was just starting to have its first big mall.  Before that, the only recreation we have was to sit at home and watch some show on the television.  Or if you want to take a walk, the park or plaza is the nearest place you can think of.  So when you say "Hongkong", the next thing you can think of aside from all the shopping you enjoy there is "Ocean Park".  At the time, my feelings is that "Hongkong" coincides with "Ocean Park".

But now, it's a totally different scenario.  When you say "Hongkong", the most that people would say next is "Disneyland".  It's almost synonymous with each other already.  Although "Ocean Park" still has its niche, "Disneyland" would be the topmost in everyone's mind.  I would really say that opening this themed park 5 years ago was a brilliant part by Walt Disney.  He reached out a market that loves and craves for this much awaited tourist attraction.

So revisiting Hongkong one more time, with a different goal and companions - this time with my kid and my immediate family, builds the anticipation to its peak.  The fact that its "Disneyland" and with my kid is all the more sweeter!

We went in the month of March 2011.  It was a 4 day, 3 night iterenary.  Having a toddler with us, we decided to cancel the shopping iterenary, which I think was a wise decision even if we were all so sadened with the idea.

Our iterenary includes:

1st day

• Disneyland Hollywood Hotel Hongkong check-in                             

•  Hongkong Disneyland

• Dinner at Chef Mickey Restaurant                                              

2nd day

• Breakfast at Disneyland Hotel 's Enchanted Garden Restaurant

• Hongkong Disneyland (2nd day pass)

• transfer to Express by Holiday Inn Hotel

3rd day

• Stay at Express by Holiday Inn Hotel
• Ocean Park Hongkong

4th day

• Half day free
• After lunch waiting for our bus to drive us to the airport

It was a fairly quiet simple iterenary.  But we lavish in every moment that we encounter.  A journey this enjoyable is much more cherished when we have our love ones beside us especially when we see the grins forming in our child's lips.  All the discomfort and difficulties of travelling just melts away when we see them that happy.

Live it! Love it! Hongkong!

Don't like long trips? Where to have an Easter Sunday blast during Holy Week? DUSIT THANI MANILA is your answer!

Don't have the time... tired of long trips... hate long travels... don't know what to do... or whatever reason it is you have... the question basically is where to have an affordable, fun, near and fancy place to have your Easter Sunday? Dusit Thani Manila is your answer!

Every year Dusit Thani Manila (located in Ayala Center, Makati near Glorietta Mall) have Easter Sunday celebrations for all to enjoy.  Unlike other hotels which requires you to stay overnight; at Dusit Thani Manila, whether you're a guest at the hotel or not you are welcomed to join.  That's the best part of all!  No outcast so to speak! =)  You only have to pay a fee for the ticket and it's quiet affordable too, compared to other hotels.

This year on April 24, 2011 at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dusit Thani Manila's Easter Sunday theme celebration is "Dusit Wonderland".  For only P550.00 a ticket, it can admit 1 child and 1 adult.  And if you still need more passes for other adults, you only need to pay P150.00 per adult.  They usually held it at the Grand ballroom of the hotel.  I don't say that every year it will be the same fee, but you can call them up at 63(2) 238-8888 for inquiries.

Dusit Wonderland lets you visit:

• Yummy Land - choices of food booths to choose from
• Discovery Land - mad science activity for kids to explore, learn & expand their horizon
• Art Land - art activity where kids showcase their artistic talent through coloring
• Wizard Land - up close magic interaction with a magician for that "awe-spiring" magic trick

Discovery Land's mad science activity that keep children coming back for more!

The SLIME souvenir

Electricity

The globe

Water typhoon (creates swirling water when turns upside down)

Discovery Land really worked its magic toward the children!  Every kid loved it!

Art Land had its own magic too, perfect for our little artists!

Other Activities includes:

• Egg hunt
• Magic show
• Acrobat show
• Interactive on stage game for kids

Egg Hunt for kids

The egg hunt activity includes kids of different ages.  If your kid is still young and can't hunt on his/her own, it's best to accompany them in case you're the smallest in the group or you might not get anything at all.  You can only try this activity once.  Once you don't get anything, you're kid might finish empty handed.  It's a matter of careful observation & planning.

Another thing to note, before going, inquire what they have in store for kids.  Because they have a costume contest for the kids, that whoever wins best costume will get a prize.  I always forgot to ask about this contest, and everytime we arrive, I always tell myself... "told you so, you forgot to ask again..."  Don't let it happen to you though. =)

Check out my other posts:

• Dusit Thani Manila
• Dusit Thani Manila - Deluxe Room Accommodation
• Dusit Thani Manila's Room Amenities - Television, Minibar, Luggage Rack, Working Desk and Mirror
• Dusit Thani Manila's Deluxe Room Accommodation - Bathroom
• Dusit Thani Manila - Recreation (Devarana Spa) 
• Dusit Thani Manila - Recreation (DFit Fitness Centre & Outdoor Swimming Pool)
• Basix - Dusit Thani's International Buffet Restaurant

Related Links:

• Christmas 2011 at Dusit Thani Manila

Liliw, Laguna Philippines blog

We had our iterinary all planned out for us.  My relative made sure of that.  Initially the iterinary only included going to Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center for our Holy Week meditation and Kamayan sa Palaisdaan for lunch.  The plan afterwards was to go back home and have our rest for the day.  But I really couldn't resist but ask one last request.  And that is to pass by Liliw, Laguna for my "tsinelas" (slippers) shopping spree.  I guess I got my request because we did, albeit the time constrains because it was very late in the afternoon already.

I had already visited Liliw once and was not very satisfied with my findings, because I was not able to fulfill the cravings of my heart for that perfect slippers that I can bring back home.  Also I did not know what to expect the first time, so you'll just guess how excited I really was when we arrived at the first stores along the road.

These are the first stores that will welcome you when you arrive at Liliw.  Browse through them, have your pick, if you really like it haggle then decide to buy or not.  Sometimes other stores have it and sometimes they don't specially the unique ones.  But you can always come back when you cann't decide.  Though you'll have the risk of coming back for it then finding out it's sold already.  Sometimes its a matter of luck really.

 Don't stay too long on these stores, go up because there are lots more waiting as you go along.  Just look at all these bargains... shoes, slippers, sandals, thongs, flats, pumps... they come in all sorts, it's really basically a haven for women who loves to pamper their feet!  And at great prices too.  A thousand (P 1,000.00) pesos goes along way.  You can buy 2-3 pairs of fancy sandals at about P250.00 - P400.00 each; if you're lucky, even lower.  If its those buy for 3 bargains, oh ho ho, you can buy 3pairs for P100.00.  And its really a good "pasalubong" (gift) for your family and friends.

Up along, we find this huge sandal that is displayed in one of the store.  Oh the kids really loved playing with it.  I think the sandal can fit a lady giant's foot!! =)

They have these huge banners everywhere informing everybody about Liliw's Tsinelas Festival.  We didn't really go back to join this festivity but it would be a really good notation incase anyone wants to plan a short trip to Liliw next year.

This is my great find for the day. A "Monobo" soft slippers!  Oh love love love it!!!  I'm really easy to please.  Some of you might find this really shallow of me but these pair really left a soft spot inside me.  I really don't know why I kept smiling everytime I see it.

These stores is what you will expect as you go up along this street in Liliw, rustic looking.  That's why we were really amazed to find a store that's modern looking not only in name and feature, it also has airconditioning.

This is the last store we looked into, Entrada.  At first, we were a little bit skeptical about the price of the footwears.  But I bought my 3pairs for P100.00 here.  Though I weren't able to really scan through most of the shoes they offer because we were a little bit press for time, but judging at the people milling inside the store,  my guess is, the prices might be just the same. =)  And with the comforts of airconditioning too.

Unlike us, if you have the time, do visit "Arabela's" restaurant.  Famous for their scrumptious pizza, pasta and pastries.  Just walking distance, do try out this place,  the first time we went to Liliw, we had the chance to eat there and oh, we were definitely satisfied.  The place is packed and I mean packed with people queueing just to get a seat.  So go in line early!  And you'll be treated with gourmet dishes that will keep you coming back to Liliw again and again.

After a long day of fun and adventure,  we were finally on our way home.  It was quiet a fulfilling day, and a longing to come back for more in the near future. =)

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan in Lucban Quezon, Philippines blog

After we have been enriched by our spiritual journey at "Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center", we now have the need to satisfy our physical hunger.  And so the journey for food quest began.  Then finally, we reached our final destination for "food enrichment" =)... at the "Kamayan sa Palaisdaan".

Kamayan sa Palaisdaan can be described as a floating restaurant because the restaurant is surrounded by water, almost like a pond all around.  You can choose your nipa hut to dine in.  And the nipa huts are connected by bamboo rafts tied to each other as your walkway.  Truthfully, I under estimated the vastness of the restaurant.  As we walk along the bamboo walkway to find our nipa hut, we were greeted by people occupying each nipa hut we entered.  Of course, we chose the best time to experience dining here, that is during the Holy Week, and hohoho... what do you think greeted us?  A queue of people, just like us, wanting to satisfy our hunger.  So the journey of finding our nipa hut began as we trek the bamboo pathways.

It seems like the bamboo pathways were never ending, for each time we reached one, it was already occupied.  I almost thought we are going to go back on the road with empty stomaches to accompany us.  But you know what, we finally found a place to have our lunch.

Our nipa hut greeted us with these decorative ceiling ornaments.  Despite the fact that it was a very hot summer day,  the nipa hut seemed to provide us with the coolness we desperately need.  And so we sat and anticipated our food.

After what quiet seemed likes hours and hours of waiting.  We finally received our most awaited food.  A typical classic Filipino recipe of "lutong bahay" or "home cooked meals".  Yummy and scrumptious.  The one you keep going back to from time to time.

Our only regret was the fact that the food took a very long time to get served.  And we had our answer when the waiter told us that they were short of staff.  And with the onset of customers that keep coming they were really overwhlemed.  Maybe this dining experience is best experienced during off season.

Oh, and one more thing, there's one delicacy you should really try.  It's the cassava pilipit or "squash pilipit".  It looks like a sticky golden doughnut.  And it's not part of the restaurant's menu but there's a "manong" as we call him (vendor), who wanders around each hut selling this delicacy.  If by any chance you see him, buy some and I'm sure it will satisfy any sweet tooth cravings you have.  So deliciously good!  You cannot find it anywhere in any city only here!  And its best eaten on the spot.  It hardens overnight.

Enjoy! enjoy!

Related links:

-   Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center blog
-   Kamay ni Hesus Healing Center photos