Memories of Hong Kong, China and Macau

Memories of Hong Kong, China and Macau

I was saddened that the memory disk of my laptop got infected with virus. I have it reformatted, worst my files were deleted including so lot of pictures as memories;(
Suddenly I came to search other files in our family laptop this was what I foundJ . I am happy to see my write-up.

Asia Convention – Hong Kong, Shenzhen China and Macau September 21-25, 2009

Two days from the scheduled flight going to the AHEPP convention, I was busy preparing for the lessons for the whole week for the classes I will be missing. I was stressed yet excited. I was awake at 3am got to be in the airport by 4 am. The TEAM AHEPP got an early breakfast. We ate chicken burger and water. I remembered I brought a lot of mineral water in my luggage because water was expensive in Hong Kong. We have arrived just on time in Hong Kong Airport. I was delighted on how Hong Kong seemed to be so clean. We stayed in Dorsett Hotel, Yanhanshan Hotel, Sino-Hotel and Shenzhen Shanshui Hotel. When it comes to Chinese cuisine I tasted the authentic Chinese food where the dishes were cooked the healthy way. We ate in Foo Lum Restaurant, Jade Palace Restaurant and Golden Dynasty Restaurant. An intricate dining experience I could never forget.

The first day of the educational tour was tiring.  After a short plane ride, arrival in the Hong Kong airport and walking with my big luggage was a bit of a challenge for me, not mentioning my hand carry bag full of mineral water. A short city tour was facilitated by our tour guide he discussed how happy he was to introduce Hong Kong not only as shopping center but a spectacular city. During the tour we passed by Polytechnic University the school that specializes in professional education in Hong Kong.  The University is the sole provider of full-time degree or higher diploma programmes in Hong Kong in the following areas: design, engineering physics, fashion and textiles, geomatics, international shipping and transport logistics, medical laboratory science, optometry, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and radiography. I also saw a lot of high rise buildings, hotels like Peninsula, Westin, Sheraton, Intercontinental, Shangri-la and some 3 star hotels, condotels and residential apartments. I haven’t noticed time, it was getting dark and every one of us went to Dorsett Hotel to rest and ready ourselves for tomorrow’s activities.

2^nd day of our tour – We ate our breakfast in McDonald’s how I missed our number 1 fastfood chain Jollibee, I had a Mcmuffin sandwhich with egg my favorite in Mcdo and coffee, I enjoyed looking at the mini cakes displayed at the Café area of McDonald’s. We made ourselves ready for the next stop. We visited the Jade jewelry shop and fabric manufacturing house. During our free time we went to the ladies night market and Mongkok where in you can see an array of goods sold. We strolled in the Shops of Giordano, Bossini, Ralph Lauran etc. We ate merienda in Dunkin Donuts. We also visited Olympian City Mall and garden located adjacent to MTR Olympic Station, it was like our Bonifacio High Streets and Market-market here in the Philippines.

We visited the Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong. We were able to talk to the Attaché Sir Joel Blas regarding the Filipino workers in Hong Kong, how they worked and lived there, Hong Kong’s education System, culture and a lot more. We observed the place situated at the 14/F, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Admiralty. We looked into its offices and went to its library. Another destination we have passed by Ocean Park which is a marine-themed amusement park situated in Wong Chuk Hang and Nam Long Shan in the Southern District of Hong Kong  and Disneyland which is the first theme park inside the Hong Kong. Disneyland Resort is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks, an incorporated company jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and the Government of Hong Kong.

 We ate Lauriat lunch at the  Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant one of Hong Kong’s Chinese restaurants.

Our next stop would be in Aberdeen Fishing Village where in we gained a deeper insight of the lifestyle of Hong Kong fishing folks when we rode on a sampan. Some of us rode the sampan and I was included. In the sampan different items were sold for souvenirs. I bought t-shirts and key chains. I was able to see Jumbo Kingdom Restaurant and  was glad seeing the view from the waters of Aberdeen Village.

 I have noticed that having a parking space in Hong Kong was quite hard.  It was hard to find a parking area in Hong Kong, however Hong Kong has a day and night parking program for private vehicles so that tourists could stay long in the promenade city without out the hassle. I saw a few beggars on the streets and had sympathy on them. I was happy to know that Yan Oi Tong one of the six largest charitable organizations in Hong Kong could be of help to them.

On the 3^rd day- we went to Shenzhen China. We had our group Visa. I felt exhausted and tired on the things to do for the immigration of China. The processing was a bit long and the immigration officers were too strict. I have forgotten that taking of pictures was not allowed. I could have memorized my passport number because I have to accomplish forms for the immigration. After the processing I was glad that it’s finished already. We proceeded to the Bus for Shenzhen City tour. We were facilitated by another tour guide named Cindy. She said that Shenzhen is a city of sub-provincial administrative status in southern China's Guangdong province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. We stayed in Shenzhen Shanshui Hotel which is in the South Yanhe Road Changhu Mansion Luohu District Shenzhen. We went to Window of the World park. It is a fantastic replica park situated at the Overseas Chinese Town. Here you can see vivid replicas of the world's wonders, historical heritages and famous scenic sites. The entire masterpiece is built at ratios of 1:1, 1:5 or 1:15. In the Window of the World we found the Mahamuni Pagoda of Mandalay and the Angkor Wat of Cambodia. European architectural splendors, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Ancient Athens, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Tower of London carried us back to the cradle of classical European culture.  It was a nice experience seeing the wonders of the world and its replicas.

4^th day - On the fourth day we stayed in Yanhanshan Hotel in Shenzhen. The hotel is inside the Tourism University of Shenzhen. The campus was clean and conducive for learning. We browsed the books in its library however we need our tour guide to interpret some of the books all of which were written in Chinese.

 We have toured and explored their computer laboratory, gymnasium, café, canteen and classrooms. The Shenzhen Tourism University devotes itself to cultivate the new university students of grasping professional knowledge well, good professional skills and being full of innovation spirit which is needed by tour trade in 21st century. The school explores that university and enterprise combine closely, theory and practice combine closely, cultivating persons of ability and demanding and supplying of market combine closely in the innovation of higher education, and forms a bright model in running a school. The university insists the strengthening of English, Computer Language and Chinese (Literature) “triple language” teaching; carrying out the triple semester system which sets up one short term in summer vacation to develop the practice teaching; persists in English teaching, computer teaching and specialty practice teaching learned constantly in 4 years.

The fifth day. A tour to Macau

We rode a ferry boat going to Macau. Macau was both the first and last European colony in China. Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the handover on 20 December 1999. The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operates with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer. Our adventure in Macau was such a very memorable experience. We went to Venetian Hotel and explored the lobby and facilities. We have seen Lisboa Hotel, Wynn Hotel, Emperor Hotel etc. We had a lot of fun on the City of Dreams “Bubble show”.

 There were many Filipinos working in Hong Kong and especially in Macau. We were strolling the streets of Macau when I saw my friend Kat who used to be a college school mate.  She was working in the MGM Grande Hotel. I was happy to see her.  The MGM Grande is a known Casino Hotel, its 5,505 rooms hotel is in Las Vegas. Macau is a bit like Las Vegas it the Las Vegas of Asia. I also visited the Venetian Hotel and have seen the Gondola it’s like what we have here in McKinley Hills subdivision. Inside the hotel was like a castle full of gold. The intricate designs of the hotel inspired me on how architecture has been a big part of hotel’s package as a whole. I saw the dancing falls or water of the Wynn hotel at 12 midnight and I have watched the Bubble Show in the City of Dreams. We strolled around the Business Tourism Center have gone window shopping for designer clothes, bag and shoes. The designer clothes would be cheaper by a thousand or so. There were a lot of fruit shakes for 15 HKD a bit expensive compared to peso. I have known the importance of our 1 peso, here in the Philippines you could buy a candy, have photocopy or buy a pin for just one peso in HK, China and Macau I couldn’t buy anything out of their 1 HKD the cheapest I could buy would be a small bread for 2HKD times 5 or 7 for Philippine peso. I went to almost all of the Casino hotels in Macau, I did not placed a bet but I have observed how it is to be inside a Casino Hotel. Everyone in the Casino seemed to be wearing black a bit formal, no cameras allowed I can’t take a picture. There were a lot of CCTV cameras a lot of security. Unlike Hong Kong to be a bit quiet and reserved, Macau would be a place of pleasure and leisure when after working so hard for a living and those who have disposable income would have gone to Macau to unwind. The Bars and restaurants would be operating until 5 am it is like the  city that never sleeps – NY and Madrid. The economic crises has been felt abroad also Macau, and a lot of Filipino workers has been laid off. I have noticed a pretty lady selling ice cream in one of the stalls in Macau. I noticed she was a Filipina and talked to her. I asked the lady you are too beautiful to be an ice cream vendor, why so?  I was laid off I was a service associate in a big Hotel here but then again it was because of the crises felt here that’s why I have to find a job another right away, she replied.  And because that she has told me about that I bought the ice cream she was selling and its cost 15 HKD hhmmm hehe. I am happy to know that Filipinos work hard to earn a living and that being in a foreign country would be a challenge for them. I salute all OFW’s.

I learned so many things in my experience in a country I have not visited before. I knew that cultures were really diverse and what has inculcated in me was that a country to prosper there must be a lot of discipline and that time is really that important. In Hong Kong the cliché “Time is gold” really existed. Our Tour guide told us to be on the place we were supposed to be in at exactly 8 am she said that we need to follow Chinese time… that is being on time. I noticed how Chinese people work for business. Although I was amazed on how Chinese people work so hard to go into business and appreciated and respected time so well I missed the Filipinos way of being sweet, kind and hospitable. I loved the Filipinos “Smile” as always, we are recognized for being caring, thoughtful and happy amidst of challenges and definitely a fighter and survivor.

This would be my first time to be engaged in such international convention. Although I have read of Chinese culture, the best way to learn is through experience. I met a lot of people, all walks of life, learned their culture and through this convention I learned to appreciate more my country, my fellowmen, our relationship with Chinese and other nationalities.

After the incident that has happened during the hostage drama in Manila. My happy moment in

 Hong Kong felt a bit scary. I wanted to visit Mickey Mouse again because I failed to enter his Kingdom Disneyland. I just hope and pray that broken hearts will mend and soon wounds will heal. I know, it only takes time and a lot of understanding.