2005-01-29 04:34:51merlin

Trip to Hong Kong

17/1/05 Monday
Went to One Utama with Esther then dropped by Uncle Stephen's house. Left for KLIA at 5pm. The flight to Macau delayed for about an hour. Was kinda annoyed by the passengers around me. Felt kinda enthusiastic. Arrived in Macau at 12am sharp. Connie, Fu and Fanny waited for me at the arrival hall. Was quite fascinated by the night scene of Macau. Visited two Casino's but hardly gambled. Played card games in the hotel. Lost to Connie. >.<
Slept for only 2 hours.

18/1/05 Tuesday
Visited the most famous tourist attraction in Macau. Was supposed to leave at 2pm but missed the ferry and had to take the 2.30pm one. The ride took about an hour. I almost puked as the journey was truly unpleasant. My first glimpse of Hong Kong gave me a feeling of ''WOW' but it was within my expectation. We disembarked at Tsim Sha Tsui and took a bus to Sam's apartment in Kwun Tong. Went out with Sam and her boyfriend, Dick. Was in a very awkward position as I didn't like the feeling of being a 'spotlight'... Didn't really know what to say or do... Managed to get myself some winter clothings.

19/1/05 Wednesday
Was in Mongkok with Sam and Connie... Went to Tsim Sha Tsui after that... didn't really know what to do after shopping... Besides that, Connie was feeling terribly uncomfortable.. Felt guilty but didn't know what to do...
Lost our way a few times and finally decided to go for a movie.. After the movie, we strolled along the seaside.. Victoria Harbour was amazingly beautiful... Although most of the lights were already switched off, still, Hong Kong Island looked so beautiful with it's skyscappers...
Met up with Sam at 12 something and headed back to her apartment...
Laid in bed wondering if I should leave HK earlier...

20/1/05 Thursday
Got up quite late due to exhaustion... Joined Sam's dad for dinner in a Shanghai Restaurant. Had an inevitable feeling of nervousness and anxiety. Not really used to this kinda ocassion. Left for Causeway Bay after that. Was really astonished by the night view... and the similarities it shared with Kobe and Osaka, the coolest cities I've ever visited! What attracted me the most was the smaller crowd compared to Mongkok. Was so engrossed that I kept snapping photos without realising that my memory card was almost full. Was supposed to go the peak but the plan was cancelled due to the haze. Finally, we ended up having dessert in Kwun Tong. Haha, Connie got cheated!

21/1/05 Friday
Went ice-skating with Connie, Fu, Fanny, Steve and Zoe. Experienced 2 nasty tumbles! Kinda enjoyed myself there. Left for Mongkok with Connie to get my jeans changed... Had dinner in a small park.. Almost died of suffocation as the place was packed like nobody's business! Didn't really know what to do when Sam called up to inform that she'd be late as there was a birthday party going on in her cafe. Finally we decided on KTV... sang till 6am. Felt kinda bad to have Sam waiting for me the whole night.

22/1/05 Saturday
Moved to Connie's apartment in Tseung Kwan O/Junk Bay. Walked through a wet market and got to see how a market in HK is like. Well, not much difference! Took a walk to the MTR station to meet up with Connie's friends, Vonnie and Mimi. Played Mahjong with them... As I was completely new to the game, Fu was there to be my master. Haha.. Guess he did a good job but I couldn't digest much as I didn't really pay attention. (my mind was already in Greenbox). They kept teasing Mimi and Fu.. haha.. everyone burst into laughter...
They left at 12 something and Connie and I ended up watching VCD...
Anyway, I kinda enjoyed myself compared to the days before. (",)

23/1/05 Sunday
Woke up late. Went to a Saloon in Wanchai to have my hair straightened and highlighted. Went only half way through the process as I had to leave for Tsim Sha Tsui to meet up with Kave, Terry and Debby. Didn't have much to say there. The situation was kinda awkward. Thank God the atmosphere changed after we started playing UNO.. Later on, Connie, Kave and I decided to sing in Neway... Sam was reluctant to go as she had to accompany her boyfriend. Was kinda pissed off.
Sang till dawn and went for breakfast with Connie...
Was really exhausted...

24/1/05 Monday
Overslept again. Went to Metro City with Connie to get some stuffs before leaving for Kowloon Bay to have dinner with Vonnie and Mimi. Tried searching for English books about Chinese history or politics for grandpa but failed to do so. Sigh~ The food we had for dinner was reasonably spicy but I ate only a quarter of it. Thank God I did not order the spicier one. All of them finished theirs. Yeah, they had the perseverance. Btw, nt stomach was too full. I got cheated by 3 of them that I'd have to pay double if I failed to finish my portion and I stupidly believed. Haha. After dinner, we went to the supermarket to get some food. Holy shit, I got cheated by Connie again!! Mistakened a condom as sweets. Hush! Luckily Vonnie came to rescue.. if not, I'd be struggling whether to buy the it or not. >.< But my stupidity did tickle my heart.. haha!

25/1/05 Tuesday
Went back to the Saloon in Wanchai to have the rest done. Kept Connie waiting for so long.. so sorry! Took a tram to Central.. it was my first ride on a tram... Was damn fascinated by the beauty of the place and the lights which brightened up the city! Went to IFC to snap some photos of the scenic views... Had a free drink in Starbucks. Thanks to Kave! Left for Lan Kwai Fong at 10 something. Well, I'd say that Lan Kwai Fong was not as cool as it is reputed to be. Perhaps it's because I went on a weekday. It should be much better on a weekend. Went to Neway in Mongkok.. Again, we sang till dawn... Challenged myself to sing female songs.. almost killed those who listened! Haha...

26/1/05
Over slept again. Was supposed to go to a car exhibition. Too bad I chose to sleep. Went for Noon K in Mongkok with Connie, Sam, Vonnie and Mimi. It was more of a shouting session than a singing session. haha.. they were so funny... After that, we had spicy noodles for dinner. The spiciness of the chicken wing almost burned my tongue. The atmosphere was filled with laughter. Haha, their expressions after eating were so funny. After dinner, we took a walk to Temple Street. Saw a fortune teller but his words made no effect on me... Later on, we went to take some pics and had dessert in Kwun Tong... Oohh.. gotta leave the next day.. Felt a bit heavy-hearted at the same time relieved as I did not have to cause anymore trouble...

27/1/05
Had lunch in Neway with Sam and Connie.. After that, we headed back to Tseung Kwan O to get all my things packed... Left for Tsim Sha Tsui at around 5pm... Went to snap views of Victoria Harbour again.. really loved that place... Sam left for work at 7 something while Connie and I had dinner together.. She saw me off the jetty at 9pm.. had an intermingled of sadness and satisfaction... Sad to part and satisfied to have such a wonderful trip! Slept all the way to Macau... Thank goodness the plane did not delay and the flight was pleasant. Goodbye, Hong Kong!

Conclusion:
All in all, my trip to Hong Kong was really eye-opening and did give me a feel of what life in a city with high density is like... It indirectly changed my outlook and perspective towards certain things in life... Meeting with people from all walks of life, this trip gave me a superb opportunity to discover more of myself, my friends and what life is supposed to be from my new perception!
Special thanks to Connie, Sam and all the people whom I have met in HK!