Hongkong - The City of My Dream (Part 3)

So, what do you think about Hongkong so far? Pretty cool place isn't it? Well, let us continue our journey in The City of My Dream.

In this blog entry, I will tell you the places within the same area and maybe you could visit all the places within the same day. Today we will visit Kowloon.

Hongkong Space Museum
It's very easy to find, just took a MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui station exit E, then walk towards Salisbury Road, turn right to take a pedestrian tunnel next to YMCA and voila...you'll found Hongkong Space Museum. The building is an egg-shape dome and it has a great view at night with all the lights. You could sit on the park outside the museum and enjoy the view. I went here to watch a Sky Show movie in the Stanley Ho Space Theater. It's kinda like a planetarium in TIM - Jakarta, I really miss catching a show in Jakarta's planetarium (last time I went to the planetarium was ages ago) and I just wonder. So, I bought the ticket for HK$ 32/person and watch the show on 5 pm. There are 2 halls inside the museum which show facts and information about space; Hall of Space Science and the Hall of Astronomy. They also have a gift shop if you want to buy some souvenirs for people back home. One more thing, if you visit this museum, try to come in the evening so you could see the spectacular view of Peninsula Hotel right in front of the museum. It's just magnificent.

Avenue of Stars and Symphony of Lights
Do you know the Walk of Fame in Hollywood? Well, the avenue of stars it's like that but it's located in a harbor where you could enjoy the view of Hongkong Island and its sky scrape buildings. If you could, try to come before 8 pm and find a good spot to sit because in exactly 8 pm every night the Symphony of Lights begins. There are about 20 - 30 buildings in Hongkong Island and Kowloon participate in it, so it's about combining classical music and lights show. I can't even found a proper way to describe it. It's simply amazing. You could also come here during the day, they have plenty of street artists who could draw pictures of you and photographers to take your photos then print it on a plate and many other things to do.

Clock Tower
Nothing really special about it actually (at least for me), it just happen that it's located near the avenue of stars and on the way to Hard Rock Cafe Kowloon. So, I stop by for few minutes after my short trip to Hard Rock Cafe Kowloon. They say that people likes to do Tai Chi on almost every morning, if you like to see real Tai Chi "action".

After visiting these places, you may wonder and already want to do some shopping in Hongkong. Well, my shopping experience in Hongkong is rather limited (like I mentioned in previous blog, I came to Hongkong not to shop but to explore). But I do know 2 great places where you could shop ladies...

Ladies Market
Took a MTR to Mong Kok station then took exit E2. Once you hit the streets, you'll soon discover those streets which offer endless rows of things to buy. You will find cloths, bags, shoes also cheap electronics and cheap sneakers. It's a hustle to shop here, you will need to bargain with sellers who speaks very limited English and you will end up using a calculator to mention the bargained price. One time, a seller even throws me a calculator cause what I asked for is too cheap, Hahaha...then I ran away without saying anything else. You don't have to worry cause other shops also sell similar things, this way you will be able to find the cheapest store. I love the hustle, I love being thrown at, I love the shopper crowds, I love finding strange things. The experience was priceless.

Causeway Bay
I stayed in Causeway Bay area in Hongkong Island, it's like the Harajuku of Hongkong. I love seeing the youngster here, everyone is so stylish and Hip with the latest fashion trend. There are expensive and not so expensive boutiques, malls and choices of restaurants. Just took a MTR to Causeway Bay station, then explore...every road, every corner and every building offers great, unique and one-of-a-kind thing. I made a right choice to stay in Causeway Bay, this way I could have the chance to explore every night before going back to my apartment.

Writing this blog makes me miss Hongkong so much...I hope to visit again...soon! I still have few places to share, so let's continue it in part 4.

See this site if you need information;
www.avenueofstars.com.hk

Happy Sightseeing Travelers...


Cheers,
MissCandyBar
=)

Hongkong - The City of My Dream (Part 2)

Here we are in Hongkong, the map in our hands is our only friend. I usually set my itinerary before I went on the trip. So basically, I need to know each place location and mark it on my map. After gathering all the information on each place, I could determine which places are within the same district or near by to other place that I wanted to visit. This way, I could visit few places in one day.

Hongkong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)
Let's we start day 1, Have you ever seen a Mandarin movie that shows a turtle-shape building? Well, that's the HKCEC. I always wanted to see the building up close cause I like its shape, so I decided to put HKCEC in my itinerary. I took a MTR from Causeway Bay (where I stayed in Hongkong) to Wan Chai MTR Station (it's one station away) then took Exit A5, from which I walked to HKCEC, it's not actually a walking distance (it's actually quite far) but I didn't know which bus to take so I walked anyway. As it turns out, it's fun walking in Hongkong. You will rarely walk in an actual pedestrian sidewalks, cause Hongkong designs its city to accommodate its citizen. Everyone walks from one point to another or they took MTR, so you'll be walking through malls, office buildings, even hotels. If you're walking outside of a building then you'll be walking in a pedestrian walks above the street. You'll see lots of interesting things and you'll feel how exciting their way of life really is, cause everyone seems in a fast-forward mode, they all walk and move fast. There's no event in HKCEC on the day I visited, it doesn't really matter cause I only want to see it anyway. Since it's located in a pier, you could enjoy Kowloon's view from it and I end up having plenty of amazing pictures from the place, completely worth the long walk. You could also see a flag-raising ceremony in the Golden Bauhinia Square, it's exactly in front of HKCEC and held every morning on 7.50 am. Since I'm not a morning person, I scratch the ceremony from my itinerary.

Hongkong Park and The Peak
From HKCEC, I plan to go to The Peak (also known as Victoria Peak). Again, I walked to Wan Chai station, then I took a MTR to Admiralty station (it's only one station away from Wan Chai). I continue the journey by foot (again. Basically, you will do lots of walking here in Hongkong) to Peak Tram Station from which I'd took a tram up hill. On the way, I stopped by at Hongkong Park, I saw and took pictures of the famous Bank of China Building from the park, I saw a couple having a Pre-Wedding photo session, I fed the birds and the ducks, I sat under huge trees and relaxed. An experience that I could never get in my home town.

The que line for Peak Tram is very long and it's even getting longer by the hour cause lots of people wanted to go up hill and saw the Hongkong view at night. A little tip from me, If you also want to go to Madame Tussauds Museum of Wax, then I suggest that you buy a combo ticket of The Peak Tram and Madame Tussauds. The price is the same but they have a special line and it's rather short que line. The ticket for the tram is HK$ 33 for round trip and HK$ 22 for single trip, the ticket for Madame Tussauds is HK$ 130/person. Going on the tram it self already exciting because the hill is very steep and we could enjoy Hongkong view from it.

The Peak has lots of cozy and cool restaurants where you could enjoy lunch or dinner, they have a game station (powered by EA Games), they have souvenir shops, they also have other stores, there's a Hard Rock Cafe Merchandise shop if you're a collector, and plenty others. But you have to go to the Sky Terrace to enjoy the view from the top and you have to pay HK$ 20 to enter Sky Terrace but you're welcome to stay as long as you want where you could take pictures or use binocular (you have to pay HK$ 5 for 3 minutes of usage).

Madame Tussauds Museum of Wax
You may already familiar with this museum, it consists of wax figurines. They made the figurines of famous people from all over the world. They have The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Andi Lau, even Albert Einstein and Barack Obama. They recently added a new feature to the museum, it kinda like a scary walk where you would walk in a dark alley and be scared with wax figurines and even real people. You will not go home empty handed cause it would seems that you've took pictures with lots of celebrities.

St. John's Cathedral
I made a promise that I would visit the Cathedral in every country that I visited. So, I especially search for one in Hongkong, turns out it's just a block away from the Peak Tram station. It's a beautiful building, inside and out, but IMHO, I still love Jakarta's Cathedral better.

I still want to share few other places, but please let me continue this in part 3.

If you need more information from the above places, try visit:
www.hkcec.com
www.thepeak.com.hk
www.madame-tussauds.com.hk
www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk


Happy walking travelers...

Cheers,
MissCandyBar
=)

Hongkong - The City of My Dream (Part 1)

What is the first thing that comes in your mind when you heard of Hongkong? Most women would think, a place to shop with endless choices. Most men would think, no choice but to finance his woman's shopping spree (hehe). But to me, Hongkong is love at first sight.

Try to spend a week in Hongkong in its truest way without shopping (well okay, maybe a little bit of shopping won't hurt). Then you'll discover so much more and by the end of the week, you'll realize that a week is never enough.

First thing that you have to do is find the most compatible traveling companion. Second, having the guts to explore a foreign country by yourself (you will never understand the true meaning of traveling if you're using a tour guide or have your itinerary set by the travel agent). Third, do lots of researches about the places that you want to visit (google become your best friend at this point), then you're good to go. These rules applied for all your traveling plans.

Hongkong is probably the easiest city to explore by yourself. You can get all the information that you need from the internet. You can get the complete map of Hongkong in the airport (for free and lots of travel brochures). You can go anywhere by using its public transportation. You can never be lost in Hongkong cause all the signs and information are in English and available everywhere.

Based on my research from the internet, I know that I have to buy an octopus card as soon as I arrived in Hongkong and lucky for us, traveler, they have a booth in the airport (right after you exit the baggage claim area) that sell this card. What can this card do? Well, it can do pretty much everything. You could pay the MTR fares, pay bus fares, pay for your meals in McDonalds, pay for your purchase in most convenience stores such as Seven Eleven, even pay for a vending machine. The starter pack of this card is worth HK$ 100 with deposit of HK$ 50 and credit of HK$ 50 to be used, then you could add more credit in any MTR station, just look for the machine and follow the instruction. If you return the card to the Customer Service counter, then you will have your HK$ 50 deposit back.

There are 3 options of transportation in-and-out of the airport:

1. Taxi : Easiest means of transportation of course but it's definitely the most expensive one. You'll have to pay for about HK$ 150 - 200 to take you to your destination. Cause the airport is located in the Lantau Island, while most hotels are located in Hongkong Island or Kowloon, the distance aren't friendly.
2. MTR : It's also an easy way as long as you know which is your MTR station destination. Then you have to continue by foot or bus (if the distance from the station to your hotel is quite far). You have to pay around HK$ 100 for MTR.
   
3. Bus : This is the cheapest one (of course) it would only cost you for about HK$ 3 - 10 (depends on your destination). I choose this one cause I already know my destination. I just need to find the bus terminal out side of the airport, look at the information board to know which bus to take, then stand in line for the bus ques.

It only took me less than a day in Hongkong to get familiarized with the city and by the end of Day 1, I already feel like a local and easily find my way around the city cause everything is just so organized.

Like I've mentioned before, there are a lot that you can do and places to visit in Hongkong. These are some of the places that I visited (maybe it could be your consideration the next time you visit Hongkong):

1. Hongkong Convension and Exhibition Centre
2. The Peak (Victoria Peak)
3. Madame Tussauds Museum of Wax
4. St. John's Cathedral
5. Hongkong Space Museum
6. Avenue of Star
7. Symphony of Light
8. Ocean Park
9. Jumbo Kingdom, the floating restaurant
10. Disneyland (obviously)
11. Giant Budha
12. The Clock Tower
13. Ladies Market
14. Hongkong Park

I've visited quite a lot of places, right? And I did it in 5 days cause I have to spend sometime with my relatives who's living in Hongkong. I want to share more about the places that I visited but it seems that this blog entry already too long. So, let's continue this in part 2.

Check these websites if you need information on Hongkong:
www.hongkongairport.com
www.discoverhongkong.com
www.mtr.com.hk


Happy planning travelers...

Cheers,
MissCandyBar
=)

Zouk Singapore - Club Review

I'm always curious about Zouk Club in Singapore, not the Zouk Out rave party which always been held every end of year in Sentosa Island but the actual club. It should be a great place for clubbing since it's on number 13 of the Top 100 clubs in the world (based on DJMags).

This club was in my to-do-list for a while but something always comes up every time I'm in Singapore and it got postponed again and again. So, each time the curiosity grew bigger. Then I finally decided that it's time, no matter what happen.

One day, out of impulse, I plan a trip to Singapore and set a date on my planner for it (after checking Zouk calender event of course).

I gathered bits of information from the internet. I searched for their location, marked it on my map. I checked few forums for other fellow clubbers insights. I looked for their admission fee. I still planned for every detail even though it was an impulsive trip. (Well that's what I do, get things organized). Within 2 days, I'm all set and ready to hit the dance floor.

What's unique about this club is Zouk actually divided into 4 segmented rooms inside, based on type of music that they play. Each room has their own signature theme, noticed this from their interior and atmosphere inside.

First one is Zouk (of course), they play world's freshest dance music, from house to garage, from techno to progressive. The club interior is nothing like I've ever seen before, simply jaws dropper right from the entrance area, the walls inside Zouk have an icy-like of an Eskimo Igloo, they have laser lights all over the place, they have fog machines, they have podiums where you could dance on and they have the best crowds compare to other rooms. But IMHO, the dance floor space is rather small for a club with such a reputation but the laser and fog machine boost up the points for me (since I'm a laser freak). I just love dancing front and center with laser lights hit my eyes, bring the whole dance to another level of a state of mind.

Second is Phuture, they play breakbeat music like RnB and HipHop. This was the fullest, hippiest, and most energetic rooms in Zouk on the night I visited. The crowds was insane, they dance and they sing, they jump and they scream, crazy crazy people. (I love this room the most).

Third is The Velvet Underground, this rooms actually has its own entrance, a thick velvet walls and lounge-like interior. They play a jazzy, Brazilian, Afro-Funk kinda music, not exactly my kinda music. I didn't stay long here at Velvet, just didn't feel the club's excitement.

Last is Wine Bar, this is the only room that doesn't have an admission fee (I get on the admission fee later on). They play more down beat music, set indoor and outdoor. People usually hang out here before they hit the other rooms.

Okay, let's talk money. Each room has its own admission fee (except for Wine Bar), fee is also different for Men and Ladies, fee is included 2 regular drinks e.g vodka tonic, tequila, wine, etc. Here's the list of fee:

• Zouk : S$ 18 until 10pm, then after 10pm Men S$ 30, Ladies S$ 25
  
• Phuture : Men S$ 33, Ladies S$ 25 (incl. entry to Zouk)
  
• Velvet Underground : Men S$ 35 , Ladies S$ 25 (incl. entry to Zouk and Phuture, subject to capasity)
  

A little tip from me, enter Zouk from Velvet Underground cause its admission fee is valid as all rooms pass, this way you will only pay for about $25-35 to enjoy all rooms. Please note that the above admission fees are subject to change at anytime, look for these info on their website.

For you drinkers, the liqueur price per glass is quite cheap compare to drinks in Jakarta, it's only S$ 11-13/glass for regular drinks like tequila, vodka orange, cosmopolitan, margarita, etc.

For you smokers, like most clubs abroad, Zouk doesn't allow their guests to smoke inside the club, they provide a smoking area outside.

Well, bottom line, I loooovveee this Club! Not only that I danced and had fun but I also met a lot of interesting people from all over the world (Austria, New York - US, Shanghai, etc). Like Zouk motto : One world, One music, One tribe, One dance. Greatest clubbing experience ever!

I really wish you have as much fun as I did. Try to check their calender event before you decided to go, check the guest DJ, check the admission fee too, just visit:
www.zoukclub.com


Happy dancing Clubbers....

Cheers,
MissCandyBar
=)

The Secret of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel - Book Review

Most of you must be familiar with Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling. Do you remember the character of Nicholas Flamel in HP Book 1 The Sorcerer's Stone? Well, this series by Michael Scott is the story of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

Thou this book was only fictional but it was based on a real character of Nicholas Flamel. You could google it if you like and you will find lots of interesting facts and theories about the guy. This was the first thing that got me hook with the book.

Michael Scott writes the series on the following sequence:

• The Alchemyst, released in 2007
• The Magician, released in 2008
• The Sorceress, released in 2009
• The Necromancer, to be released in May 2010
• The Warlock, to be released in 2011
• The Enchantress, to be released in 2012

You will find a lot of Historical and Mythical figures in the series. You're not only gonna find Sphinx or Hekate the Crow Goddess, but also William Shakespeare and Billy "the Kid" the cowboy.

I really love how he combines those historical and mythical figures whose only exist in the past (or maybe not even exist at all), how he makes us believe that those creature could be with us in this present day, how he plays with the readers emotion, how he creates the conflict and it builds up to the end of each book, how he resolves the conflicts with ways that are beyond my imagination. So talented.

If you're interested in having the greatest adventure of your life, then find this series in the imported bookstore near you (The english version is much better than the Indonesian version, cause the translations aren't so good). Or you could check this site to know more about Michael Scott or other review:
www.dillonscott.com

Happy adventure readers...

Cheers,
MissCandyBar
=)

Rakuzen Japanese Restaurant

I'm not actually a Japanese food fanatic but I'm open for new option. So I decided to try this Japanese Restaurant as per my friend suggestion.

People who have tried Rakuzen, all suggest me to try the sushi cause the taste is completely new to our tongue. Okay, noted.

I order what I love most from sushi which is Grilled Salmon Roll and they were right...The taste just blows my mind. It has this unique flavor from the combination of Grilled Salmon (with thick salmon meat), seaweed, rice, and shitaki mushroom as their very own signature. The last ingredient which makes it different from other salmon roll. Simply delicious (I'm actually drooling when writing this).

I also order Yakiniku Don and Salmon Don, all have passed my expectation. The taste was exquisite, the portion was just right. Very yummy meal...It's just too bad that I could not order any desert as my first intention. I'm full and could not eat anything else.

Aside from their outstanding meals, I would give 9 out of 10 points for their services. The waiters were always near you to fulfill your every needs and they all do it with sincere smile. Also love the restaurant atmosphere, Japanese's touch everywhere yet cozy.

Interested in giving this restaurant a try? Come and dine at:
Pacific Place 5th Floor
Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD)
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53
T : +6221 5140 0499
Business hour : Mon - Sun 10 am - 10 pm

Happy eating...

Cheers,
MissCandyBar
=)

Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella - Book Review

This book is an inspiration for me, not as an inspiration to become a shopaholic but it meant so much more for me.

I learned a lot from this fictional book, how to value your life and all the people in it, how to value your parents (no matter how weird or annoying they can be sometime), and most importantly how to value your money and the things you buy.

One thing that stuck in my mind every time I want to make a purchase, I always consider between the cost and worth of the product. For example, If I want to buy a killer dress which I know that everyone will admire and I would feel extra confident and extra sexy in them, thou the dress would cost me a lot. But I could wear this in bunch of different occasions and I know this dress would last a lifetime with me. Then my friend, it's completely worth the cost.

Other example, let say that you found a beautiful shoes with 9cm heels and you fall in love with it and you just have to have it no matter how much it cost you. But turns out, this shoes are killing your feet every time you wear them. In the end, no matter how beautiful and expensive they are, you just give up wearing them. Well my friend, I'm sorry to say but this is just an example of cost and not at all worth.

At first, I thought that this character of Rebecca Bloomwood is so shallow and kinda stupid. But after reading the whole series, Sophie Kinsella keep proofing to her reader, how smart and wonderful Rebecca Bloomwood really is. And after finishing the series, I've kept missing Rebecca in my life. Such a inspirational woman.

If you love to shop and you love to read especially romantic comedy story, then I'm sure that you're gonna love this book.

It's available on the following sequence:

1. Confession of a shopaholic (first publish in 2000)
   
2. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, also known as Shopaholic Aboard (first publish in 2001)
3. Shopaholic Ties the Knot (first publish in 2002)
4. Shopaholic and Sister (first publish in 2004)
5. Shopaholic and Baby (first publish in 2007)

Since I only read novels in English, so I bought these books in Aksara Bookstore (cause it's cheaper in Aksara rather than other import bookstore). The price per book is between IDR 88k - 110k (depends on which store you buy them from).

Hopefully, these books could be more than just a book for you.

You could check this site to know more about Sophie Kinsella's books
www.sophiekinsella.co.uk


Happy reading shopaholics...

Cheers,
MissCandyBar
=)