Budget Trip to Hong Kong and Macau

Hello Readers, Thank You for reading and appreciating my blog work. As we know, planning a domestic trip is easy and convenient but when it comes to planning Budgeted International Trip becomes a bit hard. Here, I am going to write on Budgeted Hong Kong- Macau Trip.

It was my first self-designed International trip, where I searched for all the places to see, made an itinerary, took VISA, booked flights, cruise, accommodation and amusement park arranged FOREX, etc. The toughest task before any International trip is to plan it in a budget, which should cover almost all main tourist attractions. This time I along with my friend Amandeep planned to visit Hong Kong & Macau where we are going to stay for 3 Nights and 2 Nights respectively.

Things to Remember:

• • • Before Booked our flights, we applied for ‘Pre-Arrival Registration’. It is especially for Indian citizens to visit the Hong Kong SAR.
    • Booked our flight from DEL- HKG- DEL on weekdays (Avoid Weekends because of expensive fares).
    • Pre-Booked Ferry for Macau from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA-Macau)
    • Pre-Booked return Ferry ticket from Macau to Kowloon, HKG. (Day cruises are inexpensive in comparison to the night.)
    • Booked a home-stay for 2 nights in Macau via a trusted website.
    • Booked a room for 3 nights in Kowloon Island near Tsim Tsa Tsui.
    • Took HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) in exchange for INR (Macau Dollar not required, HKD accepted both in Hong Kong and Macau but remember Macau Patacas (MOP) didn’t accept in Hong Kong)

Let’s begin the trip,

Indira Gandhi International Airport: Terminal 3 to Hong Kong.

Flight Experience was good and comfortable and the food was also amazing.

DAY 1:

After Landed at Hong Kong International Airport, we faced random checking by Airport Officials about our purpose of visit, HKD in hand and other Travel related documents. It was not time taking but bit weird.

HKIA (Hong Kong International Airport) – Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal, Macau: One Hour Duration

Immigration Counter: Documents check and Entry Permit for 14 days.

Took the local shuttle from Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal to Almeida Rebeiro (our Homestay was in that locality).

Finding Homestay was bit tough because No Internet with us and Language barrier too, we don’t know Cantonese and Portuguese and they don’t understand English or Hindi.

Check-in to the Homestay. It was in the downtown and most of the tourist places were within walking distance.

It was not our first Homestay experience but first time the entire home belongs to us and didn’t see anyone from property (all instructions were on paper, we just need to follow)

Pictures of Homestay

Evening:

Senado Square

 

Sé Catedral da Natividade de Nossa Senhora:

 

Buddhist Temple:

Evening Market:

DAY 2:

Wake up late and had breakfast and then go on walk towards Ruins of St. Paul’s

 

Now, time for some Casino Hotel and Resorts

So, we took shuttle for Venetian

Venetian Macau: It is famous for its architectural design which reflects the beauty of Venice city of Italy. You can stay in luxury suits, do shopping, dinner, boating, and obviously try your luck in Casino, which is largest in Macau.

The Parisian: It is one of the luxurious hotels of Macau, which has a high-scale Eiffel Tower as one of its landmarks. It is connected with Venetian hotel and on a walking distance. Casinos and click photos with French artists were amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After Casino Tourism, we back to the Homestay for the night.

DAY 3:

Morning Walk to Ruins of St. Paul’s

Checkout from the Hotel

Took Bus from Almeida Rebeiro to Macau Outer Ferry Terminal

MACAU- KOWLOON (Hong Kong’s Island and Ferry Terminal)

Hong Kong Immigration Counter: Documents Check and Tourist Entry Permit for 14 days.

My Hotel was on the same (Kowloon) island and on a walking distance. We asked the receptionist for the direction towards my hotel. She gave me a local map and offered some candies and explained me the shortest way reach by walk.

My Hotel was at Chungking Mansion, Nathan Road, in Tsim Sha Tsui.

My Hotel was on the 16th floor and was surprised to see that the locality looked like my own country. People from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh everywhere and I can buy any Indian product easily here. You can’t believe but you can easily get Gutkha and Pan Masala and CDs of Indian movies and songs here.

Check-in to our room, which unsurprisingly very small and not fit to stay. But, somehow we managed because we don’t want to waste our time in comfort rather enjoy.

Took suggestions from receptionist for local transport to visit tourist destinations. He suggested me to take OCTOPUS card

OCTOPUS Card:  Available on every MTR (Mass Transit Railway) and 7Eleven shops in 150 HKD (100 HKD Balance). You can use it in MTR, Local Buses, Ferry, and even in some departmental stores.

Tsim Sha Tsui MTR was in the front of Chungking Mansion. Took MTR to Ocean Park Station.

OCEAN PARK: It is one of the most famous Theme Park or Amusement Park in Hong Kong after Disneyland.

Some clicks from Ocean Park

Aqua City

For Internal Transport, Ocean Park has Cable Car and Train.

After enjoyed until evening, our heart was still not ready to go back to the hotel but our body already gave the signal of tiredness. So we took MTR from Ocean Park Station and back to our hotel.

After freshen up in the hotel, we walked to Star Ferry for night show ‘The Symphony of Lights’ which was on just 5 mins walk from our hotel. ‘The Symphony of Lights’ is known for worlds one of the best skyscraper’s musical and lightening show which held every evening.
After Star Ferry Lighting show, we took dinner (Fortunately we get Indian dishes in Chungking Mansion)

DAY 4: 

After Breakfast, took MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui Station to Tung Chung, because it was Sunday so less crowd in coaches. It took more than 30 mins to reach Tung Chung MTR station. It is situated on Lantau Island.

Going to Tian Tan Buddha or Big Buddha from Tung Chung, we have two options either took Cable Car, which is 210HKD or Public Transport which took 34HKD (54 HKD on Weekends) for both sides. So we decided to take the bus and saved some money.

Lantau Island was very beautiful and clean. Beaches were also as attractive as other tourism destinations of the world. After 45 min Drive, We reached Tian Tan Buddha.

Tian Tan Buddha: It is a large Bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha surrounded by the statues of “The Offering of the Six Devas”. Hollow statue of Buddha is sitting on the Lotus-based platform, where inside the statue one can see the relic of Gautam Budhha. Visitors have to climb 268 steps to reach the Buddha. The weather was humid but because of cold air, the climate was soothing.

Po Lin Monastery: It is a Buddhist Monastery situated near to Tian Tan Buddha statue. Monastery has a lot of small and big temples. its architecture is really very beautiful. There are three bronze statues of Lord Buddha in temples which represents his past, present and future lives.  There is one vegetarian canteen which serves food, snacks, sweets and soft drinks. One of the main attractions is Grand hall of ten thousand Buddha. Tourists/Visitors from all the places visit Monastery for offering prayer to Lord Buddha.

 

After Spiritual Tourism, We took return bus for Tung Chung MTR. In the bus, we met one local resident of Pakistani origin. He was a very nice person and suggested me to visit Gurudwara and also gave tips to save money by using Star Ferry instead of MTR and refills your bottle instead of buying water bottle every time. He advised me some good places for nightlife, shopping and food.

From Tung Chung, We took MTR and reached Tsim Sha Tsui. Then, we walk towards Star Ferry Terminal through HKG Space Museum. We used our Octopus card and took Ferry for Wan Chai. From Wan Chai Terminal, we were accompanied by an Indian gentleman who was working in Hong Kong and also going to Gurudwara. That man had suggested us to enjoy the city by tram, which was really amazing experience and inexpensive too.

Gurudwara: The name of Gurudwara is Khalsa Diwan (Sikh Temple). Alike other Gurudwara, it gave us affinity and peace. Kirtan was happening there and the best thing we had Langar also.

Hong Kong Island is known for Shopping Malls and Branded showrooms. You can get world’s almost all luxury brand’s outlet in this area.

Took Ferry from Wan Chai Terminal to Tsim Sha Tsui. Back to Chungking Mansion and had dinner.

DAY 5:

Last day of our trip that we reserved for Temple, Parks, Gardens and Shopping.

Get up very early, left for exploring the city at 6:30 am. Took Ferry for Central Ferry Terminal.

Man Mo Temple: 1800’s temple tribute to God of Literature (Man) and God of War (Mo), which features the traditional interior with spiral incenses overhead.

Hollywood Road: Street in Hong Kong Island famous for notable paintings.

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens: A beautiful zoo which is full of varieties of Monkeys, Apes and Birds. One can also experience a wide range of plant and trees.

Hong Kong Park: A very large shaped Aviary, which is full of green plants and also have pools and waterfalls featuring the wide range of endangered species of birds.

The Hong Kong Observation Wheel: A 60 ft. Observatory have Air-conditioned cabins

Back from Central Ferry Terminal to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Check-out from Hotel and kept the luggage in cloak-room of hotel and had lunch at Chungking Mansion

Now, Time for Shopping

We took an MTR to Mong Kok station. Our target was to reach Ladies Market

 Ladies Market: It is one of the best places in Hong Kong for shopping. It can be best or worth when you are good at Bargain. I bought bags and some other souvenirs.

Back to Hotel, took our luggage and left for Hong Kong International Airport via Bus because it is cheaper than MTR and Estimated Time: 01 Hour.

Reached Airport in 01 hours, then return our Octopus Card at MTR booth at the airport and took deposited money 50 HKD.

Took our boarding passes and then emigration and wait for flight time.

While waiting for my flight I was remembering about my trip and I came to the conclusion that it was really an enjoyable trip and hassle-free too. Because everything was well planned, so we didn’t face any problem on our entire trip.

Bye Bye Hong Kong with some beautiful faces