HongKong- Macau Birthday Solo Travel
Hong Kong and Macau are top travel destinations worldwide, both are known for being touristy and backpacker friendly. And it's definitely the best destination for my first "Birthday Solo Travel" outside the country. My first birthday solo adventure was last 2015, where I spent 8 days exploring Davao City-DVO Oriental-Bukidnon-CDO-Camiguin. I travel with my friends, my family, my partner , but traveling alone is one for the books, it is momentous, bizarre, and liberating. You get to know yourself , trust yourself, and love yourself more. You find happiness within you, happiness that is not brought by other people or material things. It's literally choosing to be genuinely happy, giving yourself the time , peace of mind , and love that you deserved. Ladies, give yourselves a favor and try traveling solo. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace that fear of exploring a foreign land alone. You go girl, fighting!
***This travel kwento is a year (or 2 years haha) long overdue. So this is more of a story telling/ photo diary than my usual detailed itinerary w/ budget travel blog. Photos are unedited.
Day 1- DIY Tsim Sha Tsui and Chinatown tour
I don't know why in the world was I not able to book an accommodation. I was really busy with my business prior this trip. So yeah , I landed HK without any idea where the *eff will I stay for the night (Sobrang lakas lang ng loob ko haha! Yas, I'm that crazy!). Luckily, I met these two lovely Pinays, Jem and Monique, at the airport. They are God-sent angels, we are of the same age and same birth month. This is their birthday trip as well. I spent the night where they're staying, but of course I paid my share for the room. Mabuhay ang mga November babies, magaganda na , mababait pa, woot woot!
Day 2- Hiking at Po Toi Island , Symphony of Lights
Here's an appreciation post I wrote for them years ago in my FB page haha. Now, lemme share more about our spontaneous hiking trip.
Since I am a free-spontaneous-no plans kinda traveler, I was just literally wandering-wondering around the city. At a bus stop, I saw Ate Benny and Ate Aaron. Tinagalog ko sila kaagad hahaha, mafefeel mo kasi talaga kung Pinoy yung nakakasalubong mo eh. I was just asking them for directions, then they suddenly invited me to go hiking with them, iba din! And I said "GAME!" real quick. I know they are strangers, and what I did was risky. But I believe that the Lord will always guide me to the right direction, to the right people, mafefeel mo din talaga kung mabuting tao yung nakakasalamuha mo eh. Trust your instincts, trust God's signs. Two days in a row na akong sumasama-sama sa kung sino-sino and Praise God talaga 'coz He's really leading me to the right people. Ate Benny and Ate Aaron were really kind to me, they even paid for my ferry ride and dinner. They treated me like their own kapamilya kahit that day lang nila ako nakilala, ang alaga nila huhu. Learned so much from the life stories they shared. And the trail, the view, the hike itself was really fun and amazing. Oh, what a beautiful day it was!
In HK , Sundays are rest days of domestic helpers. Some are allowed to stay at their boss' house, but some are not. So every Sunday, you'll see a lot of Filipinos sleeping on the side-streets, bridges, parking lots, parks, or malls. I was really saddened when I saw their situation there. I honor them for their sacrifices, hardships , and mostly their love for their families. For those of you who have parents and families working abroad, be grateful to them, appreciate their hardwork, send them your virtual hugs and 'I love you'. Yan yung pinagkukunan nila ng lakas. SML for our modern Pinoy heroes.
After our hike, I strolled around TST and watched the Symphony lights.
Hi Inn- Syempre nagbook na akong ng sariling accommodation haha. This is where I stayed for the rest of my stay in HK (P1,000/ day)
Day 3- Tian Tan Buddha, Fishing Village, Victoria Peak
I bought a 3 day HK-Macau iVenture Pass in Klook https://www.klook.com/activity/38-iventure-sightseeing-pass-hong-kong/. Sobrang tipid-sulit to mga besh! I highly recommend you to avail this package. This pass allows you to enter 38 sightseeing attractions in HK & Macau. Sobrang laki ng masasave mo dito fwamis! Wasn't really able to try everything, now I got more reasons to go back.
I highlighted the deals I used. The pass is inclusive of:
There are shuttle buses that roam around town, so I hopped on a bus not knowing where to go. Yeah, that's how spontaneous I am. Glad that I did sooo, 'coz I found this beautiful, peaceful local fishing village just a few kilometres away from Tian Tan Buddha.
Apologies for low quality photos, I was just using an android phone haha.
Day 4- Ocean Park, artsy streets and buildings
I went to Ocean Park, and oh boy, there I realized that I'm really not a fan of amusement parks. Stayed there for barely an hour or two.
I just wandered around and literally just let my feet bring me where it wants. I like getting lost , feeding my eyes with art and colors, lines and curves, exploring villages and streets, watching locals and tourists.
This is UI, I met her while strolling around the artsy streets of Central. She's a Japanese who's also solo travelling that time. Then we went together in search of cute boys (ehem ehem was single during that time, wag kang judger haha) and monster buildings . Hi UI, hope to see you again! Cheers to female solo travelers!
Day 5- Macau
Macau is an hour boat ride away from HK. One way ticket is about a thousand peso. The one-day Macau package tour included in the iVenture pass is a gally-great deal.
Buffet Lunch
Macao Tower
Day 1- DIY Tsim Sha Tsui and Chinatown tour
I don't know why in the world was I not able to book an accommodation. I was really busy with my business prior this trip. So yeah , I landed HK without any idea where the *eff will I stay for the night (Sobrang lakas lang ng loob ko haha! Yas, I'm that crazy!). Luckily, I met these two lovely Pinays, Jem and Monique, at the airport. They are God-sent angels, we are of the same age and same birth month. This is their birthday trip as well. I spent the night where they're staying, but of course I paid my share for the room. Mabuhay ang mga November babies, magaganda na , mababait pa, woot woot!
Day 2- Hiking at Po Toi Island , Symphony of Lights
Here's an appreciation post I wrote for them years ago in my FB page haha. Now, lemme share more about our spontaneous hiking trip.
Since I am a free-spontaneous-no plans kinda traveler, I was just literally wandering-wondering around the city. At a bus stop, I saw Ate Benny and Ate Aaron. Tinagalog ko sila kaagad hahaha, mafefeel mo kasi talaga kung Pinoy yung nakakasalubong mo eh. I was just asking them for directions, then they suddenly invited me to go hiking with them, iba din! And I said "GAME!" real quick. I know they are strangers, and what I did was risky. But I believe that the Lord will always guide me to the right direction, to the right people, mafefeel mo din talaga kung mabuting tao yung nakakasalamuha mo eh. Trust your instincts, trust God's signs. Two days in a row na akong sumasama-sama sa kung sino-sino and Praise God talaga 'coz He's really leading me to the right people. Ate Benny and Ate Aaron were really kind to me, they even paid for my ferry ride and dinner. They treated me like their own kapamilya kahit that day lang nila ako nakilala, ang alaga nila huhu. Learned so much from the life stories they shared. And the trail, the view, the hike itself was really fun and amazing. Oh, what a beautiful day it was!
 |
| VERY HELPFUL HAHA |
After our hike, I strolled around TST and watched the Symphony lights.
Hi Inn- Syempre nagbook na akong ng sariling accommodation haha. This is where I stayed for the rest of my stay in HK (P1,000/ day)
 |
| View from my bed |
Day 3- Tian Tan Buddha, Fishing Village, Victoria Peak
I bought a 3 day HK-Macau iVenture Pass in Klook https://www.klook.com/activity/38-iventure-sightseeing-pass-hong-kong/. Sobrang tipid-sulit to mga besh! I highly recommend you to avail this package. This pass allows you to enter 38 sightseeing attractions in HK & Macau. Sobrang laki ng masasave mo dito fwamis! Wasn't really able to try everything, now I got more reasons to go back.
I highlighted the deals I used. The pass is inclusive of:
- Ocean Park Tour
- Peak tram round trip ticket
- Ngong Ping 360 Standard Cabin Round Trip ticket
- Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck
- Sky100 VR experience Ticket
- Macau Tower Convention Entertainment Centre
- Macau Tour TKW (sightseeing day tour) – including a buffet lunch
- Hong Kong Watertours Pre-Dinner Sunset Cruise with unlimited free drinks on board
- Rickshaw sightseeing open top bus
- Broadway Macau set meal voucher
- Noah's Ark Hong Kong
- Disneyland Hong Kong, supplement of HKD496 per adult and HKD422 per child payable upon collection
- Hong Kong City Tour
- Hong Kong Crystal Bus – Afternoon Tour
- Guided Walking Tour – Cheung Chau Half-Day Tour
- Guided Walking Tour – Tung Chung to Tai O Scenic Tour
- Cotai Water Jet - Roundtrip Ferry Ticket between Hong Kong & Macau
- Route X15 to the Peak
- Safari Park Shenzhen
 |
| Perks of using Klook iVenture pass, you have a special lane, woot woot! |
There are shuttle buses that roam around town, so I hopped on a bus not knowing where to go. Yeah, that's how spontaneous I am. Glad that I did sooo, 'coz I found this beautiful, peaceful local fishing village just a few kilometres away from Tian Tan Buddha.
 |
| HAHAHAHAHAH you want some? |
Apologies for low quality photos, I was just using an android phone haha.
I suggest that you go back to the city around 6-7pm ishhh, so you can see the city lights from your gondola ride!
I went to Victoria Peak after having a quick bite of dinner. It was so cold and windy up there. And the view was magnificent, it was such a lovely night. I do love city lights and skyscrapers at night , it reminds me how beautiful darkness can be #hugot huhuhaha.
Day 4- Ocean Park, artsy streets and buildings
I went to Ocean Park, and oh boy, there I realized that I'm really not a fan of amusement parks. Stayed there for barely an hour or two.
I just wandered around and literally just let my feet bring me where it wants. I like getting lost , feeding my eyes with art and colors, lines and curves, exploring villages and streets, watching locals and tourists.
This is UI, I met her while strolling around the artsy streets of Central. She's a Japanese who's also solo travelling that time. Then we went together in search of cute boys (ehem ehem was single during that time, wag kang judger haha) and monster buildings . Hi UI, hope to see you again! Cheers to female solo travelers!
Day 5- Macau
Macau is an hour boat ride away from HK. One way ticket is about a thousand peso. The one-day Macau package tour included in the iVenture pass is a gally-great deal.
Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral
A-ma Temple
Buffet Lunch
Macao Tower
Broadway Macau
The Venetian Macau
Since it's the last night of my trip, I thought of spending the night at a hotel than a hostel. Just wanna spoil myself before I go back to working errrday. Chooosss, wala lang talaga akong nakitang mga hostel or backpacker's inn huhu ang mahal matulog sa Macao mygallllyyy! Mas mahal pa yung one night stay ko sa hotel kaysa sa flight ticket ko asdfghjkl!@#$%^&*() huhuhuhuhuhu. Yan ang napala ko sa pagiging spontaneous huhuhaha. 'Wag tularan!
Day 6-Macau
There are free casino shuttle buses around Macau, so what I did was hopped on and off from a shuttle bus to another. So for the whole day I just wandered and strolled around the streets of Macau.
***Oh Good Lord, it was really a wonderful-wanderful birthday solo adventure. I do felt Your presence all throughout this trip, guiding me ,leading me to the right persons, the right direction, the perfect destinations.
The Venetian Macau
 |
| BIRTHDAY KO BAWAL MAGCOMMENT HAHA |
Day 6-Macau
There are free casino shuttle buses around Macau, so what I did was hopped on and off from a shuttle bus to another. So for the whole day I just wandered and strolled around the streets of Macau.
***Oh Good Lord, it was really a wonderful-wanderful birthday solo adventure. I do felt Your presence all throughout this trip, guiding me ,leading me to the right persons, the right direction, the perfect destinations.
Comments
Post a Comment