One of my long-kept dreams is to bring my immediate family to family-friendly destinations, outside the Philippines, like Hong Kong. Year 2017 was the milestone year for me to realize this dream.
August 5-8 was the final dates for my mother, Mama Dulcing, and my sister, En's family, with Jun her husband, and Bella their daughter.
On August 5, we departed Manila early in the morning, checked in successfully, went through the Immigration counter smoothly. When we were about to land at Hong Kong, we noticed that there was discrepancy in our mother's documentation. For so long we knew that her name is spelled Dulcesima, however, the passport bio page we realized contains a different spelling, Delcesima. The boarding pass and the plane ticket spelled Dulcesima. As per my experience at the arrival of any country, the officer would look into the boarding pass and the passport. This scared me; she may be held at immigration and worse be sent back to Manila. I initially thought that today was not really making my dreams come true... but it was! We went through Hong Kong's immigration without problem.
"Welcome to Hong Kong, mother!" I shouted.
Ngong Ping Village
It was too early to check in our room accommodation, booked through Airbnb. So we have to lay by anywhere.
Straight from the airport, we roamed around the Lantau Island. I let them ride the double-decker bus, on the second level we sat, on our way to Citygate Mall at Tung Chung Terminal. Then we took the Cable Car to reach the Ngong Ping Village.
Then after lunchtime, having exhausted from the heat of the sun, we found our way back to Tung Chung Terminal, via the local bus. And then rode the MRT to Mongkok area where our room is located. We found out that our accommodation was close to Mongkok Night Market, Chinese restaurants, street food shops, and bakeries.
Ocean Park
Our family is not stranger to Ocean Park; Philippines in fact has its own Manila Ocean Park and another Sea Adventure Park in Subic, Zambales. But Hong Kong has a massive place for an Ocean Park within the Hong Kong island and occupying a mountainous area. This was a different experience that my family enjoyed. En and Jun has been to Hong Kong during their honeymoon but this was their first time in Hong Kong Ocean Park.
Spending a day in this huge park is never enough. So we were selective in which sites, shows, and rides we enjoyed. The whole family enjoyed the Aquarium, Jelly Fish, Dolphin Show, Polar Adventure, Cable ride, and the Train ride.
Disneyland
Since this was a dream come true, it was fitting to spend one full day in the land of dreams; and it would be a waste if we cannot visit the Hong Kong Disneyland. And it was our little Bella who enjoyed all of it.
Victoria Harbor
Our 4-day tour came to an end and that last day we spent at the memorable Victoria Harbor. It was good to know that Cebu Pacific Airline had an office near the harbor because we were able to secure correction of Mama Dulcing's misspelled name, at the same time made a tour at the harbor. Fortunately, the airline made a note about the correction of the letter U to E, following her name as spelled in the passport.
Since we were tugging along our luggages, I was left at one corner under the shade of Space and Arts Museum while my company walked along the harbor towards the Avenue of the Stars. Afterwards, we lunched at KFC within the Harbor City Mall before heading towards the airport.
It was such a short but sweet family trip! We will definitely make another one in other destinations.
We praise God for this opportunity while Mama Dulcing is alive and can still travel.
August 5-8 was the final dates for my mother, Mama Dulcing, and my sister, En's family, with Jun her husband, and Bella their daughter.
On August 5, we departed Manila early in the morning, checked in successfully, went through the Immigration counter smoothly. When we were about to land at Hong Kong, we noticed that there was discrepancy in our mother's documentation. For so long we knew that her name is spelled Dulcesima, however, the passport bio page we realized contains a different spelling, Delcesima. The boarding pass and the plane ticket spelled Dulcesima. As per my experience at the arrival of any country, the officer would look into the boarding pass and the passport. This scared me; she may be held at immigration and worse be sent back to Manila. I initially thought that today was not really making my dreams come true... but it was! We went through Hong Kong's immigration without problem.
"Welcome to Hong Kong, mother!" I shouted.
Ngong Ping Village
It was too early to check in our room accommodation, booked through Airbnb. So we have to lay by anywhere.
Straight from the airport, we roamed around the Lantau Island. I let them ride the double-decker bus, on the second level we sat, on our way to Citygate Mall at Tung Chung Terminal. Then we took the Cable Car to reach the Ngong Ping Village.
Then after lunchtime, having exhausted from the heat of the sun, we found our way back to Tung Chung Terminal, via the local bus. And then rode the MRT to Mongkok area where our room is located. We found out that our accommodation was close to Mongkok Night Market, Chinese restaurants, street food shops, and bakeries.
Ocean Park
Our family is not stranger to Ocean Park; Philippines in fact has its own Manila Ocean Park and another Sea Adventure Park in Subic, Zambales. But Hong Kong has a massive place for an Ocean Park within the Hong Kong island and occupying a mountainous area. This was a different experience that my family enjoyed. En and Jun has been to Hong Kong during their honeymoon but this was their first time in Hong Kong Ocean Park.
Spending a day in this huge park is never enough. So we were selective in which sites, shows, and rides we enjoyed. The whole family enjoyed the Aquarium, Jelly Fish, Dolphin Show, Polar Adventure, Cable ride, and the Train ride.
Disneyland
Since this was a dream come true, it was fitting to spend one full day in the land of dreams; and it would be a waste if we cannot visit the Hong Kong Disneyland. And it was our little Bella who enjoyed all of it.
Victoria Harbor
Our 4-day tour came to an end and that last day we spent at the memorable Victoria Harbor. It was good to know that Cebu Pacific Airline had an office near the harbor because we were able to secure correction of Mama Dulcing's misspelled name, at the same time made a tour at the harbor. Fortunately, the airline made a note about the correction of the letter U to E, following her name as spelled in the passport.
Since we were tugging along our luggages, I was left at one corner under the shade of Space and Arts Museum while my company walked along the harbor towards the Avenue of the Stars. Afterwards, we lunched at KFC within the Harbor City Mall before heading towards the airport.
It was such a short but sweet family trip! We will definitely make another one in other destinations.
We praise God for this opportunity while Mama Dulcing is alive and can still travel.
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