Wanderlust Diary

My last trip was a solo flight to Hongkong. I realized something…I can travel alone but I dread eating alone! I don’t like not being able to order more choices because I could not finish them. Plus it much expensive with no one to share with..Boo!!!

I was all alone wandering around Hongkong, waiting for an adventure to unfold…yet again, my favorite store was haunting my mind as I step the Hongkong streets. My friends were all wanting me to avoid Mongkok area because of the acid attack however I couldn’t since I chose to stay at Comfort Lodge near Jordan station. It was a very good bargain, only $32usd, thanks for some points I’ve used at Agoda site.

Comfort Lodge was at the back of Prudential Hotel which I stayed a year earlier. I looked confused because initially I couldn’t see the entrance. After careful counting of street numbers, I urge myself to step in this quaint entrance and found myself inside a lobby/apartment where this good gentleman guided me to my room upstairs. It was just perfect for me, a small comfortable air conditioned room…with a toilet/shower…an overnight stay was quite tolerable…it was a bargain!

H&M was the store I always visited in Hongkong. First at Langham Place then next at Tai Ko area. I was grabbing stuff like crazy, was too excited to care how much, though I was choosing only from HKD 99 to 199 items, it was a lot that I let go some I think look good on me but I won’t wear often. Booo..

Shopping made me hungry..finding a good place to eat alone was challenging. I searched for food blogs which recommends certain food favorites. My first stop was Tai Ping Koon Restaurant in Tsim Tsa Tsiu area.

Their specialty is Baked Pork Chop Rice which was tolerable for a solo eater but I still couldn’t finish it! I was wishing that I could share it with someone and order more dishes. Oh well…anyways..food check: crispy yet tender…perfect pork chop! But heck, it was expensive! HKD 90+…no choice though.

After the meal, I wandered aimlessly seeking some shopping refuge. I went to the Fa Yuen Market but clothes there are for winter use only. Can’t wear them here in the Philippines. My next stop was shopping around Mongkok area especially Langham Place. I feel like my hand carry bag cannot fit the things I will be buying so I keep sacrificing some clothes.

Compare to shopping in Bangkok, I think in Hongkong, you still get to find bargains with good quality. But I miss getting “shopping high” in Platinum Mall Bangkok.

Next day, I looked for food finds around my hotel. I passed by cheongfan/siomai canteen feeling nostalgic, brings back old memories of my Hongkong visit during my childhood…got lost and tried to speak as much Mandarin as I can, cried helplessly in front of a security guard…that experience helped me to be more resourceful!

Interestingly, I saw 7-Eleven selling warm chocolate soya milk. That’s so cool! They sell them in small bottles which if you return, they’ll give you refund for the bottle.

You can also buy sim cards at these convenient stores to keep yourself within reach but I opted to use the payphone at MTR stations. 1 HKD for a 5 minute local call. I called up my friend in HK and met with her and her family. First time I reached a station away from the shopping areas. I practically used my tourist pass (24 hours unlimited MTR ride) for my stay.

It wasn’t a traumatizing first. I think I managed to keep myself busy and observed people a little better. Noticed that I was usually the only one wearing white plus sandals. It seems to be Hongkong people prefer darker colors. Plus people seem to know I’m a tourist because I was the only one wearing sandals during their cooler season!