3 Days Around Hong Kong in Slippers

Hong Kong was my first trip out of the country and I walked around wearing elevated slippers for three days. If that was not crazy enough, my visit was on the first week of March when locals were wearing casual winter clothes. Oh my.

Hong Kong Airport to Mong Kok

We arrived late at night (last trips to Hong Kong are usually the cheapest fares), purchased Octopus cards (Php600 in Klook) and took the train from Airport Station to Mong Kok Station as we are staying at Geo-Home Holiday Hotel along Nathan Road in Mong Kok.

Take a look at the Hong Kong Train Map.

From the Airport station (Dark Green line at the middle left side), we alighted at Tsing Yi station (1 stop), transferred to the Orange Line to alight at Lai King station (1 stop), transferred to the Red Line to finally alight at Mong Kok Station (6 stops). Total Fare: HKD65 ~ Php450, Travel Time: 38 minutes.

I hope you were able to follow easily as we will be navigating train maps like this a lot.

Day 1. Ngong Ping Village, Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, Tian Tan, Po Lin, and Disneyland

Of course, we allotted our first day for Disneyland. But because we wanted to make the most of our day, we woke up early to visit Ngong Ping Village first which is just one train station far from Sunny Bay Station for Disneyland.

Mong Kok to Ngong Ping Village and Cable Car Ride

We boarded the train from Mong Kok station to Lai King station (6 stops) then transfered to the Orange line to alight at Tung Chung station (3 stops). Total Fare: HKD17 ~ Php115, Travel Time: 33 minutes.

Can you follow this on the train map? I hope you are getting the hang of it.

We intended to do the round trip cable car ride but we arrived too early at Tung Chung station so we had to ride the bus as the first cable car ride was at 10 am yet.

Tung Chung Station to Ngong Ping Village

We walked our way to the Tung Chung Town Centre just a few meters away from the Tung Chung Station exit. We boarded Bus 23 to Ngong Ping Village. It was quite a long ride so we caught up with sleep as we traveled. (Travel time: 50 minutes, Fare: HKD17 ~ Php115) 

We walked around the area and enjoyed Tian Tan and Po Lin (Free admission) before we passed through Ngong Ping Village (Free admission) for the cable car ride back to Tung Chung station. (One-way Cable Car: Php865 at Klook, Travel time: 25 minutes)

Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car ride has a beautiful overlooking view of Hong Kong  and Lantau Island.

We spent the rest of the day enjoying Disneyland. (Get discounted tickets through Klook at around Php3800)

Ngong Ping Village to Disneyland

Disneyland Resort Station is only 2 stops and 1 transfer away from Tung Chung Station through Sunny Bay Station (Fare: HKD15 ~ Php90, Travel Time: 18 minutes). Very easy just looking at the train map, isn’t it?

Space Mountain is a must ride! I can never forget the thrill as we rode a roller coaster in the dark going backward and forward so fast without knowing and seeing what is ahead of us. We passed by miniature planets and the sun and moons as it was designed to be a journey through space. I could still remember how my colleagues screamed their hearts out the whole time that I could only laugh listening to them the whole journey and looking at their faces after the ride.

The musical show by different Disney characters at PhilharMagic is a must watch! Oh how they delivered the songs so beautifully I realized Disney songs simply have a special imprint on me that when sung, it pokes my heart and emotions in a way that it makes me cry.

I was told I shouldn’t miss watching Lion King when I visit Hong Kong Disneyland but the Lion King area was renovated when we visited.

We tried as much fun rides as we can on every themed area. We watched as much shows as our time allowed until we waited for the parade and fireworks after eating dinner.

Disneyland to Mong Kok

Fireworks end at around 8 to 9pm with trains from Disneyland Station to Mong Kok Station still available. (Disneyland to Sunnybay to Lai King to Mong Kok, Fare: HKD20 ~ Php 140, Travel Time: 35 minutes)

We walked around Mong Kok and settled at a restaurant within the area for dinner. None of us can speak or understand Chinese so we had to ask if they have an English menu before we go in.

Overcoming language barriers is always part of the fun in traveling.

Day 2. Peak Tram, Victoria Peak, Madame Tussauds, Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbour for Symphony of Lights  

Mong Kok to The Peak / Victoria Peak

We started our day early again as we made our way to The Peak. (Mong Kok Station to Central Station, 5 stops, no transfer, Fare: HKD12 ~ Php84, Travel Time: 12 minutes. Take Exit J2 and follow the signs to Victoria Peak / Garden Road for the the Peak Tram terminal).

We booked the Roundtrip Peak Tram + Sky Terrace combo (Available in Klook at around Php550).

Riding the tram up to The Peak already gives a preview of what you will be expecting when you will finally be at The Peak Tower which is known to be the highest and best view overlooking Hong Kong and the Victoria Harbour.

It was so beautiful at The Peak we each went on separate ways to listen to the audio guide about Hong Kong and its history. Earphones and kit are included in the package. We just individually enjoyed the scenery before us.

We also enjoyed Madame Tussauds (P1500 in Klook) like we were kids again as we entered 6 big floors, each with different themes.

My favorites at Madame Tussauds were Do Min Joon of the Korean series “My Love from the Star”, Jackie Chan, and Albert Einstein. We visited last 2016 so many of the famous faces we met might have been replaced already.

We ate lunch at Tim Ho Wan at Hong Kong Central. The walk from Central station to its exact location at Podium Level 1 IFC Mall already made us experience the urban vibe of Hong Kong.

We queued behind so many people and were indeed rewarded with very good food on this Michelin-starred restaurant. We kept on ordering different additional dishes for sharing when it was already our turn to order and eat.

Victoria Peak to Avenue of Stars

We then made our way to Avenue of Stars (Free admission). Take the train from Central Station to Tsim Sha Tsui Station (2 stops, Fare: HKD10 ~ Php70, Travel time: 6 minutes).

Just follow the signs going to Avenue of Stars.

We already saw Victoria Harbour from Avenue of Stars so we just enjoyed walking our way to Victoria Harbour by following the signs to Star Ferry.

Symphony of Lights is at 8 pm everyday but we arrived at the benches right beside Victoria Harbour fronting the participating buildings at around 5 pm to secure our free seats at the limited number of benches.

The view was very good my colleagues and I found ourselves in deep conversations about ourselves and our country and the economy and wherever our topics lead us while we were waiting for the Symphony of Lights.

It was very entertaining how the lights of the different buildings owned by different big corporations synchronize with the music for around 30 minutes. It just had me smiling all throughout.

Day 3. Ocean Park and Mong Kok Night Market

I wasn’t able to go to Ocean Park as the flight back to Manila that I booked for myself was in the morning of Day3 (to the slight surprise of my colleagues, sorry guys!). This was mainly because I thought I was already spending too much for this trip.

I am still writing Ocean Park (Admission: Php2600 in Klook) as part of this 3-day itinerary since just like Disneyland, one whole day needs to be allotted for the huge park.

Mong Kok to Ocean Park

Take the train from Mong Kok Station to Admiralty Station (4 stops, no transfer, Fare: HKD12 ~ Php84, Travel Time: 10 minutes). Take Exit B and ride Bus 629 to Ocean Park. (Fare: HKD10 ~ Php70).

Mong Kok night market was just a few steps away from our hostel but we didn’t have time to visit. Now that I think about it, I think it’s more of we really didn’t have the interest to shop and inevitably spend more.

You can also include the night market in your itinerary especially if you will also be staying in Mong Kok.

We passed by thrift stores on the different train stations and we bought discounted goods at one of them for our family and friends back home.

I used my Octopus card for payment as we loaded more than enough for our transportation expenses.

I always have at least a screenshot of my planned itinerary like the one I am sharing below when I travel. It serves as my guide on how to go to my intended destinations. It serves as my time tracker to make me conscious if I am spending too much time in one place. I don’t want to compromise not being able to visit all my intended destinations.

Most importantly, it serves as a reminder for me how much this trip already costs to help restrain me from spending more than what is written on my planned itinerary and budget.

When I was in Disneyland, I thought of my siblings especially our baby sister who would really enjoy Disneyland more than I did.

When I was walking and enjoying at Avenue of Stars and Victoria Harbour, I was thinking of my parents who I think should also be able to experience and enjoy what I just did.

I thought traveling abroad would be too expensive. I thought going around a foreign place would be too difficult. This trip just proved me wrong and changed my perspective on traveling.

My perspectives on life and foreign culture also got tweaked a bit as this was my first time to be in another country. I experienced a culture totally different from what I grew up with my whole life.

I walked around Hong Kong wearing slippers and resolved to wear shoes if I will be given the resources and privilege of being able to travel again.

Do you think I wore the right footwear on my next travel destination? Guess where?