Makati Standoff: Coup d'etat?

The standoff in Makati has ended. A lot of my friends and learners (I teach English to French, Italians, Germans) had been texting and emailing me about it. Well, it's nothing serious, really. Antonio Trillanes IV had been arrested, together with his cohorts. There's a curfew until 12MN today, just to stabilize the situation. It will be business as usual by tomorrow.

Visit this link for more updates about Manila and the Philippines:

http://www.inquirer.net/

Breakfast in HK

As I was walking back home last night, I saw a new ad from McDonalds and I was agog about this new product. I'm not really a fastfood fan (not anymore, especially since Nunu cooks really well!) but their marketing strategies amaze me. They adapt to the culture of any country and they're really good in doing so.

Just look at this meal from McDonald's HongKong:




Ham and egg with noodles!!!

From HK to Shenzen, China

Take the KCR East Rail from Hung Hom in Kowloon to Lo Wu, the last station at the border of Hong Kong and China. The KCR ride takes roughly half an hour.



At Lo Wu, you would have to stand in long lines at Hong Kong immigration counters. After crossing the Hong Kong immigration counters, you have to walk towards the Chinese immigration counters (few meters). However, to enter China, you need a visa. A five-day visa for Shenzhen is easily obtained for 150 HKD (for Filipinos) at the China Visa office in the same building.

The visa office opens at 8am. Obtaining a visa takes 15-30 minutes (depends on how long the line is) and you need to stand in another line to cross the Chinese immigration counter. Expect a total of 1.0 to 1.5 hours to cross the Hong Kong and Chinese immigration counters.

There is a big shopping complex right in front of Lo Wu train station (where Nunu and I got stuck).



You could either shop, eat, or go to tourist attractions like Windows of the World and Chinese Folk Culture Villages. These attractions are next to each other and are around 15 km away from Lo Wu. You can hail a cab to reach these destinations; just make sure that you have the name and address written in a piece of paper. They don't speak English there and the few people who do (guides) ask for payment.


Nunu is sad that we are leaving China already


Next: Off to Saigon(Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam!

Hong Kong

the double-decker bus in HK

You might get a bit bored in Macau if you're not a gambler so we recommend you take the ferry to Hong Kong which is less than 90 minutes away by ferry. You can also take a helicopter (expensive) if you're filthy rich. But since we're not, we decided to take the ferry. It was around P800 ($19US) for a one way ticket. By the way, you don't need a visa for HK/Macau if you have a Philippine passport.



Hong Kong is more expensive than Macau (especially cigarettes and transportation). So keep that in mind. If you have pesos with you, you might be able to find a decent exchange rate around Tsim Sha Tsui or Wan Chai.



*Nunu says to check exchange rates before travelling so you don't get ripped off. Try www.oanda.com.


In Hong Kong, there many things to do. Here's a top 10 list:

1) go shopping in Ladies Market of Mongkok (a very crowded place)
2) take the tram to The Peak
3) have a few drinks and party in Lang Kwai Fong
4) take the ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island
5) buy Royce chocolates at City Super in Times Square, Wanchai
6) check out Stanley Market
7) go to Disneyland!
8) try the local food
9) enjoy the cityscape from the midlevels
10) go shopping in Shenzhen and go there by train.





NEXT: How to go to Shenzen from Hong Kong