Monday, May 16, 2011

Home Kong... Hong Kong...


There's a thing about Hone Kong that combines the rich cultural heritage it has and the new technologies that have arrived. I guess that's its signature, a country who knows who they are and adopts its culture towards the changing global landscapes. It also has been sort of a home, a comfort zone given that it's just a few hours away from the country and I get to spend some time with relatives.

I had the chance to exchange a weekend here to a weekend in Hong Kong since I had to use my earned miles before they expired and there it was a business class trip to HK. I'm out of places to visit in HK and fun now has been redefined to doing the things you like to do compared to packing your day trying to explore each attraction of the island. I'm gone to be a much easier and simpler person to please so four days spent just staying at home, attending my niece's party, shopping a bit, mass, a walk in the park and a trip to Ocean Park. I'm still stuck with the thought how can a very active red panda be related to the lazy giant panda but Ocean Park does provide you that mix that ranges from dolphin and seal shows, overwhelming aquariums, animal parks, hot air balloons and scary rides.

Of course, I could have so many variations from a weekend in Disney, to a cable car ride to the Golden Buddha, to appreciating the view at Victoria's Peak or navigating the city food tripping. That's Hong Kong's charm, it can give you so many alternatives from the old to the new, from the relaxing to the enchanting to the exciting and so on. It's so familiar yet it is so different and even though I've probably done those adventures, there's always a new unique experience that is worth exploring.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Universally Singapore



I'm now back with my Annual Singapore trip for work but in a country that's so known for their workaholic mindset, I managed to find some time to unwind and reconnect with friends based in the city state. I guess, that's one of the attractions that never fade, friends who have are now based in Singapore that you get a chance to meet once again.

With the fast-track development in the city-state, there's always something new to visit or to do from a walk in Skypark in the Marina Bay Sands (a bit pricey) to mall hoping in City Hall and Orchard to enjoying chicken rice in food courts or the S$1 ice cream that I love to eat to the shifting MRT lanes to shopping like crazy and to a kid-for-a-day adventure at Universal Studios. I did look forward to Universal Studios this year as I missed my chance last year due to sold-out tickets. It was fun getting to see the characters you watch in animated flicks and hop from one show to another and try out some rides in between.

I also was able to run in Singapore streets and it was very run friendly as you can run in parks or wide sidewalks in complexes or just about anywhere but you just have the hit the roads early in the morning or late at night as the it's a bit hotter in this area. I really look forward to this visits I get in Singapore more on the people I get to meet and all the places to visits are just all added attractions.