Hong Kong on a Shoestring! (Arrival and Accomodation)

HKIA: The Arrival

As soon as the pilot announced that we were about to descend to Hong Kong in a few minutes, I got excited once again. I constantly prayed that the HK weather would be nice during the length of our stay. So while we were descending, I was looking over the plane window, occasionally checking out if the weather was cooperating. The clouds were just so thick, I got a little hesitant about our first day. But then, it cleared as we further got down. Thank God! I realized we were just greeted with something distinctly different from the Philippines--the Hong Kong atmosphere. You could clearly see the difference here.

We arrived at HKIA five minutes ahead of our ETA (9:15 AM) which was good as I thought our itinerary is still intact. But considering that we have been awake for almost 24 hours straight, following a tight schedule of work and some last minute preparations, I felt the itinerary had to adjust.

The ATOs and Runway at HKIA. View from the plane at touchdown.

We were seated on the front seats of the plane; hence, we were the first ones to get off. I got excited once again. HKIA is just huge! I knew that we were in Terminal 2 (T2) at that time, as I've read up ahead that Air Asia's designation is at T2. And I remembered that one still has to take the train shuttle from T2 to T1 to get to the Immigration and finally fetch your luggage. I originally thought of just going with the flow, that is just follow our fellow passengers until we get to T1. But our spirits were just up, and the urge to take a photo was overwhelming. We gave in! Hahaha. So eventually, all of our fellow passengers were either way ahead or way behind us. Confident that I am, I decided that we just follow the signs that direct us to the Immigration. After all, I thought we should all end up at the same point.

Good Tip @ HKIA: Learn how to read and just follow the signs.

I admit I was still a little bit hesitant about where we were exactly headed to, but we proceeded anyway.

And after "x" number of walkalators...

"Walkalators" ahead! Hehehe.

...we found the entrance to the airport train shuttle, which we originally thought was a train bound for somewhere else other than HKIA T1. Why would we think so? Because it is completely empty, as in we were the only ones in the coach apart from that airport personnel who boarded the nearby coach. This gave me second thoughts yet again, why would it be empty? My impression of HKIA is that it is a busy airport. I felt we were lost. My excitement declined for a moment. It immediately turned into anxiety. But then again, it is no time to be anxious.

HKIA Train Shuttle from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 

I remember as soon as we got out of the train. We went up through a long escalator.

Lost for a moment in HKIA

We still followed the signs leading us to the Immigration. And because we thought we were really lost, we even asked an Airport Information Personnel to confirm where we are at the moment. Good thing, we followed the signs because she merely pointed us in front and there was the Immigration! We were really not lost after all.

We were looking for the other Pinoy passengers on the same flight in the Immigration, but there was nobody familiar in sight. We wondered for a bit. But after a couple of minutes, there they were. We were obviously walking faster than them.

The Immigration Officer only asked us a couple of questions, like where we would stay; they also asked us for our return ticket, as well. After that, we were good to go. Passport stamped! Let's not keep Hong Kong waiting, should we? Hehehe.

We then proceeded out to the baggage conveyor belts area. Remember to look what number your conveyor belt is on. Note that there is one conveyor belt per flight. The information regarding your baggage is located in the center of the baggage area. It's on a big screen, you won't miss it out. Then proceed out the Arrivals Hall. ;)

Next stop was the MTR Customer Service, again you can't overlook it because it it located right before you exit the Arrivals Hall and head to the bus terminals for the city. Originally we thought of availing the Airport Express Travel Pass (HKD 220) since we wanted to experience riding the Airport Express on the way back to HKIA; you only get unlimited MTR Rides but City Bus rides and other services available to Octopus Card holders are not included. Although the Airport Express Travel Pass entitles you to as much as 33% discount on some of HK Attractions, you may not be sure that you could avail those and get the most of what the card really says it gives. Because our budget needs to adjust and our itinerary would not really include most of the HK Attractions included in the Travel Pass, we settled with the Octopus Card (HKD 150) which we initially topped with an additional HKD 50. Therefore we have an effective HKD 150 as initial value for our card. I preferred we don't go down beyond it. But then again you are allowed as much as HKD -37 and still you can use your card.

As for the China Travel Services (CTS) Booth, we weren't really apt in finding it at the Airport given our itinerary does not really include any theme parks, and The Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360 tickets were at its original price anyway. Plus the idea that you still need to line up in the ticketing area even if you already have the voucher with you, since your vouchers necessarily have to be exchanged to the actual tickets. So we felt there was really no need to check out CTS anymore, at least for us. In the end, this decision proved right.

Octopus Card which we topped with an additional HKD 50

Now we're finally ready to get out of the Airport. Again, as I've been reiterating many times in this blog: Follow the signs. We then proceeded to the Bus Terminal and looked for the A21 Bus Stop since we were headed to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Look for this Bus Stop. That is not an A21 Bus below, it's another bus parked right across the A21 Bus Stop. I just took a picture of it, I mean who's not excited riding a double-decker bus for the first time? I know I am. Hehehe.

Trolleys blocking the queuing lane for the A21 Bus Stop.

I took pictures of HK along the way from the upper deck of the A21 Bus.

Accomodation at The Pearl Hostel

According to the City Bus website, we were supposed to go down at the 14th Bus Stop from the Airport but we missed it and instead got down on the next Stop. Good thing it was just a few blocks away from the Mirador Mansion where we will be staying. Therefore we just walked back and found the place in no time.

Backpacker's Haven

The Map for the Pearl Hostel as it appears in the website

I actually tried to book a room in many of the hostels recommended in Page 1 of Pinoy Exchange's Ultimate Guide to Hong Kong. But most were already full, if not some were asking for an initial deposit. I chanced upon the Oi Suen Guesthouse in Mong Kok, which has another "sister hostel" in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), The Pearl Hostel. I preferred to stay in TST because I wanted to be close to some of the major HK Attractions--i.e. Avenue of Stars, Clock Tower, Victoria Harbour, Museums, etc.--and also to big shopping malls--i.e. Harbour City.

I booked a room at The Pearl Hostel for 3 nights at HKD 1350 (HKD 450 per night) via email. The good thing about it is that they don't ask for an initial deposit, you just have to send to them your flight itinerary and then confirm your booking at least a week before your flight. I was constantly exchanging emails with Canny, who was the caretaker of The Pearl Hostel, so I know that our room is secured and that we have a place to stay when we arrive. She assured us every time and she was very pleasant whenever I asked her questions. When we met her, we were actually surprised that she knows how to speak a little bit of Tagalog; she told us she went to the Philippines a long time ago and that she learned a few words ever since. I suppose she also picks up some conversational Tagalog from her Filipino tenants once in a while. Canny's a Hong Kong resident, probably a woman in her 50's. She's really nice and we promised to go back to the place again.

The room that she gave us was on the 16th floor of the Mirador Mansion. Actually, the Pearl Hostel is located on the 6th floor, but obviously the rooms with windows are on the top floors. I actually preferred it, even if it is 10 floors more up. Hehehe.

The actual view from our window at the 16th floor of Mirador Mansion.

The room has one big bed and a large window. It has a good AC unit a Wi-Fi access whose router was surprisingly right beside our bed, which means excellent signal. They provide you a new towel everyday. The bed sheets are also cleaned everyday. A TV with a password is also available. Hahaha. Yes, you read it right-a password (00000)! Who needs a TV anyway, when you're in HK for the adventure. As expected, the toilet and bathroom is small but for those people who are not really fussy, I promise you will get by. You need to pay a HKD 100 deposit for your key, which you can get back on check out, or in our case the night before our check out. Apparently, we needed that additional money to buy pasalubong. Hehehe. And Canny was more than willing to oblige. Thanks again Canny!

Our room as it appears in the The Pearl Hostel website. 

An electric kettle is also available for hot water for that morning coffee or probably for instant noodles for breakfast; this was really useful because that's exactly what we ate every morning in HK, not to mention a good way to save on our food budget.

Cup noodles + a delicious Raisin Bread = Breakfast solved!

Over all, I would say that the Pearl Hostel is a very decent place to stay for backpackers, especially for first-time backpackers. I must say that I would probably go back. ;)

For those of you who are interested, just click on the link below for more information on how to contact them.

Oi Suen Guesthouse & The Pearl Hostel