Although I have reservations about the Philippines' tourism slogan, I can do nothing about it.  Might as well find something useful about it.  So, I've entitled my Philippine travel adventure series, "It's More Fun in the Philippines."  

     Lately, I've been going around the country one tourist destination at a time.  I'll start blogging my adventures after wrapping up my Hong Kong and Macau adventures, but here's a sneak peek:

     Yes, my friends and I decided to have an Amazing Race across China and its special administrative regions (SARs).  We visited, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau in our 4d3n tour last February.  It's a very crazy idea. I don't encourage anyone to do the same, especially for first-time travelers to those places.

     Throwing caution to the wind, we spent a night in Macau just to be able to say that we've been there.  Well, I've been there before, but the rest, except for one, have never been to HK, China and Macau.  

     So, from our hotel, we took a shuttle going to TST.  The stop was very near the China Ferry Terminal.  It's very easy to find.  Just go inside China Hong Kong City,where the huge Esprit outlet store is located at the ground floor.  Refer to the photo I screencapped from Google Maps.  Entrance is beside Esprit, just go up to the short escalators until you reach the third floor, I think, where the booking offices are located.  From there, you can take your pick of ferry service depending on the time you want to depart. Most services leave even every 30 minutes, except for Cotai Jet which departs late in the afternoon if I remember correctly.  This ferry station also services passengers to Mainland China such as Zhuhai.

     After buying tickets and waiting for our ferry to depart, we ate lunch at Cafe de Coral, a fast food chain in Hong Kong which offers cheap meals, of course by Hong Kong standards.  The food there is quite tasty and they change their menus depending on the time.  After 2 p.m., no more lunch sets, for example.  Be sure to state clearly your choice of set meal and which beverage you want since not all cashiers understand English well.  You can point to the menu on the wall, then say if you want milk tea, or if you want cola (additional price).  You'll be given a printed receipt plus an order slip which you'll have to hand over to a staff at  a separate counter where roasted ducks are hung.  Wait for your order and hope that the cashier and helper got your orders right.

     We picked First Ferry/Turbo Jet as our service provider.  It was the same company we used when I went to Macau in 2009.  It leaves every 30 minutes from 7am to 10:30 pm everyday. Makes you wonder how many gamblers, tourists, businessmen and locals shuffle to and from Macau each day.  Hmm.

     Anyway, I think we paid around HKD 150+ per person since it was a weekend.  But the ferry was not packed and it was a pleasant ride so we were able to take a nap.  About an hour later, we reached Macau! Yay!

      Once in Macau, and after passing through the immigration, we took the underpass going to the other side of the street to catch a free shuttle bus to our hotel, the Venetian.

     Having watched the Dragon and Phoenix Dance in 2010, I was slightly disappointed with the performance I watched this February.  It was not as solid a performance as the first time I watched it.  It was still a feast on the eyes, but not as spectacular as I remember it.  I have videos of then and now to compare the performances.

     By the way, it was freaking cold! Way colder due to the open spaces.  Good thing we had some 30 minutes to spare before the Dragon and Phoenix Show to eat some hot meals, like noodles and hot milk tea with tapioca.  Yum!

     I highly recommend, too, those grilled mutton on sticks.  For 3 sticks at RMB 10, you'll get your money's worth!  It's so darn tasty, tender and goes well with a sort of hard naan-like bread sold separately.  You may opt to have it without the spices, like I did if you're not into spicy foods.

     Our second day in HK was a little warmer at 17-18C.  Great!  I still had to wear tights since I was wearing a mini skirt which I bought, and used, too in Singapore.  In fact, I use that Annie skirt from Cotton On a lot.  I think it makes my stumpy legs look loads better.

     Anyway, we had to join a half day city tour so we'd get a free tour to Shenzhen, China, in the afternoon.  Our half-day tour was so boring.  We only went to a part of the Avenue of Stars, same place we went to last year, then nothing else.  Except for JC jewelry factory, again.  We didn't mind the shortened trip since we wanted to go Shenzhen earlier than scheduled.

   I believe this is a ferry to Macau. 

    So, we're off to Shenzhen.  Only this time, we were given return-trip tickets.  Yay!

     The train ride to the Lohu border was uneventful, but the train was packed.  I was standing for most of the ride.  Anyway, we had to stop for a while after reaching Lohu and bought some drinks, breads and sandwiches and 2 packs of Yakult.  The HK Yakult is bigger than our Yakult but tastes the same, of course.

     You should know that Lohu is a very busy station as it is the border for HK and Shenzhen, China.  Of course, there are a lot of people rushing and it can be very intimidating.  So, be cautious and try not to slam into someone.

    If there is one advice everyone should follow going to Shenzhen is this:  GO STRAIGHT TO THE CHINA IMMIGRATION AREA AND NEVER TURN BACK ONCE YOU GET TO THIS PART.

     Why?  Well, all people are moving towards the China Immigration right after having their passports stamped by the HK Immigration and if you turn back, the security will chase after you.  You'll be suspected of having illegally entered the Hong Kong part of immigration, that is why.  We saw a lady, in her 20s walking against the flow and she was shouted at, chased and accosted by the security and was brought to a holding area.  Let it be a lesson for all.