Old Mongkok

Hong Kong is old.

It’s filled with neon lights and every corner seems to be so bright, no matter what time of day. It’s a city that feels so lived in. How many people must have walked the streets, day in and day out, every day, every minute of it. It’s a city that never sleeps, and it’s a city that never turned off its lights.

I’ve been to Hong Kong thrice, and everytime I’d think that there’s nothing more to see. And everytime I am proven wrong. There will always be new people to meet, and new things to try. I will always have a first time. Hong Kong taught me how to deal with all kinds of people, even with those I don’t really want to deal with.

Hong Kong is old, but I love how every nook, every cranny seems to tell a story.

This time, I’ve been told of the story of Mongkok. I saw it beyond its image as a shopping district. It’s a place full of youth, spending all night with friends, taking photos and chatting in the middle of the street. It’s a mix of the commercial attractions with the old buildings and cheap hostels. It’s a combination I really like, for the mere fact that the old knows how to combine with the new.

It’s nice to see Mongkok in a new light.

The Long-Awaited Hong Kong/Macau Trip

This trip had been years in the making, and finally, finally it pushed through! Tita Matt said that we should go to Hong Kong after Gian graduated from grade school, and we did! It was quite tiring since we arrived in Hong Kong on May 10 at around 10PM and left on the 13th early in the morning. So it’s basically two days and three late nights. But it was fun, and it was definitely worth it.

It was definitely not easy to travel with kids, especially when they’re not used to walking around all the time. Let’s just say they’re not the most active kids around. Good thing they aren’t the type who’d ask to be carried when they’re tired. And as Ate put it, even if she gets paid 1000 HKD to carry Nana the entire day, she wouldn’t. Haha.

I am happy that they are happy. I’m glad that they enjoyed the trip even though it’s not as bongga as one would hope. I’m pretty sure my parents and my tita would rather go on a package trip but I insisted that we opt for a cheaper trip which includes staying at a hostel and a DIY itinerary.

Gian promised us that once he wins the lottery, he’d make sure that we’d stay at the Venetian Hotel next time we go to Macau. Basically, we’re pinning all our hopes on him.

The kids and the adults got tired easily, which is understandable. So my ate and I served as energy bunnies! I actually couldn’t take that many photos for the trip since there was always a kid holding on to me. But it’s fine.  They need all the motivation they can get to walk till the end of the street. Or for Gianna’s case, till she reached the top of the hill on the Ruins of St. Paul.

The parents, on the other hand, should always be motivated to walk a bit faster. I know that they want to relax and all, but they should be reminded that there’s actually an itinerary to be followed. They tend to forget. Haha.

When you’re traveling with your family, temper tends to run short. You always find yourself at a disagreement. This trip taught me to step back when voices are getting a pitch higher. It also taught me to be more sensitive to people’s moods. And of course, it taught me to be patient and to endure. I can’t be tired when there were three kids who were more tired and needed an ate to help them walk further.

Good thing food solves everything! When people start to get irritable, maybe it’s just time for dinner.

There are nuances when traveling with your family, but it’s something that I’d love to do as often as God permits. He knows how my parents need all the relaxation and rest they can get. And I kind of wish to be a bit richer so I can take them to grander and more amazing trips.

Right now, I’m just happy that we managed to leave despite the busy schedule and the responsibilities. I seriously hope this becomes an every year thing. Traveling doesn’t come cheap, but every traveling time spent with the family is money well spent.

Seoul Strangers

My favorite thing about the strangers I met in Seoul was the fact that they’re all so well-dressed! My friend wasn’t joking when she said that Koreans follow cut-throat fashion! I seriously felt under-dressed. Nevertheless, they’re one of the nicest and friendliest people I’ve encountered in my travels. They always have a smile to give to strangers and they bow whenever your eyes met. I felt so kilig. Heehee.

Since I love kids, I definitely enjoyed oggling at all the pre-school students! It’s amazing how the kids seem so independent. I’m so used to seeing kids here in the Philippines always accompanied by adults wherever they go. So I was amazed at how a class of about 20 students were only guided by a teacher or two. I wished I learned that kind of independence early in my childhood years! (I gained my ~independence~ after college, and I fought hard for it. Haha.) But then again, there’s a sense of security in Seoul that’s quite hard to feel here.

Too bad I didn’t make any friends, though, the way my friends who went to Seoul did! So when I go back, I will make sure that I’ll make a Korean friend. Haha.

Spring Last Year

My photography teacher back in college advised us to avoid cliche subjects such as flowers. But I can’t. How could I ever resist such photogenic subjects? :)

It was spring when we went to Korea last year. And everywhere you look, there were flower boxes and trees brimming with flowers! How could I not take photos of all the pretty flowers?

I have yet to experience winter and fall, and summer is pretty much the only season in my country. But I have this gut feel that Spring has all the potential to be my favorite. It’s like the perfect season to be outdoors. it seems like everyday is just perfect during spring, you know. It’s not too cold and not too hot , too. Perfect season is perfect.

I don’t wish for much but I wish there’s spring in my country. :(