Aberdeen Fishing Village & Sightseeing Sampan

Aberdeen is not too far from the very heart of Hongkong. Used to be the center of incense trade long time ago and was coined "Little Fragrant Harbor". They say Aberdeen was one of the few places British troops set ashore late 1800's. 

The facade of Aberdeen. 

For generations, Aberdeen has been a fishing port, even today you can see rows and rows 

of large and old fashioned fishing fleets and large-brimmed hats dwellers. Shall we take a glimpse of the life of boat people.

Sightseeing Sampan

Rate at HKD 50/person but we're able to bargain for HKD40 for a 30-minute ride around the crowded harbour. The sampan ride ushered us to the old colorful houseboats along the area passing under a bridge, to the floating restaurants- where we stopped over for a while for a solo photo (all of the riders) to the grand yachts moored along Aberdeen Marina. 

A trip to Aberdeen is like being transported back when Hongkong under the British colony was still young, fresh, and full of life with beaming potentials. Evident of its growth, HK right now is one of world's leading financial centers. Aberdeen will always be a part of old Hongkong. 

Sightseeing is being managed by an elderly Tanka. See, this lady still rocks the boat! 

The solo pic 1

The solo pic 2

The solo pic 3

The solo pic 4

The Aberdeen harbour in complete contrast to the old fashioned boats and large junks around Aberdeen fishing village. 

The Jewelry Shop

After sightseeing, we made a quick detour to a jewelry shopping for some window shopping. In here, you will come across various fashion jewelries, jades, cubic zirconia, silver, gold and timepieces of your choice. Chinese people love Jade particularly of its green color, which imbibes new life and bounty.

Riza got tattooed!

Apart from jewelries, the shop also has a small tea shop, so we had a quick healthy tea-tasting, enjoying the aroma and the whole experience of proper 'afternoon tea' in the morning. Haha.. Our jewelry trip is not so much remarkable except that we happen to meet a fellow Kababayan who is travelling alone and asked us to help him find an engagement ring. How sweet! 

Snapped this before heading to souvenir shop next block..

Oh, souvenirs

The souvenir place is infact more like a warehouse or something, and that even the lift is very old and rusty, such a pity especially that HK is known as one of the shopping capitals of the world! I have in mind that this shop perhaps is illegal... oh its just me. 

Oh yes, colorful, detailed chopsticks makes a perfect souvenir...

Various item souvenirs to chose from 

Of course we made sure to buy classic I heart HK shirt. Lols. The shop offers free delivery to hotel so you don't have to bring everything with you on the remaining tour. Be sure to clearly mark your package with your Name and Hotel and include your Room Number so it gets right where it should be. I was so devastated when we found out in China that our souvenirs were nowhere to be found! But well we've moved on with that...ahuhu. 

Next stop: Disneyland- I will make a separate blog about it!

To the happiest place on Earth,

itsmelory (^.^)

Discovering Hongkong

Hongkong is a Chinese country but not governed by China law. HK in the last year's has always been under the British government. I always get curious what this country looks like. Somehow HK makes me only think of Jacky Chan! Joke. So when my friend Riza told me to go on a tour, I did not think twice- I jumped at the chance to find out what's so special about this metropolis! 

Oh Hello, Hong kong!

We got a promo tour through an online sale excluding airfare but we were able to book our ticket 3 months ahead so we got good rates as well. This is it!

It was a fine and cold January morning when we flew to HK. Barely a 3-hour travel from NAIA 2. For us who are used to fair atmosphere most of the time, January is a perfect month to travel with its mild weather, not so much cold, not so much hot, not too much tourists.

We were met by our tourguide at the airport and escorted us to our hotel. On the way, we had a glimpse of HK. So despite of rush packing(for Riza), last minute shopping for some coveralls, sleepless night and waking up early to get to the flight on time, we were still wide awake not to miss a wink of HK!

taken from Hongkong International Airport on the way to Kowloon.

Tsing Ma bridge. Which according to our tourguide "Jenny" is one of the longest bridge in the world. Currently it holds 9th place of the worlds longest.

The Silka Hotel 

Part of the tour includes hotel accommodation. We drove to Silka Hotel, quite a  decent place. It was crowded when we arrived while we wait to be checked in. So to kill time, we went to the pantry for free coffee. Oh, we live for freebies. We just enjoyed overflowing drinks while checking out interesting places around. 

Betty getting busy of her version of selfie? 

while the rest is doing another  "on the spot planning" for our day tour..

After finally checking in, we went out and walked to Castle Peak Road  to find some  lunch. We found this  small food bar which cost us HKD 50/meal. Food was not that spectacular, and it wasn't so bad though except that they will tell you to leave when you're done. Apparently they have limited seats and to make way for other guests, they will practically tell you to move away. So mean, but they mean business here!  We did not wait to be called because we hurriedly went out after paying. Okie xie xie! 

Can't go without some desserts...

Some "Nian Gao" or tikoy as we know it, just in time for the upcoming Chinese New Year. 

Everything in here. Feng-shui, chinese candles 

Tak Wah Park 

So after lunch, we strolled around and come a crossed this small park. Since we have the whole afternoon by ourselves, why not check this out?

Just across the park is City Landmark shopping mall. 

Quite a contrast from where our place and stuck in the middle of Tsuen Wan is this little "old village" inside Tak Wah Park surrounded by trees, a garden, a pond and pavilion,  typical Chinese garden. What really caught my heart is that, in here you see elderly, or  random people taking a quiet walk or having an afternoon tea. It's like a haven perhaps? of those who want to contemplate of a modern city just across it. 

Check out our Mongkok trip here! 

Cheers, 

itsmelory (^.^)