When you have equally impulsive workmates/ friends, booking a flight falls under the discretion of the most spontaneous one– (Hi, Feye!). A flight to HongKong was confirmed even before one of us asked when.

Three months before the trip, we have already paid for our hotel room which only cost us Php. 2400++ each for three nights and three days. Cheap find, yes! The power of AirBnB comes in handy nowadays.

As for the itinerary, what better way than to leave it on the hands of our geographer friend (Hello again, Feye)?

Our flight was scheduled at four in the afternoon. We arrived at the airport a little too early so we decided to eat our lunch first. Thinking that the check-in counter for HK was not open yet, we took our time eating our share of burgers. Little did we know that we had to run like we’re in a marathon just to catch our boarding time.

Amazing Race, NAIA Terminal 3 edition.

It was the worst (yet) flight I’d ever had because a tropical storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility the same day as our flight. We know, guys, we know.  

We experienced countless turbulence; the crew and even the pilot told us to just stay calm. But who would stay calm when it was like the plane would crash in any given minute?

But we arrived safe.

After we left our bags in the hotel room, we found ourselves wandering the streets of HongKong late (11:00 PM). We found a local food hub (which most likely is a carinderia in the Philippine setting) and ate the famous Hongkong noodles.

Then we had a good night rest.

We started doing things early the next day. Because Shenzhen, China.

Judge us but we ate our breakfast in McDonald’s. Why?

Then the long walk and countless MTR rides began.

We applied for a Chinese Visa in the Chinese Embassy here in the Philippines but one of us unfortunately was not granted. We put our trust to Google because articles said that Nalie can also get a transit Visa in Shenzhen. It turned out that the Chinese consular no longer grants Visa to Filipino and American citizens. *Coughs territorial disputes*

With a disappointed and somewhat heavy heart, we still had to push through our plan of going to Window of the World without Nalie — whom we were not able to contact because obviously, we cannot use social media in China.

After long lines, broken English conversations, looking or clues on how to buy tickets for the transit train in China, we nearly gave up. Fortunately, a guard in the station assisted us. We arrived in the Window of the World with sweat – and haggard faces.

But it was all worth it because for a brief moment, we fooled our family and friends that we were in France.

..in Japan, London, USA, California, Macau, Rome, and even Australia. *evil laugh*

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This is my equally impulsive (and beautiful) friend/workmate, everyone..

We went back to HK at around 2:30 PM and met with Nalie who spent her day train hopping in HongKong. We ended the night with the Symphony of Lights (HKD$ 200) but we did not find it amusing. We could have spent our 200 dollars on a better show.

So that was our tiring but full of adventure first day in China. ~ I am so happy that for once, I’ve traveled with amazing people in an out-of-the-country trip.