35th: SHENZHEN - HK WINTER HOLIDAY PHOTOBOOK EDITION

Assalamualaikum This entry was meant to be published about a month ago (when I still "smell" like China air and when the calendar still being written as "2013") but due to masa mencemburui, it had been delayed right up until today. I hope you guys can forgive me for this because I am a very seriously and extremely busy person (LOL to that). Tapi apa pun, yes, saya dah cuba sedaya upaya saya untuk mempercepatkan proses pemilihan dan editing gambar-gambar yang diambil sepanjang holiday saya bulan lepas, jadi saya harap korengs semua bolehlah tutup sebelah mata untuk kelewatan (yang agak melampau) ini. Kita janji tak buat lagi wak~ *bat eyelashes* Anyway, it was my first time travelling outside Malaysia without my family. So you guys can imagine how excited this bunny here felt. This holiday was planned by my buddy, Ruby, and I for almost a few months before the actual event was taken place. Kitorang pergi holiday ni ikut Rakyat Travel Agency. Tak tahulah daripada mana mak saya dah dapat this one pamphlet Rakyat Travel tapi tiba-tiba je, dalam Mei tahun lepas, mak saya offered kalau-kalau saya nak pergi bercuti dan try to experience winter outside of our country (ewahh~). Jadi saya pun teruslah contact my ex-classmate during my degree years at UiTM Shah Alam, Ruby Wan Kenobi, dan that was how it all started. Nak pergi perabeh duit memang senang je dapat kata sepakat. Ehehehehehh~ Untuk first timers macam kitorang, memang sesuai sangatlah pergi bercuti ke luar negara ikut travel agency. Sebab bukan apa, keselamatan kita lebih terjamin (nak-nak plak kalau pergi ke negara yang bahasa perantaraan dia bukan bahasa Inggeris, apatah lagi bahasa Melayu) dan jugak senang bagi kita bila semua accomodations, pengangkutan, dan tempat makan (bukan mudah nak cari makanan halal di negara bukan Islam) telah siap diuruskan. Kita tinggal ikut dan dengar cakap je. Yeayerss!!! ^^,
Harga: RM2200 setiap seorang (termasuk tiket kapal terbang pergi balik [Air Asia], tempat tinggal, makan [sarapan, tengah hari, malam, dan jugak dalam kapal terbang], tiket Disneyland) Tempoh: 4 hari, 3 malam (6 - 9 Disember 2013) Lets dig in~
DAY ONE (KL - SHENZHEN)
Tentatif ringkas: 1) touched down at Lapangan Terbang Shenzhen (lebih kurang pukul 10am. Timezone sama dengan Malaysia) 2) makan tengah hari kat Muslim Hotel Restaurant (kitorang dah sarapan masa dalam kapal terbang) 3) Windows of the World 4) Dongmen Shopping Street (I bought nothing, for your information) 5) checked in untuk tidur-tiduran di Hotel Starshine (a 4 stars hotel that, I personally think, deserves more than 5 stars. Seriously, the room was very spacious, cosy, and most importantly, I have no hesitation in using the hotel's towel which selalunya saya geli dan takkan buat. Hotel ini memang sangat bersih!!) Day One in short:

Nasi lemak dalam kapal terbang memang sedap dan tak cukup. Jadi kalau korengs bercadang nak naik Air Asia ke mana-mana nanti, jangan lupa prebook dorang punya in flight meals ok (kalau order awal-awal akan dapat diskaun). Serious sedap!!!

Lapangan Terbang Shenzhen was really cantik dan besar (our tourist guide, Nina, bagitahu yang airport tu baru je dibukak seminggu masa kitorang sampai haritu). Tapi tak sempat nak amik gambar sangat sebab semua rushing nak naik bas untuk pergi makan tengah hari dan straight to Windows of the World.

Kalau pergi Wndows of the World, kita takyah susah-susah dah nak merayap serata dunia sebab semua landmarks terkenal ada dibina kat dalam tempat ni. Ada Menara Pisa, Menara Eiffel, piramid, air terjun Niagara, binaan-binaan Rom, dan so much more.

Oh yes, due to our 6.15am flight from LCCT, my buddy and I, we didn't sleep the whole night before departure and in flight, we only managed to get around an hour or two of shut eyes. So by the end of our first night at Shenzhen, we were pretty much cranky and easily intimidated. Ahahahah. But worry not, all was well. Lol.

What ArnabGemok wears: Peach Cotton Shawl (bought at TBS)

Denim Button Up Shirt with Peace motives from BOS

Skin Hugging Denim from BOS

Purple watch from Solvil Titus

Hari pertama, kitorang buat seorang kawan baru. Her name is Oly. She is also in our travel group. =)

Boleh naik unta bagi yang nak feeling-feeling jadi pak/mak arab.

I have always wanted to have a pony of my own since I was a toddler. Couldn't believe my wish came true (pun boleh~bagilah chan).

DAY TWO (SHENZHEN)

Tentatif ringkas:

1) Jade and Crystal Gallery

2) Bamboo Gallery

3) lunch at the same place as yesterday (kali ni, saya jadi hipster dan amik semua gambar lauk yang ada sebelum sesiapa sempat capai sudu, garfu depa. Look further down for scrumptious halal Chinese cuisines. Beware: May cause saliva to drip)

4) Luohu Commercial City (tempat perabeh semua Yuen yang ada)

5) Oct Harbour 

6) second night (a.k.a final night in Shenzhen) spent at the same awesome Starshine Hotel as yesterday

Day Two in short:

Hari kedua ni tak banyak sangat tempat yang menarik perhatian dan keminatan saya. Sebab sepanjang pagi bawak ke tengah hari, kitorang semua dibawak melawat galeri-galeri. Basically, kat tempat-tempat ni kita digalakkan membuat purchase. Rasanya sesiapa yang dah selalu melancong ikut agensi pelancongan mesti dah biasa dengan rutin ni kan. Tapi sebagai seorang yang berhemah (aiceh~), saya beli nan hado apo-apo.

The highlight of day two was obviously at Oct Harbour where we watched the Watershow.

Oh sekejap, sebelum tu, ni kena highlight jugak ok. Luohu Commercial City drove me crazy!! I think I spent most of my Yuen over there by buying souvenirs for family and friends, and all the cute casings for my iPhone5. Harganya takdelah murah mana tapi kalau nak banding dengan RM, memang lebih berbaloi-baloi. 

Tempat dia lebih kurang macam rupa Plaza Lowyat, cuma kedai-kedai kat sana bukan fokus untuk jual gajet (tapi memang ada baaaaaaaanyak kedai aksesori phones). Kat Luohu ni korengs boleh dapatkan vast choices of clothes, bags, shoes, and all other fancy things yang korengs boleh imagine a.k.a rambang mata.

Sekian, back to Watershow. Jadi, untuk tengok Watershow ni, kitorang kena bayar 200 yuen (lebih kurang RM110). Err, bila dah convert ni baru terasa macam mahal plak. Ahahahahh. 

Tapi takpe, sebab the show was really amazing. Memang kita boleh tengok persembahan lampu, air, dan muzik kat mana-mana je. But this one, I tell you, it has a class of its own. Sangat, sangat memukau (haaaaa gitu). It's really hard to explain because you guys have to see it for yourself to know exactly what I mean. So if you guys happen to go to Shenzhen, don't forget to catch the Watershow at Oct Harbour. Tapi rasanya harganya lebih mahal kalau beli tiket bukan secara pukal.

It was a very windy and cold morning that I had to wear gloves.

What ArnabGemok wears: Blue Glitter Shawl (bought at MC)

Black and Cream gloves from Daiso

Baby Green Sweater with Heart motives from Padini

Striped Tank Top from BOS

Skin Hugging Denim from BOS

High Cut Red Sneakers from Puma

Sebab kita tak minat beli apa-apa kat Galeri Bamboo ni, jadi kita amik gambar dengan tugu gajah dia jelah untuk kenang-kenangan.

DAY THREE (SHENZHEN - HONG KONG)

Tentatif ringkas:

1) Immigration (ala-ala tambak Johor nak ke Singapura. Tapi, this one, I tell you, OH MY GOD!!! The amount of people going in to HK on Sunday morning was ridiculously RAMAI!!!! Beribu riban mungkin dan bayangkanlah semuanya bertolak-tolak dan ya ampunnnn, NO MANNERS AT ALL!!! Oh ye, dorang agak racist ye. Dorang takde segan silu untuk menunjukkan dorang TAK SUKA orang bertudung a.k.a Muslim. But alhamdulillah, bukan semua. Cuma, MOSTLY. And by "dorang", I mean the public)

2) jengjengjeng, DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3) Ladies Market (made me even crazier than during shopping at Luohu)

4) spent the first night at HK (and the last for this whole winter holiday thingy) at Panda Hotel (4 stars. The room is way smaller than the Starshine Hotel and the bathroom is not that nice. But overall, it was okay)

Day Three in short:

Like hello, what else, it's all about Disneyland, Disneyland, and yup, you got that right, DISNEYLAND!!!

Sejak kecik lagi saya memang peminat tegar dan pelanggan setia Majalah Disney. Setiap kali baca majalah tu mesti berangan nak ajak parents pergi Disneyland, pastu nak jumpa Mickey Mouse. Then nak jadi Snow White. Ok, yang last tu memang tak boleh blah tapi waktu kecik apa tahu. Ingat semua pun boleh dapat.

Waktu tu dalam fikiran cuma tahu Disneyland yang kat Amerika sana tu je. Tapi bila dah mula masuk sekolah, dah belajar Geografi apa semua, saya dapat tahu Disneyland sebenarnya bukan ada satu je. 

Alhamdulillah, it seems like one of my childhood dreams has come true. I managed to go to the place that I have always dreamed of going since I was a toddler. And the place is (yes yes yes!!!) truly spectacular and very magical!!! It's like when you stepped inside the gate of Disneyland, you'll feel like you have entered the world of magical where all your imaginations can become reality. :')

Basically, most of my HK dollars was spent there. I bought a Minnie Mouse sweater, Mickey Mouse chocolates and bags for myself and also my cousin, an iPad mini cover with Mickey and Minnie mouse motives for my mom, and some fridge magnets. Oh ye, kitorang dapat one complementary meal from Rakyat Travel (inclusive dalam fee) dalam bentuk kupon yang kitorang boleh redeem kat satu restoran halal dalam Disneyland, Tahitian Terrace (terletak dalam Adventureland). And the meal was superb. Sedap gila!!!

I managed to get on a few rides such as Mystic Manor, Toy Soldier Parachute Drop (ini quite scary. Bukan untuk orang gayat), and Space Mountain (ini macam nak tercabut jantung, kepala, anak tekak semua. T_____T). Saya jugak berkesempatan pergi tengok tayangan cinema 6D. At that time, it was showing Mickey Mouse musical. Yang paling memorable was the smell of the blueberry pies and also when we all were splashed with water. Yes, we experience EVERYTHING physically just like what the characters in the show are experiencing. It was awesome!!

A must see for everyone who goes to Disneyland is none other than the Firework Show which started off at 9pm during my visit. It was phenomenal. Seawal pukul 7pm lagi dah boleh nampak orang mula duduk dan booking tempat masing-masing sebab nak dapatkan view terbaik. But knowing me and Ruby Wan Kenobi, we were too busy catching up with all those rides. Sampai-sampai orang dah penuh, kitorang just dapat selit-selit kat tengah. Tapi alhamdulillah, the view was still nothing that we can complained about.

So for those who are planning to go to Disneyland, don't ever miss out to see the ever-so-impressive Firework Show. Confirmed, you guys will be amazed!!!

And, slightly after the Firework Show ended, ada salji turun!!! YEAYYY~

Ok, bukan salji betul. It was man made snow by Disneyland staffs, but then again, who cares. Let it snow~let it snow~let it snow. Ahahahahh. =P 

Our visit to Ladies Market was very short and sweet (I think we just spent around an hour and a half to shop). Tapi dalam pada sekejap tu, banyak jugaklah saya sempat beli. Kat situ saya grabbed all the bundled souvenirs such as fridge magnets, tshirts, and also pendrives. Kat tempat macam ni laa sesuai nak bargain harga dengan membeli secara borong (ok, bukan borong yang berdozen-dozen tu. Tapi kiranya beli around setengah dozen lebih kurang macam tu). Most of the items that I got here are all quite cheap. Tambahan plak HK dollar sangat murah berbanding RM. 

What ArnabGemok wears: Pale Yellow Maggie Shawl from Calaqisya

Black Knitted Sweater from Soda

Pink Denim from BOS

High Cut Red Sneakers from Puma

Don't miss out to catch this parade when you guys go to Disneyland. It happens only once per day. To get the exact time and place to catch every show, jangan lupa untuk grab a Time Guide pamphlet at the entrance. ;)

Apalah ertinya ke Disneyland kalau tak makan aiskrim Mickey Mouse (HKD28). Kat tangan sebelah lagi pegang popcorn Mickey Mouse (HKD35). Yeayerss for the taste!!! Sedap~

Oh ye, kat kepala plak ada cekak telinga Minnie Mouse (HKD108).

Portion makanan macam nak bagi kenyang sampai kiamat. Rasa memang tiptop. 

Price for the whole set of meal shown is HKD98.

Ok, nak makan. Jangan kacau.

Panda Hotel HK is indeed one of the cutest hotels I have ever been to. The entire lobby is swarmed with teddy panda, big and small.

Even the Christmas trees are fully decorated with teddy panda.

DAY FOUR (HONG KONG - KL)

Tentatif ringkas:

1) Bauhimia Garden

2) went to Aberdeen Fishing Village and rode on a traditional boat ride for almost an hour to view the entire riverside (awesome feeling ever!!!)

3) Ginseng and Jewellery Shops

4) Halal Dimsum Restaurant

5) shopping at Citygate (again, I bought nothing because all luggage have been locked. Therefore I didn't want to risk carrying too much hand carries during flight)

6) touched down Malaysia (around 10.30pm)

Day Four in short:

Masa last day ni, kitorang banyak dibawak ke tempat-tempat yang menenangkan. Mungkin semua pun tahu semalam dah cukup jenuh berjalan keliling Disneyland. Penat weyh!!

Mula-mula kitorang naik about an hour of bus ride to HK island. Lalu this one really long bridge and the view was breath taking. MasyaAllah~cantik sangat. Nampak semua perkampungan nelayan sepanjang persisiran pantai. And yes, the beach is really clean. The water is as clear and blue as the sky.

Time spent at Aberdeen Fishing Village was made full use to unwind ourselves by enjoying the boat ride menyusuri sungai. Yang ni memang semua pakcik, makcik suka. Walaupun kena tambah HKD50 setiap seorang tapi depa semua tak kisah sebab semalam semua dah letih melayan naik rides pecah jantung so today semua nak bawak bertenang.

Hentian shopping terakhir kitorang was at the Citygate. Citygate ni high-end kind of shopping mall whereby semua jenama terkemuka international macam Coach, Guess, and sports boutiques such as Adidas, Puma, Nike, etc, semua pun ada located under one roof over here. 

Kalau korengs suka barangan berjenama, tempat ni patut korengs lawati. Sebab harga-harga barangan berjenama kat sini memang teramatlah murah berbanding di Malaysia. Sebagai contoh, saya tengok ada satu handbag Coach ni masa kat KLCC haritu is around RM3.5K, tapi at Citygate, it was just RM1.8K.

What do you think?? Tempting aite?? =P

Kita buat lagi beberapa orang kawan menjelang hari-hari terakhir di bumi Cina. Yang kakak (belakang) namanya Nisya Dina. Yang adik (pakai spek kat depan) namanya Anis.

What ArnabGemok wears: Crinkled Shawl from H&M

Jersey Sweater from H&M

Dark Skinny from BOS

High Cut Red Sneakers from Puma

I don't know why but somehow I am always attracted to Christmas tree since I was little. Maybe it's due to the festive vibe it gives out or maybe it was just because from watching too many Disney movies (kes mudah terpengaruh laa ni).

Kissing HK goodbye.

Itulah serba ringkas pengalaman percutian pertama saya ke luar negara tanpa keluarga. Waah, terasa diriku begitu dewasa. Ahahahahh. 

Overall, it was a very priceless experience that, of course, I will and can never forget. 

InsyaAllah from now on, I will save up so that I can visit many other countries around the world each year, at least, once.

Tapi bak kata orang tua-tua, hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri. Apa-apa pun, Malaysia tetap dalam hati. <3

Salam menggemok. Toodles~

Assalamualaikum and Have a nice day chuolz!!!