PART 3: Recap on Winter Break

PREVIOUSLY: We spent a day and an evening at Hong Kong Disneyland and the following morning, we had to get ready and pack again cause we were checking out of Disney and moving into the city. While my parents were checking out, my sisters and I were at the arts and crafts room with the “elves” lol. I met Garfield, lol, I guess that’s his English name. He confirmed some Tagalog words he knew, practiced his English with me, and expressed his plans on visiting the Philippines. He was a student working part-time, like myself, and he was very artistic. He made me a Minnie Mouse décor out of wood, super cool (btw the décor isn't photogenic)We took some photos around Disney too.Was quite a long ride to the other island.That same evening, I took the MTR to the last stop, Tung Chung, to meet with Filipino performers from Disney. My old dance teacher from Powerdance was now working with Disney and is a part of the Lion King musical so I thought it would be great to interview them for INQUIRER.net.So I scheduled to meet with them only to find out that after a 1-hour commute at 10PM, that interviews were prohibited as part of their contract with Disney. I think it was forever engraved into his mind that I was still like a baby that all along he kept thinking it was for a project or thesis or something school-related and not for my profession. I could not even fully show the extent of my frustration since I did not want them to lose their jobs just so I could get a story, but indeed smoke was coming out my nose when Joseph told me it wasn’t possible. So we just sat around outside the station, in the cold, and reminisced. I had to get back before midnight because the MTR station closes at 12.

It was a rough night that night, and the next day, we just walked around all over town for some shopping since it was our last day in Hong Kong. No pictures that day, it was a day off from my camera.

PART 2: Recap on Winter Break

PREVIOUSLY: it was the eve of New Years and our family spent it at Xin Tian Di with horns on our head like it was Halloween. ***
We then slept for an hour and made our way to the airport for Hong Kong. Sheesh, another early flight.Bye Mr. Wang our driver! Early morn’ airport shots. Our was flight CX6855. When we got to Hong Kong, my Tito and Tita met up with us at the airport. Team Sky was now complete again! Team Sky consists of my two Titos, Eribelle and I -- we were the only ones who skyjumped in Macau. So Tito Zaldy followed us to Hong Kong and we were overjoyed! ☺ We were too overjoyed I forgot to take pictures of the correspondence and kept chitchatting en route to Hong Kong Disneyland. From dropping our stuff and recharging my camera for a bit, I took the bus to the theme park and caught up with the parade, ate, rode the Space Mountain, ate, watched the fabulous shows, ate, and then the fireworks. They were so tired and Papa started feeling ill, we felt so bad.
...To be continued...

PART 1: Recap on Winter Break

Internet was expensive at our hotel so I couldn’t use it and waited until I got back to Manila to answer emails and talk about New Years and the days I spent in Hong Kong.

New Years was slightly different for me this year since my immediate family and I spent it in a country that doesn’t really celebrate it; with our asses cold from the chilly wind that slaps you on the face the second you stick your head out the door. It’s crazy cold too, it’s not like just cold cold, its like humid, dry cold that seeps through the various layers of the clothing on you, stinging your epidermis until it gives in and literally cracks. This is why we remained at the restaurant in Xin Tian Di and could not make it to Times Square, where we originally planned on spending the countdown.
At the restaurant, they gave us free devil/horned headbands, which I felt, was so inappropriate to the event. It felt like the Nightmare Before Christmas gone bad.
AND this is SO NOT how I see my parents.
After being ecstatic for the event that turned out to be an unexciting countdown, we had to make our way back home and pack our last minute belongings for an early flight to Hong Kong. But before my sisters and I could start changing out of our thick clothes, we just kept taking photos like those horned headbands killed our spirits and took over our very souls and…ok here are the shots.

…To be continued…

Christmas Day

Jesus was apparently born today according to the Sacred Scripture, tradition, the Magisterium and whatnot; so today is like a big day for many peoples around the world. This year, instead of spending today sprawled out on my bed watching one DVD after another, I'm spending it with strangers in 3 different airports. Right now I'm at the HK international airport waiting for my next flight at 1130AM, amongst the many exhausted-looking peeps passed out on the benches. It's just like any other day around here, at least where I'm seated, and it makes it a little eerie. There is a Christmas tune playing in the background, but it can faintly be heard against the constant English and Chinese announcements. I feel the warmth of the Christmas season die as the years pass; Christmas has become another overrated annual event that makes overspending legit and offers a good excuse to get drunk, stuff your face and make amends. So to all those who cling onto this holiday event to fill your empty souls and make yourself feel a little better about things, cheers. Be merry while it lasts. I really don't like airplane food.