Rantings of a Semikal Junkie: 3rd Day in HK *Independence Day* (September 10, 2009)

Today is a slow day here in HongKong. I woke up around 10AM then just logged in to Facebook to chat with my brothers. By lunch we feasted on nilagang baboy (pork stew) prepared by Tito Bamba. For the nth time, I felt like a hog! After lunch mom asked me to go to the city to trade currency. Tito Bamba gave me some instructions on how to go about the MTR and stuff. I was so excited I finished preparing in 10 minutes including my stuff for gym.

I took a bus from Caribbean Coast to Tung Chung Station. The travel time via train from Tung Chung to Tsim Sha Tsui is approximately 30 minutes. I used the time to listen to some songs that I miss and to check out some HongKong fashion. Men here are uber metrosexual you'll think every man is gay. For the girls, I am so amazed on how they defy almost every fashion rule yet still look stunning on every angle.

I arrived at the main city past 3 o'clock in the afternoon. My first agenda was to get some HKD. I checked some money changers along Brisbon Road. I ended up with the third money changer because of the huge difference from the first two. That's a tip! Always check first on prices before trading your Philippine Peso.

With my first agenda done, I walked along Nathan Road, entered a grocery store, then bought myself a cold can of Schweppes Cream Soda. Of course it's not complete without a powerful stick of Lights. Yebah!

I reached Canton Road in a matter of 3 minutes. There I saw the grand Gateway Center where Fitness First is located. A Chinese girl welcomed me with a nice smile. I handed her my Fitness First ID, keyed in some information on the computer then handed me a bath towel and a face towel. Yes, towels are provided at Fitness First HongKong for club members use. I went straight to my locker to change then headed to the treadmill. The running experience was memorable because I was facing the Causeway Bay, overlooking the vast, garbage-free sea. After running for thirty minutes, I did the free weights, the dips, the crunches (yes I'm doing crunches though it's not yet quite obvious as of this time), then some intense stretching. I needed some thirst quencher so I checked out the drinking area. To my surprise, they have Coke Light and Schweppes Cream Soda for free! I got myself a glass of Schweppes then proceeded to the Internet area to check Facebook.

After gym I met with my friend Louie who works in HongKong as an engineer. He toured me around the city. I asked him to bring me to a restaurant serving authentic Chinese rice meals. We ended up in this not-so-chic, carinderia-style place. Louie told me the older (I'm not sure if he also said 'the dirtier') the restaurant, the better the food.The menu was all in Chinese so I just asked the lady for rice and chicken. I am not sure if the cook did some magic because finally I have tasted the most authentic soy chicken in the entire planet. I even took a picture of it. Louie then brought me to this shop selling cookies and biscuits. For my Thomson Reuters team, I bought a few packs of seaweed biscuits.:-) Louie and I finished chatting and touring around 10PM. The MTR will close by midnight so we decided to call it a day.

And now I'm home here in Tung Chung, I am facing the computer and will sleep in 5 minutes. Tomorrow's gonna be Ocean Park Day! :-)