13-15 Feb 2017 in Macau-Hong Kong with a budget under 10,000

Hello everyone!

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Macau and Hong Kong. I'd like to share some of my experiences and insights with you. Please forgive me if I make any mistakes.

Please also check out my new Facebook page:

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Below is a summary of my expenses:

…Let's go…

…February 13, 2017…

We traveled on a red-tailed airline, booking a promotional ticket from Bangkok to Macau last year for 7xx baht per trip.

...We dozed on and off for about two and a half hours before arriving at Macau International Airport. Local time was approximately 5:30 PM.

...Upon arrival, I passed through immigration and an officer briefly assisted me with filling out some information. The process went smoothly.

After leaving the airport, we will check in and leave our belongings at our accommodation. We have already booked a room at the Ole London Hotel through Agoda.

Our accommodation is located on the Macau side near Senado Square. Taking a taxi would be quite expensive, so for budget-conscious travelers like us, the free shuttle bus is the way to go.

Upon exiting the airport, you will find a taxi stand. Instead of taking a taxi, proceed to the right and walk along the road. You will find the Shutter Bus stop on your right. All Shutter Buses are free of charge.

We chose to board at Venetian because we needed to transfer from Venetian to Macau Ferry Terminal.

...The bus also provides free Wi-Fi service.

A 10-minute drive brought us to the Main Lobby of the Venetian.

Upon entering the Venetian, one is immediately struck by its grandeur and opulence. The space is adorned with numerous luxury brand stores.

...However, we were short on time, so we couldn't walk around the entire area. It was already past 6 pm, so we decided to check in and leave our luggage first...

We then need to walk to the West Lobby to catch the Shutter Bus from the Venetian to the Macau Ferry Terminal.

To reach the West Lobby, walk straight through the Casio store. At the entrance of Casio, present your passport to the security guard. Continue walking straight, and you will arrive at the West Lobby. Look for the Macau Ferry sign, where you will find people queuing for the ferry.

A 20-minute drive from the Venetian brings you to the Macau Ferry Terminal.

We then took the free shuttle bus provided by the Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16.

It takes about 15 minutes to reach the Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 by car. Please promote this hotel.

We continued walking for about 400 meters before reaching our accommodation, the Ole London Hotel.

The room was well-equipped with amenities such as a hairdryer and an electric kettle, offering excellent value for money.

Let's grab some food first, I'm starving!

...We had wonton noodles at Fong Seng Chu Kei (珠記麵家), which was not far from our accommodation.

We ordered Wonton soup, also known as "geow nam," along with a bottle of Coke for 33 MOP.

After a satisfying meal, let's take a stroll and admire the dazzling lights of Macau's night scene.

Just a short walk from Fong Seng Chu Kei, you'll find Happiness Street (Rua da Felicidade).

This short street is lined with brightly painted red buildings, preserved as a cultural street. It is a popular nightlife spot for Macau residents.

Walk a little further and you will come across Senado Square, which can be considered another landmark of Macau.

St. Dominic's Church is renowned for its exquisite religious art.

Along the way to the Ruins of St. Paul's, street vendors offer a wide variety of local snacks and treats.

Continuing on, you will soon reach the Ruins of St. Paul's. At night, it takes on a different kind of beauty.

Continuing our walk, we occasionally got lost, but in doing so, we discovered many new perspectives.

After walking until almost midnight, the distance covered was not counted. It was time to return to the accommodation to rest and save energy for the next day.

Good morning on Valentine's Day.
..February 14, 2017..

We went to Café Nam Ping (敍雅屏南) for breakfast this morning.

The air was pleasantly cool along the way.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we ordered the Omelet and Pork Sandwich.

This dish is highly recommended. It is very delicious.

Bread may seem ordinary, but it is anything but.

The skin is crispy and sweet, while the flesh inside is very tender.

Milk tea.

Total damage for all three items is 52 MOP.

...and the journey continues...

Our next destination is A-Ma Temple, which we will reach by bus.

From Café Nam Ping, we walked to the Pak Kong Public Car Park bus stop to catch bus number 1 to A-Ma Temple. The bus fare is 3.2 MOP, so please prepare the exact amount as there will be no change. Boarding the bus is simple: enter through the front door and drop your coins into the box. When exiting, use the rear door.

…This is what the bus stop in Macau looks like. The bus will arrive in a moment…

... We arrived at A Ma Temple in less than 10 minutes.

After getting off the bus, walk to the left. The temple is on your left hand side.

...I guess it's still early, not many people around yet.

A-Ma Temple, also known as the Tin Hau Temple, is a popular tourist destination in Macau. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Tin Hau, the protector of seafarers. In front of the temple, there are two stone lion statues. It is believed that if you spin the glass ball in the lion's mouth to the right three times while making a wish, your wish will come true.

This temple is open to the public free of charge every day from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Continuing on to Penha Church, the climb up is quite tiring.

The view from Penha Church overlooks the Macau Tower.

Let's continue walking...

Let's take a walk back to Rua da Felicidade and enjoy the morning atmosphere.

Senado Square is bustling with activity during the day.

This is the heart of Macau, surrounded by European-style buildings and churches influenced by Portugal. Shops line both sides of the street, making it a must-visit for shopaholics.

Food stalls are just as plentiful...

Let's take a look at the Ruins of St. Paul's during the day. There are quite a few people around.

Stop by to try Fish balls, priced at 15 MOP per skewer. Buy 2 get 1 free. They are delicious! Feeling hungry?

...We then retrieved our luggage from the hotel in preparation for our trip to Hong Kong today...

Before crossing over to Hong Kong, stop by Margaret's Café e Nata, a renowned egg tart shop in Macau, located approximately 300 meters from Senado Square.
Order a slice to try; it costs 10 MOP each.

"The dish was quite delicious, with a slightly burnt exterior and a perfectly cooked egg yolk. Let's move on to the next course."

The next destination is Macau Ferry Terminal, where we will take a ferry to Hong Kong.

From Margaret's Café e Nata, we walked to the Avenida Do Infante D. Henrique bus stop to catch bus number 3 to the pier.
Upon arrival at the pier, we purchased tickets for Turbo Jet, departing at 12:05 PM for $153 HK.

**Passengers can book tickets in advance through the website. On my return trip to Macau, I wanted to purchase a Cotai Jet ticket, but it was sold out. I ended up with a Turbo Jet ticket for almost 7 pm, which disrupted my plans. I recommend booking in advance to avoid such situations.
...As usual, free Wi-Fi is available on board.

It takes about an hour to reach Hong Kong.

We then walked to our accommodation, which was approximately 800 meters from the pier.

Pearl Premium Guesthouse is located in the Mirador Mansion building in the Tsim Sha Tsui district.

I didn't take any pictures of the room, but the exterior of the building looked old. However, the accommodation area was clean, with water dispensers, a shared microwave, and a refrigerator. The room was small, as is typical of Hong Kong accommodations, but there were many black guests standing around the building. However, there were no problems. Overall, it was okay and worth the price.

After settling into our accommodation, we decided to grab a bite to eat. We made our way to Hung Lee, a renowned porridge restaurant in the Tsim Sha Tsui district. The porridge was incredibly smooth and flavorful, and the deep-fried dough sticks were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

I can't remember the name of this dish, but I know it was delicious.

After a satisfying meal, it was time to continue our exploration.

… We will head to The Peak.

To travel, we purchased an Octopus card at Tsim Sha Tsui station. The usage of the card has been extensively reviewed elsewhere, so we will skip that part. We will alight at Central Station, Exit A. Cross the bridge to the Exchange Square building and descend to the bus stop below. There are many bus routes available, but we will take bus number 15 to reach The Peak.

...It takes about 30 minutes to reach The Peak.

The weather up here is very cold and windy. I am not adequately prepared with warm clothing.

The Sky Terrace 428 is also available for viewing. I'm not sure about the price, but for me, the free viewing area is enough.

...Let's go to the viewpoint on The Peak...

"City of Lights"

As darkness fell, we boarded the number 15 bus for our descent. Unlike our ascent, the return trip concluded at the ferry pier.

On the way to the MTR at Central Station, I saw a building displaying lights and colors in a Valentine's Day theme.

The observation wheel in Hong Kong, also known as the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.

The next destination is Mongkok, a popular hangout for Hong Kong's youth.

Take the MTR from Central Station to Mongkok Station.

...The place is very crowded.

Following the lead of Uncle Deng and Auntie Kai from the Hong Kong Fan Club, we headed to Food Street to sample the local cuisine.

This restaurant is located on the corner of Dundas Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street, next to the Hot Star restaurant.

The squid is delicious. The dipping sauce is sweet.

Next door is Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken.

A popular Taiwanese fried chicken restaurant among Hong Kong teenagers, with long queues.

...A large piece of chicken sprinkled with paprika.

Let's pause the food for now and take a look at the atmosphere.

...After walking until almost midnight, it was time to return to our accommodation. We had been wandering around since 6 am, so we went back to rest and prepare for the next day's adventures...

The last day in Hong Kong
...15 Feb 2017...

...This morning, our first destination is Wong Tai Sin Temple.

Take the MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui Station to Prince Edward Station, transfer to the green line, and get off at Wong Tai Sin Station.

It is said that the fortune-telling here is very accurate, but I haven't tried it myself.

Next, we will visit the Temple of the Windmill, also known as the Che Kung Temple.

To reach the temple, take the MTR to Tai Wai Station and exit at Exit B. Walk out of the station building and turn left at the bus stop. Continue walking straight, crossing a small intersection, and then descend into the subway to cross to the other side. The temple will be located on the opposite side of the street.

This golden windmill is believed to bring good fortune and luck to those who spin it clockwise three times. It is also said to ward off evil spirits and negativity.

...Next, we will pay our respects to the Big Buddha of Koh Lanta.

Take the orange MTR line to the last stop, Tung Chung Station.

*As the Ngong Ping cable car was closed during our visit, we took bus number 23 to go up.

The bus stop is located directly at the Ngong Ping Cable Car station. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes.

Continuing along the path, we will encounter the majestic Big Buddha of Koh Lanta.

Top view

Let's continue to the Ngong Ping Village.

Along the way, there are restaurants and souvenir shops to tempt you to spend your money.

On the way back, we took bus number 23. When we walked into the Ngong Ping Village, we went out to the left, where the bus stop is. The bus will drop us off at the same place where we got on.

...On the way back, we stopped by Citygate Outlet for a while and started to feel hungry...

We then took the MTR to Mongkok Station to eat at Sea View Congee, a famous congee restaurant in Mongkok that is popular among Thai tourists.

We opted for noodles instead of porridge, as we had already enjoyed porridge the previous day. Our noodle soup was accompanied by a refreshing Coca-Cola with lemon.

The total damage was $81 HK.
Before heading back, we stopped by the most famous waffle shop in Hong Kong, "Mammy Pancake". You can't say you've been to Hong Kong without trying their waffles!

This restaurant was included in the 2016 Michelin Street Food In Hong Kong list, which featured 23 establishments.

The taste is quite good...
...Then it was time to go back. We had to catch the flight to Macau at 22.50 pm.

We boarded the China Ferry at the pier to cross to Macau and return to Bangkok.

Goodbye Macau - Hong Kong, we will be back...

Estimated Expenses per Person:

Flights: Roundtrip Bangkok-Macau: 1,700 THB

Accommodation:

• Macau: 1 night, 2,570 THB / 2 = 1,285 THB
• Hong Kong: 1 night, 1,270 THB / 2 = 635 THB

Food: 1,500 THB

Transportation:

• Buses, MTR: 930 THB
• Ferry (Macau-Hong Kong): 1,600 THB

Other Expenses: 500 THB

Total: Approximately 8,150 THB (excluding souvenirs)

This concludes my review. Thank you for watching! ^^

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. If you would like to see more photos, please visit my Instagram below.

https://www.instagram.com/im_jakapan/