24 Hours in Hong Kong.

Guangzhou and Hong Kong was never part of the plan in China backpacking route, I usually have a general route to follow and allows for some minor detours along the way such as Fenghuang and Nanyue but they usually come at a cost of some other places or shorten days at some place. These two cost me Tongren, Fangxin mountain but I was more or less done with mountains after Zhangjiajie.

Hong Kong

China announced in late Nov that to boost tourism to China, five countries would be up for a 1 year trial where they do not have to apply for Visa prior to visiting China and Malaysia was one of the 5 countries. 15 days visa free entry and that sparked a whole new plan in my head when I found out about it.

So the plan had change slightly, instead of going from Guilin to Nanning and exiting to Vietnam directly, I now had the option to go to Guangzhou then Hong Kong and turn back into China and get a 15 day visa free extension. That would allow me to travel slowly along the coast towards Nanning instead of a big skip from Guilin to Nanning.

Me & Ling ... 

In addition to that, a friend was in Hong Kong. A quick message to Ling just to check if he was around made the decision easy, a visit to old travelling friends is always a happy detour. Initially I had not consider Hong Kong due to Visa as I would be stuck there due to no more China visa, but the announcement changed the plan and the detour was form.

I stayed at Chunking Mansion, a very old building in the heart of Tsim Sha Shui which was like a little India in Hong Kong. For any tourist to Hong Kong wanting to see actual Hong Kong, I would say this is a small part of real Hong Kong that most wont acknoledge. The immigrants that lives revolved around Hong Kong. There was like a few dozen hostel inside the building but by chance I found a single private room for the same price. The room as per Hong Kong standard was an experience in itself.

Checked in and reset well in Hong Kong, I messaged Ling and soon he was waiting for me at the entrance of Chunking Mansion. He looked older ... it has been 8 years since Rio and just seeing him reminded me so much of the fun times we had in Rio exploring the city.

A late tea time snack and coffee was in order and stories was exchange. I kept bugging Ling to visit me in Malaysia one day. Soon it was evening and Ling had to go home to family so I was now alone in Hong Kong for one night. Walked around Tsim Sha Shui and I found rolling tobacco. 

The tobacco I brought from Malaysia was running out and here I saw the same tobacco going for a crazy price the same as Singapore. Tried to buy with Alipay, failed. Tried to pay with credit card ... failed ... tried to pay with TouchNGo linked Alipay ... failed ... HK seams to be running of different payment system from China it seams.

With all my access to payment cut off, there was only the cold hard cash option which means exchanging some more RMB to HKD or withdrawing from ATM. I dun have much RMB in cash which is used primarily for emergencies if digital payment fails such as bus or metro or sometimes deposits for hotel keys. 

The HKD 200 which I exchanged initially was left with HKD 130 after buying lunch for the day. I roughly knew that the HMZB shuttle was HKD 65 but then there was the MTR and bus to the HMZB port as well which I have no idea how much it was going to cost.

It as lucky thing that Ling treated me to tea break, with that I devourerd my emergency biscut ration for the night and determined not to spend any more money in Hong Kong. Walk around and enjoy the breeze and left the next day.

Traveled on: Dec 2023

Crossing the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge (HZMB)

I had long since decided to leave Hong Kong toward Zhuhai via the HZMB Bridge. It was the longest fixed sea bridge in the world at 55km and it was something I would love to experience riding my motorcycle across but alas with the restriction of a forigner, I guess I have to settle for doing it via shuttle bus.

Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau Bridge (HZMB)

From Tsim Sha Shui downtown, I took the MTR to Tung Chung Station. The cost of single journey ticket on the MTR between this two station was HKD 20.5. From Tung Chung station get out and I walked around looking for the bus station following the signs espescialy looking out for bus number B6.

The bus B6 was simple enaugh. At the bus stop, board the bus and it was only one stop to HMZB Port. Fare was HKD 9.1 but I threw in HKD 10 as I had no exzact change nor octopus card. At the HMZB Port, I cleared Hong Kong Immigration for exit.

Entry to Hong Kong HZMB Port

Exit HK Immigration and Onwards to Shuttle Bus Ticket Counter

After that there was a choice. Buy a shuttle bus ticket ( Gold Bus ) to Zhuhai or to Macau. As much as I was set to going to Zhuhai, I had a pause. Ah Macau .... the Vegas of Asia .... how I longed for a short micro detour. Bought the Zhuhai shuttle bus ticket for HKD 65 and quickly up the bus and zoom, we were on our way along the bridge which became a undersea tunnel and then up in the air as a bridge again.

The temptation to go Right Way .... 

24 Hours Shuttle Bus Ticket Price

Left to Zhuhai, Right to Macau

The bridge was truly a marvel. I have never been on any bridge like it. You know its a bridge and that its crossing something but with this bridge you can’t see the other side of the land. One could see only a bridge going out to sea in the horizon. 

Its quite a view for the driver while for the bus passanger like me, a minor glimpse but feels like a dream where the bridge could take you to another world. It was a long ride as well nearly 45 minutes and then it was Zhuhai Port disembarkation.

On the HZMB Road to Zhuhai/Macau

Toll Booth at Zhuhai/Macau side of HZMB

HZMB Shuttle Bus (Gold Bus)

Here I re-entered China and Immigration looked at me funny.

Do you have Flight Ticket out of China ?
No.

How do you plan to exit China ?
Bus to Vietnam via Nanning.

Do you have accomodation all the way to Nanning booked ?
No.

Where do you plan to visit in China ?
Somewhere along here and Nanning. 

I read that China now allow Visa Free Entry for Malaysian 15 days. “Emphasis on 15 days with a big smile"

The immigration officer smiled at me and emphasised that 15 days included today. Welcome to China again he smiled.

Traveled on : Dec 2023