HONG KONG...can't get enough of you

If there's one place on earth I would think of going in an instant, Hong Kong comes to my mind. I don't know why there's magnetic force that keeps on pulling me to go there. Maybe, the country is very accessible especially now that there are cheap fares. Maybe, there are affordable and decent accommodations which I feel safe and secure. Maybe, I am missing the street food, the buffet, the food court, unlimited selection of dishes that satisfies my adventurous palate. Maybe, I am longing to search for cheap but fashionable clothes and fashion items. Maybe I miss those long walks that makes my muscles sore and feet swollen. Maybe, I really wanted to go there if given the time...just to be there because everytime I go back to Hong Kong, there's always something new.

Clark to HK via Cebu Pacific

The first time I went to Hong Kong, I got a the package tour for only UD$98. It was 4day/3night Hong Kong/Shenzhen tour. One thing I don't like about package tour is that everything was in fast pace. We were brought in a jewelry factory. Some were enticed to buy those chinese jewelries, only to find out that the price at the stalls outside the factory was much cheaper. We had picture taking along the waterfront of the Victoria Harbor and before the day ended, our pictures were embedded on souvenir plates, of course for sale. The bus driver also had a sideline, key chain and nail cutters with HK embellishments, for sale.

Chinese New Year Display along Nathan Rd

It was winter when we went there, so mostly, people were wearing black....black jackets, black trench coats, black shoes, black boots, adorned with black mufflers and black gloves. That was the time when I started to have fascination with trench coat and boots. I was wanting to wear something which I cannot manage to wear in a very humid country like ours.

Chinese Garden At NanLian

 I didn't have enough time to explore the city because of limited time. But even at a very limited time, I was victimized by cold hearted merchants along Nathan Rd. I bought a small digital camera and when i saw the price at the airport when we were going home, it was 50% cheaper. It pays to be wise when shopping especially for electronics. Please buy at a reputable stores...not on those stores along Nathan Rd.

Chinese Pagoda

Chinese temple

Food

Food

Family bonding

Family time 

my family

My Hometown....Balanga City

Let me start my blog with the place, though not my birthplace, but a place I now call my home . Every time we travel, our hometown is our point of origin. The place where we leave our love ones, our home, our jobs in order to step into another dimension and to fulfill something we look forward to. And then after a journey, with added knowledge and experience, we return to a place...a place we call our HOME. My home. My hometown, Balanga City......


Balanga City is located 124 kms. away from Manila. It takes approximately 3 hours from Manila by private vehicle to reach Balanga.  One route to get there is to take the NLEX (San Fernando exit) to Olongapo-Gapan Road towards Roman Superhighway. Another route is via NLEX to SCTEX, taking Dinalupihan exit then to Roman Super Highway. There are daily trips by bus (Genesis and Bataan Transit) from Pasay  or Avenida.

Balanga City is the capital of Bataan.  Balanga City is primarily a residential-agricultural city. Passing through the Four Lane Ave, agricultural lands with rice produce can still be seen during planting and harvest season. But many agricultural lands are now being converted into residential subdivisions.


The city hall is within the city center or the city plaza. Few steps away is the St.Joseph's Cathedral and the Center Plaza Mall. And soon to rise is Victoria Mall which will house Robinson's Supermarket and Department store and new business establishments.  Around the city, many tricycles are hovering like spaceships. According to wikipedia, 8 out of 10 men engage in the driving of local tricycles. It is the local taxi of the city and obviously the main source of income for men in this town.


In Balanga City, there are many food chains that can satisfy one's craving for food. There are famous food chains like Jolibee, Mc Donald's, KFC, Greenwhich, Chowking, Mang Inasal and Red Ribbon. There are also 24-hr convinient stores like 7-11 and Ministop. Balanga City has also local restaurants serving quality foods like J2, Loui's, Master Chef, Wanam, Beannery Coffee which are all famous among the locals. There are also hotels and inland resorts. The family owned Crown Royal Hotel is the most popular in the city. It has a restaurant and family KTV. They also operate the Fortune Chinese restaurant, Body and Senses Spa, Ystilo Salon and the La vista Inland resort. At night, one can unwind and drink with friends while listening to live bands at Nico's grill and Petrus bar. There is a place known as D' Port formerly known as Razz Bar where bars and resto operate side by side.


When you go to Balanga, you can bring home many pasalubongs like Tinapa, tuyo, cashew nuts, lady fingers, araro cookies. Fresh seafoods like crabs, prawns, fishes can also be purchased in the market at a very reasonable price.