Hong Kong Disneyland

ABBEY: I was very excited to go to this park. As a child, me and my neighbors dreamed of going to Disneyland. We got the ticket for a discounted price of HD$390 courtesy of Hop Inn. We were there at 7:30 AM. Yes its seems early but its an advantage as you can strike you pose and take snaps to Disneyland's Welcome arch. And we also have the chance to check their port for guests that will visit via ferry. A ceremony was held before the opening where a family was chosen to meet and greet with Mickey and Minnie to open the park for the day. As we enter the park at 9, we were given golden coins as souvenir. Wilma ran to the park's garden where flowers were arranged to depict Mickey's face and told me to take pictures. We also have snaps with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Cinderella, and Rapunzel. At the end of the Main Boulevard, we saw the Sleeping Beauty's magnificent castle. It was smaller compared to Shrek's Far Far Away in USS, but its very detailed. 

We went first to Tarzan's tree house. We got scared when the tiger roared :) After that we journeyed to the jungle via River Cruise. Then we went to the newest attraction in HK Disneyland: Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway mine cars. We were less than 10 pax for the first batch to ride. Prepare to be push and pulled back as you enter the dark mines. Its kind of scary and funny. 

After that we went to Toy Story land. We rode the Toy Soldier Parachute drop and my most-feared ride that day, the RC Racer. It was a curved U-shaped RC track. The car was in the middle and once you're settled, it will be pulled and then be released. You will swing along the track as the momentum dies down. I felt I was gonna fall off my sit it it weren't with my safety bar. Wilma caught my lips shaking and she laughed hard as she saw me like that. That day I conquered my fear of not-that-extreme ride :) As we wait for the adrenaline rush to settle down we lined up for Mickey's Philar Magic 3d show. We also watch Golden Mickey; Mickey's version of Golden globe awards and their wonderful parade. They were good and entertaining. We also got a change to defeat Emperor Zurg in Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blaster; though Wilma for more points than me. We also visited "Its a small world" that displays dolls that sing and dance. Space mountain is having technical problem that day. But we met Stitch have fun interacting with him. 

The fireworks were much anticipated. People flock in front of the castle as early as 6Pm whereas the show starts at 8:30PM. It was worth the wait as the exhibition is magical. It will definitely bring out the child in you. Wear light dress and hydrate yourself.

Few points to improve though:
-Use the fans in queue. I know its 14degrees and its cold. But it will be hot and suffocating when a lot of people flocked on attraction entrances and the fans are off. Turning them on will give more ventilation to the guests. 

-The entrance is narrow causing bottleneck so its a mess. As it is Chinese New Year, HK Disneyland should expect for a huge guest turnout. They should have put more rope division for proper queue. 

-Some staff cannot speak english. It would be better to train them to speak the universal language since not all guests speak Mandarin.

-Announcements for the attractions are not clear enough. Its as if the staff will catch a plane going to "i don't know" and gonna be late. Make sure the staff clearly speaks the information so the people will attend to it.

WILL: Am I wrong I will tell that every child especially the girls has a dream to step in to the magical place of DisneyLand.

      Ever since I am a child, I always ask my mom when she will bring me to DisneyLand, she never answered me "NO" on every requests but this, she answered "soon", but she never did. Ha!Ha! Well, I forgot about that dream but when DisneyLand build its home to Hong Kong, that dream rebuild its way to my heart.

      After my college, I really want to go there, have money but I do not have time, I am busy in building my career. When my name have somehow small roots in my field and that dream faded again, again lack of time.

      But when Abbey told me that he wants to go to Korea and upon checking, there are so many obstacles for us to got there, we ended up and going to Hong Kong and excitedly plan to see Mickey's friends and land.

      Abbey and I woke up as early as 530AM, took our breakfast at the nearest cafe in our hotel then rode the MTR to Disneyland Resort Station. The train from Sunny Bay station is a special one, decorated in the name of Mickey and Friends.

      My smile is from ear to ear once I saw the train. Arrived there around 7AM, and the park opened at 9, so we are only  20 visitors then. So we had the chance to take a lot of photos at the "Welcome" sign. We even managed to check out the port for the park's visitors.

      We planned to go for counterclockwise but when we saw people ran to that side, we decided to go for the clockwise direction,

      We are the first visitor at the tree house of Tarzan. Then we are the second batch of Grizzly Gulch runaway mine cars, exciting! We were toured via Jungle River Cruise. After a boat ride, we decided to go to Toy Story Land and test Abbey's courage. We fist tried Toy Soldier Parachute Drop and Abbey told me that it is amazing. Now, it is the time to test if he can stretch that courage in a U-shaped metal. While on line, I keep on encouraging Abbey that I know he can make it. It is a success that he went in RC Racer and finished it without fainting, but his jaws were shaking after.. Ha!ha! Great experience indeed.

      After that ride, we ran to take the queue to the shows, and the most amazing is the Lion King, after seeing that, I am so sad and frustrated again to myself why I let the Lion KIng passed my way when they visited Singapore.

      The parade is nice!, but the most amazing, most nerve racking show was the fireworks. Goosebumps and all I can do is hold my husband's hands while watching the glimmering sky of different colors. It feels like I am back to my childhood, feels like I am  Disney Princess with my Prince.

     This is a blessing and I am thankful that I went here with my lovable husband.A dream come true! 

Sizzling Liempo Recipe

3-4 pieces pork belly slices
McCormick ready-mix gravy
Sizzling plate (available at Katipunan pinoy store in Lau Pa Sat)
Java rice

Dry marinate the pork belly slices with salt, pepper. (Or you can use Maggi Magic Sarap). Let it settle for at least an hour.
For Java rice, melt margarine and add half tablespoon of annato powder and a bit of turmeric powder. Pour it on newly-cooked rice and mix it well.

For gravy, follow the instruction on the pack. Put it in a sauce pan and add 1 tablespoon of flour. Stir in low heat until its thick.

Fry the belly slices then set aside. Put the plate at the stove. A couple of minutes later, put the rice on top and the pork. Then pour the gravy. Serve and enjoy.

VERDICT:
WILL: While browsing Panlasang Pinoy website, I stumbled upon a mouth watery photo of sizzling pork chop. To inform you guys, that's one of my favorite dish to order whenever it is available. 

      I don't asked Abbey, I forced him to cook it for me. Well, he done it perfectly. The buttery taste of  java rice exploding in every munch with with a slice of fried liempo swam on beef gravy. Shocks, I have three cups of rice that night. Now all my new housemates knew why I am fat now!

Universal Studios Singapore: Transformed

ABBEY: Second time? Yes, with my wife. With us is my brother-in-law and eldest sister. They went back to Philippines and we invited them to have a side trip here in Singapore. We bought 4 tickets at Sea Wheel travel (People's Park Centre) at a discounted price of 65sgd each. We were at Universal Studios Singapore's gate by 10am and went to Lights, Camera, Actions attraction. Then we went to Sci-fi area of USS; Transformers. This is the first time for Wilma. She really enjoyed the ride and she even joined the queue for the second time.
None of us have the guts to experience Battlestar Galactica except for Wilma. I feel I'll excrete all my body fluids once I get into that.

I was their bag carrier when they went to The Mummy Returns; an indoor roller coaster. My sister was very afraid to Anubis (half-human half-jackal); Egypt's god of embalming and the dead.
Then we went to the Lost World. We rode the Canopy Flyer. After that we bought sandwiches and nachos while waiting for The Waterworld show. This show made almost all people wet. Another water-ride is the Water Rapids at Jurassic park. Beware of the 2-storey drop. We had corndog as we went to Kingdom Far Far Away to watch the 4D show. After rescuing Princess Fiona, we went to Madagascar. We saw the penguins do their dance number and then rode their crate. Other shows that we watched were the Monster's  Rock concert, Sesame Street and the cute waitresses of the Diner. 

It was tiring but fun.

WILL: My first visit was when my in-laws, sister and nephew visited us here in Punggol, and I thought that would be my last to go in Universal Studios of Singapore. Well, definitely I am so wrong. 
     Ate Abigail and Kuya Roy from Chicago gave us some of their golden time just to spend it here. Thanks Bro and Sis. 
     We bought a ticket beforehand so we don't need to be that early just to queue to buy tix. We arrived 10am via taxi, and it is more cheaper than to take the Sentosa Express.
     Overall, all I can say, it is better to go here in USS in weekdays and start to queue the attractions from your right. We almost ride all the attraction except for Battlestar Gallactica. Booo!! They don't want to experience the thrill I felt when Ate Sol went here. It's like our soul left our body. Haha. The mummy is really cool too, the drop really caught me off guard. 
    We have seen all the shows and Monsters Rock is really awesome, never got the chance to see this before. 
    Universal Studios Singapore will make you coming back for more. ;) oh, there are some travel agents that selling a discounted tickets for as low as $65.