Wan Chai Tourism

Leaving Bank of China Tower in a slightly drizzling condition, I had to little bit run towards ‘Murray Road’ Tram Stop. I was getting ready to ride legendary transportation in Hong Kong i.e Ding Ding Tram. Trams which often appear in Hong Kong movies.

Queensway Road situation which very busy because many private cars and a half-part of road was taken to parking many “asphalt finisher vehicles” didn’t reduce my enthusiasm to waiting for this tram.

5 minutes waiting, a blue tram arrived. I jumped into tram from back door and went straight to tram’s upper deck so I could freely enjoy street situation.

My destination was Victoria Park. Do you know Victoria Park, right? It is the biggest park on Hong Kong Island which is a usual gathering point for Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong.

I arrived in 35 minutes. After tapping my Octopus Card at fare machine located near driver, I immediately got off from front door. Tram rate is very cheap, only USD 0,30.

Got off at ‘Victoria Park’ Tram Stop located on Causeway Road.

Victoria Park was very close in front.

But on shortly time after got off from tram, it heavily rained again. I quickly ran to find shelter in front of shops in Causeway Road.

Looked like I had to cancel my visitation plan at Victoria Park. It was very heavy raining, I thought the park was definitely quiet too. I had to find other alternatives to using my time so that it wasn’t wasted in heavy rain.

I tried to find a direction sign which could direct me to the nearest MTR station. At underground station was definitely warmer and drier.

Yes, I saw a MTR logo which then directed me to Tin Hau MTR Station entrance gate. I decided to go to Hong Kong’s famous retail area i.e Causeway Bay area and would certainly stop at Causeway Bay Station. Rates around USD 0,6 with 6 minutes travel time.

A clock showed 15:30 hours when I arrived at Causeway Bay. I decided to look for a diner while waiting for rain to stop. Sifting through many food stalls to avoid pork until I finally chose in a small stall in Jaffe Road.

Rice plus tofu-toge and chicken for USD 3,5.

That is a famous fast food stall in Causeway Bay area i.e Ying Heong Yuen.

Furthermore,

I headed to SOGO Mall….What were you doing, Donny?….Just for sightseeing. Walking around more than 30 minutes in a mall just to see expensive items. Well, This mall was similar with many malls in Jakarta.

Out from mall, I stopped for a long time at one side of a large crossroad to observe Hong Kong residents activities who were super crowded.

Busy crossroad on Hennessy Road near Causeway Bay MTR Station.

—-***—-

From Causeway Bay area then I moved to centre of Wan Chai District using tram. Going up from ‘Paterson Street’ Tram Stop and got off at ‘Swatow Street’ Tram Station. It only took 15 minutes and fare for about USD 0,30.

Got off at ‘Swatow Street’ Tram Station, I immediately realized whereabouts of a football stadium….Quite busy. Was there a football match?.

The stadium name is Southorn Playground and is located on Luard Road.

I approached and ventured to ask to security staff at stadium gate….and finally, I could enter into it….Free ticket also.

Hurry in and took a seat at benchs. It was a stadium which used to play soccer for local residents. But it was quite crowded too. Joining with local people activities and I didn’t feel like a tourist. I was also unclearly screaming during match….Hahaha….Crazy.

Southorn Playground flanked by Luard Road and Johnston Road.

Only watched a half time because I wanted to see Wan Chai nightlife.

Do You know Wan Chai District, right?

Wan Chai is centre of nightlife throughout Hong Kong. Besides being known as an area for backpackers to staying, there are several areas in Wan Chai which are known as red districts. So besides offering cheap accommodations, you will easily find bars and clubs here.

I tried to explore bars and clubs along Lockhart Road. And it is true, sexy women in minimal clothing passing by in and out of bars and clubs. Some of them brought by foreigners for money.

Ah, I worried to couldn’t control myself….Finally I headed to a junction in middle of Lockhart Road and stopped by in a street food stall which sold a variety of sea food satay which was grilled on the spot. Enough with USD 0,75, you could get delicious grilled food in Hong Kong’s cold night air.

Here it is the stall….”Ada Snack” is located at O’brien Road.

Started to eat a satay, several sexy women came and ate foods in same stall….Waow, nervous….Finally, I prefered to left away from there.

Fearing that I would miss an important performance, I decided to head for Victoria Harbor. I had to get there before 20:00 hours. Because it is the regular time for Symphony of Light to start. Took MTR from Wan Chai Station to Central Station. Fare is about USD 0,60 with 8 minutes travel time.

Wow, that band sang a cool song….But I didn’t understand Chinese language.

Cool buskers in a corridor which connecting Central MTR Station and Central Ferry Pier.

I ran to see them sang some songs and after that I headed to pier to cross to Victoria Harbor. Paying about USD 0,30, I arrived at Victoria Harbor in 12 minutes.

Taking a comfortable sitting position, then I waited for Symphony of Lights to began.

Meninggalkan Bank of China Tower dalam kondisi sedikit gerimis, Aku harus berlari kecil menuju ke ‘Murray Road’ Tram Stop. Aku bersiap naik trasportasi legendaris di Hong Kong yaitu Ding Ding Tram. Tram yang dulu sering muncul di film-film layar lebar Hong Kong.

Suasana sibuk Queensway Road yang padat akan kendaraan pribadi dan sebagian bahu jalan yang diambil untuk parkir kendaraan berat pengaspal jalan tak mengurangi rasa antusiasku menunggu tram ini.

5 menit menunggu, tram warna biru pun tiba. Aku melompat ke dalam tram dari pintu belakang dan langsung menuju deck atas tram sehingga bisa menikmati suasana jalanan dengan lebih leluasa.

Tujuanku adalah Victoria Park. Kamu tahu kan Victoria Park? Itu lho taman terbesar di Hong Kong Island yang menjadi tempat berkumpulnya para TKI di Hong Kong.

Aku tiba dalam 35 menit. Setelah men-swipe Octopus Card di fare machine yang terletak di dekat sopir maka Aku segera turun dari pintu depan. Tarif tram murah kok, hanya Rp. 4.500.

Turun di ‘Victoria Park’ Tram Stop yang terletak di Causeway Road.

Victoria Park sudah sangat dekat di depan.

Tapi tak lama setelah turun dari tram, hujan kembali turun dengan deras. Dengan cepat Aku berlari mencari tempat berteduh di depan pertokoan di tepi Causeway Road.

Sepertinya Aku harus membatalkan bermain di Victoria Park. Hujan besar, taman juga pasti sepi. Aku harus mencari alternatif lain untuk memanfaatkan waktu supaya tak terbuang percuma di tengah hujan deras.

Aku berusaha mencari tanda yang bisa mengarahkanku ke Stasiun MTR terdekat. Di stasiun bawah tanah pasti lebih hangat dan kering.

Yes, Aku melihat logo MTR yang kemudian mengarahkanku ke entrance gate Tin Hau MTR Station. Aku memutuskan menuju area retail terkenal Hong Kong yaitu area Causeway Bay dan tentu akan berhenti di Causeway Bay Station. Tarif sekitar Rp. 8.000 dengan waktu tempuh 6 menit.

Jam menunjukkan pukul 15:30 ketika tiba di Causeway Bay. Kuputuskan mencari kedai makan sembari menunggu hujan reda. Memilah-milah kedai menghindari pork hingga akhirnya hinggap di sebuah kedai kecil di bilangan Jaffe Road.

Nasi plus ayam-tahu-toge seharga Rp. 48.000.

Kalau ini kedai *fast food* terkenal di area Causeway Bay, yaitu Ying Heong Yuen.

Selanjutnya,

Aku menuju SOGO Mall….Ngapain Don?….Ngemall lah, kek orang susah aja. Keliling lebih dari setengah jam di dalam mall hanya untuk melihat barang-barang mahal. Yah seperti mall-mall di Jakarta lah.

Keluar dari mall, Aku lama berhenti di salah satu sisi perempatan besar untuk mengamati aktifitas warga Hong Kong yang super ramai.

Perempatan sibuk di Hennessy Road dekat Stasiun MTR Causeway Bay.

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Dari area Causeway Bay, Aku kemudian berpindah ke pusat Wan Chai District menggunakan tram. Naik dari ‘Paterson Street’ Tram Stop dan turun di ‘Swatow Street’ Tram Station. Hanya butuh waktu 15 menit dan tarif sebesar Rp. 4.500.

Turun di ‘Swatow Street’ Tram Station, Aku segera menyadari keberadaan stadion sepak bola….Kok ramai amat. Ada pertandingan kali yee?.

Ternyata nama stadionnya Southorn Playground dan terletak di Luard Road.

Aku mendekat dan memberanikan diri bertanya kepada security di gerbang stadion….dan ternyata boleh masuk….geratisssssss pulak.

Buru-buru masuk dan ambil tempat duduk di tribun. Oalah ternyata itu adalah stadion yang digunakan untuk bermain sepak bola bagi masyarakat setempat. Tapi lumayan rame juga. Ikut merasakan aktivitas warga dan tak terasa seperti turis. Aku ikut teriak-teriak ga jelas, asal rame aje….Hahaha….Gelo.

Southorn Playground yang diapit Luard Road dan Johnston Road.

Hanya menonton setengah babak karena Aku ingin melihat nightlifenya Wan Chai.

Kamu tahu Distrik Wan Chai kan?

Yang jelas Wan Chai adalah pusat kehidupan malan di seantero Hong Kong. Selain dikenal sebagai area para backpacker menginap, ada beberapa area di Wan Chai yang terkenal sebagai red district alias tempat prostitusi. Jadi selain penginapan murah, Kamu akan mudah menemukan bar and club disini.

Aku mencoba menelurusi bar and club tersebut di sepanjang Lockhart Road. Dan benar adanya, wanita-wanita seksi berpakaian minim berlalu lalang keluar masuk bar and club. Beberapa diantaranya sudah nggelendotin para bule berduit….Mau donk Aa digelendotin, Neng!.

Ah, daripada mupeng….Akhirnya Aku menuju ke pengkolan di pertengahan Lockhart Road dan singgah kedai food street yang menjual beragam sate sea food yang dibakar ditempat. Cukup dengan Rp. 10.000, Kamu sudah bisa mendapatkan gorengan yang enak disantap di tengah dinginnya udara malam Hong Kong.

Ini dia kedainya….Ada Snack yang terletak di bilangan O’brien Road.

Baru juga mengunyah, wanita-wanita seksi itu datang dan jajan di tempat yang sama….Alamak, tegang….Mengalah saja, akhirnya Aku kabur dari situ.

Khawatir akan ketinggalan pertunjukan penting maka Kuputuskan untuk menuju Victoria Harbour. Aku harus sampai disana sebelum jam 20:00. Karena itu adalah waktu reguler dimulainya Symphony of Light. Menggunakan MTR dari Wan Chai Station menuju Central Station. Tarif sekitar Rp. 8.000 dengan waktu tempuh 8 menit.

Wah itu band keren amat lagunya…..kek ngerti aja lo bahasa mandarin Don.

Para pengamen keren di koridor penghubung Central MTR Station dan Central Ferry Pier.

Aku berlari untuk melihatnya menyanyi beberapa lagu dan setelahnya Aku menuju ke dermaga untuk menyeberang menuju Victoria Harbour. Dengan Rp. 4.500, Aku tiba di Victoria Harbour dalam 12 menit.

Mengambil posisi duduk yang nyaman, maka Aku menunggu Symphony of Lights dimulai.

Tag: Wan Chai Tourism

Stranded in Wan Chai District, Stuck in Lockhart Road.

Terdampar di Wan Chai District, Tersangkut di Lockhart Road.