Third Day in Hong Kong - Ocean Park and Causeway Bay

We had such a full day at Disney, it was unanimously decided that the family needed to sleep in a bit and agreed to converge at the hotel lobby at a more respectable time, 11am.

For breakfast, hubby and I went to McDonald's. If you close your eyes, you would think that you're in Manila! Every Filipino in that area seemed to be having breakfast at McDonald's :-) I wonder, is there an unwritten rule among us Filipinos that we should have breakfast there? Just asking ;-)



We had some delays at the hotel due to some airport transportation concerns. We eventually left around noon. Ocean Park is open from 10:00a.m. to 10:00p.m.

To go to Ocean Park, take the MTR and alight at Admiralty station. There is a bus terminal there where you can purchase bus and park tickets for HK$20 and HK$208, respectively.

We were all very excited particularly because of the cable car experience. It will be a first for all the kids and some of the adults in the group.




When we arrived, Ocean Park was very crowded, and we couldn't enjoy most of the attractions due to long lines and rude Chinese people pushing everyone around. The kids did enjoy some of the attractions though. The mine train was a hit with hubby and Tim, the Raging river was a hit with Nica, the Atoll Reef was a huge hit for most of us despite over crowding. Jay-jay liked the Shark aquarium and the Dolphin show as well.







For hubby and I, we took a leisurely tour of the Aviary since we missed that last year. We were both fascinated with the birds casually perched on trees and some birds bathing in the man-made stream inside the aviary. One particular bird almost pooped on me, I was just inches away when he dropped his bomb! I love the aviary.









The place was so crowded, the escalators broke down....twice. We also didn't get to ride the cable car since the lines were extremely long and the staff urged patrons to take a free bus ride to get to the other side, which we didn't explore anymore.

I wish Ocean Park limits its park patrons on weekends. We were literally packed like sardines! I love Ocean Park and I always go there whenever I'm in Hong Kong. Try to visit the park on a weekday when it's less chaotic and remember to wear extremely comfortable shoes. The terrain is mostly uphill and you will need legs of steel to traverse through Ocean Park's pedestrian lanes.

After a gruelling afternoon at Ocean Park, we travel by bus to Admiralty and took the MTR to Causway Bay. There we browsed through Toys 'r Us and the surrounding shops. Tita Socky met us for dinner at a swanky Shabu-shabu place inside Fashion Walk. Unfortunately, since everyone was very busy cooking their meals, no one bothered to take pictures. The meal was great and the sukiyaki soup that accompanied the shabu-shabu was excellent.

After a heavy and healthy meal, and despite aching feet and short tempers, we still gamely walked the streets of Causway Bay, browsed around the malls, tried things on and walked, walked, walked. Here I am with my mom at Sasa after we've tried almost all their perfumes :-) My head was spinning after spraying and smelling all the perfume. Neither one of us bought one :-) he he he. I was extremely tempted to buy a bottle but resisted the urge. I'm such a good girl :-)

Part 3: Hong Kong Adventure at Ocean Park- Lowland

For the second part of our Ocean Park adventure, Hubby and I proceed to the Lowland via cable car. It's a very exciting experience and the view is spectacular. You can see views of the city, the mountains and the bay. Be sure you snap a few photos.

The Lowland area is very ideal if you have children with you. The Kids' World is dedicated to children's rides and there's a huge playground for the kids to play in while you sit and take a breather.

My favorite part of course is the Gian Panda Habitat. It's an air-conditioned facility that houses two giant pandas. You can spend hours looking at them. The exhibit aims to provide an environment as close to their natural habitat as possible. The pandas come and go in and out of their pen as they please. Don't worry, there are video cameras for you to watch their every move. When you visit the habitat, please be quiet for the noise and the flashbulbs disturb the pandas. The Chinese and Korean tourists were driving us crazy when we were there. They couldn't stop talking. No wonder the pandas retreated to their pen. I would too if I hear those endless chatter. So please for all of you who are reading this blog, please please observe the pandas quietly.

Hubby and I wait in line for the Ocean Park Grand Prix. A go-cart facility within the park. This ride is not included in the entrance fee so you have to pay an extra HK$60 per person. It's cheaper than what we have her in Manila which costs P550 per run on the track (in Fort Bonifacio). We had a blast! Hubby specially since he loves driving fast. The other kids were hellions on the track and kept overtaking me :-) The little devils were even sideswiping me. I had so much fun. A must ride for everyone.

If you desire to feed the dolphins, learn dolphin biology up close and get into the water with them be sure to register at the Dolphin Encounter. The encounter lasts 90 minutes. You may get your tickets at the main ticketing office or through their website at www.oceanpark.com.hk I would advice for you to reserve ahead of time since the slots are limited. Schedules are: Mondays 1:15pm, Tuesdays to Sundays 9:30am and 1:15pm. Be ready to shell out HK$680 per person, it's not cheap but I think it's worth it. Hubby and I were not able to reserve due to time constraints but we promised ourselves that we will have the dolphin encounter on our next visit.

There were other attractions that were not able to go to due to fatigue. There's the Whiskers Theatre where sea lions perform. The Whiskers' Wild Ride is a 4D theater with motion seats and giant screen. I've ridden this ride before and it was fantastic. The Amazing Birds Theater with performances from a variety of birds which will be very entertaining and informative for children and adults alike.

So many attractions. So little time.

Part 2: Hong Kong Adventure at Ocean Park-Headland

Second day in Hong Kong, a brand new day. Hubby and I were very eager to go to Ocean Park. We woke up very early so that we can be at the park as soon as it opens.

First order of business (after breakfast, of course) was to get our Octopus Card. This card is just like a pre-paid card or debit card and is accepted on most public transport including buses, minibuses, trains, ferries, the Peak Tram, and some taxis. It's even accepted at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. We used it in McDonald's and Seven Eleven. To pay a fare, simply place the Octopus card on the reader usually found near the counter or the fare box. I placed mine inside my purse and I didn't have to take it out every time I use it. Just swipe the purse in the reader, and the reader picks it up. Cool. A new Octopus card includes a refundable HK$50 deposit and is valid for two years. Any leftover money is also refunded when you return the card. We decided to keep ours for our next visit. The card is available at the airport and at most public transport customer service centers. You may get your "re-load" at the same locations.

Second order of business is Ocean Park. One of my most favorite places in the world. We take the MTR and get off at Admiralty Station to take the bus to Ocean Park. The park fare is HK$185 inclusive of the bus fare to and from. The park opens at 10:00am and closes at 11:00pm during peak season. Normally, it's just until 6:00pm.

Ocean park is divided into two parts. The Lowland and the Headland which is connected by cable cars. If you do decide to visit the park, make sure you are wearing very comfortable shoes and clothing. The park is steep in most areas and will require a bit of effort traversing. The park is not for everyone. It can get very tiring for you and your kids. It would take the whole day to go around the park and would probably take another day to ride aand see all the attractions.

I love Ocean Park for its array of animal attractions. If you love animals, I suggest to forgo the rides and just visit the animal enclosures instead.

One of the rides that my husband loved was the raging river. It's a water ride with a canoe that goes up the mountain via a river system that has sharp turns and a vertical drop which I didn't look forward to. You can see the sheer contrast of me and my husband's enjoyment of the ride in this photo. You can purchase your souvenir photo of going down the vertical drop at the Image Gallery at each exit for HK$80. Not cheap but hey, the look on Eric's face is priceless. A word of caution: you will get wet on this ride. I suggest that you take this ride last when you're on your way home. Otherwise, you will be walking the park in wet jeans and shirt like yours truly. Fortunately, I had a spare t-shirt in my purse.

Next up, Ocean Park Tower. It's just a ride that gives you a bird's eye view of the entire park from a rotating viewing deck. It's comfy and it's air-conditioned, overall a pleasant ride.

The Pacific Pier was next on our agenda. It's a three-level seal and sea lion attraction that allows you to watch the animals' antics on land and under water through the under water gallery . A must-see. For HK$25, you can even feed the sea lions. Feeding time is usually in the afternoon.

For Dolphin lovers, do not miss the dolphin show at the Ocean Theater. It's very entertaining. On one of my visits in OP a few years back, I had lunch at the bleachers just watching a dolphins play (they were off duty). I had such a fantastic time just sitting there and watching them. Very relaxing and calming. I almost didn't want to leave but there were other attractions to see.

The Dragon is the baddest and longest roller coaster in Hong Kong. Eric couldn't wait to ride it. I opted to just watch him on the sidelines. I've ridden that monster before, never again. The whole monstrosity crosses two mountains with hairpin twist and turns that will confuse and scare you. Eric had a blast as usual. But he said he could not ride it again on the same day. Too much thrill, I guess.

The Atoll Reef is the absolute must-see if you are in Ocean Park. It's a giant multi level aquarium with a wide array of fish, turtles, sharks and eels. The collection of fish in the aquarium is impressive. As you go down each level, you will see different varieties of fish. The coral found inside the tank is artificial to preserve the corals that are left in the ocean. Truly a lovely, calming and enjoyable experience. Your kids would love it here.

Another must-see attraction is the Shark Aquarium. The aquarium has an underwater viewing tunnel that allows you to see a variety of shark species as they swim around you. A great hit with the kids. On some days, they will even allow you to touch some of the baby sharks, like a petting zoo. This is where I touched my first shark, years ago with my dad and brother.

A new attraction was the Sea Jelly spectacular. It's a series of aquariums that exhibit different varieties of jelly fish. I was surprised to see really small ones like the size of a small hot-sauce bottle cap (for a lack of a better reference). Some were really huge. But they were all lovely to look at. The attraction is dramatically lighted so that you can see the beauty of each specie.

And that concludes our adventure in Headland, Ocean Park (for now).