29th Jan – 2nd Feb 2025
SQ874 was scheduled to depart 725am so we had an awfully early start to the day.
Hello SQ874.
Reading on the plane? Good job, though that can only last so long… wait what was that, some J class fruits?
Arrived in to some really great weather, with some sunshine to boot and a nice cool breeze. Would have been about 20degC we reckon. We had someone from Conrad HK meet us at the airport.
Got to Admiralty in under 30min – traffic was really smooth on the 1st day of Chinese New Year.
There was a queue at the check-in and took a while, but we didn’t bother as the rest of the gang took time to explore the expansive lobby. At the end both got upgraded, the Diamond Grandpa to a Mountain/Peak View Suite while the lowly Gold Daddy to an Executive Deluxe Double (also on the same mountain view orientation, we would understand later the hotel was operating at super full occupancy and many had prebooked harbour view rooms for the CNY fireworks display).
No complaints as it was only 1-ish and we got our rooms without any hassle, thanks to the gracious early check-in accorded.
Hello Mr Conrad HKG bear, and his sibling who looks like a monkey donning the water-polo-like cap, and their distant relative Mr Rubber Ducky.
Interestingly while both rooms had identical-looking bathroom, only the suite featured the Conrad Duck in the tub and what we reckon was a canister of bath salt. #spotthedifference in the bathroom!
We check out the Executive Lounge on the 59th Floor. Our room was on the top-most level, 61st and YYMMGG were on the 60th. Interestingly, the Executive Lounge though located on the 59th is connected to the 60th floor via a spiral staircase. So I reckon if you intend to use the lounge a fair bit, it would be much more convenient being on the 60th or 59th, trade-off being the 59th would obviously have a lot more footfall with folks going in/out vs. the privacy of being 1 level above, though connected conveniently via the spiral stairs.
Having awoken super early in the morning (or barely slept a couple of hours), everyone hunkered down for a little snooze time. The nap did us good and soon we were ready to explore the sights and sounds of HK in CNY. Conrad is located very conveniently adjacent to Pacific Place strategically poised with Admiralty MTR underground (flanked by Shangri-la and JW Marriott), there are a few ways to get to the station and while we initially took a left at L2 Conrad linkway to Pacific Place (no lift access), we settled subsequently with the right turn – connected fully via mall directly to the underground.
Human traffic was at its peak at Tsim Sha Tsui, we were literally stuck at the station at a human gridlock and could not get out. Seems roads were closed for the CNY street parade festivities.
We decided to backtrack to Pacific Place to grab dinner from there instead and settled for a finger-lickin’ good ol’ KFC chicken party in the room!
Day 2 – Tsim Sha Tsui, Star Ferry and CNY Fireworks
Got up to an early breakfast. We were shocked that breakkie was at the Grand Ballroom! So many people! We found out later this arrangement was to accommodate the influx of guests at the hotel during this super peak season. We would later have breakfast at the (way cosier!) Garden Cafe at opposite ends of the same floor.
After a hearty meal, we went back to Tsim Sha Tsui and walked south towards the Star Ferry Pier. We found Pop Mart store along the way at K11 mall! Yeh Yeh’s old office used to be round the corner.
Walked further south past Nathan Road and Kowloon Hotel to Harbour City. We get to Star Ferry and it was a mad house (Read: MADHOUSE!). Yes, so many people, folks didn’t even know which queue they were in, headed for Central or Wan Chai! Yes, that crazy! After initial skepticism and the girls wanting to back out, we pushed through the sea of human traffic. At one point the staff were seen shouting at rowdy queue cutting schlaps. So much drama. At the end he open the gates to let us through, and when we said we hadn’t paid, he just retorted in Cantonese go, Just Go!!! (by the way, you could either pay with the Octopus Card, or Amex which had a promo for HKD$1 Star Ferry rides when paying with an eligible Amex card via contactless or digital wallet payments – that which we did not have to do on the way up!) – we did use the Octopus Cards for our trip back from Central to the TST (Kowloon side).
We arrived at the Central side and rejoin the queue immediately to head back to TST. This time though less crowded, yet we still got separated. Check out the human divide (YYMM, Daddy and Mummy on one side and Gugu, JieJie and I stuck behind!). Dig the McDonald’s star ferry! Hong Kong-ers love their McDonald’s so we would see!
Got back land side and went to have a quick but late lunch at Cafe de Coral. What was evident was that there were multitudes of people everywhere we went! Even waiting for lunch (and an available table huge enough for 7!) took almost a full hour at what was to have been at a QSR (Quick Service Restaurant)!
By the time we were done, we walked back to Tsim Sha Tsui East Station and found it was closed by the Police due to crowd control with already massive crowds swelling yet, and staking out camp of best vantage points ahead of the evening bay fireworks; so we walked back north to the next station (Tsim Sha Tsui). And yes we walked past the same underpass from YMCA to the TST MTR where we saw the Horseman busker in our first HK trip back in 2018!
That night we went back to the hotel to watch the CNY Fireworks display at the bay. The Executive Lounge had extended the invites to view the amazing pyrotechnics display from the Conrad Hong Kong’s Presidential Suite (Room 6116). And yes, there was already a short queue formed outside by the time we arrived, ahead of doors opening at 8pm.
A total of 23,888 firing shells discharged from three barges in an approximately 23-minute extravaganza. This year’s fireworks display, in celebration of the Year of the Snake, was divided into nine scenes with various highlights and characteristics.
And because the usual Executive Lounge was blocked out for a private event, the they opened up Nicholini’s adjacent to Pacific Bar as a popup/substitute drinks and dining experience.
Day3 – Disneyland
Good Morning HK! We’re headed back to HK Disneyland after our 1st trip there in 2018!
Had an early brekkie with YYMMGG. Took train from Admiralty to Hong Kong Station and the train to Sunny Bay where we changed trains to the Disney line.
And yes we all love our fastfood, but it would be hard to rival Hong Kong’s passion for McDonalds with yet another huge activation (after the Mc’D Star Ferry we saw yesterday!). And look, is that Hamburglar we see? So that’s where he’s been staking out all this time!
Arrived in good time after jumping on the Disney Line from Sunny Bay MTR (Daddy says he didnt actually register the tickets having bought them couple days prior from SQ’s Pelago site with predetermined dates, though he should have).
Good thing no issues getting in and we were soon let in after a short bag check.
Went to Jungle River cruise which was a short 15min queue, thereafter Daddy, Didi and I went on the Oaken’s Sleigh ride. The roller coaster was pretty meh, but alas, we were more amused (or bemused!) by Mummy who was scared (of what?) the Red Indian blowpipe, or elephant spouting water, or was it the little volcanic eruption? Hehehe…
Took some pix around the very picturesque Arendelle pier. My friends thought the pic was a fake (AI generated graphic! What?). Ya right.
The queue at Frozen Ever After was building up so we jumped at the opportunity for the Premier access (aka FastPass).
Toy Story Land was next, Mummy’s turn to take us on the next ride, Slinky Dog while our old man sat out at the plains. We decided to stop for lunch at Tomorrowland not so much because we were hungry, rather more to rest our weary legs, thereafter used the 1st of 3 Premier Access combo passes, first to Antman which was basically just a shooting game, nothing scary.
So we got Mummy to join us for the next round. Ended the last ride with Its a Small World (yikes we can still hear the tunes ring in our heads!), by which time it was time for Mickey and Friends CNY processional along main street.
Once the floats cleared we made a dash for the shops to grab some stuff (checkout Jiejie’s Fox Linabelle?).
And so we wrapped up our day at Disney and left the park round about 7.30pm as we did not want to wait for the fireworks. The boys wanted to take the Disney train round the park but unfortunately the last one rolled out the station at 6pm. Oh well!
And so we jumped back onto the MTR and headed to Mongkok to visit the night markets. We got back to the hotel having hit > 16,000 steps! Whoa!
Day 4 – Ding Ding, Mongkok
Had an early brekkie today, given the crowd was no longer as busy as the past days, breakfast was served at Garden Cafe.
After an unrushed meal, we took a walk around the hotel towards the heated outdoor pool and checked-out the gym.
Took Ding Ding to Causeway Bay to walk around, post which the MTR back to Mongkok. What’s a visit to HK without Dim sum? Went to London Restaurant along Nathan road, it was a crazy experience having arrived late to many food already being sold out. It was a mad rush to snap up whatever food was left available!
Walked around a bit more around Argylle Centre and back the the MTR from Mongkok back to Admiralty. Rested a while at lounge on the 59th, the lift situation was visibly not as busy as past few days (perhaps some guests were already leaving).
Day 5 – Back to SG
Woke up mighty early as we were leaving the hotel at 6am. Got into airport early and hit the lounge.
Pic of us at the Silverkris Lounge HK – us kids guested in by Grandpa and Daddy.
Catchin’ SQ899 back to SG!
YYMMGG and Mummy were seated in front while Daddy mumbled and grumbled about having to babysit us at the back.
For the record, we were really good kids and behaved really well – stuck to our devices the whole duration (oh wait, where’s MahMah?!)…
In all, apart from all the wait – waiting for the lifts (yes Conrad has 6 service lifts for pax, but 3 were down, and given the hotel was at max occupancy across CNY), we waited on average 10minutes each trip, waiting for tables, waiting for rides – it was definitely a short but solid trip and more importantly time well spent together!
That said, it was all good in the end. Happy CNY 2025 all!
p.s. Pic taken at our Reunion dinner the night before at where else but Daddy’s favourite spot. They even have our birthday celebration pictures/vids on their FB account! Then again, where else do you know each and every one of their staff by name, and them preparing a whole 1kg cake to celebrate your birthdays each year and every year? And oh, please pardon the red can 🙂
