Healthwise in Hong Kong

In conjunction with Cebu Pacific’s “My Happy Trip” promo with Healthwise, we went to the Shopper’s Haven last weekend to shoot a couple of episodes, highlighting traditional Chinese herbal medicines and the delicious world of vegetarian cuisine.

Our crew’s check-in was facilitated by no less than CEB Station Manager Mr. Johnny Yap, while Mr. Tony Retuya personally attended to our luggage requirements, as we had to check-in the lights and some other equipment. We were scheduled to depart at 9:20 pm to arrive Hong Kong at about 12 mn. We however departed ahead of schedule, while the Cathay Pacific flight that was supposed to leave two hours ahead of us, got delayed. Hence the two flights landed within an hour from each other.

The flight was fun, as is the signature of Cebu Pacific, with games that enabled passengers to win CEB gift items that are functional and chic. Food and drinks are available onboard at very reasonable prices, which made me kick myself for taking a hurried dinner at the airport pre-departure restaurant with prohibitive prices in servings not enough to satisfy a hungry customer. (Well, airport outlets are expected to be expensive as they have to cover rent and other overhead costs.) The thing with budget flights, passengers are just the right number, so we were lining up at the immigration for just a short time.

We were promptly met by Mr.Kenneth Wong, of the Rhombus International Hotels Group which has a head office in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). We rode a brand new van that brought us smoothly from Lantaw Island, through Kowloon, to Hong Kong island where Hotel Bonaparte was to be our overnight home. This is a spanking new boutique hotel of Rhombus, conveniently located at 11 Morrison Hill Road in Wan Chai district. Early the next morning, I went out to have a Chinese breakfast and, voila! Right at the corner near a Seven Eleven convenience store, along the same side of the street, is a typical noodle house serving big bowls of a variety of piping hot noodle soup. Lovely Chinese upper I had on my first morning in Hong Kong – and only for a pittance! (It will cost more than twice the money I paid if taken in a hotel.)

For our morning shoot in a nearby Chinese apothecary, we took a taxi from the taxi stand at the other corner from the hotel – very convenient. Hotel Bonaparte also provides free Hong Kong mobile phones to its guests – pointed out to me by General Manager Teresa Hong -- for HK$800 deposit, refundable upon return of unit. Hence, you can bring the phone and call any local number free. This is very advantageous for people going to Hong Kong on business.

After our lunch with the young and dynamic CEO & Founder of Rhombus International Hotels Group, Mr. Calvin Mak (will be shown on Healthwise, November episode), we went into our respective rooms in Hotel Panorama, on 8A Hart Avenue, in centrally located in Tsimshatsui district. I was given a corner room with a breath taking panoramic view of Victoria Bay, hence the hotel’s name. Seventy percent of their rooms – I was proudly told by Jenny Chan, General Manager -- overlook the magnificent bay, as well as the neon-lit skyline of the Hong Kong island side at night.

After a full Saturday’s shooting schedule, my producer/director Joanna Wu-Po and I, together with her musically inclined husband Euclid, attended a performance by the world-famous Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall. In my evening drapery and all, I walked from my hotel to the concert hall. It was that convenient! We then settled into our good seats to lose ourselves to A Symphonic Century: Beethoven’s Symphony No.1 in C, Op 21 and Wagner’s The Valkyrie: Act 1, with Janice Watson – soprano, Simon O’Neill – tenor and Daniel Sumegi – bass.

After that heady classical experience and the walk back to the hotel, I was still so invigorated, so I went up to the 38th floor, where Sta. Lucia Lounge Bar is a quiet place to unwind, again with the panoramic view of the bay. Bartender is a Pinoy from Pangasinan named Randy Mase, who immediately made me feel at home by solicitously attending to my needs and keeping me company whenever he could. There was another Pinoy attendant, equally friendly named Dexter (if I remember right). When in Hotel Panorama, a Filipino feels right at home, with many Pinoys around.

On Sunday, I could not get in touch with my cousin Ellery Jane Salva for her mobile phone seemed defective. I decided to go to Mass on my own, as the Church of the Hotel Rosary on Chatam Road is also walking distance from the hotel. When I inquired which direction to take, I asked a Pinay who staffed the travel agency booth. Gemma volunteered to walk with me to church; what’s more, she tried calling my cousin’s phone from a landline and we were able to arrange to meet in church. What’s more, the roast geese that I brought home by hand could not have been possible without the heartily given assistance of another Pinoy in the concierge, Ilonggo Rex Muya.

Monday morning’s shoot in the tram at Victoria’s Peak was another adventure. Good for another column article. Till then, here’s hoping you will visit Hong Kong and stay in one of three Rhombus-managed properties: Hotel Bonaparte – a very good business boutique hotel in Wan Chai, Hong Kong side; Hotel Panorama – a magnificent leisure hotel in central Tsimshatsui and LKF Hotel (Alison Yau – Gen. Mgr.) in frenetic Lan Kwai Fong, the latter two in Kowloon.

Stay well and travel safely!