Sunday February 17, 2013 Central, HK
I only had a few HK$ left. I was hoping to find a money changer who would give at least 7.70 to a dollar.
I continued walking towards the direction of Wanchai. I saw some Filipinas.
I asked one of them where I could exchange dollars. Dun daw sa Worldwide.
Saan kaya yung Worldwide…
As I reached Central, I saw thousands of Filipinos in every corner and sides of the streets, on the sidewalks, everywhere.
Some were shopping while others were selling “loads” and phone cards.
I saw dozens of them buying bargain wallets.
Only HK$10, pati ako nakabili, 2 Kipling ang mura.
My initial impression was that the prices here are generally cheaper because the merchants cater to domestic helpers. But no, I was able to buy a maleta near Excelsior Hotel at a lower price than the ones sold here. Maybe due to supply and demand. There are just too many DH buying luggage from this store.
Pinagkakaguluhan nila ito, pasalubong daw.
lalo na ito, nag-aagawan pa sila.
Now I know where they shop for Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags.
Natuwa ako kasi yun na yung Worldwide, it’s a building pala.
My God, para akong nagpunta sa Divisoria during Christmastime. I couldn’t believe that there would this many people here, and not just people, puro kababayan.
Nagkakagulo sila sa pansit at lugaw. Ang daming carinderia at lahat merong lugaw at pansit. At lahat punung-puno ng bumibili.
I asked “Miss, saan ba dito yung money changer”.
All of them looked at me from head to toe, biglang tumahimik for a few seconds. Then
“Ay si ate pala! Dun, ka magpalit, wag kay Frankie at madadali ka dun”.
I was able to exchange US$100 to HK$770. I was satisfied.
On my way out, there’s another commotion, parang nag-aaway, ang lakas-lakas ng sigaw ng isang ale.
Yun pala nag-uunahan sa pag-order ng pansit. Na naman. Nagkatulakan.
Naki usyoso naman ako. Naku, nakita ko yung isang malaking kaldero ng guinataang bilo-bilo. Bagong luto.
“miss, magkano yung ginataan?”
“Sampo”. She then scanned me from head to toe.
“Take out?”
I said, I will eat here. Ay, kakainin ko dito.
Problem, I have a cup of super hot guinataan on my right hand, a shopping bag on my left, no place to neither stand nor sit.