Intercontinental Yokohama Grand

NCL Jewel 21-Day Transpacific Cruise Tokyo to Seattle

May 5, 2018 (Saturday) -- Tokyo to Yokohama

Waking up to a beautiful day again as we prepared ourselves to leave the hotel after breakfast. For some reasons it was less crowded in the buffet lounge this morning so we were able to enjoy a good breakfast before checking out of the hotel at around 10:50.

This morning we were seated at the main restaurant.

Another great breakfast.

By the way, breakfast is generally included as Hilton Honor Gold members at the Hilton chain.

Today we will move from Tokyo to Yokohama, spending the night at Intercontinental Yokohama Grand before boarding the NCL Jewel on Sunday. There are several doable routes that would take us from Shinjuku to Yokohama easily, if only the trains were not so crowded that day. It was a Saturday, and also near the end of the Golden Week holidays. TC had it all planned out so we just had to make sure that we followed close enough to get on the jam packed trains. We had to change trains at one point but I don't remember which trains we took. Probably because of the crowds, it felt kind of complicated and confusing at the time but we got to Yokohama in one piece. It could also be that we had to drag along our luggage which made it a little more difficult to move around in the stations and I was just not paying attention to all the details.

This was the Airport Limousine bus that goes between the airport and the city.

Waiting for the 11:12 hotel shuttle to get to Shinjuku Station where TC and JoC were waiting for us.

The very crowded train. 

Good thing we were at one end of the train car and had space for our bags without blocking everyone trying to get in and out of the train.

Intercontinental Yokohama Grand

The five of us got out of the train at Minato Mirai after saying 'good-bye' to TC and JoC. They were staying at Sotetsu Fresa Inn for the night, that was where we stayed in 2015, with one more stop to go. After exiting the train we took Exit 5 for the walk to Intercontinental. We made a wrong turn and went through the mall by mistake but soon found our way on the street level to the hotel.

Checking in was on the 2nd floor with a very nice clerk at the counter. (I found all the staff here courteous and helpful.) As we were early for the 2:00 check-in time, only one of our rooms was ready. They managed to upgrade AT and ET's room to a bay view room on the 24th floor. Ours, on the other hand won't be ready until after 2:00. It was OK, we just sat and waited in their room and enjoyed the gorgeous view of the bay while the bell boy brought all of our luggage up.

A bay-view room.

Osanbashi Pier (the 3rd pier down) in the distance with Yokohama Bay Bridge in the background.

Room 2405

Then, at 2:00 we went down to the lobby again to get our room keys and we were checked in to room 2105 on the 21st Floor. This is a 'garden view' room facing the ferris wheel. Personally, I think you get a great view no matter where your room is. I love watching all the activities out there so it fit me just fine. 

Our view from room 2105 facing Cosmoworld with the ferris wheel, roller coaster and the river right outside.

The building directly across is the Manyo Onsen Club. The building with the square roof-top right behind it is the Cup-Noodle Museum. (This is not the Ramen Museum which is in Shin Yokohama.) Across from the noodle museum is the World Porters Mall, all walking distance away. With the Queens Square and the Landmark Tower on this side of Minato Mirai, there are tons of places to spend your time just at this corner of Yokohama.

They had to rearrange the furniture in order to put in the 3rd bed in our room.

spacious bathroom

controller of the bidet 

Having the IHG annual free-night really paid off here.

Yokohama was bustling with people that day. Apparently, Yokohama is one of the favorite spots where locals like to spend their holidays at. There was also a German Festival at the Red Brick Warehouse that weekend plus a day of parade a couple of days ago.

Look at all the pedestrians on the Kokusai Bridge!

A panoramic view from our window.

We decided instead of going out for lunch and bumping shoulders with everybody, we would just stay inside and rest. While relaxing in our room, we kept in contact with the rest of our family using the "We Chat" app on our phones. This is so convenient and handy. We found out that TC and JoC went to Chinatown after checking into their hotel and decided that was enough for them for the day. DC and MC also went to Chinatown but agreed to join us for dinner at World Porters together with SC and CiC. 

At 6:00, we left the hotel for a walk across the bridge to World Porters for dinner. 

Lobby on the first floor of Intercontinental.

On the Kokusai Bridge.

Beautiful Intercontinental Yokohama Grand.

Arriving World Porters Mall.

There are many restaurants, shops and eating places at the food court on the ground floor of World Porters. After a little investigating, we divided into two groups. One group would go to the doria place where we had the delicious rice casserole in 2015 and the other group would go for a sushi dinner at the revolving sushi restaurant. All of us came back happy and satisfied.

Revolving Sushi Restaurant--Miura Misaki, right at the sign with a fish. There was a line but we got in after less than a 20-minute wait.

We were separated because they couldn't put us all in one spot. It was OK since we would be busy eating anyway.

Plates are color-coded and you decide and take whichever plates you want as the belt rotate around in front of you.

I was busy eating and didn't capture all the wonderful sushi we had. Between the two of us we paid 6700 yen for this meal. Not cheap, but quite worth it in my opinion.

Look forward to our next visit here in November!

After that wonderful dinner, we bought some pastries from the bakery there at the mall for breakfast the next morning before walking back to the hotel. Oh, there is a little stand selling Japanese cheese tarts in the food court. They were absolutely delicious! Must try!

Intercontinental at night.

Back in our room.

The ferris wheel was turning around til close to midnight.

Plan on getting up early to watch the Jewel sailing into Osanbashi Pier the next morning.

Food and Laser Show

Wo Mei, Harbourside Buffet, Laser Show

August 19, 2016

Woke up to a clear morning of blue sky and white clouds. Looking out the window, we were hoping that it would be a drier day so we could use the swimming pool at the hotel. We had planned on taking advantage of the swimming pools at the hotels in those hot days but so far haven't been able to. 

Our plan for the day was to get to MOR's favorite restaurant in Jordan for breakfast. We have tried many places for porridge in Hong Kong throughout the years and decided Wo Mei is the best of all. 

I believe it was dad who brought us here first, years ago, and since then this is our go to place for porridge whenever we are in Hong Kong. We were also meeting cousin Mei and her husband for lunch at the hotel.

Right outside our windows is our next hotel stay--Hyatt Regency (the tallest building in this picture) which occupies the 3rd to 24th floors of the K11 building. K 11 is one of the tallest skyscrapers in Kowloon.

Front entrance of Intercontinental Hong Kong, right off Salisbury Road.

From the left of this picture shows YMCA HK (a good hotel, BTW), the Penisula, with Nathan Road right next to it and then the Sheraton Hong Kong and Sogo Department store. A lot of construction work going on at the Salisbury Garden and Space Museum area next to our hotel.

We decided that instead of taking the MTR for one stop, we might as well just walk to Jordan which is about a mile away. It was actually quite interesting as we walked along Nathan Road watching everything that was going on around us. 

Slope in front of the Intercontinental Hotel.

At the bottom of the slope right at the corner (the glass enclosure) is the elevator that takes you down to the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui East station J2 entrance. There is also an escalator further down to the right.

Wo Mei Porridge (Congee)
It was pretty easy finding Wo Mei since we have been there so many times, and the place was filled with customers already when we got there. A mix of locals and tourists, everyone seemed to be enjoying their breakfast. Their famous item is fish belly porridge (魚腩粥), which they fried the pieces of fish first before putting them in the boiling porridge. I am not good at handling fish bones, so I opted for their beef congee which was very good also. I believe this place is being recommended in many guidebooks which brought in many visitors for their share of porridge. Like any other traditional eating places in Hong Kong, service is not of top priority, but food is. Do not expect quality service even though the ladies tried their best serving in such busy and crowded environment. They only have a few small tables in there so chances are you may have to share a table with other customers.

The best porridge (congee) in Hong Kong.

Fried fish balls (鯪魚球) with special dipping sauce. Fried dough in the background.

Tri-lingual menu posted--in Chinese, English and Japanese. Yes, we saw Japanese tourists following their guidebooks joining us at this tiny eatery when we were there.

Exterior of Wo Mei Porridge on Woosung Street and Ning Po Street (75 Woosung Street). 

Woosung Street is still very quiet in the morning. This is a block away from Temple Street. A very old neighborhood. 

After our porridge breakfast, we took the MTR back to the hotel. 

Besides the pictures of Hong Kong history on one side of the underground walkway, there are also photos of important events in Hong Kong entertainment industry on display.

Definitely an interesting passage.

Back to the hotel.

We had to take this flight of stairs after we got off the elevators on the 16th floor...

...to get to the 17th floor where our room was.

"Handy" the courtesy cell phone provided by the hotel for guests use.

Harbourside Buffet Restaurant, Intercontinental Hotel Hong Kong

We just rested a little before going down to the Harbourside Restaurant for lunch. We found Mei and Si already waiting for us at the table which the front desk staff reserved for us when we checked in the day before. The restaurant is truly sitting right at harbourside, with the incredible view of the harbor. We were so busy talking and eating that I forgot to take pictures of the food and the place until it was time for dessert. Food was OK, with an international menu. I did expect more though for the price of the buffet. I guess we were pretty much paying for the view. They did have an extensive dessert display, I must say. All in all, we had an enjoyable lunch. BTW, a glass of red or white wine or champagne is included, plus coffee or tea at the end of the meal.

Some of the dessert items on ChC's plate.

My dessert choices. Loved that ice cream with mango sauce and almond. The other two items were decorated with gold leaves so I just had to try them.

This was good, a mixture of mango and pomelo, topped with a lychee nut.

This is a cake-like item covered with a coat of sugar. Very pretty!

Enjoying a great lunch with good food, fine fellowship and exceptional view of Victoria Harbor.

We were still jet lagged and with the hot hot weather outside, we decided to just stay in and take a nap in the afternoon. A nap that lasted longer than planned. By the time we got up it was after six o'clock and we remembered that ChC wanted to go out to the promenade and get some photos. As we walked out of the hotel, we realized that it was drizzling and probably not a good day for photos. With Avenue of the Stars being closed off for construction work, many people were still waiting for the laser show along the promenade on the misty, rainy evening. Fortunately, the rain stopped just before the start of the laser show. It was certainly better watching the laser show there than inside the hotel.

At first it was drizzling a little,

then it started to rain, quite heavily, everybody left the promenade.

Waiting patiently for the rain to stop at the cultural center.

A touring junk sailed by in heavy rain.

Finally cleared and the show begun.

Only in Hong Kong!

All I can say is, "Wow!"

After the laser show ended, we walked back to the Intercontinental not far away. Then MOR and I decided that we should go to Wo Mei for more porridge. ChC decided not to join us and he went back to the hotel on his own. Once again, we took the MTR to Jordan, which was very crowded at that hour, and enjoyed another meal of porridge. We just have to take every opportunity to savor our favorite food as we don't get to go Hong Kong as often as we like.

The busy crossing in front of the Penisula.

MTR station in Tsim Sha Tsui.