In search of my Panda – Hongkong- Macau

There are multiple reasons to visit the vibrant city of Hong Kong. The wonderful coastline, beautiful nature trails, Disneyland, the list is just endless. However, my first recollection of Hong Kong was owing to the Bruce Lee movie ” Enter the Dragon”, shot in a coastal town called Stanley, locally known as Chek Chue. This island continues to be a famous tourist destination to this day. Therefore, my quest for HK started to catch a glimpse of the city where the Legend was made into a Hollywood superstar. 

Initially, I was thinking of a title around the legend Bruce Lee, but after spending a week in this beautiful island city I decided to dedicate it to the adorable Panda at Ocean Park who made me shout in joy like a kid. I believe this tour planner will assist you in planning your trip to this magical land.

My tour to Hongkong was no less than a nail-biting thriller. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 230 hours from Chennai International Airport. By the evening our house was bustling with anticipation of a dream vacation. However, the emotional fervour made a complete turnaround when I received a call (1800 hrs) from the airlines asking me to be prepared for the worst. It was expected that a dangerous Typhoon will make landfall late in the night on the coast of Hong Kong. Thus, I was advised to check the flight website before heading towards the airport

My heart sank and I dryly passed on the message to my wife and our 3 years old daughter. I actually anticipated my daughter would be upset as we were guilty of building upon the Disneyland trip to demand good behaviour. Ironically, she did not bother and continued playing with her favourite Barbie doll. It made me realise that it was unfair on my part to use Disneyland as bait and made my own child act against her nature. I promised myself never to repeat it again!

In my childhood, I would always visit my cousin’s house during summer vacation. Invariably both of us end up renting some latest horror movie and attempt to watch it together. It was our show of strength towards each other by sticking around for the entire duration of the movie. We would place ourselves on the bed and cover ourselves completely except the eyes. We believed being furtive will keep us away from the harm’s way of the ghost.

Periodically the eyes disappeared under the pillow when the scene was too scary to watch. We were oblivion of the fact that the fear arises due to the background score than the visual. I recollected this incident and smiled while attempting to check the frequent airline website update. To me, it was like watching a Horror movie alone at home without any place to hide the eyes!

The news channel is the biggest producer of horror by constantly beaming horrific file pictures. My jaws dropped when a channel reported it to be a Level 5 Typhoon, which is the worst Typhoon in terms of its ferocity. Thankfully, there was no adverse update on the Airline’s website and thus we left for the airport at 2330 hrs with prayers on our lips. There was no untoward incident as we finished our check-in and immigration formalities in a jiff. I continued to pray silently, still anticipating an anti-climax.

To our delight, the boarding started on time with an announcement that the Typhoon has moved towards Mainland China and we should arrive 4 hours after the cyclone had passed through. This wonderful news did not cheer me up as a documentary on National Geographic titled ” The World’s most dangerous airport” flashed in front of my eyes!

Hongkong featured among the Top 10 in that list and additionally, a cyclone only aggravated the trepidation inside me. I eschewed for a moment to share this with my spouse but decided against it, out of fear of being labelled a Coward! Thankfully the beautiful flight experience of Cathay Pacific soothed my nerves and I slept off.

Day 1: Hongong Day tour

We landed in Hongkong at 10 AM HK standard time. After finishing immigration we came out and hailed a cab to our hotel in Kowloon. On hitting the road, the impact of the Typhoon was conspicuous as it had left behind its trail of destruction. We were blessed with a chatty cab driver who provided us with a lot of information. He advised us to check the travel website before venturing out because most tourist spots are expected to remain closed for the day.

We soon found the predictions of our driver were right. Practically every place remained closed and thus we decided to catch up on some sleep. After we got up in the evening and enquired with the hotel staff we found recommendations in the vicinity. Thus, off we set off on our first day touring in Hong Kong

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple

This temple is located in the heart of the city, surrounded by skyscrapers, providing a spectacular view. It was built with Feng shui elements, this Taoist shrine to Wong Tai Sin is considered a source of luck. We were not aware of this information till we reached the temple

We thanked our stars for the coincidence because any amount of good luck is welcome, especially when the strong fierce winds post the Typhoon still could make our plan go awry. The rest of the trip was a testimony that Luck God did shine on us!

Kowloon City Plaza:

Kowloon City Plaza( KCP) is spread over 640,000 square feet and has ten storeys and with a sleeping kid, it was impossible to scan the entire building. Thus we visited the huge Food plaza and had a wonderful Oriental meal.

But if you have the time it is a world-class mall that boasts of diverse lifestyle offering including sports. And B1 level a large atrium for any event, exhibition and stage show performance, and to heighten the perceptions and experience of visitors to KCP.

After the meal, we retired back early to our hotel to welcome an exciting day ahead.

Day 2: Macau

In a foreign land, I always prefer public transport to keep my expenses to a minimum. In HK Rapid transit adds up as the most efficient and fastest mode of communication. However, the key is to travel light and that is something we have learnt due to experience.

From the time I set foot in Hongkong, I was amazed at the quality of public transport on offer. The Ferry service was equally top-notch and the best I had experienced so far. The beautiful upholstery at the Waiting hall was probably a prequel to what was in store for us. The spick and span of the lower deck kickstarted the journey on a high note.

The large windows on both sides allowed an outside view irrespective of the seating position. The soft and spacious seats made the journey comfortable, in spite of the choppy sea. At times there were large waves lapping past the windows leading to squeals of panic by fellow passengers which had the exact opposite effect on me.

The speed boats run at a breakneck speed. The distance of 60 Kilometers was covered in just 1 hour. Immigration is very efficient and travellers are normally out of the building 10 minutes post boarding. We had booked a day tour in Macau including a meal. We met our guide outside the Ferry terminal and immediately started on our tour

Ruins of St. Paul’s:

The first stop was this iconic building representing the history of the nation. The cathedral of St. Paul is an attraction in every tourist’s itinerary. It represents the life and times of the Chinese communities that faced suffering at the hands of the Portuguese era. The historical significance, the splendid architecture of the church shows a blend of renaissance motifs with oriental style facades. The paintings of the Virgin Mary are enshrined in the church.

There is a lot of curio shop on the nearby lanes. There are 2 types of shops one that sells fixed-price articles and the other where bargaining is not frowned upon. Given my inability of the Chinese language, I picked up some mementoes for family and friends from a fixed price shop

A-Ma Temple

The Chinese temple of A-Ma was built in 1488 and is one of the oldest buildings in the country. It has six wings, and the architectural design of each part is simply stunning. The entrance to the temple is guarded by majestic stone lions and a winding path follows as you enter the gates.

Mazu image lies ahead, and the locals believe that this hall has the longest history of all the temple regions. The image is crafted as a shrine to Goddess Mazu and there are several poems engraved in the hall dedicated to her. The recommended duration of the visit would be 20 mins

Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center

Located near the stunning lakeside of the southwestern shore, the Tower and Entertainment Center is one of the most exciting places to visit in Macau. It rises to a height of 338 meters, providing a glimpse of the fantastic skyline of Macau city. The glass elevator presents mesmerizing and spellbinding vistas as I ascended to the top. 

Besides, there are unique dining experiences in the highest revolving restaurant in the world. The world-class facilities, entertainment activities, and delicious local cuisines, under one roof at the Entertainment Center, leave everyone spellbound.

However, I was here to try my first-hand experience in Bungee jumping, that did not materialise. At 233 meters (764 ft), the Macau Tower’s “Sky jump” and “Bungee jump” by AJ Hackett from the tower’s outer rim, is the highest commercial sky jump in the world. Unfortunately, given the wind speed after the Typhoon, the activity was called off, leaving me crestfallen.

However, I made up for the occasion by walking around the outer rim while completely roped to the surface. Yet, the gust of wind at times picked me up from the ground. It was an exhilarating experience walking around the edge of the building, feeling light-headed and hearted and having a bird’s eye view of the panorama in front of you. At the end of the errand, I was glad that the bungee jumping was called off.

Venetian Macau

Our next stop was the Venetian Macao is a world-class palatial resort for the rich and the mighty. It is a 5-star suite, inspired from Venice , featuring glass windows, marble bathrooms, and ultra-modern facilities. The speciality is the view from each of the rooms on offer. Needless to say fine dining options range from French, Italian to Japanese cuisines.

All tourists should hire a Gondola ride for the experience of a Ventian ride though being physically present in Asia. The artificial water pathways created with a lot of attention will surely make you hmmm the Bollywood song” Dil Lafzon ki Hai, Dil ki Kahani ….”

Macau Fisherman’s Wharf

The Fisherman’s Wharf is a stunning theme park spread over 100,000 sq meters with a separate section for port towns like Miami, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Venice and Cape Town. A host of shopping centres and restaurants are featured in the park, and several colourful casinos and vibrant bars. It is noteworthy that children are not allowed inside the Casinos and thus we had to gave it a miss.

The vast array of discos attract nightlife and party lovers from all over the country, and over 150 stores host a wide range of designer clothes. Once a quiet local community, the Wharf has completely transformed itself a bustling tourist centre. We decided to take a break for lunch at the Wharff.

We experimented with Portuguese food for the first time and it suited us well. After a hearty meal, it was time for us to visit the museum. The stroll inside definitely helped to keep the slumber away and I am grateful to my tour operator for this innovative thought.

Macao Museum of Art:

Macao Museum is a cultural museum hosting a large array of artefacts of historical and cultural importance to the communities that lived here. The articles placed in the museum offer an insight into the life and times of the people that inhabited the place through the years. Different floors of the museum house objects related to different eras. 

For example, the first floor is dedicated to Chinese civilizations and the second one features artworks and traditions of Macao. The third floor depicts life in a contemporary light, and how Macao is represented in literature and other artworks. I would surely recommend a duration of at least 1 hour

This was the list tour of the itinerary and it was time to bid audie to Macau. The heart surely wanted more and especially I will miss the playing a few bouts at the casino as children are prohibited inside. Thus to my readers, I would recommend at least spending a day or two to enjoy Macau to the fullest.

Day 3:

My Disneyland trip is going to me haunt me for the rest of my life. The incident happened after we returned back to our hotel after an exhaustive day. My daughter wanted to see the pictures we have clicked of her favourite cartoon characters. Without a thought the exhausted father handed over the camera to the little one.

I would like my readers to note that I had never ever handed over my DSLR to my child. Whenever she had demanded to see the pictures I have download them on the Laptop and instead hand over the Laptop. This time around all I can do is regret. In the excitement of seeing Mini Mouse, her tiny fingers were too much for the joystick in the camera to handle! In a matter of seconds all the pictures were erased by the pressing 2 buttons.

Thankfully, there were a few which I shot from my Blackberry which remains a testimony to the brilliant day at Disneyland

Day 4:

• Ocean Park
• Madame Tussauds
• Victoria Peak
• Symphony of Lights

Ocean Park:

To me, Ocean Park holds the best of Hongkong. It is spread over an area of 91.5 hectares (226 acres), divided by a large mountain into two areas. The Summit (Headland) and The Waterfront (Lowland). These areas can be reached by a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) cable car system, or the Ocean Express funicular railway. To ascend the Headland, which comprises several hills, visitors can use Hong Kong’s second longest outdoor escalator.^[9] The theme park has various attractions and rides. There are four roller coasters, animal exhibits with different themes, such as a giant panda habitat, rainforest and polar displays, as well as an aquarium featuring the world’s largest aquarium dome.

Between 1979 and 1997, Ocean Park was most famous for its signature killer whale, Miss Hoi Wai/Susie Wong. Today, the famous Giant Panda has turned the fortunes of the park. Thousands of admirers across the globe come in here to catch a glimpse of this magnificent animal. With the popularity of the Hollywood animation movie “Kung Fu Panda”, even children have found a protagonist of their choice.

Even after spending 3 hours at the park, my heart was not contended. Given the size, it is best advised to plan a whole day trip here.

Victoria Peak:

The Victoria Peak Tram is a journey in itself. The Team is run and operated by Hongkong and Shanghai hotels for tourists and residents. It is running from 1888 and offers great views over the harbour and skyscrapers of Hong Kong. The Peak Tram’s route from Central district to Victoria Peak covers a distance of about 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) and an elevation of just under 400 metres (1,312 ft). 

When the tram started moving I actually doubted its ability to climb the steep elevations but it managed with elan, leaving me spellbound. It is an engineering marvel and one should experience it to understand what I am saying. On reaching the top of the peak everyone is left mesmerised by the beauty of nature and the aura created by skyscrapers. The scene from the movie “Blood Sport” where actor Jean Claude Van Dam practised his Kung Fu moves came alive in front of my eyes as I stood there gazing at the view in front of me.

By the time we finished our tour we were famished and thus decided to break for lunch inside one of the restaurants at the Peak. It was an expensive affair but it was definitely an experience to cherish and thus we did not mind.

Madame Tussauds:

• We took a cab from the Peak to Madame Tussauds that takes about 10 mins
• It is advisable to book the tickets online because of heavy discounts that are offered. Click here
• Please book after reading the options properly becasue acees to popular personalities costs extra
• The cost ranges from HK$230 to HK$300

This is the first chain of Madame Tussauds in Asia, the original one was founded in France. This museum is equally renowned with more than 100 wax figures of International personalities from across the globe and specialisation.

A lot of us are camera shy and I am no exception. This museum is a great place to experiment with new poses according to the personalities. Even, I got tempted to pull out a few stunts from my pocket. I hope the pictures that I have posted will illustrate this point further.

The museum will easily take at least 1 hour to cover, though for a photo buff even 2 hours might not be enough. Please make the best use of it and click as many pictures as possible for a memory of a lifetime

Victoria Harbour boating: Symphony of Light

The show can be watched from both Tshim Tsha Sui waterfront and the Victoria Harbour. We took a cab to the Harbour and hired a boat to watch the Laser show from the water. The skyscrapers on both sides of the waterfront participate in a 10 minutes light show from 8 PM onwards. The show is organised by the Hongkong tourism board.

 It is the world’s largest permanent light and sound show according to Guinness World Records. As of 2017, there are 42 participating buildings in the show. The boat ride lasts about 30 mins and it is an experience of its own. The ticket per person ranges from about HK$ 350. There are cheap options as well. A lot of local boats also operate drawing a large crowd and is priced at almost half.

Day 5:

Tian Tan Budhdha at Ngong Ping

The journey to Ngong Ping reminded me of a old Bengali saying” Saat Samudra Tero nadir Par” it literally means crossing the 7 seas and 13 rivers. This metaphor describes a long journey especially abroad and this trip was no short of a voyage amidst the spectacular view and the sense of adventure.

Ngong Ping is located on the Lantao island and is accessible through a cable car. It required visionary thinking for a project of this proportion to take shape. Thus, all the praise should be bestowed on the authorities to execute this tremendous feat. The journey of 5.5 Kms is nothing short of a miracle. The glass bottom cabins add to the excitement as one see the sea or the mountains below.

The real attraction at Ngong Ping is the giant Budhdha statue ( 34 metres). As we reached the Ngong Ping village it was a trek to the statue on a misty day. The visibility was low with the hill shrouded under cloud cover, adding to the mystery of this wonderful place. There are 260 steps to the top and for tourists who can take this pain the gain far exceeds the pain. The magnificent view from the top is a sight to behold.

Po Lin Monastery and the Buddha are open to the public between 10:00 and 17:30. The access to the outside of the Buddha is free of charge, though there is an admission fee to go inside the Buddha.

By late afternoon we came back to the city and spend some time shopping for friends and relatives at home.

Day 6

Being the last day we slept late and then lazily went for breakfast as the staff were about to wrap up. We had breakfast at leisure reminiscing our beautiful voyage to this great island. I wondered the number of tick boxes that we ticked in this trip and allowed us to emerge more knowledgable and wiser. We had our flight late in the afternoon and we decided to catch up on an Indian meal to gear up for the journey back home.

When a journey comes to an end there is also hope for the next one. In my heart I know that this planet is large enough to cover in a lifetime however there is no harm in dreaming of it. This thought was crossing my mind as I was seated on the window seat and the flat was taxiing for take-off. A few moments later we were in the sky passing by the beautiful coastline that slowly vanished under the cloud. Suddenly I could see a giant Panda waving with a beaming smile and wishing me all the best for my future!