Far East fantasy

ONE often hears that Hong Kong is the shopping mecca of the South East with designer boutiques and street markets downing shutters in the wee hours of the morning. That is indeed true but it is not the only temptation in the city; there is loads to see, to eat and to make merry with.

Fun in Hong Kong
There were too many options for day one. But I decided to go up high on the hills of Hong Kong to have a bird’s eye view of the city. It was a cold and misty day but the ride up the Tram to the Peak, situated on one of the highest topographical points in the island country made up for it. This railway journey offers one of the most stunning views — distant mountains and the azure blue harbour glistening in the sun.

The ride to the top is also incomplete without a hop into Madame Tussauds. The next day, I decided to climb into a cable car on the way to the Lantau Island to see what is believed to be the tallest Buddha statue in the world. The cable car has a transparent glass bottom and allows a clear view of the sea and the lush green hills over which I went zooming towards Ngong Ping
Village.  It was where I shopped for lovely Chinese porcelain.
The next stop was Disneyland, a smaller yet interesting cousin of its Florida counterpart. Entry tickets were slightly expensive but it guaranteed a great time.

Night life in Macau
Macau may not have many tourist spots, but it has one of the most tempting activities — gambling. Every hotel in Macau is equipped with a grand casino that is filled with tourists who try their luck all night. I did too, and lost every single penny I had reserved for the occasion. The Venetian Macau offered me more opportunities to spend money on designer clothes and lip-smacking authentic Chinese cuisine.

On the last evening, I hopped in for one of the cultural shows that Macau is most famous for — Cirque du Soleil’s Ziah — a fascinating, adrenalin soaring show and a must-watch for every art and theatre enthusiast.