Travel diary: Going Macau!

Usually for our vacation we always end up exploring a new country in Europe.

However, this time our three-year-old, Shenaya, decided our holiday destination! This was to be her first trip abroad, so she was very clear that she wanted to go to Disneyland. Since the Disneyland in LA, California and Paris would involve long hours of air travel, we decided to go to Hong Kong.

However, before that, the first stop was Macau, at the Venetian Resort. It’s is not just a gambler’s paradise as is the general impression. Our day used to start with a swim at the majestic pools with cool cabanas for some RnR. Then of course, are the famous gondola rides through the canals of the Venetian. There are acrobatic dancers and other performances throughout the day at St Marks Square. The latest attraction is the Ice World which has beautiful ice sculptures ranging from Eiffel tower, Big Ben to ruins of St Paul and other sculptures of Chinese heritage. You can also shop galore here. Blackjack, being my favorite game, I ended up spending a good amount of time at the tables getting some me time.

Our next stop was the Disneyland Hotel. The minute one steps into the hotel, one is transported to one’s childhood. My daughter’s joy knew no bounds when the next morning we went to a special breakfast where characters from Disney like Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, etc were present to regale the kids with their antics. Needless to add, the breakfast was a long-drawn affair as the kids just could not have enough of their favorite characters. The Disneyland, which is divided into tomorrow-land, adventure-land and fantasy-land is any kid’s paradise. One of the highlights is the illumination of the castle and the ensuing fireworks which are spectacular. Also, entertaining is the Disney parade which has floats with all Disney’s popular characters. It was a herculean task to get my daughter out of Disneyland at the end.

Our final stop was in Hong Kong City where we chose to stay at the harbor, which offered beautiful views of the Kowloon waterfront and the Hong Kong skyline from its suites. One of the highest points here called The Peak is accessible by a funicular called Peak Tram. The ride to the peak is so steep that the buildings you pass seem like they are leaning. The peak offers majestic views of the skyline, the world famous Victoria Harbor and of Kowloon amongst other scenic places. The Madame Tussads museum of Hong Kong is also located here and one of the latest attractions here is called Scream where you are made to walk through a pitch-dark area and have scary characters brushing past you.

No visit to Hong Kong is complete without a visit to Ocean Park. It consists of a dolphin breeding center, a panda habitat among other animals. We also had an experience of the city’s rocking nightlife when we visited the famous Lang-Kwai-Fong area. Pacific Place and Ocean Terminal are two of the best shopping malls you must take a tour of when you are in Hong Kong. Needless to say, our trip was highly enjoyable and we can’t wait to go back a second run.
— As told to Ashish Virmani