3 Days in 2 Cities- Hong Kong and Macau Tour

 Words and Images by Bernice Gerosaga—–

     My friend and I decided to spend a 3-day and 2-night stay in Hong Kong and Macau just to experience the few remaining days of winter. It was an hour and forty minutes flight from Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1. Our tour was organized by a travel and tour agency so we were able to manage the hustle and bustle from the airport to our hotel located in Tsing Yi. I knew that language will be a barrier so I decided to just leave everything to the agency.

1.) Day one- Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

     We arrived at the hotel at 10 AM. Manila and Hong Kong have no time difference. HK in February is still cold especially at night. So you might need to bring thick shirts, sweaters and mittens. Prior to our flight, I already purchased a HK Disneyland ticket from Klook (an app for purchasing ticket tours, transportation, food discounts, etc.).

     Our Disneyland trip was not part of our  tour package. From our hotel, we took a mini-bus and used our Octopus prepaid card as our method of payment. (Octopus  card is a reloadable card and can be purchased from 7-eleven stores and MTR stations. You will need this all the time for transportation and food purchases. This serves as your E-Wallet.) Just like any other Disneyland, you’ll encounter the Disney characters who will just stroll around the area and you might even get the chance to have selfies with them. They have food stalls and shopping stores for souvenirs. This is a must-see tourist destination in HK. In here, adults are allowed to be kids again. The Disney parade and pyrotechnic displays are the most spectacular events that you should not miss.

2.) Day two- Victoria Harbour and Macau

     We were picked up from our hotel at 8 AM to begin with our tour. Our first visit was the Victoria Harbour located between HK Island and Kowloon. Get the chance to see the constant parade of vessels on the ocean with the backdrop of Victoria Peak and other skyscrapers. The Avenue of Stars, modelled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is also located along the Victoria Harbour waterfront of Tsim Sha Tsui. We also went to Aberdeen Floating Village. Here you’ll find the seafood markets, the Jumbo Floating Restaurant and thousands of boat dwellers with the skyscrapers surrounding the area.

      At noontime, we had our lunch and prepared for our next tour in Macau. We took the ferry and our one-way ticket was covered by our tour agency. You can purchase your own ticket earlier on the way back just in case you ran out of time as the ticketing office closes at 10:30 PM. You need your passport with you with the declaration sheet you showed at the immigration. We were able to witness the Las Vegas-like nightlife with the giant casinos and malls. A lot of Filipinos are working there too! One Filipino was able to recognize our faces and gave us a free voucher to get near to the Eiffel Tower in The Parisian hotel. I felt like I was in Paris too at that time! By the way, look for the casino shuttle buses which are free and could take you around the area of Macau. They depend on the operators and routes.

3.) Day three- Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

     Our last stay in HK. Our flight was at 7PM. But before that, we did not want to leave without experiencing the Ngong Ping 360 cable car! I also purchased our ticket from Klook, this will save your time from long lines at the ticketing booth. By MTR, we stopped at Tung Chung station, Exit B. The cable car terminal is located adjacent to the station. You have the option to modify your cable car. We opted one way up via Crystal Cabin and down via standard. Prepare to be swept away by 360 views of the stunning landscape of Lantau Island and beyond. We visited the world famous Tian Tan Buddha. If you climb the steps to the top of the Big Buddha you can walk the perimeter and see some amazing views as long as it is not a smoggy day.

     Hong Kong as a summary is an ultimate Instagrammable destination that needs to be part of your bucket list. There were some activities that were not mentioned here which you could also discover on your own along your journey.  The people are always in a working-mode face and English is a struggle for them, but their values and kindness are still ready when you need them.