As promised, this is the second part of my Hong Kong blog. If you haven’t checked out the first part yet, you can do so here. Last week, I shared the basic information that people should take note of when travelling to Hong Kong like their modes of transportation, accommodations, food, and such. I also touched a bit on the attractions we visited on our first two days there which were the Tian Tan Buddha, Ocean Park, and The Peak. This time, I’m going to be sharing about the last two days we spent in Hong Kong.
On our third day, we decided to get on a ferry and go to Macau. Hong Kong to Macau via ferry only takes an hour. And once in Macau, we could see Mainland China on its other side, which was pretty cool. Macau’s attractions are located pretty close to each other, especially the ones within the Historic Center of Macau, so the need for vehicular transport is quite minimal since everything is within walking distance. For those who dislike walking, there are free shuttles available to get from one attraction to another.
The first tourist attraction we visited once we arrived in Macau was the Senado Square, which is a huge outdoor museum that is considered as the centerpiece of the Historic Center of Macau. Then, we went to visit the Ruins of St. Paul, which many would say is the most famous landmark in Macau. St. Paul’s was originally a complex of a church and an academic institution built in the 17th century that suffered from getting hit by a typhoon and three fires, leaving only its front as the only standing structure that remains. St. Paul’s also has a Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt that exhibits religious artifacts.
Next, we went to the Venetian, which has become one of the most popular sites in Macau because of how it mimics the network of canals in Venice and lays claim to authentic Italian gondoliers that can be ridden by visitors. Another thing that people might find interesting in the Venetian is how it is home of one of the biggest casinos in the world, having 550,000 square meters of space solely dedicated to gaming. Before heading back to Hong Kong, we stopped to eat at one of the restaurants that served authentic Chinese food and enjoyed a cup of probably the best milktea I’ve ever had.
We travelled back to Hong Kong in the late afternoon and decided to make a quick visit to Madame Tussauds, a wax museum featuring very realistic wax figures of famous celebrities. After our quick visit, we proceeded to go to the Avenue of Stars and see the Symphony of Lights since it was already our last night there. The Avenue of Stars is located along the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade. It exhibits famous people from the film industry in Hong Kong, having their names, signatures, and handprints etched on the stars scattered around the promenade’s floor. Avenue of Stars is also known for being the best place to watch the Symphony of Lights from. The Symphony of Lights is a nightly show of synchronized lights with musical accompaniment, featuring 44 of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers — both in Kowloon and Hong Kong sides of Victoria Harbor. After enjoying the light show, we ate street food for dinner and shopped at the night market before calling it a night.
Our last day in Hong Kong, we decided to spend in Disneyland. It was indeed the happiest place on earth. I had the time of my life going on the thrilling rides, geeking out on the Star Wars and Marvel shows that we watched, meeting the Disney characters themselves, and watching the parade where Disney characters dance to lively music. It kind of felt like we didn’t have enough time to really enjoy everything since we were set to leave that day, and I was told that the closing fireworks ceremony would have been an incredible experience that flashes your entire childhood right before your eyes, but I didn’t know any better at the time. The important thing is I still had a blast given the circumstances. After our fun day at Disneyland, we checked out of our hotel and took a cab to the airport.
Hong Kong with a side of Macau was my first international travel experience. I learned so much about another culture, got to see so many awesome sites, and enjoyed so many things that could not be enjoyed back home. All in all, I consider it a very successful and fulfilling trip.
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