Hong Kong today is a flourishing international center with a population of more than 6.9 million people. With a land area of more than 1,100 sq. kms. and over 260 outlying islands, Hong Kong is compact and accessible. It consists of Hong Kong Island, separated from Kowloon Peninsula by Victoria Harbour, and the New Territories that begin north of Kowloon and extend to the Mainland China boundary.

A unique combination of more than 150 years of colonial influence and 5,000 years of Chinese tradition, Hong Kong is a fantastic holiday experience that one will treasure forever.

On the other hand, Shenzhen is alive and kicking with almost 10,000 tourists a day. Rapid development is giving Shenzhen new life as an active center of recreation and shopping in the ASEAN Region.

From the Manila International Airport Terminal II, it took us almost one hour and 30 minutes to Hong Kong International Airport. The tour was organized by Reli Tours and Travel owned by Renato and Jocelyn Liriio and Philippine Airlines (PAL).

The group was composed of Marjorie del Rosario. Emma Ostan, Marivic Azuela and Joanna del Rosario of Reli Tours and Travel; Manuel "Dino" Molina, PAL Senior Account Officer; Joben Oriel, MBO Tours; Joy Rabe, Friendship Tour; Carly Caguindagan, Balygem Travel; Cerisa Gravador, Travelease; Shiela Dimalibot, Globetrotters; Glenda Suan, Royal Class; Annalyn Oliveros, Constellation Travel; Maridel Garcia, Travelex; Joseph Ang Lim, Ang’s Travel; and Roel Cristobal, Wayfair Travel and this writer.

We were met by Yanni of Holiday World Tours and went directly to Panda Hotel where we stayed while we were in HK. The hotel is devoted to the discerning frequent travelers in mind. It has almost 900 rooms.

The next day, we went to HK Disneyland Hotel. The hotel recalls the elegance and romance of hotels at the turn of the 20th century but with all the advantages of the 21st century. The resort features 400 rooms set in a relaxing landscape of gardens.

Designed in Art Deco style with whimsical Mickey Mouse-inspired motifs, this eight-storey Hollywood Hotel features 600 rooms in U-shaped building surrounding a lawn. The hotel also includes dining, shopping, a lounge, swimming pool, and a garden that appears like a map of Los Angeles with popular and well-known Hollywood streets, landmarks and icons.

From the moment one enters the gates, one feels that HK Disneyland is unlike any other place on earth. One discovers amazing themed lands – Main Street USA, Fantasyland (where one can see the Golden Mickeys, Mickey PhilharMagic), Adventureland (Festival of the Lion King, Jungle River Cruise), Tomorrowland (Space Mountain). Other attractions include Fantasy Gardens, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Cinderella Carousel, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, Snow White Grotto, Tarzan Treehouse, Orbitron and for summer this year added are Autopia, Stitch Encounter and UFO Zone. The climax is the fireworks display in the evening.

From Hong Kong, the group went to Shenzhen. It took us 45 minutes and we travel by the MTR (version of MRT in Manila). We were met by Ricky Liao, our tour guide. We stayed at Ambassador Hotel located right in the heart of Shenzhen City.

Shenzhen is located on the southern coastal region of Guangdong province. With a population of seven million, it boasts of nearly 52 scenic spots and attractions and 100 star-level hotels of multifarious, thousands of different levels of shopping and recreations.

Topping the list of attractions is the Window of the World. It is exceptionally assembled in the 480,000 sq. meter theme park with the marvelous sights of the world, natural landscapes where tourists can find much pleasure.

At the entrance of the Park is the World Square with a capacity of an audience of 10,000 where various programs and entertainment are presented. At Around the World Square firmly standing are the 108 giant pillars of different strikes and a 1,680 sq. meter relief map.

Among the sights in the Park includes the spectacular 108-meter Eiffel Tower, the Niagara Falls in miniature, the Hawaii Volcanoes, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Church, Buckingham Palace, Angkor Wat, the Whitehouse, the Mazes in Britain, the Pyramid of Egypt, The Grand Palace of Thailand, Borobudor in Indonesia, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Colosseum in Italy, London Tower Bridge, the Totem Pole of North American Indians, and many others. (Lynda B. Valencia-OPS-NOCC)