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Macau is the Las Vegas of the East. Though there are casinos in other places in Asia - Kathmandu in Nepal and Goa in India, but the experience in Macau is more glitzy. But there is more to Macau than just casinos. The Historic Center of Macau was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO recently because of the 25 listed monuments from its Portuguese past.

Macau today stands on land that has been reclaimed from the sea. Located 43 miles southwest of Hong Kong, it is actually on the peninsula of the Zhujiang or the Pearl river estuary and consists of the Taipa and the Coloane islands. The peninsula is connected with mainland China through three bridges. One unique feature of Macau is that there is no cultivable land, no forest or woodland here. And so the inhabitants of Macau live of the sea. However in the recent years, tourism has become a big industry in Macau and employs many.

Macau is a small place, and so spending 48 hours in this city might be enough. There are two main things you can do here. Spend the first day touring the historic sites which include the Guia Fort’s Lighthouse and air raid shelters, the Church of Sao Paulo, St. Paul’s Ruins, the Macau Tower, Pou Tai Un Temple, Statue of the Goddess A-Ma, the A-Ma Temple, Museum of Macau, Chapel of Our Lady of Penha… and more. There are both Portuguese and Chinese heritage sites that are must see on your visit to Macau.

Spend the second day in your 48 hour trip gambling in Macau. For your information, Macau has the largest casino in the world in Sands Macau when it comes to the number of tables. So it is a major casino destination where people gamble away till late in the night, and enjoy the shows - Las Vegas style. In fact, gambling revenues from Macau are now even challenging Las Vegas, and so for the first time, the US city has some serious competition. Apart from the Sands Macau, there are other casino dens as well such as the MGM Grand Macau, Venetian Macao, Four Seasons, City of Dreams, Grand Hyatt, Cotai Strip and others. Macau is developing fast and some major hotel and casino projects are scheduled to open in a few months, bringing in hordes of gamblers from all across Asia.

And when you are not visiting the historic places and gambling, you can spend a few quiet hours in the many street side cafes, trying some serious Chinese cuisine. There are all kinds of eating joints - from street side cafes to takeaway shops to lavish restaurants. Other than Chinese food, Portuguese and Brazilian food is also popular in Macau.

Night markets will let you shop till late hours and keep a memento or two from your 48 hours in Macau.

If you want to savor the delicacy of the East, marinated in a Western sauce, come to Hong Kong where the exotic East go hand in hand with contemporary West to form a dynamic city. The city is vibrant with spectacular sightseeing, sensational shopping and an array of fabulous food. The colonial history of Hong Kong is overshadowed by the Chinese experience to give you a new culture that is neither imported from the British Isles nor Chinese, but something totally utopian.

Geographically too, Hong Kong is one of the most interesting cities. The total area of present day Hong Kong extends to well over 2,916 square kilometers of which only about one third is land mass, the rest being waterways. The principal island of Hong Kong is mostly hilly where the Victoria Harbor works as its center of gravity. The entire territory is divided into four main areas. They are…

• The Hong Kong island
• Kowloon
• The New territories
• The outlying islands

Urban areas are mostly around the harbor, which occupy the northern and the southern shores. To begin with, the harbor was just about a mile, but it has been made bigger by reclaiming. The urban areas have some of the biggest hotels, shopping malls and entertainment areas in the orient. Some structures in Hong Kong and Kowloon are simply breathtaking. Hong Kong is a busy commercial center where people earn handsomely and spend money like a King, making it a happening place.

Entertainment in Hong Kong is on a lavish scale. Stars from Walt Disney’s classic animated films come to life everyday in Disney On Parade, a moving spectacle in Hong Kong Disney Park. Disney celebrities like Mickey, Minnie, Snow White, Mermaid, Woody, Jessie and others perform in the daily parade that winds throughout most of the Theme Park.

Transportation in Hong Kong is a breeze. The city boasts of an excellent public transport network. Normally, the Octopus Card is ideal when traveling in Hong Kong and “Octopus” with “MTR” and “Buses” is the dream team of Hong Kong transportation to reach most parts of the city.

Hong Kong’s unique attractions include the Central Mid Levels Escalator. It is the world’s longest covered outdoor escalator, stretching over 2,624 feet through the heart of the city where tens of thousands of people ride it every day. The craze has gone up to such an extent that a great “Escalator Culture” has sprung up alongside. There are cafes, restaurants, shops and many more along the escalator route.

While visiting the pearl of the Orient, don’t forget to fill your belly up to your heart’s content. And while in China (because now Hong Kong is very much in China) do what the Chinese do. Cantonese or Guangdong food is good for everybody. It is mostly stemed, boiled or stri-fried. Also it is quite healthy since it uses minimum oil. The main ingredients of Guangdong food are seafood, pork, chicken and vegetables. You may need white rice to make it a bellyful. However, beware of Cantonese food as it is said… “The Cantonese eat everything that flies barring an aircraft, everything on the ground except motor cars and scooters and everything in water except ocean liners.” Never mind old saying. Take a Dim Sum for breakfast and a Beijing Duck for dinner.

The magic of Disney is to be found in virtually every corner of the globe. Disney today has become synonymous with the finest in entertainment. Naturally, when it comes to theme parks, Disneyland is not far behind. What happens to be every child’s dream, viz. visiting Disneyland at least once in a lifetime, is also what many adults secretly desire. Truly enough, the magic of Disney knows no age. From 8 to 80, everybody’s game for a visit to Disneyland.

When in Hong Kong, it’s a shame to miss out on a trip to the Hong Kong Disneyland. Hong Kong Disneyland is the first theme park inside the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which is owned and managed by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks, an incorporated company jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company and the Government of Hong Kong.

The formal dedication that accompanies this dreamland goes like:

“To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Many years ago, Walt Disney introduced the world to enchanted realms of fantasy and adventure, yesterday and tomorrow, in a magical placed called Disneyland.

Today that spirit of imagination and discovery comes to life in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Disneyland is dedicated to the young and the young at heart - with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration, and an enduring symbol of the cooperation, friendship and understanding between the people of Hong Kong and the United States of America.

Hong Kong Disneyland offers you the same degree of fun, frolic and comfort that you have come to expect from all things Disney. Discover a magical kingdom of thrilling adventures, storybook journeys and beloved Disney characters. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Scrooge, Pluto, Goofy - they’re all here. Stay amidst the magic in two enchanting hotels offering unique shopping, imaginative dining and family recreation - all delivered with the style and service for which Disney is renowned.

The park has four themed lands similar to those at other Disneyland parks. Take your pick from Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland and Main Street U.S.A. Frontierland is a notable exclusion, but don’t worry, you’ll hardly miss it.

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. is an almost exact replica of the Disneyland in California, and includes the train station, the buildings, and the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Adventureland features a large island area, home to Tarzan’s Treehouse, which is circled by the Jungle Cruise. It is also home to the Festival of the Lion King show.

Walt Disney was known for his futurist views. “Tomorrowland” is the realistic culmination of these views. In his own words… “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.”

The “Fantasyland” at the Hong Kong Disneyland features the Sleeping Beauty Castle, as well as the Fantasy Gardens where costumed Disney characters can be met. Other attractions include the Cinderella Carousel, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Mad hatter tea Cups and much more.

Hong Kong Disneyland is a dream come true for every Asian, young or old.