Hong Kong: Asia’s World City

Island Living Channel recently did its first official international taping, and the featured country is Hong Kong. Upon the invitation of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, through Selrahco, the ILC team of four arrived to this topnotch destination through Cebu Pacific. Among the destinations featured were Ocean Park, one of Hong Kong’s prime tourist attractions of aquatic and rainforest diversity. The newest addition is the Grand Aquarium, a three-storey facility that features myriad aquatic creatures of over 5,000 fishes.

Another must-see when in Ocean Park is the old Hong Kong attraction, which highlights the traditional Hong Kong culture and lifestyle over the decades. The attraction brings us back in time to how this metropolitan city looked like a century ago. In the Hong Kong Disneyland, we were teleported in time and entered a world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.

Disneyland’s newest attraction is Toy Story Land, that features rides, games, shows and everything related to the famed movie. It’s like you got shrunk as you explore the world with Andy’s toys. The Flights of Fantasy Parade, meanwhile, is an elaborate street show within the park that consists of a marching band, superb floats and our beloved Disney characters dancing to favorite tunes.

The visit to the Peak Tower, that stands on Hong Kong’s highest mountain, was also an experience as it reveals the stunning view of Hong Kong and Victoria Harbor. One rides on the Peak Tram to get to the Tower. The Peak was once a signaling post for incoming cargo ships, but later became a quiet and cooler retreat for the diplomats and Hong Kong’s privileged. Aside from the peak, another must visit is the Sky 100, where one gets a fantastic view of Hong Kong at the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre.

We also featured Hong Kong’s skyscrapers through an open-top big bus tour, visited Lantau Island, and prepared a Cha Sio Bao, a Cantonese barbeque-pork-filled-bun. At the end of the day, our team stayed in a fantasy-themed Hotel, the Luxe Manor, located at the heart of Tsin Sha Tsiu. The hotel is a modern twist of a European mansion with a touch of oriental and European surrealism.

Our Hong Kong trip was a great adventure we will always remember.*