• You do not have to stay long in Disneyland to get the most out of it. A couple of days can be enough to enjoy every ride and attraction there. The longer you stay, the greater will be your expense, so if you are going on a budget, keep your stay short.
• Get yourself a map of Disneyland, preferably before you leave home. It is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with a place before you reach it. This will enable you to manage your time well.
• Don't be surprised if you see tons of people lining up before every attraction. Remember that you are going to a famous tourist spot, so it is quite natural to expect so many other people having their vacation there. You can maximize your time by getting a Fast Pass ticket. This is a free service that will keep you from having to stand in line for a long time.
• You do not have to book in any of the Disneyland Hotels there. However, I personally feel that staying in either the Disneyland Hotel or the Hollywood Hotel is worth the experience. The accommodation is great, and the buffet breakfast at the hotel is definitely something to look forward to! The Disneyland Hotels are definitely world-class.
• There are so many souvenir shops in Hong Kong Disneyland, but you do not have to buy everything you see. Pictures make better souvenirs, and they're not as expensive.

Going to a tourist destination like Hong Kong Disneyland may seem costly, but if you consider the exciting experiences you can have in the Happiest Place on Earth, it's all worth it.

Hong Kong is a city of lights- it was awarded the world's largest permanent lights and sound show, and it earned its place in the World book of records. This is a nightly 15 minutes, showcasing a symphony of lights which starts at 8 PM and gives an energetic spectacle of neon lights. This magical show combines interactive lights of 33 key buildings of booth Hong Kong and Kowloon islands with magical musical effects to showcase the vibrancy and glamorous night of the Victoria Harbour. Romantic walks along the piers and the Islands' long stretched promenades are a must- you must not shy away from these calming walks.

Hong Kong at night is a lively city and it will put a sparkle back in your life if you are a sea food lover. Dining at various sea food restaurants that surround most of the waterfronts in all the islands, you get to order your own fill from the fish tucks displaying live sea delicacies- You will no doubt enjoy feasting on the delight of Chinese Sea food cuisines. Aboard a Chinese pleasure junk boat, which sails to Lai Yue Mun fishing village, not only will you experience a great sail on a Chinese primitive transportation, but you will enjoy an intoxicating view of the islands and the high rise residential buildings which line the islands shores.

Cooking classes won't be a bad idea, not only to enjoy the taste food but learn to cook Chinese food even when you return home. You will learn how to prepare Chinese dishes from basic culinary art, to the oriental sophisticated dishes, like Dim Sum, fried rice, or a succulent fish dish. The Chinese use a wok, and their food is cooked on high heat, normally, they use only the freshest produce- be it meat , fish or vegetables. Part of the Chinese cuisine art is the blending of tastes to produce a mouth watery dish, and their greens are steamed to return the freshness and colour of the vegetables. The Chinese appreciate their food, which mostly comprises of the best ingredient with healing elements. With the Chinese, eating is an art- from the way you use the chop sticks to chewing, down to the swallowing and sipping of your teas. You can get more information on places to find self cooking restaurants at the hotel desk.

If your passion is shopping and bargain hunting- take advantage of your Hong Kong holiday, and visit the well known flea markets of Mong Kok and Stanley markets. An open bus tour will ignite your spirits too, and it starts from Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), and will take you along Hong Kong golden mile on Nathan road to Canton road where you will visit the famous Ladies Market in Monk Kok, known for its off the hook bargains. Price negotiations are like a sport here, and if you are good, you will meet your match in the shrewd, but polite traders.

Hong Kong's natural beauty offers unspoiled natural parklands and intoxicating sceneries. Experiencing a Sub-Tropical, like Mediterranean climate, and mountainous landscape, Hong Kong is favoured by backpackers from all over the world. Hiking in Hong Kong is one of the great outdoor adventures, even for the locals, a good break from their appreciation of food, which of course is healthy and healing. Venture out to two of the best known peaks; the Amah Rocks and the Lion Rock country parks. The walk starts with a visit to the Che Kung Temple in shatin. The Temple is a dedication to general Che who earned his respect and fame for his loyalty during the last days of the Sung dynasty, which rule from AD960-1279. From the Temple you will walk uphill to the legendary Amah rock- the Amah rock has a legend tale by its unique appearance. The rock tip is believed to be the remains of a petrified woman, whose husband, a fisherman feared dead by drowning, but she sits there, facing the waters, in wait of her husband's return. From here you have a magnificent, impressive view of Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong's highest mountain. Then the trail will take you up- separating kowloon and the New Territories, the path leads you up to 495 meters-high Lion rock, which gets its name from the close resemblance to a Lion head. The Lion rock gives you a splendid view of the kowloon urban grid, Victoria harbour and Hong Kong Island. The hike heads down along hilltop ridges, going around the Eagle Nest mountain where you will have glimpses of monkey troupes. This is also a great nature reserve, and your long hike brings you down to Old Tai Po road.

Another favoured, spot is the Lantau Island- double the size of Hong Kong Island, this lush greenery has much to offer you. Not only does it accommodate the city airport, but it is also a great outdoor destination. With its high peaks, mostly in the mist, deep valleys and usually deserted sandy beaches, it is an opposite of the urban grid, with its unspoiled countryside, which makes Hong Kong so distinctly an attraction of its own merit. You may also want to cross the famous bridge the native way by boarding a boat from Central which takes 45 minutes to one hour to get a close up view of the Tsing Ma Bridge, which connects Tsing Yi Island to Ma Wan. You can also get a great view of the Bridge from Lantau Link Vistors Centre deck and viewing platform.

while you are on Lantau island, visit Ngong Ping, which sites a stunning spectacle of the Buddha statue measuring about 34 meters, which is the largest outdoor standing statue in the world. You can choose to walk the buddha mile by taking the 260 steps through the mountain ridge leading to the buddha statue and learn about the buddha history. Or you can take the new cableway, the Ngong Ping 360 degrees, which is approximately 20 minutes to cross over from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. Ngong Ping village offers a diverse array of entertainment, dinning and souvenir shopping. You can finish your visit of the Island aboard the cableway Ngong Ping 360, back to Tung Chung City Gate Mall which houses factory outlets at bargain prices of Branded fashion- a must to visit if you are a brand cat.

There is so much to view in Hong Kong, from the great traditional Chinese culture, to the cosmopolitan hong Kong with its mega-architectural structures, and lifestyle. The once Isolated Island is growing rapidly, but this mountainous land will always be a retreat, hiding the Chinese hidden treasures, and a place of enchantment for the curious soul to find balance and harmony.

Hotels

Depending on your budget, you will get your money worth stay in the Hong Kong lavished hotels. Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), has a number of hotels , from two stars to five stars hotels. Most of the hotel costs includes a shuttle bus, gym, steamer, sauna, but massage therapies are charged at a minimal fee worth your take.

Transport

Hong kong transport system is one of the best in the world. Efficient and reliable you will never get lost in Hong Kong- MTR and KCR train companies are well structured serving the all of Hong Kong, inter-linking all the Islands, with a help of the Green and red taxis completing your transport satisfaction in the inner cities. Hong Kong has a very efficient pre-paid card called Octopus, you can buy it at any train station for HK$50 adults, and HK$28 for kids from 4 to under 12 years. An Octopus card is used for most of the Islands' transport, except the taxis, you can also use it to pay for your small expenditures, and you can top it up at participating convenient stores, like 7 Eleven and the train stations' inquiry desk. This card can be sold back and get your HK$50 back when you are leaving Hong Kong at any train station desk.

Visa

It is always good you check with the Hong Kong local embassy in your country if you may need an entry Visa to Hong Kong. Most of the countries, except the immediate neighbouring countries, do not need a Visa to enter- you receive a 90 days stay on entry stamped in your passport.

Currency

Hong Kong uses Hong Kong dollars and like other developed nations, you use credit cards to pay for your hotel fees. nevertheless, you need cash if you have plans to visit the flea markets, to pay for your transport, and some of the remote Chinese restaurants. Like any other travel destinations, do not carry too much cash around although Hong Kong has a very low crime rate in the world, be cautious. Tips are optional and you don't pay any sales tax- you pay the tag price and you are all set.

Hong Kong has a limited democracy. There are two main leaders which is the president and the head of the government; the head of the government is Donald Tsang and The President of Hong Kong is Hu Jintao.

Food

People in Hong Kong drink a lot of hot water and tea because they believe that the more you drink, the more fat is burned. The food that the people in Hong Kong eat is fruit preserves, lamb dumpling and cake, Dimsum, Cha Siu Bau, Au Yuk, Har Gau, Siu Mai, Shun Guen, Nor Mai Chi, Nor Mai Gai, Mango Bo Din, Sei Fong Gau, soup, noodles, and rice and some restaurants include Mac Donald's, KFC, and Olivers.

Clothing

Clothing in Hong Kong is very much like the U.S. clothes, but there are some differences. They dress in a lot of black and sometimes in silk. Men have long hair, and girls have short hair.

Housing

Hong Kong people can live in huts, apartments, bamboo houses, and houses and buildings like ours, but the houses are not super nice like ours.

Lan Kai Fong is a very famous tourist spot in Hong Kong. This city is known as the busy business district. It has more than a hundred restaurants and bars with vivacious mixture of various cultures in the area. Like many people, after a hard day of work, people use to stay for awhile to have some drinks and fine dining with friends and families.

One main attraction of the district is their elegant Lan Kwai Fong Hotel which is awarded as “The Best Boutique Hotel In Asia” by Travel Weekly Asia Industry Awards. The hotel offers access to all major shopping and sight seeing place. It has transportation facilities that makes it easier for the people to travel from one place to another.

The city is not only famous for offering their local cuisine, since I've said earlier that different cultures arise in this district so, a lot of different cuisines like Italian, French, Japanese and more are also available. The alluring foreigners would even stay longer for this. However, many local people don't consider this as place for pubs and discos because there are a lot more restaurants than those pubs and discos.

During special days like Halloween, Christmas and new years, the crowd in the place is very busy. You can see a lot of crowded people having party onto the street as they celebrate the special days.

Being familiar with the place, makes you even comfortable to stay. And, if you see the place with good atmosphere, it makes you come back and try another visit.

One of the best attraction is the Victoria Peak also know as the Peak. Because of its popularity, the local people is yearning to stay to build their own place at the peak. Unfortunately, most residents here are comprised of gentries that can afford to stay at an expensive well known place all over the world.

How do the people get there? When the tramway was opened, a number of people would love to ride to get them up the hillside to be able to reach the peak. This transportation has been operational for over one hundred years now and no accidents have been reported ever since. It runs from 5:40 am to 1 am. To get a better side of the view, try to ride on the right side of the Tram. Your journey to reach the summit will take you only eight minutes.

Reaching the top is not easy especially to hikers, but viewing from the top especially during night time makes your weariness disappear. Victoria Peak is the highest point at about 554 meters above sea level that occupies the western part of the island.

Inside the Peak Tower, there are restaurants where you can eat while viewing from the peak, shops to buy your souvenirs and other stuff, wax museum and an observation deck to view the different attractions. Attractions at the peak are Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, peak Explorer Motion Simulator and Ripley's Believe it or Not! Auditorium.

The place is great for hiking. Moreover, you have to bring hiking gear, good shoes and socks for biting insects, and not to forget also your camera for some posing time. While hiking, you can see high bamboos, hibiscus, vines and a lot more. Starting from Lunar Road opposite the Peak Tram upper terminus at 395 above sea level up to Harlech Road, you will see the views all the way to China and Macau. From Harlech View, you will see the Harbor that takes you two hours to complete.

The best time to travel to Victoria Peak is later afternoon on a clear day to see the change from daytime to dusk and from dusk to nighttime. However, if it is rainy or smoggy, don't force yourself to go because there are no good views to see.

It makes you feel proud to visit the place. As if you are in heaven trying to look down to see the beautiful and astonishing views. Visit the place and make yourself feel better and proud.

When my boyfriend had suggested going to Hong Kong a month before, I was a little dubious. After all, it was an extremely expensive flight and I felt slightly alarmed at traveling further than I'd ever been before from my home in Dublin. He, the lucky beggar, had been in Australia for six weeks on a sabbatical and was busy sunning himself on Bondi beach while I was left to make my decision. Eventually, I decided to throw caution and credit card to the wind and I booked my ticket. I spent four excited weeks buying guide books and figuring out what attractions we could go and see. Then, the day arrived and I flew into London, feeling mildly annoyed that there are no Hong Kong flights from Ireland.

I have often wondered what it must be like to be American; to live in a country of such vast expanses. Ireland is such a tiny country (I think we would fit into Texas about thirty times) that we Irish are used to getting where we want to go quickly by car or train. It only takes three hours to drive from one side of the country to the other. As you can imagine, I'm not a frequent long haul flier and the prospect of fourteen hours from London was making me distinctly nervous.

It turned out my fears were justified: I was stuck in a window seat beside an enormous British soldier who kept his elbow in my face for much of the flight. Luckily, the wine kept me hazy enough to ignore the agonizing cramps in my legs. I'm not very materialistic but I do envy rich people their ability to fly business class! I spent an uncomfortable night thinking jealously of those smug business men sitting in the front of the plane in their super luxurious faux leather arm chairs!

When I finally reached Causeway Bay, the district where my hostel was located, all I could do was sink onto the bed and rip of my grubby clothes. That would have been fine, apart from the fact that the bed had the consistency of frozen concrete or possibly titanium. I resolved then and there to never throw myself onto a bed again without first checking the feel of it with my hand. My spine is still wonky.

Our hostel was about ten stories high and our room had a small window which looked onto a dingy alley of the kind where rumbles take place in Hong Kong cop movies. I could hear families chatting and dishes clinking as I drifted to sleep. The most unexpected surprise of my sojourn was the temperature. I had expected humidity of the tropical kind which makes it difficult to breathe and muggy heat drifting up from the pavements. To my annoyance, I found it was colder than Ireland! When I woke up the next morning, (C had arrived from Sydney by that stage), I struggled into my big woolly jumper, usually reserved for winter.

Apart from the disappointment of the weather, I was monumentally impressed with Hong Kong. The street scape of neon lights, skyscrapers and tropical trees was an overpowering vista. None of what I had read about it in my guide book prepared me for it. My favorite aspect of the Island is how even though modern buildings cover the shore line; it still feels wild and verdant. Although obviously touched by human hand, the close vicinity of the sea, the peak and the forests reminiscent of jungles means it retains its air of mystery. It's not just "another city". One of the problems of urbanization is that so many cities are uniform. However, this city has retained its individual character.

I loved riding on the ferry to Kowloon and Lantau. The journey to Kowloon only took about two minutes but the close up view of the harbor is impressive enough, particularly at night. The return journey from Lantau is spectacular: zooming in on ricocheting waves with the view of the Excelsior Hotel and other imposing buildings quickly approaching. My eyes were glued to the ferry windows, trying to drink in everything. C was looking distinctly green at this point as he doesn't sail too well and the motion of the waves was rocking our seats!

However, my favorite ferry ride of the trip was undoubtedly the evening cruise to watch the light show. The ferry sails out to the middle of the harbor about twenty to eight in the evening. It gently stays there rocking while tourists cluster around the edge of the boat. The light show occurs on both sides of the harbor and a start at eight pm. Music was piped out of the boat and the buildings lit up in time to the music.

One building would light up in fluorescent pink and then others would follow suit, changing color every few minutes, lighting up the dark sky. The irony is that the buildings are mundane by day; a bank, an electricity company, but by night, they perform in a world class show. Blue, red, gold, green followed each other to the beat of the music. By the time it ended, the cluster of tourists was left in an awestruck hush at what they had seen. The show is certainly not environmentally friendly because it uses up vast amounts of electricity every night but it is one of the few cases of a worthwhile use of energy.

Food was lavish. Generally, we ate noodles from a nearby café for breakfast, or dim sum, which was drowned in soy sauce. Afternoon tea at the peninsula hotel is a must though. The Peninsula hotel is the most elegant and expensive hotel in Kowloon. The lobby is plush and covered in gilt and the visitor can watch the front door where illustrious guests glide through fresh from Mercedes and Bentleys. Eating cucumber sandwiches in Hong Kong reminds one of its colonial past. The sandwiches were served with crisp breakfast tea and dainty cakes. Chinese food is delicious and extremely healthy but I have to confess to craving a bacon sandwich with brown sauce by the end of the ten days!

The Ten thousand Buddha monastery lies in the northern part of Kowloon. It took us five metro stops to get to the general area. We were then flummoxed as on the map it looks very close to the metro but we couldn't find it. We went into Chinese real estate agents where we asked some helpful realtors. They wrote the Chinese symbols for the monastery on a piece of paper so we could show it to a taxi driver.

To our amusement, it turned out that the monastery was very far away indeed from the metro station contrary to what the guidebook said. Once we arrived, we found ourselves in a small forest at the base of a hill. We could see macaque monkeys bounding through the trees. It was a family group. A baby macaque swung from a branch by his tail and peered at us. My good friend Rupali told me that a monkey once bit her in India, so I was a trifle nervous of them even though they looked like cuddly monkey toys.

I decided to make a wide berth between the monkeys and hurried up the steps to the monastery. My fears were justified as I soon saw a sign that said "Do not tease or feed the monkeys". My imagination created all kinds of scenarios where innocent day-trippers were attacked by rabid monkeys. I hurried up the steps faster.

The stairs to the monastery were ancient cracked stone and on each side of them stood numerous large gold Buddha statues. Each Buddha had his own personality and facial expression. There was the jolly Buddha, the sad Buddha, the Buddha with a beard, the naughty Buddha, etc… Each one held an offering of a white biscuit in his hand with a red marking on it. The sheer number of the Buddhas is impressive. They follow one all the way up the steps. At the top, there is a selection of little temples and one large courtyard which has a view of the surrounding forests and apartment buildings. At either side of the courtyard are a giant elephant statue and a dog. In the middle is an ornate tower. The visitor can go inside and climb up to the top.

Inside the tower and indeed everywhere around the courtyard were fragrant offerings of incense, oranges and biscuits. The main temple has a beautiful curvaceous roof. Inside, it is dark except for the fact that it is lit up by the thousands of tiny Buddha statues that line its walls in small compartments. They are arranged from the floor to the ceiling. They dazzle the eyes. The color scheme of the walls is dominated by rich red with a velvet texture.

In the middle of the temple is a statue of Tin Hau, the Hong Kong God of the sea, with a treasure trove of offerings in front of him ranging from chocolate to every imaginable kind of fruit. The color and vibrancy of Buddhist temples reminds the visitor of a jewelery box filled with treasures. The peace and tranquility of the buildings lulls one into calm. I liked watching worshipers rhythmically swaying their incense in front of the Buddha. The scent of the incense is heady and soporific.

We spent a long time just sitting in the courtyard looking out over the valley and listening to monks chanting in the sunlight. It was the first sunny day of the trip and the Buddhas and I were basking in the heat. We took many photos of the monastery but none seem to do it justice.

It's a place I keep returning to in my mind, so enchanted was I by the simplicity and peace and as I reluctantly wedged myself into my seat for the fourteen hour flight home, I still considered myself glad that I had the opportunity to explore a part of the world which was both foreign and familiar to me.

The third largest of Hong Kong's islands after Hong Kong and Lantau, it is home to about 6,000 people who live mainly around peaceful villages of Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.

There are also remote settlements. At Yung Shue Ha, members of the founding Chinese clan all have the same surname: Chow.

Lamma is a day trip haven from the big city: soak up the relaxed lifestyle of the locals, the idyllic beaches and the countryside walks. Life is simple here, with no cars on the island at all. There is a very special villagey atmosphere that makes it a spellbinding place to visit and charms both Chinese and expats who have set up home there.

The majority of the island is green and untouched: beautiful beaches such as Sham Wan are left untainted by developers and Mount Stenhouse dominates the south of the island at 353 meters high. But where there is life, the communities are vibrant.

Yung Shue Wan is home to a main street, running from a ferry pier, lined with shops and some curious bars and restaurants, a bank and a post office. For a day visit, this is a good place to begin. Stock up on water and snacks and set off on a gentle hike over to Sok Kwu Wan.

If you have time, explore other areas of the island. Take a towel and beachwear and find a beach to relax on or just make use of your hiking boots to get a feel for the coves and treasures. Like many others, you may find it hard to leave.