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“Hong Kong. Live it. Love it!” These were the words of the Hong Kong Tourism Board pitching for more tourists to experience the colors of the country. I guess I share the Pinoy excitement to visit a foreign land and take a break from the hustle of the Manila traffic jam.

Hong Kong provides a different world for the Pinoy spirit. Yet, there are many Filipinos working in this former British colony and I saw and heard them converse in Tagalog with fellow kababayans in the street, mall and public transport system there. Hong Kong is one of the territories captured by a substantial number of Filipino workers and tourists. A Filipino would not miss the Philippines in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong includes three main sections: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The country recently reinforced its place in the tourist radar with the addition of Hong Kong Disneyland in its roster of tourist attractions. Now Asian tourists need not secure tourist visas go to Japan or the United States to experience the land of Mickey Mouse and his friends.

As we boarded our tourist bus bound for the magical world of Disneyland, our tourist guide asked us from what country we came from. When we replied that we are from the Philippines, the guide told us that some performers and even Disney characters are Filipinos. The Filipino penchant for the Disney stories bore fruit in the performing arts.

Disneyland really makes one feel young at heart and in spirit. It is not everyday that one sees the Disney characters led by Mickey and Minnie Mouse strolling in the park and being on one’s side for photographs.

The colors and sounds are truly captivating in Disneyland’s four zones: Main Street, USA; Adventureland; Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland.

Visiting a new place means taking an adventure of a lifetime. In Disneyland, this aim is fulfilled in Adventureland in an exotic setting. The Festival of the Lion King is the grand celebration of the Disney classic “Lion King.” The Jungle River Cruise, Tarzan Land and Tree House add joyful sounds to the thrill in Adventureland.

Fantasyland brings every guest back to childhood years of fairy tales and colorful dreams. The Golden Mickey’s at Disney and the Storybook Theater enlivens the child in everyone with blocks of the popular Disney fillms and themes. Mickey’s Philharmagic treats the guests to a captivating 3D experience, talk about movies with an exciting twist.

Futuristic fun is what the Tomorrowland offers. The most furtistic feature is the Space Mountain – a modern rendition of the roller coaster in the dark dome brightened by stars. The road of tomorrow has autopia cars in its centerpiece. Tomorrowland further includes Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Stitch Encounter, UFO Zone and Orbitron.

For the shopping enthusiast, Disneyland offers the best souvenir items in wonderful designs and bright colors. As guests leave Disneyland, they are able to bring home the adventure and memories of the land of Mickey Mouse through the souvenir items.

The food pallete also gets treats in Disneyland in its restaurants and cafes.

The celebration intensifies with the Disney on Parade in the afternoon in the land of Mickey Mouse, Minney Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Wonderland, Chip and Dale, and Winnie the Pooh, among others.

As the sun goes down, the spectacular fireworks display caps the magical experience in Hong Kong Disneyland.

How I wished the Philippines also has the magical world of Disneyland. So the next time I would want to be child again in Mickey Mouse’s territory, I don’t have to buy a plane ticket. But then again, this wish entails a lot of investments that should be poured in the Philippine soil.

I believe the coming of Disneyland in Hong Kong was born out of the desire to revive the tourist industry after the dreaded severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) scare. Maybe the Philippines can adopt the same strong determination to promote tourism through aggressive marketing and information campaign. For the mean time, I will let this wish remain on my list.

The streets of Hong Kong are also harbor for tourist-shoppers. There are not so many large shops, but there are numerous markets here which offer items at a bargain.

There are also bargain hubs in the Philippines but unfortunately pale in comparison to Hong Kong’s motivation to sell their own products. The Philippine shopping centers have become baskets of imported merchandise.

Hong Kong also holds parks, musems and beaches to offer serenity to the tourists. Famous spots are the Victoria Peak and the Victoria Harbour.

A typical Filipino who is accustomed to the hustle of the Manila traffic jam would envy Hong Kong for having a superb transportation system that makes getting from one point to another very light. Most of the hotels are also located in the heart of the city, in Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island and in Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East in Kowloon, to pamper the tourists.

Even the first step to Hong Kong is a thing to envy. Like you wish the Philippines will soon have a world-class airport to welcome more travelers and tourists.

I guess, the Philippines still has a lot to learn from Hong Kong. For the mean time, Filipinos may enjoy the splendor of the former British colony and be a kid again in Disneyland and feel the splendor of tourist strolling in the parks of Hong Kong. After all, Hong Kong is just two hours plane-ride away from Manila.

Tags: Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland, Filipino Hongkong Tourists, Filipino Traveler