3 Night Hong Kong, 2 Night Macau

Hong Kong
Famous for its space-age cityscape, and warm nature, Hong Kong can overwhelm any visitor: neon lights twinkle on the skyline along with the stars, the air is abuzz with endless sounds; excited chatter, traffic and blaring music. This is essential Hong Kong, where lights, life and legacies somehow find place near each other.

A former British colony, Hong Kong is made up of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. The outlying islands like Lantanu, Lamma and Cheung Chau are lesser known areas that are pretty recreation spots. Yet, there is much that no one knows about.

Local haunts like Silvermine beach are hidden in a world away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong city. The nearby Po Lin Monastery, the looming Giant Buddha that sits atop Ngong Ping plateau, Repulse Bay and the stilt houses of Tai O Village are sights that are exceptional. Hop aboard the Ngong Ping 360 cable car ride from Tung Chung, and you will be swept away by the amazing view of the South China Sea, and the lush green that surrounds it. You can enjoy a romantic ride in a Swarovski-studded carriage with your loved one, or book one with a glass bottom if you want to feel like you are flying. Well, whoever said a dash of luxury couldn't work the magic?

Lose yourself in the crowds in reckless abandon without a care. Take in the view from Victoria Peak, the highest mountain in Hong Kong, or feel the buzz as the late evening crowd edges its way into popular bars, and succumb to the glitz and energy of Lan Kwai Fong district. Modern, groovy and stylish, the motto of everyone who heads to Hong Kong is loud and clear - live and let live!

Macau
Far on the southeast coast of China, Macau has a long-standing reputation of being Vegas of the East. This dream villa that balances both Eastern and Western cultures is a towering paradise of gambling, women and sky-high living. Oodles of grandeur, lip-smacking delights, glitz and glamour, the city offers its visitors an experience that is unmatched.

Lose yourself in Barra Square, where the Portuguese first landed way back in the 16th century. The A-Ma-Gao Temple here is the oldest Taoist temple in Macau. The locals, who built the temple in 1488, named it A-Ma-Gao, after a goddess. But when Portuguese settlers first landed and asked locals about their land, they mistook the name A-Ma-Gao for 'Macau', and thus the city that flourished came to be known as it is today, and the temple, that marked its birth, the centre of present day Macau.

If you want to enjoy a stroll in the morning, head to Largo Senado Square's central stretch or grab some coffee in one of the sophisticated cafés that dot the streets. The Leal Senado (Loyal Senate) sits regally at one end of the square and attracts hordes of tourists all year round. Macau's Outer Harbour area and the outlying islands of Taipa and Coloane are a break from the peninsula. Other fascinating sights like the cream-coloured Santo Domingo Church with its perky green doors and windows, and the Lou Kau Mansion are splendid reminders of how many influences lie layered in Macanese culture and co-exist within the populace.

Try the Bacalhau, tossed in parsley and potatoes or the crumbly Portuguese style Egg Tart; you can never quite have enough! The Monte Fort, the ruins of St Paul's, and Museum of Macau are great sights along the way. Try your luck and experience the grand splendour of The Venetian at night. Every year this is exactly what brings Macau its millions of tourists: the belief that this might be their chance to get lucky. The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel is not just a fantastic casino but has famous gondola rides that let you relive the beauty of yesteryear Venice. The indoor artificial sky above is beautifully speckled with puffy white clouds against a stretch of azure blue and will take your breath away. It is another world, time and place here. To many, being in Macau is like taking refuge from reality. Or as other's simply say, this is where life is one party that never ends.18-0430-06