The first Disneyland to be set up in Asia, the Hong Kong Disneyland remains popular with tourists from mainland China as well as other parts of Asia, notably India. For visitors, adult or children alike, a journey of dreams, with its fun-loving Disney characters and magical rides is bound to make one’s time spent in the land last an eternity.

Rowing past the tempest river with great urgency, the green world revealing its dark and bright aspects on the river’s either side as one enters deeper into the jungle. Giraffes and zebras grazing in harmony greet us, travellers in an unknown land, followed by a variety of monkeys enjoying their time in the lush green foliages of myriad shaped trees. Abandoned tents soon line the shores of the now increasingly silent river- lost travellers like us now lost forever. The sky grows paler in colour as darkness envelopes the entire jungle, reverberating with cries of hungry jaguars, warning birds and the ominous hiss of snakes wrapped about thick tree trunks.

In a sudden gush, a giant hippo emerges from the silent waters with jaws wide open in revelation. He is accompanied by his family and friends whose restless jolts shake the sturdy boat. There is no dearth of excitement as the boat slowly rumbles ahead, its passengers now more curious than ever over what shall happen next, hold hands and tighten their grip around the steel bars that line the edges of the boat. A school of crocodiles sun-bathing in ease unaware of the awed travellers, are in competition with the hippos with their mouths open as wide as any living thing possibly can.

Soon, the river widens and leaves the jungle behind, nearing its destination then suddenly the boat begins to quake, and just some yards away a fountain emerges in all its glory and boisterousness marking the end of a memorable journey. On the shore, where the boat comes to a halt travellers getting off them run to rejoin the long queue for another tour.

The ‘Jungle Cruise’ of Disneyland, Hong Kong is an adventure, that may not have the real animals, but in terms of thrills and adrenaline, it is no lesser than an African safari. In the middle of the river that leads to an artificial jungle a giant tree house can be seen with thick sinuous branches, as one climbs up the tree-house the story of the great Tarzan unfolds itself from infancy to manhood. Decorated effigies that portray scenes from Tarzan’s life enrich one’s imagination as one rises up the sinuous branches paved with designed steps. The animated movie itself comes to life within the humble precincts of that tall tree house.

Moving ahead from the jungle cruise, another adventure of a different nature lies in the mansion that seems to tower over the rest of Disneyland, famously known as ‘Mystic Manor’, named after a famous Disney character Lord Henry Mystic. In this adventure we are given a tour of the character’s huge mansion who is an archaeologist, and while exploring the mansion one comes across the many artifacts and paraphernalia collected by the archaeologist over the years which reflect the many great adventures the character had had in his life. As the visitors slowly proceed through the mansion, they find the walls decked with miscellaneous paintings that convey in great depth the many mysteries the owner of the mansion has solved in his life.

Brimming with portraits and carved designs the mansion appears to be a living entity itself, and soon one comes across a joyride in the basement of the mansion. While in the ride one gets to meet Lord Henry himself and his little restless pet monkey who is at the root of the impending adventure. The monkey accidently opens a music box which possess dark magical powers, bringing to life all the effigies and paintings from time immemorial. In that joyride, one experiences swings and near rollercoaster falls as every non-living thing in the mansion quakes and comes to life. Surrounded by vivid 3D animations, one will find himself in a different world of someone else’s imagination as creative as possibly any movie or fiction book can be. In the end the pet monkey somehow manages to close the box from which powers keep proliferating before bidding goodbye to a memorable and exciting tour.

Full of thrill, but exhausted, one comes next to a bit calm and less eventful ride of Dumbo, the flying elephant. The ride unlike its counterparts is steady and quite relaxing in nature. No twists or turns, neither tumultuous ups or downs, one feels relieved after surviving the earlier adventures. One with the sky and the wind, tourists enjoy a steady, revolving ride on the back of Dumbo, the elephant as time flies in great delight and soon it is time for lunch. While on the ride, the iconic Disney castle can also be seen smiling at us, filled with pride and wonder.

There are many restaurants lined about the vast resort of Hong Kong Disneyland. The most famous being the Walt’s Café, in which there is almost a contrasting sense of silence and tranquility when compared to the jubilance outside that engulfs the rest of Disneyland. The service of the restaurant is very attentive and caring, with comfortable cushions to relax and enjoy your meal. The building of the Walt’s Café is also home to two great exhibitions- The Crystal Lotus and Enchanted Garden.

Right next to the Walt’s Café is the Comet Café which provides splendid burgers to add to your fill. It includes three food stations namely Fiery Wok, Classic BBQ and Specialty Noodles that serve Chinese cuisine. One confronts a variety of tastes, and cuisines at this Café which is diverse in every sense.

By dusk, the whole of Disneyland is lit with distinct hues of lights, with the castle at the centre of all the interplay of lights that make the night spent in Disneyland more memorable than the rest of the day. Soon a show of fireworks takes place around the castle that can be summarised in only one word ‘spectacular.’ Crimson, golden, maroon, violet and green the fireworks too like the lights are an astounding display of what life in Disneyland feels like. Projections of the lives of famous Disney characters with music accompany the fireworks giving flight to the skies of one’s imagination thus, indeed a place where dreams come true.