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In May this year (2010) I was fortunate enough to be invited by the Hong Kong tourist board, Jas Anand from Anand Collection and Jet airways to spend four nights in this wonderful part of Asia. The flight out with Jet was a joy, as Yared ( our host ) managed to get us upgraded to business class. The flight via Mumbai was fantastic and the service was excellent. I would have no problem recommending this service.

We arrived in Hong Kong and was immediately greeted by our hosts from Hong Kong TB and were transferred to our hotel on Hong Kong Island. The Cosmopolitan is in an excellent position directly opposite the Happy Valley race course on Queen's Road East. The hotel has excellent facilities throughout with good standard of rooms with views of the racecourse, fabulous choice at breakfast and attentive staff.
During our 4 night stay we ventured out and visited many attractions that the Island has to offer. Kowloon is a haven for shopaholics with department stores, designer boutiques, antique shops and trinket stalls. Cross to Lantau by ferry to the village of Tai O, We visited the Giant Buddha at Po Lim Monastery which was an education and a must see. We all decided to get to Tung Chung by Ngong Ping cable car that offers 360-degree panoramic vistas of Lantau and beyond. An experience in itself.

We were all invited for dinner by the management at the Shangri-La on Kowloon. This is an fabulous five star hotel with lovely rooms looking out over Victoria Harbour which offers a nightly light show. The hotel itself offers a feeling of grandeur and makes you feel very special indeed. Kowloon is densely populated and Tsim Sha Tsui, is a popular place to stay, offering a range of hotels alongside restaurants, shops and bars.

We ate locally and I would recommend anywhere the locals eat, as the food is superb and the prices are low. The nightlife is non stop and I felt a great buzz in bars and restaurants with local Chinese and ex-pats all having a great time.Great places to be at night are Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay all offering a range of music and restaurants.

Shopping is a very popular pastime in Hong Kong, a real shoppers paradise. The stores offer a chance to restock your wardrobe, pick up the latest games console or add to your shoe collection. Most goods are duty and tax free. The places everyone heads for a the golden mile (Nathan road), Mong Kok and causeway bay. Another popular attraction are the markets. You have the Ladies Market (one of Hong Kong's best Known) This is in Mong Kok and has a fantastic atmosphere. Temple street market is the famous night market in Yau Ma Tei a few minutes walk from the MTR station selling clothes, CD's and jewellery.

Transport in busy Hong Kong is very good. Although the traffic by road can be a complete nightmare, the rail network overground and underground is excellent and there is the world famous Star Ferry service which takes you across the harbour from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon.

We crammed all these wonderful experiences into a short trip and I would conclude by saying that Hong Kong is so much more than a stop off destination and I would recommend it as a holiday destination in it's own right.
The people are warm and friendly and the Islands are a spectacular and diverse mix of east meets west culture.

I loved it and can't wait to go back.