Stillness is part of the thrill

There’s no lack of energy in Hong Kong. People walk with a purpose here, whether it's businessmen rushing to a meeting or expats shopping for the new Prada fairy bag.

Flashing billboards throw colourful lights all over the city and at night the skyline adds to this smorgasbord. All that, combined with the smells of Chinese medicine shops, spices and rain makes this a kind of tropical New York.

Just being here makes me fizz with joy. So I decide to order a glass of champagne and toast one of my favourite cities.

My colleagues and I are in Lan Kwai Fong, an area packed with bars and clubs of any kind imaginable, from Irish pubs and dirty drinking joints to classy bars and the rooftop spot on top of the IFC centre from where all the city lights evoke awe.

It’s tempting to stay out all night but then we’ll miss our shopping day.

Any day in Hong Kong should start with Dim Sum, the steamed snacks that the city is famous for. We grab some at the centre across the road from Sunrise supermarket in Causeway Bay. It’s just behind the Regal Hotel where we are staying.

From there we proceed to Sogo, a Japanese department store, where we stock up on so much tea, teapots and other Chinese tea accessories that we probably never have to buy tea again. The excuse? Well, Asia is the only place in the world where I can ask for green tea and get a reply such as “What kind of green tea do you want?”

We drop the tea off at the hotel and catch the MRT to Moongkok station, where we follow the signs to the Night Market and the Jade Market in Kowloon. Our noon timing is not exactly good as its best to visit the Jade Market in the morning for ‘morning price’ and the Night Market only really buzzes from about 4pm. However, on our short visit we have to make the best of the time we have been given.

The Tin Hau temple which we pass on the way is a traditional delight.

“Those who can run can also be still,” says Deepak Chopra in his book, Buddha: a story of enlightenment. There is no better example of that than the peace that emanates from this holy place right in the middle of the thrill called Hong Kong.