Give me fresh air and breathtaking Buddhas

The cable car to Po Lin (Precious Lotus) monastery envelops us in the natural quiet of the mountainous Lantao Island in Hong Kong. It’s almost, well, enlightening, to look down over the city rush and not be a part of it.

Up and down we go, over Tung Chung Bay, the mountains and the valleys. The South China Sea stretches out and out in the clear light of this day. 25 minutes later we arrive in Ngong Ping Village. The fresh air is intoxicating.

An 80-foot-tall bronze Buddha overlooks the village and the monastery here. ‘Big Buddha,’ as he is known, is sitting in the lotus position and holds his hand up as though waving or offering a blessing. It evokes awe for the sheer size of it.

The Chinese style village here is somewhat commercialised but it doesn’t have that empty feeling that often goes with commercialism. The tea house offers traditional Chinese teas and tea sets, the shops sell soulful trinkets and even the ‘Monkey’s Tale Theatre’ seems worth a visit – the souvenir toys are gorgeous.

For those who want to know more about the story of Buddha, there is also a multimedia show that takes visitors through his journey to enlightenment.

My colleagues and I decide to enjoy the outdoors scenery instead. We climb the thousands of chairs up to the world’s biggest sitting Buddha and indulge in the free ice-cream, our reward for making it to the top.

The small museum features Chinese calligraphy depicting the wisdom of Buddha, as well as some precious relics. However, what interest me most are the enchanting view and the colourful Chinese monastery below. It’s really pretty.

In fact, I would have to say that I have only felt wow, wow and wow from the moment I got into that cable car today. From the flower tea and the fortune sticks to the traditional architecture, the dim sum and the glorious natural scenery over which the Buddha towers.

I know that I am moving much too fast at the moment to experience true peace and contentment, but for this one day I truly feel it.

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.