By Sally Mei Ng 

On a recent business trip to South East Asia, I decided to visit an old university friend in Hong Kong as she was always encouraging me to go to her home city. I had been thinking of going for quite a while previously, and this was the perfect opportunity to do so as I had 3 days off from work.

I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on the island of Chek Lap Kok, north of the famous Lantau Island. My friend was waiting for me in arrivals. We swiftly made our way to her swanky brand new company car which cost roughly the same as a 2 bedroom house in England, and she gave me a guided tour of all the districts in a 3 hour drive, occasionally stopping off for something to eat at the street food stalls, my favourites being fish balls and squid and of course the amazing cakes available nearly everywhere we went.

My friend recommended me to stay at one of the hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui, as it was a good location for my short but sweet 3 day stay and also because it was close to where she lived. I stayed at the most famous hotel in Hong Kong, The Peninsula. This was an excellent location with easy easy access to tourist hotspots, shopping malls, and restaurants. The splendid view of Victoria Harbour was just outside of the window too.

So, my love affair began with this beautiful harbour side district. In fact I was beginning to see why 3 days was never going to be enough. If I was asked to name a not-to-be-missed destination in Asia, I would definitely say Hong Kong. It is such a paradise for shopping, good food, education and entertainment. I had an amazing time there with my friend during during this visit. The Tsim Sha Tsui district is an international hub, which is apparent because you see lots of people from different nationalities mingling with locals. It really caters for an international audience so it’s an ideal place to base yourself should you wish to live there.

One of the things I love most in my life is shopping. My friend took me to Harbour City. It didn’t disappoint, it gave me a wonderful shopping experience. Harbour City is the largest shopping and entertainment centre in the area, housing a large number of both local and international fashion brands such as Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Versace, etc. It also has nice restaurants selling authentic Chinese, Western and other Asian cuisines. In the evening we went to a restaurant called Super Star Seafood. They have a 24 year history, specialising in Stone Fish and Royal Crab. The seafood in Hong Kong is so fresh and wonderful, especially when consuming it near the harbour.

Tsim Sha Tsui is a good place for people interested in local culture. Places such as the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Cultural Centre and the Avenue of Stars are all worth going to. For those who simply want to relax, Victoria Bay or simply going to the beach area are both very good choices, especially whilst having an alcoholic beverage or two.