Jumping off the Macau Tower!

My trip started well. I love flying and the start of a trip is always so exciting! Flying with Cathay Pacific I nestled into my comfy Business Class pod with my first glass of bubbly and reflected that I was in heaven! My first stop was Hong Kong Island and a new hotel unimaginatively called “L’Hotel” which was in brilliant location opposite the MTR, Hong Kong’s equivalent of the tube only far cleaner and much more enjoyable. It was a couple of years since my last visit so I started off with an island tour. We did a whistle stop visit to Victoria Peak (I recommend the tram), browsed around Stanley Market, took a junk tour round Aberdeen Harbour, home to the famous Jumbo floating restaurant, and enjoyed some great views of Repulse Bay. I decided it was time to explore Hong Kong Island on foot. Equipped with a leaflet on Walking Tours that I’d picked up from the airport I set off to discover shops selling a variety of weird and wonderful ingredients, antiques and art galleries, temples and bars, even gas lights! The next day I fell asleep taking the ferry over to Macau it was such a smooth crossing. I had come to fulfil a long held ambition to do the World’s Highest Bungy off the top of the Macau Tower. In no time at all I was weighed and secured into my harness ready to jump! Having done jumps before, I knew what to expect; the loud music, cheeky guys working the equipment and the clanging of metal as they hooked me up. Suddenly there I was with my toes on the tiny platform edge and the wind in my face, arms outstretched ready to go, squinting in the hazy sunshine over Macau. 5 4 3 2 1 Bungy!!!! I was plummeting downwards and just had time to register that I was upside down with the ground speeding up to meet me before it was over all too quickly! What a rush! Before my return ferry I had time to stroll around some of the fabulous historic buildings of Macau with their strong Portuguese influence and the elegant Senado Square with its black and white cobbles. In a striking contrast Macau is also like a mini Las Vegas with its casinos; all the famous names Venetian, Wynn, Encore, MGM are there with world class entertainment to match. Back in Hong Kong my next hotel was the fabulous 5 star Mira in Kowloon. This hotel is a member of the prestigious Design Hotels group and oozes chic sophistication.It would be equally at home in Downtown LA and attracts the glitterati of Hong Kong. I loved my trendy room with its glass, metal and red Arne Jacobsen Egg chair. There were so many features such as the Bose sound system, mood lighting, marble aromatherapy bath and free WiFi that this was one hotel room I didn’t want to leave except to head down to the gym and Spa – named one of the top 10 Hottest Spas by Conde Nast! I spent a fabulous afternoon there indulging in some luxurious much needed pampering. The Mira is in the heart of TST or Tsimshatsui, the epicentre of Hong Kong’s nightlife, culture and cuisine. It was easy to nip to the Avenue of the Stars to watch the nightly laser show over the harbour before heading out down Nathan Road to find some souvenir bargains in the Night markets. All too soon I was back in my Business class pod heading homewards; sipping Cathay Pacific’s signature cocktails – it had been quite a trip!