A walk in the park

After two crazy weeks getting used to Hong Kong life, my colleagues Geordie and James thought it might be time to get me out of downtown HK and into the countryside for some fresh air. It may come as a surprise to those of you who picture Hong Kong as a thriving metropolis to find out that the island is amazingly green and unspoilt. In actual fact, less than 25% of the territory’s landmass is developed, and about 40% of the remaining land area is reserved as stunning country parks and nature reserves. We were heading off to Lantau Island, about 25 minutes away by ferry, for a “gentle” hike.

So there I was waiting at Star Ferry Pier at 7am for the ferry over, the earliest I have been up on a Saturday morning for many-a-year. Geordie and James advised me that we were off to scale the twin peaks of Lantau Island; Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak… this all sounded rather nice and a great way to start the weekend. Given that I am pretty confident in my fitness I was guessing I would find this little jaunt no problem at all.

Well, as we wandered onto dry land and got a cab to our start point, the alarm bells started to ring!!! We cut through the saddle between the hills at the centre of the island, on our way to the Giant Buddha, an 85-foot-high bronze Buddha statue which was to be our starting point. Lantau Peak loomed ahead of us like Muhammed Ali standing over George Foreman, and the closer we got the more my knees began to knock. It was only then that I began to piece together just what I had got myself into. For James and Geordie are veterans of the Maclehose Trail, one of the most extreme land races in the world and something you must SUPER fit for.

Upon arriving at the Buddha our hike began and the chaps mentioned to me what lay in-store…. A steep climb up Lantau peak (934m), a swift decent and then straight up Sunset Peak (869m), before a gentle walk down to Mui Wo for lunch. To put this into perspective Snowdon is 1,085m… I hope you can understand now why there was a tear in my eye as I was told this news!

Well I survived… (not the quickest time I have been reminded several times since). The only reason for this was not my fitness but the fact that my mind was elsewhere… marveling at the absolutely stunning scenery that surrounded me. You really cannot put this into words. One moment you are looking at a mile-long beach, then the next you find yourself mesmerized by the ‘Lord of the Rings’ like beauty at the top Sunset Peak. You are light years away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island, yet only 25 minutes ferry ride away. It really is quite amazing.

Well as I write this my calves are still wrapped in ice and I’m walking like I’m in 10” stilettos! Incredibly the guys have convinced me to go to “Boot Camp” tomorrow morning at 6.30 am as well! One thing is for sure, I’ll be doing plenty more hiking, though next time a little flatter perhaps.

Back to more serious matters… wine. So, to numb my pain after the hike, I attended a Burgundy dinner with Jasper Morris on the Saturday night. The highlight was 01 Clos Vougeot from Grivot, just starting to show its potential, and the 06 Rossignol-Trapet Chambertin, very young, I know, but crikey what a good young wine it is. All there and you know it will have all the makings of a star… think Wayne Rooney in his Everton days. Cos d’Estournel dinner on Thursday with the genial Jean-Guillaume Prats… life in Hong Kong is treating me pretty well so far…