One of the things about Hong Kong I find most fascinating is its ever present contrasts. Modernity constantly mingles with traditional Chinese city life. I hired a rickshaw to get around as many times as I took Hong Kong’s state-of-the-art subway. Limousines carrying young executives glide past elderly Chinese people laboring behind pushcarts.

These juxtapositions combine to make Hong Kong a place of invigorating variety. The cuisine is some of the best in Asia—I was just as amazed by the myriad street side food stands (called dai pai dong) as by the elegant restaurants. The scenery on the peninsula and the surrounding islands is stunning, and while the shopping may not be the cut-rate bargain it once was, it is still unsurpassed for quality and choice.

While Hong Kong, like any city, is perfect for a long visit, you can still see a lot in just a few days. I started out by boarding the Star Ferry and crossing Victoria Harbor to take in the city’s dramatic skyline. It’s truly unbelievable—a spectacle of glittering skyscrapers—and quite the bargain. After the ferry, I took the city’s fantastic public transit system to Ngong Ping Village to visit the Walking with Buddha Museum and get my workout for the day—I climbed 268 stairs up to the museum’s Giant Buddha, who towers 112 feet overhead on his lotus throne. It was worth every step!

But there’s much more to the museum than just the Giant Buddha. There is the Po Lin Monastery to explore, where monks prepared me a delicious vegetarian lunch; as well as the Wisdom Path, an outdoor replica of the centuries-old Heart Sutra, one of the world’s best-known prayers, revered by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists. The sutra is displayed on wooden pillars placed in an infinity formation to symbolize the idea of endless splendor. It was a fantastic way to kick off my exploration.

Next, I headed back into the city and hopped the funicular to Victoria Peak, which provides sweeping views of central Hong Kong, the Harbor, Kowloon, and the undulating hills that form the backdrop for it all. Of course, after all this sightseeing, I was famished! So I decided to dine out in style at Pearl on the Peak, which boasts a 270-degree view of the city from atop Hong Kong’s most popular tourist attraction, the Peak Tower. I’m sure you can imagine how fantastic the scenery was, but the dining experience was every bit as impressive—delicious food, superb service and a dazzling, cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The next morning, I decided to take it easy and just meander—which of course means one thing in Hong Kong, shopping! I started with the elegant shops in Pacific Place and wandered through The Lanes, three narrow alleys filled with vendors selling everything from watches and clothes to shoes and silks. By the way—the merchandise is already at bargain prices, but this is the place to haggle and save a few extra dollars, so never accept a first offer!

After all of the bargaining, I headed out to see one of Hong Kong’s most intriguing architectural attractions, the Colonial-era Murray Building, one of the city’s enduring icons. It was moved from its original location several years ago to make way for the futuristic Bank of China Tower.

Another intriguing corner of Hong Kong is Aberdeen, home of the Jumbo Floating Restaurant. No, it’s not actually floating, but this brightly painted multistory pagoda–a veteran of countless movies—has recently undergone a renovation, including the brand-new Top Deck at the Jumbo, where delicious international cuisine and views of bustling Victoria Harbor are the highlights of the menu. I couldn’t get enough of chef Alan Yu’s warm chocolate pudding with coconut ice cream!

One of the highlights of Hong Kong was my experience with the Cultural Kaleidoscope Programme. I not only took a ride with an impressive 360-degree view of the city’s skyline aboard the last remaining sailing junk in Hong Kong, Duk Ling, but afterwards, I had the opportunity to take a class on Chinese medicine. The Programme offers an abundance of amazing classes taught by local experts—Chinese cake-making, Feng Shui, Tai Chi and Chinese tea appreciation among others—it was hard to choose just one!

On my last evening, I went to Lamma Island to taste the famous fresh seafood of Lamma Fisherfolk’s Village. After exploring the quaint communities and enjoying a splendid meal, I returned to the city to catch the nightly A Symphony of Lights show. The panoramic vision of colored lights, laser beams and searchlights performed a stunning, unforgettable spectacle synchronized to music and narration. While experiencing this celebration of energy, spirit and diversity in Hong Kong, I looked around to see the collected community of visitors and residents, and felt I was truly a part of the living culture in this remarkable city of contrasts.