LANTAU ISLAND
Just 30 minutes from hectic Hong Kong lies peaceful Lantau Island. Twice the size of Hong Kong Island, with far fewer inhabitants, Lantau is the perfect place to relax after a busy day. You can enjoy biking, swimming, walking on the beach, and hiking in the hills to see spectacular views of the bay and mountains. Ferries to Hong Kong run every 30 minutes from 5am to 11pm, hourly thereafter.

MUI WO
During a recent visit, I stayed in the small town of Mui Wo, on east Lantau Island. Mui Wo has two supermarkets, two good seafood restaurants, and is a quiet, uncrowded place to visit. In fact, the only motor vehicles allowed in town are buses, taxis, trucks, and police cars. I found that it was quite safe to walk alone in the morning and late in the evening.

Local people are very friendly here. Most Chinese can speak good English and foreign residents can speak good Chinese. In general, the residents are retirees, children, tourists, or young workers.

You might wonder why such a beautiful place, so close to Hong Kong, is not more crowded. Take a look at the pier when you arrive at the ferry terminal: you will see hundreds of bicycles. Every morning, local commuters dress for work, bike to the pier, park their bikes, and take the ferry into Hong Kong. They work there six days a week, and only spend time at home on weekends.

A ten-minute walk from the ferry pier along the promenade takes you to the SILVERMINE HOTEL. Located on the beachfront, it is surrounded by foliage and breathtaking views of the ocean and mountains. Amenities include a small, comfortable lobby, an outdoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna, tennis courts, conference room, and fitness room. The clerks are friendly, helpful, and speak good English. In the spacious lounge, you can relax, listen to music, or sip your favorite beverage.

Rooms are clean with TV, mini fridge, telephone, and air conditioning. Both mountain view and ocean view rooms are available: an ocean view costs an extra US$15-50 more per night. During my stay, I had a room with a mountain view which I thoroughly enjoyed.

My daily routine began with getting up before 6 am and leaving for a 2-hour hike by 6:30 am. I would return for breakfast and by 10 am, I was off to Hong Kong for the day's events. When I returned to my hotel sometimes as late as 10:30 pm, I truly appreciated the quiet of Mui Wo. Returning to Lantau after spending even half a day in Hong Kong was always refreshing.

DINING
The Silvermine Beach Hotel offers Chinese and Western buffet breakfast at no additional charge for guests. You may choose from rice soup (congee) with dried fish and peanuts, vegetable fried noodles, ham and eggs with potatoes, oatmeal, fruits, bread, and more. If you like, you can eat your breakfast indoors or outdoors while enjoying the ocean view. The hotel also serves lunch and dinner, not included in the accommodation package. In Mui Wo, you will find a few small cafes and three good outdoor restaurants which serve great seafood and meat dishes.

OUT AND ABOUT
Be sure to enjoy the many outdoor activites available here. Join the locals for an early morning swim in the warm ocean water or take a dip any time during the day. The beaches on Lantau are considered excellent for their cleanliness. If you'd rather bike, an all-day rental costs HK$30 and you can safely bike around town, then along the promenade and around the bay. Or, you can take a hike.

From the hotel, choose one of the short half-hour trails or, if you have a few hours, you can take one of the longer trails around the island. A half-hour hike to a nearby hill will grant you a great view of the bay. Another 15-minutes takes you up to the hilltop for a panoramic view of the beaches, ocean, and mountains. Keep going for another hour on the same trail to visit the other side of the island and the small town of Discovery Bay. 

DISCOVERY BAY is a town of rich expatriates who live in grand (but tiny) multi-million dollar apartments (900 to 1100 square feet). Residents may be driving golf carts around town or taking a special bus home to their apartments. You will find a number of western-style stores and even coffee shops. From here, you can go to the local pier and take a ferry to Hong Kong.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
After staying in Mui Wo for five nights, I would recommend it highly. To get the best of both worlds, do your shopping and business in Hong Kong during the day, then return to Lantau when you are ready to relax and enjoy the fresh, clean air, peaceful atmosphere, and friendly people. From now on, this is how I plan to spend my Hong Kong vacations.