adventure (3)

If you are in Hong Kong for a few days and have some time to yourself, or need an exciting corporate trip, then escape the city and head off into the New Territories. The area is stunning and a company called Kayak and Hike (owned by a guy called Paul Etherington) can arrange fantastic trips. You take an exhilarating ride out around the islands on an ex-marine police boat, kayak through incredible sea arches and eat in a gorgeous fishing village. You get to see a truly hidden side to Hong Kong. A great way to unwind and take a break from the skyscrapers.

Got a few hours off and don't want to sit in the sun? Then go to the snow. You know that huge silver bit you see jetting off of the Mall Of The Emirates when you zoom past in a cab, well that my friends, is a ski slope, with real snow and everything. A great way to kill time, and get your practice in for your next visit to the slopes, is to go to Ski Dubai and spend an hour or two zipping your way down their real snow slopes. There are two runs, a fairly mild blue/red and a black (which is more red than anything else!) and plenty of space for beginners to learn on the nursery slope area. They provide all the kit except hats and socks… so bring some with you, even though it's weird putting them in the suitcase to visit the desert, or you can buy them there. Go get completely weirded out and go from 40 degrees to minus 2 in the space of a few footsteps.

If you have a couple of hours to spare one evening after a hard day of conferencing why not visit the world's first Night Safari at Singapore Zoo? You get to explore wildlife in a tropical jungle at night! And in case you're thinking zoo=bad, think again. Singapore Zoo is a model of the 'open zoo' concept. The animals are kept in spacious, landscaped enclosures, separated from the visitors by dry or wet moats. It's magical.