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SCMP Reporter

To shop:

New York

The city is a mecca for shopaholics such as me. My favourite area to shop is SoHo [south of Houston Street; www.epnewyork.com/soho11.htm] where many antique stores and brand-name boutiques are located. I've also bought lots of funky home accessories there.

Toy store FAO Schwartz on Fifth Avenue [767 Fifth Avenue, NY10153. Tel: 212 644 9400; www.fao.com] has an extensive range of stuffed toys, games and rollerblades - excellent for children and anyone who is young at heart. And you can spend entire weekends at the flea markets in Greenwich Village [www.nycgv.com].

To sightsee

London

The best way to put the British capital into perspective is by taking a 30-minute ride on the London Eye, next to the River Thames. The best time to try it is at dusk, and while you sit snugly inside one of the giant wheel's capsules, panoramic views unfold as the sun sets. It's a magical feeling [tel: 44 870 5000 600; www.british-airways.com/londoneye]. London's museums alone can keep you occupied for your entire visit. The genuine Parthenon Marbles, the pediment sculptures from the Parthenon Temple in Greece, are housed in the British Museum [tel: 44 20 7323 8299; www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk], and I just stared in awe at the Crown Jewels displayed at the Tower of London [tel: 44 20 7709 0765; www.hrp.org.uk].

To relax

Phuket, Thailand

The mere mention of Phuket is enough to ease jangled nerves. Years ago, I stayed at the Amari Coral Beach Hotel in Patong, which faces a picturesque bay on the west coast of Phuket Island. I found the spa and sauna a great alternative to the pricey Banyan Tree Resort nearby.

You can relax by the hotel's swimming pools or head for Patong beach or any of the other beaches on the island for a dip in the crystal-clear sea. For more energetic outings, I recommend scuba diving or elephant trekking, which were on offer only minutes from where I stayed [tel: 6676 3401 0614; www.amari.com/coralbeach].



Josie Ho, singer