Hey everyone
Well I arrived in Hong Kong pretty much unscathed. I had a primo flight over - aisle seat, front of plane, so heaps of leg room and a spare seat beside me. I was so glad that I didn't have some raving loonney trying to talk to me the entire flight. I have to say that Singapore Airlines goes nutso on the food. We were feed huge meals and then the snack tray came round every 10mins with chocolate and chips and biscuits. I swear I got off the plane in Singapore at least a kg heavier. My aim for the flight back is to get them to make me a Singapore sling. It was on the menu but a gin fix was the most I asked for...I didn't want the cute little hostesses having to run around.
So I stayed at the airport transit hotel for the night in Singapore. I highly recomend it although it was a little pricey.
Flight to HK good. Arrived at the airport and was very firm with all the limo drivers who wanted to take me to Kowloon. I got the bus across to my guesthouse and found that I had booked into the only slum building in Hong Kong. For anyone coming here in the future, it is not like Thailand. Cheap guesthouses are terrifying. For those who have been here, I am staying in the Chungking Mansions (mansions being a very loose term). I had a bit of a cry when I saw where I would be staying but sucked it up as it is cheap and at least there is hot water and a lock on the door. I did however fall (literally) through the door of the holiday inn onto the marble floor and no-one stopped to help me. How rude. I took that as a sign that I should stay where I was and not try to upgrade.
Last night I went out with Christine, who was a friend of a friend of a friend. She was a godsend. We went to a Chinese restaurant for drinks and a meal and then walked around Kowloon for a bit. It is incredible and somewhat refreshing to be surrounded by so much noise and business at all hours of the night and day. And I can now say that I have done Aqua. The views from up there were breathtaking. It was a bit like Mattahorn in Welly though...over-priced and full of wankers. As my body is not coping well with the time difference, I made myself stay awake by walking on the promenade and walk of stars. Hong Kong at night is a totally different place and the lights from Hong Kong island have to be seen to be believed.
As I type I am standing in a juice bar at the top of Victoria Peak. I am lothe to leave it as it is so cool inside and outside is humidity central. The locals look at me funny wearing shorts and singlets but I tells ya, it is stifflingly hot without wind. I am so proud of myself, and anyone who has travelled with me before (Brecon) will be too, as I have managed to get myself an octopus card (travel credit card thing) and foundn the buses up to the peak and I took the Star Ferry, sll without getting too lost. The one thing that I am finding a little hard though, is that everyone here seems to be travelling in pairs or groups. Not such a big deal you might say but try taking photo of yourself with the view. I just about kissed a Japanese girl who offered to take my photo at various points around the peak look-out. I returned the favour of course.
Well I think I've outstayed my welcome at the juice bar. Am off to catch the double decker back to Stanley to check out the markets and causeway bay. I am tossing up whether to go to the temple street night markets tonight or tomorrow but am off ot Lantau Island tomorrow to see the giant buddha (I need ot do something spiritual while I'm here). I'm also booked in to a Chinese cake-making course which the tourist bureau offer for free. Me and 29 other tourists will be making and sampling mooncakes...bring it on!!!
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Till the next installment...
