Hong Kong – 22/1/09

Our residence for the stay in Hong Kong is in Kowloon on the 10th floor, and the favourable rates have meant surrendering natural light, which is deemed a luxury in this space conscious town. During the stay I wake up bewildered in the middle of the night, confusing 3am with 3pm and thinking we have missed valuable exploring time, the lack of natural light playing havoc with my simple brain. A quick check out the landing window confirms it is dark.

Favourite things:
A local unsteadily transporting 6 gas cylinders on a rickety bike – both comical, and an accident waiting to happen
Bamboo scaffolding
Coconut cake breakfasts and Blue Girl beer
Tai O fishing village (made of tin), and the Big Buddha on Lantau
Locals amused faces as I attempt to order off the Cantonese menu
Devising the politest and most comical ways of deflecting hawkers selling tailored suits and watches
Seeing birds of prey circling the top of Hong Kong island
Locals willing to help (particularly en-route to flower market)
Advertising boards and neon lights crossing the streets
Raymond, our helpful host

Not so favourite things:
Dead pigs in the market (Em)
The eleventy-millionth hawker offering suits and watches
Chickens feet and face on the dinner plates
Milk – nutty and sweet – Hmmm

Last evening in the buzzing atmosphere of Victoria Market (a tip for Chinese new year from people we met). A flower market full with thousands of people, buying flowers, food, hats with ox on, blow up ox (tis the year of the ox!), and generally revelling. I make the error of not buying a lovely hat with cartoon cows (ox) on it to add to the array of stupid hats. Rued it ever since.

Advertising Promotion - Noodles and beef at the airport takeaway (by the stairs, being used by the airport workers, which must be a good sign) is real nice and very economical for an airport.