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Hey hey people! Been a bit of a weird today to say the least, and things are all changing very quickly for the Seven Samurai....
Sharon and I met Adele, Mike, Nick and Laura in Bangkok on Saturday, and we left for Hong Kong on the Sunday morning. I won't go into too much detail about the flight, but it is enough to say Nick and Laura had to pay extra at the airport for overstaying their welcome, we met Faye and Dan there, and then all of us were late for our flight. After some screaming, running, sweating and getting leary with officious security staff, Nick Laura and I managed to get on two minutes before the plane took off.... madness and sore legs.
We arrived in Hong-Kong (one of the most bizarre and multi-cultural cities I have ever seen) in the afternoon on Sunday, and Mike's mate Alex (who has lived in China and Hong-Kong for a while and has a new-born baby here to boot) met us on the subway system. (Which, by the way, after a few rides, is spotless, easy to use and actually quite a bit of fun). He then kindly took us to a district in the south of the North Island, near the docks and the harbour. We looked at a few hotels, and due to budgets, interests and some differences in opinions, we split into two different hotels. Hong Kong is really expensive compared to the rest of Asia, and my budget is precarious. So Sharon and I stayed in a slightly cheaper place down the road, and the 5 others went another way. I felt rank after getting on 9 planes in 4 weeks, so I had a night in (and weirdly watched The Matrix PREMIERE!).
This morning, things went a bit strange in the Samurai camp, and right now we are not sure what exactly is happening! Sharon and I spent the day on Hong Kong Island, and saw some incredible stuff. For all the places I have sen in the last few years, I have never actually seen skyscrapers before, so that was a bit shocking too... Anyway, after a whole day of tourist stuff, we have decided that the picture of the Great Wall (above) is about as close as we are going to get to it. Sharon can afford the trip, but investigating prices for visas and planes to China today, I definitely can't. So we are now going through some major changes, and we hope the rest of the gang do something along the same lines. Now, we are bringing our Oz flight forward, and plan to have a lot of time in Sydney and the East Coast, including a week in the Gold Coast or something. We are really disappointed about the Wall, as we were about Ankor Wat in Cambodia, but we also believe things happen for a reason, and also know that the Wall will be there for many years to come.
So, Paul and Jane, get ready for us! Sharon is emailing you now, and there will be loads of details (and probably changes AGAIN!) to come, but we should be with you soon. I would love to think that the others will be in Oz with us too, but things are kinda weird at the mo, so all will work out as it is meant to.
So....
Yeah, strange day. Hong-Kong is amazing, and despite the ridiculous stuff going on, the city has really rubbed off on me. Don't know if it is down to British Colonial rule ending 10 years ago etc, but the place is a massive melting pot of cultures. Mosques and churches inhabit the same streets, Somalians, Indians, Afghans, Russians, Africans and Britiash roam the (extraordinarily clean) streets together, and the city is teeming with noise, action and stuff to do.
I will be putting lots of pictures on the blog in the next week or so, and even if it takes a while, I promise they will cover a few countries at least.
Everyone at home- we miss you all, but these places are amazing.
Nick and Laura- Laura- HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Nick- if the group don't end up together, I really want to be with you on your Birthday. It is important that whatever trials we go through as a group of 7, we remember that we are brothers whatever happens, and I don't want you to be without me on your 22nd.
Faye, Mich and Adele, obviously we all have a lot to talk through, and I hope it all works out in the Samurai group.... but also know that if it doesn't, I hope you have a great time wherever you end up. Be happy, and do whatever makes you happy, when you want...
Love to all the brothers and sisters.. pics to come!
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