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Ok, so before I start, yes, I know I am no longer in Hong Kong but I thought I had better write something about 'Asia's number 1 city'.
After leaving 'the folks' at Manchester on Boxing Day, I had a short transit flight into Heathrow before flying out to Hong Kong on the night. I was feeling a little apprehensive about the whole 'BIG T, no job, no family' situation but my worries soon diminished when the air stewardess announced that one of the meal choices on the flight was to be a full Christmas Dinner. After what seemed like a mammoth wait (I was near the back of the plane) the air stewardess muttered the words 'I'm afraid we only have... Christmas Dinner left'. I let out a rather loud 'Woohoo' that had people in the rows in front and behind looking around. The meal had it all, even a mince pie. It was a beaut but rather than get smashed on the free bar that was on offer (I gathered that too much alcohol at 38000ft would probably be bad for me), I stuck to orange juice. The couple next to me though did indulge and by the time I was hitting the sack at half ten, they were already on their third bottle and a few brandy and cokes. They then had a mini domestic some time around eleven about where exactly they had stayed in Paris before downing another bottle and falling into a snoring coma at about twelve.
They were obviously in the festive mood as they both wore five gold rings on each hand, and trust me, these were not your average Elizabeth Duke cheapy stuff, no, these bad-boys were the full nine yards. It's also essential to say that she sported a haircut from the 80s that reminded me of that woman in the cartoon sketch 'Fred'. They were on a two week 'round the world' trip which to be fair, is a bit of a cop-out as they were never actually planning on going any further than Oz and were planning on flying back the same way. I wisely decided against the idea of putting that thought to them in fear of having a fist full of 18-carot gold coming at me.
Hong Kong itself was amazing, the airport is unbelieveably efficient. It's so easy to navigate and everyone is friendly, so different to Heathrow. The bus ride into town took 45 minutes and cost just HK$55 for a return which is about four pound, plus the driver dropped me off outside my hotel. The hotel is home to Hong Kong's Scout Movement and everything, and I mean everything, has the scout emblem on it. The free-be slippers, toothbrush, towels, carpets, plates, cups, glasses all proudly display the logo and there is even a museum in the hotel that tells you all about the life and times of being a Scout in Hong Kong (Yes, I did check it out).
The city as I've already said is amazing, so busy and lively. It seems to never sleep. Even at seven am there are people playing five-a-side football on the astro-turf in the local park. I use the word 'playing' lightly as even the six minute football wonder that I am could have done better than a few of those guys.
After a quick wash and change at the hostel I decided it was time to hit the streets and explore. It was nice and warm and I headed straight for the harbour. The view was amazing, the picture here doesn't do it justice but when I get chance I will upload some that I took. The skyscrappers are immense and breathtaking. Every night there is a light show from the aforementioned buildings and to my excitement, that evening's commmentary was to be in English. During the fifteen minute spectacle the only words uttered in English were the names of the buildings that participate, the music was something cheesy and the commentry on Hong Kong as promised never happened. All-in-all it was a little disappointing, but the view and the fact that I was in a t-shirt at half eight at night made me think I must be slightly better off than those in the UK.
I soon hit the sack to get a decent night's sleep but I awoke bright-eyed at 4:45 and then watched Premiership highlights until breakfast. After a buffet breakfast I headed into Kowloon Park to watch the locals do Tai Chi and then ventured across the harbour on the Star Ferry to the CBD where I managed to get lost, or more precisely, the pavements just stopped. Being keen, I was one of the first to board the ferry, I then had to wait whilst it filled up, all the time it was rocking from side-to-side and I was regretting the huge buffet breakfast. Thankfully the crossing takes just a few minutes but I think my sailing days are over.
The rest of the day saw me head back into Kowloon and sit in the sun and watch the world go by. I decided against doing any shopping for fear of blowing my spending money within the first week and instead just relaxed. I flew out of Hong Kong that night and the journey was a little less enjoyable than the flight from the UK. Lets just say there was no Christmas Dinner on offer.
Now I am in Sydney and yes, New Year was amazing. Bondi Beach for sunrise on the 1st was spectacular but more of that next time. It's late, I need my bed, tomorrow we are off to the Opera House and for those who know him, I have just been to see Gay Jim before he flies off to Fiji. Pictures on the way soon, I promise.
Take care and please try not to work too hard.....
Happy New Year
James (on the Big T)
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