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25th July 2009
Where did I last finish? Ah yes, in Yangshou. Well on our last day I decided to have a rather chilled out day. In the morning me and 4 others went to a cooking school and did a 5 course Chinese meal. It was delicious. On route to the school the lady running the school took us to a local farmers market. This was an experience in itself. There were hundreds of interesting vegetables and fruit which came in funny shapes and sizes and some didn't even look like something you would dare eat. We then got to the meat section. This was a little depressing as we saw lots of stuffed caged animals and we were grossed out walking past a live chicken having its legs battered! This put me off eating chicken for a whole, ummm, 2 minutes. The worst bit was coming close to the dogs. We didn't walk past but were told if we wanted to see them we could go look ourselves. Me and Hayley were intrigued. Why, I have no idea and looking back on it, I can't believe I really wanted to see what I saw but it was definitely a sight I won't forget too soon. Dogs crammed in cages wanting to get out. Then there were 3 dogs hung up which had been killed, plucked and looked like boiled. As much as this disgusted me, I am a such a tourist and the camera came out. As I was shouted at by some crazy dog murdering lady to not take a photo I took one anyway. Then pretended with my best acting skills that the photo didn't come out anyway. I shall be kind to you all and not put the photo on here, although I know some of you will still want to see it secretly!
Back to the cooking school, we made the most delicious food and all so easy to make. After eating it all we headed back to the hotel. Sunny, our tour leader needed to go to a bank so I went with him on a little moped. This was bloody scary! The roads are so crazy I actually did think today might be one of my 'possible days to die'. Once feet were back on firm ground I then appreciated the fun in the journey.
Quick showers were had then back on a bus to the train station. Overnight train this time was rather pleasant and I actually managed to get a good few hours sleep. In the morning, whilst still on the train, we got to witness a partial eclipse which was really cool.
Around lunch time we finally crossed the boarder into Hong Kong! We were all really excited and couldn't believe we were finally here! The hotel we checked into was nice and in a good location. After a quick shower we headed out for noodles. Afterwards me and 5 others went up to The Peak Tower. This was amazing. We took the tram up which was actually quite scary but a good thing to try out. The view from the top was absolutely amazing! We had chose a good time to go as the sky was quite clear and you could see out for miles. The photos I took just don't justify how great it really was up there. I was a little freaked out at first as am rubbish with heights but the views just took the fear away.
In the evening we decided that seeing as it was the last night of the tour we would go out and have it large. I had one of the best nights ever. The bar we ended up in was 'Free champagne for ladies all night!!!' Now when they say champagne I think this more likely means cheap sparkling white wine, but who was caring, it was free!!! This was probably a bad idea looking back because we were absolutely plastered. You were able to dance up on the bar so that was where we were most of the night! God I must have looked a right mess! There were some seriously dodgy photos taken throughout the night which I am so embarrassed about and I hope will never be seen by public eyes ever again! Why is it when your drunk dancing up on a bar sounds like a fantastic idea!?!?!?! I am surprised I didn't fall and break my neck!
The morning after I woke with the famous words of 'I'm never drinking again' and felt like someone had stamped on my head and then jumped around on it for a few hours. The afternoon needed to be a slow one for me. I did some touristy things, wondered around and did some shopping. In the evening we saw the lights show and went up The Peak again to see the view at night. This was truly romantic! I had to check into my own hotel today. Now that deserves a paragraph for itself.
The place I had booked for my next 3 nights was called The Las Vegas Hostel. I had booked it through STA Travel and the photos had looked fairly decent. What they hadn't told me at time of booking is the hostel is in the Chungking Mansions. Now anyone familiar with Hong Kong will probably have heard all about how dodgy this place it. It is a massive building full of hostels, Indian restaurants and market stalls. 2 of my friends walked around earlier in the day downstairs and were offered drugs 8 times! Everyone on my tour had told me I really shouldn't stay there and even Lonely Planet guide books had wrote about how bad the place was. As it was Sunny needed to stay somewhere for 2 nights so I said he could stay with me, that way he had somewhere to sleep and I wouldn't be on my own there. Well... even with a guy there to protect me I still had never felt so scared in my life. The place was horrible!!! Firstly the room looked like a prison cell. The bathroom was smaller than a public toilet. You could have a s***, shave and shower all at the same time. The room itself was clean, but the towel they gave me had black hairs all over it! The lock on the door was basically a k*** with one of those push in locks that once you turn the handle becomes unlocked. Me myself could probably break in if I wanted to. The air con was broken yet made the most loudest constant banging noise. The room was boiling, noisy and scary. I hated it. After an hour of trying to sleep we were going to pack up and go, but I was even too scared to leave the room in the middle of the night. Haha, it really was that bad. We got up really early and left. I checked out and told them I was not happy. Not that anyone gave a damm and by then I didn't care, I just wanted to leave. It was definitely an experience I won't forget. Last night we stayed somewhere else which was nice and tonight I am staying with my friend Helen who has 2 beds in her room. She is in a very posh hotel so I am rather looking forward to staying there. She even has a bath in her bathroom which is something I haven't seen all month!
Yesterday we went to Lantau Island and saw a fishing village where people live in houses that are on stilts in water. It was a rather cute place and we had a nice wonder round. On the way back to the tube station we stopped at the Giant Buddha. This is the largest outdoor sitting bronze buddha in the world.
Today though I have been really ill. I am full of a cold and wanted to go to the bird and flower market but didn't quite make it. I got nearly there then had to head back as felt so rough. I am just hoping I am ok by tomorrow as flying to Bangkok. More importantly I am hoping it is not swine flu! Maybe I should start wearing one of those masks like the Chinese people wear!
I am getting really nervous again about being on my own, I've got used to having people around, it is going to be strange. I have made some amazing friends this month and it was really sad saying goodbye to everyone. Only me, Helen and Andrew are left now so we will be having our last meal together tonight. This tour has been amazing and I would recommend it to anyone. I have laughed so much and seen so much. I don't want to leave, but I know I am going to somewhere else which I am sure will be equally amazing and exciting. Will let you all know I got to Bangkok ok some when over the next few days.
In the meantime, take care, and I hope you are all enjoying my blogs.
Katie xxx
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