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Taking a look around Wan Chai this morning to see the tall buildings close up and to watch "all the pomp of the daily flag raising" - as my "Walks of Hong Kong" guide book reliably informs me. At Golden Bauhina square, where the Sydney Opera House lookalike Hong Kong Convention Centre is found, all I find are dozens of octogenarians doing Tai Chi. Are they going to raise the flag? It doesn't look like there's a lot of pomp about them to me. The inevitable "postponed until further notice" announcement comes later over the tannoy.
There is little to do on the hour long New Star First Ferry journey to Macau, just watching the anti-smoking propaganda on the TV. Jackie Chan is busy countering the "smoking helps you think" argument with "why not try getting some fresh air, having a snack...or going boxing". Sure Jackie.
Macau has some impressively large casinos, including the garlic-bulb shaped Grand Lisboa. As for the inevitable Las Vegas comparison: Macau doesn't seem to have much fun without gambling, I struggle to find much to do in the casinos. It is also less pedestrian friendly and lacks the 'Around the World in a Day' feel of Vegas - although construction is continuing on a grand scale (bamboo scaffold 'n' all). Macau makes up for this with the picturesque Portuguese town centre, with pastel coloured buildings and quaint town squares.
The Peak Tram provides my entertainment for the evening. The tram travels up the peak on Hong Kong Island at a very steep angle. The view at the top is magnificent, especially as the sun begins to set and the lights come on.
Cyclone Fengshen is on the way and if the catamaran journey back from Macau and the gusts on the top of the peak are anything to go by it is quite a storm. Keeping the fingernails trimmed and fingers crossed that it moves away from Hong Kong by tomorrow evening when my flight for Australia departs. If the flight is cancelled or delayed badly the next part of my trip is in some jeopardy.
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