Hello! We're in Hong Kong!!!! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's absolutely beautiful and a real cultural shock. Feeling very out of place :)

Poor Hannah's ill back of the hotel recovering from her chest infection. Bless her! So me and Ellen have travelled to central Hong Kong today and took a manic ride on the tram system. You can travel all the way down the line for about 40p! But yet a can of 7 up cost me about 60p (work that one out!)

Oh my god! The flight was unbelievably long and we were all first time long haulers. We spent about 5 hours sitting round heathrow and then boarded the plane. we then had to wait and an hour for the plane to take off and then the seats were so uncomfortable they seemed to be the very epitome of economy class - I managed to watch Erin Brockovich about 5 times inbetween snoozing. Every hour you would wake up and still seem to be in the same position. Did you know we've travelled over 6000 miles to get here?!

First meal in Hong Kong was italian funny enough! There's lots of strange fruits and dried fish and bits here. I can feel a cold coming on, but I guess that's due to a change in the climate. It's all a bit wierd really and we can't believe what we are doing. First few pangs of homesickness have been appearing today as it all settles in. Me and Ellen swam in the roof top pool on our hotel and then took a walk to victoria park where they've getting all the decorations ready for the mid-autumn festival which takes place next tuesday (imagine paper lanterns, bright pinks yellows and oranges and dragons etc...) Everything is very kitsch here so I feel like I'm fitting in a treat. Have already bought myself a fan with cartoon characters on because it is so hot. It's 26 degrees today but the weather is so humid and Hong Kong is full of smog. Sweaty!!!!

What else will we be doing? We're thinking of taking the tram to one of the islands and seeing the worlds biggest outdoor buddist statue - also there is the sky rail there and disney land! tac - o - rama!!!!

we also went to a temple today in the central part - everyone lights incense sticks and it's very smelly - makes your eyes sting - but we left soon after as we didn't want to invade their culture.

Been walking through old shanghai today as well, there are lots of steep hills with steps leading up. The traffics all a bit mad. when we were on the tram they were cementing the road literally right under us! The driver had to beep to get the workmen to move right away! This city never sleeps, even last night they were doing roadworks at about 10 o'clock!!!!

There's so much to say! But better go cos I've got tons of emails to send!

Miss you all!

Amy xxxx