96 hours in Hong Kong

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Man these days have been pretty crazy! Really overwhelmingly claustrophobic/depressing/exciting.... the smog has gone now but it's still notably harder to breathe in the city than in the hills around it.

This is really a island of two classes with a huge gap between them, everyone who can afford to drive sits in a nicely air conditioned merc or beamer, and everyone else lives in a dirty concrete jungle with no plants and dripping air conditioners. We didn't realy realise until we got out of the city and into the "'burbs" and then even weirder into the countryside where people live in spacious shacks - how can you have this on one of the most densely populated islands in the world?

We've spent a lot of time in and around the markets - yeah, touristy.. but it's a way of life here. I've been totally blown away. Everything is so amazingly presented, but animals are truly here to be eaten and thats that. fish, pig, crabs, shellfish, toads.. you name it, it's here for dinner. I watched a fish on a display plate the other day flip it's way off it and onto the street - the vendor just picked the poor guy up and put him back on the plate, but moved it further away from the edge of the table! Another one on a cart had been cut in half lengthways and the two "fillets" laid side by side for display.. fresh? It's heart was still beating away quite happily!

Aside from this we've been out to Big Wave Bay and Shek O on the far side of the island - there's no surf in Hong Kong - think glassy and 1 foot BUT with guys in the water with surfboard, wetsuit, a lesh, the works.. fashion victims?? hmm..! The beaches are actually really nice and (almost) competely non-commercial and surrounded in bush. Quite strange.

HGB's been a little paranoid and it's actually beginning to rub off a little. I had to say seeya to him yesterday and just cruise by myself for a while to see the sights rather than the potential robbers (It's actually pretty friendly here). Had a great day over at the Mon Kok fish and bird markets.. busy?! and probably the most depressing thing i've seen here. I don't think they even know the meaning of exploitation (or sustainability) - WWF is everywhere, but it seems to be making very little difference, aparently much of it it smuggled illegaly. I got back to the HK concrete jungle feeling really stink, all the creatures that used to live here now have to be bought into the ciy in little bags and cages.. from where?

Hmm.. then last night Hayden, Will and I went out to Lamma Island for a fresh seafood dinner - that came from the South China Sea. oops.

Anyway, that's all for now.. off to the big smoke of Beijing tomorrow... I miss a sunny, quiet back yard!

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Photos

Shek O beach
Ok, so this one's a little popular.. but the one round the corner was perfect :)

Goldfish anyone?
Supposedly they're lucky.. but these ones?

Lamma Island dinner
Will, Hayden, and me

Comments

[elfreda]

hong kong
hi there ker, is it the first time you've been to HK? To tell you the truth it really wasn't my cup of tea either. How did you like the crickets in the bags to be sold for birdfood? And being paranoid about robbers in Hong kong? God, even I was fine there! Your friend is going to need serious nerves of steel if he is to make it through the rest of you travels! Did you go to see the big buddha on Lantau island? It was so foggy we couldn't see a bloomin thing! And I hope you've been up the hill with the furnicular and looked at the hong kong lights at night time? Enjoy beijing! ELfreda PS: I have at last booked at least one overseas trip....vietnam for 20 days after xmas.

[Will Grenfell]

Kerry is a Pervert
Id just like to add that Kerry has a penchant for Philipino ladies, and he dragged me into that brothel, where he started dribbling like a raving loony.