Hong Kong

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Arriving in Hong Kong was like waking up from a dream. After months of backpacking around, cheap food, and budget accommodation, suddenly we were in a modern business centre filled with glass, cafe's, bars, and trendy restaurants and shops.

It was very hard to hang on to our purse strings, we had to keep reminding ourselves that we don't have jobs any more. Hong Kong really unleashed its charms on us and before we knew it we were contemplating what it would be like to live and work here (fantastic I bet!). But keeping on track we dismissed these thoughts for now and tried to stay in backpacker mode.

Like Beijing, we ended up staying here far longer than we intended. Partly due to issues getting an onward train ticket, and partly due to us just wanting to stay longer.

For the first few days we stayed at a moderately dodgy backpacker hostel, but we ended up staying a few nights with Lynda's cousin, who it turns out lived not far from our hostel. It was really lovely to catch up with family and to stay somewhere so much more homely than a hostel. We also really enjoyed some home cooking for the first time in many months.

We spent most of our time wandering around Hong Kong and Kowloon, just exploring and catching up on window shopping (torture!). We did manage a day trip to Lamma Island, which was an amazing oasis after the hustle and bustle of the city.

After 6 days of experiencing the most un-Chinese of Chinese cities we hoisted our packs on (no heavier, thanks to our strong will-power and not buying anything) and headed back to mainland China.

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Photos

Reflections
So much glass, and yet it can still be really beautiful.

Lynda at the top of the hill
Enjoying the view from the top and wishing we had cocktails.

Lego skyscraper
Don't know which building this is, but it certainly is interesting.

Hong Kong skyline
Taken from the viewing platform near the top of Victoria Peak

Hong Kong by night
The same view, only 30 minutes later, spectacular.

Building view from Hong Kong Park
We loved the way skyscrapers and the natural landscape blended together.

Incense coils at Man Mo Temple
Man Mo Temple is popular with both the Police Force, and the Triads, an interesting combination.

Anyone fancy a swim?
Never mind the bloody great big power station in the background.

Bamboo scaffolding
Even in a modern city, traditional building methods are still used.

Busy Kowloon street
Why do you need so many signs?

Crossing from Hong Kong to Kowloon
A good way of seeing the Hong Kong skyline, it reminded us of crossing Auckland's harbour, although Auckland's buildings are a bit smaller.

Dolphins
Aren't they pretty?

More buildings of glass
Yet more glass.

Lynda with Super Starbucks Girl
Lynda with her cousin Dione (who lives in HK), dressed to go to a fancy dress party.