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Published: October 18th 2011
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The journey into Hong Kong on Friday 16th September from Shenzhen was easy enough I just followed the crowds and there were plenty of other westerners travelling the same route. I got the bus from outside the airport to the train station with Andrew from Melbourne and Camelia from France. At the train station the directions are not so good but with a combination of asking the police and following the rough directions we were soon walking over the bridge which hundreds of people crossing to and from Hong Kong it was pretty exciting. On the HK side we got the MTR to Chungking mansions, which is backpacker central and at first a very intimidating place but you soon get used to it. In the afternoon I watched a World Cup rugby game which really got me in the mood for the New Zealand leg of the tour. In the evening I met up with Andrew and Camelia again and we got the Star ferry over to the mainland and went up Victoria peak. I loved the ferry journey especially because all the lights were starting to come on in the buildings-it’s got to be the best urban landscape in the
World!! The Peak was packed but the views stunning. We then managed to find our way to the Lan Kwanfong area and a great restaurant to finish off a long but great day. In Chungking mansions I stayed at the Paris Guesthouse. The room was tiny but surprisingly adequate and the layout was well thought through. I remember watching BBC news for the first time in 4 weeks after being in China it felt very surreal. On Saturday I went to the History Museum which I found very interesting particularly the section on the Opium Wars and the story of the Jardine family whom the late James Clavell based his novel Tai Pan on. In the afternoon the Rugby started with South Africa playing and also the Ireland vs Australia game. I found a great street level bar called Tequila Jacks and met Randi and her husband Larry a couple who were enjoying their last night in Hong Kong before going back to the States. We watched with amazement and joy as the Irish smashed the Australian pack to pieces and won the game the first major upset in the World cup. After the game a couple of Brits came
in from Exeter (Phil and Paul) and Owen from Wales and we had a couple of beers and did a bit of a pub crawl until the small hours. On the Sunday we met up back in Tequila Jacks and watched the England game and ended the day up watching Man United smash Chelsea at footy. The next couple of days I checked into the JJ Hotel in Wan Chai for a bit of luxury and did some shopping and aimless wondering and exploring. It was then time for next stop Melbourne to catch up with the Quigley’s.
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