About to leave Hong Kong

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Hello all. Here's your first bulletin from Hong Kong. We have now got our 90 day visas for China and have been biding our time doing touristical things. Staying on Lantau Island which is off HK Island by 30 min ferry ride. An excellent antidote to the noise and bustle of HK and a fraction of the cost. Gawped at Big Bhuddas on the day that we arrived but was so tired that I fell asleep everytime that I sat down. Visited the tiny fishing village of Tai O on Lantau where the livelihood seems to involve drying unidentified fish parts and making industrial quantities of evil smelling shrimp paste. Lunch there was a step too far, so took an exciting ferry trip round to another town to catch the bus back to Mai Wo. Got somewhat damp with seaspray, but saw shoals of tiny flying fish. The humidity has dropped from a steamy 90 odd % to a positively bracing 70 %. Have been on tram rides up to Victoria Peak and traipsed around markets full of unidentifiable animal parts. Loved Hong Kong Island, but you can keep Kowloon for me, although we did have an excellent vegetarian lunch there. Had some difficulty distinguishing the deserts from the main courses and a sweet dumpling sneaked up on me disguised as a bath sponge. Otherwise, too many touts pestering tourists to buy suits, shirts and watches. Met up with Ray and Jackie for a superb evening at the football club and races. Definitely the highlight of the week. Jackie has provided lots of worrying advice on survival in mainland China. Thought for the day - If Chinese people write in characters, do other people recognise their handwriting?

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Photos

Happy Punters at Happy Valley
With Jackie, Ray and Richard (celebrating fluke win on number 7)

Happy Valley Races
Owen B, have you ticked this one off your list?

Tai O village
Houses on stilts

Gecko on a stick anyone?
What do you do with these?

Erecting bamboo scaffolding
Now where did I put that HSE risk assessment form?

Comments

[Dad and Nora]

Good on ya both
Happy for you now the Adventure is under way. Will relish every tit-bit you offer on the blog, and will follow your travels with interest. Be good, Be happy, enjoy every minute, and take care of each other.In a few hours we leave for Canada as you leave for mainland China.

[Danielle and Andrew]

Howdy
Glad to see you have arrived safely and are enjoying yourselves. We all well here although the weather has a lot to be desired! Car still getting us from A to B but not sure if it likes the cold and damp of the north!! Rosie won't be pleased that that is how geckos are treated. Love to you both, A, D, R and Z xx

[Claire and Shaun]

Cyclists in St Peter's Square
Thought of you last weekend when we were waiting in vain for the Pope to wave to us from his window-two cyclists appeared complete with all the gear and weaved their way through all the tourists on their bikes-hope all is going well-keep posting the photos-it might convince me I should go further afield than just the main tourist spots. Love from us all.