Hong Kong - August 2 2007

Hong Kong: arrived this afternoon after a long, but interesting trip from Guilin and Yangshuo! It certainly is a change of scene for sure! And so many similarities with home, not the heat clearly, but the flower boxes on the pavements, the double-decker buses and driving on the left (though I nearly had to get knocked down to notice the latter!) for example.

Feels like a long time ago now that I set out from Yangshuo. I got a mini-bus back to Guilin and as per usual in China it included some dicey moments with the driver trying to prove he was some top notch F1 driver! But I made it.

Back in Guilin I had been told by a Chinese woman I spoke to the day before that caves on the outskirts would make a good visit, and she was right. I jumped on one of the local buses and headed out there.

The caves were extremely impressive and apparently had served as a refuge from banditry and Japanese bombing in the past. After the caves I took some time to write some more postcards from the top of a hill overlooking the karst landscape and taking it all in - very relaxing.

Back in Guilin I was accosted by a woman wishing to take me to an art gallery. This happened to me before in Beijing with Olivia and this time I was ready for the challenge - unlike last time... Or so I thought: I told her I was busy and shopping for tea, to which she replied that she knew a great tea shop. Damm. So went along there and after much tasting and some haggling made my purchase - I have the impression I might have overpaid somewhat, but I've mainly avoided souvenir-itis so it was probably worth it!

I caught the train yesterday evening to Shenzhen. Unlike other train journeys I was not in soft-sleeper (1st class) but rather hard-sleeper (second class). I expected an interesting experience as the train was packed, but in the end I shared with a friendly family from Shenzhen (it seemed like a big family too - clearly another one having bought the right to more offspring)! A fairly relaxed journey saw me arrive at Shenzhen this morning, relatively fresh. I really had the impression that the main part of my trip was coming to an end: leaving mainland China for Hong Kong.

Before that excitement, I had the pleasure of meeting another work colleague of mine, Eric, for lunch. He took me to a place where they do dim sum (hopefully spelt right) and we had an exotic array of dishes. I even tried chicken claws - what about that!? They tasted ok, but I must admit the thought of what I was eating didn't sit altogether well with me! After lunch, Eric very kindly agreed to drop me off at the local port at Shekou so I could get the boat over to Kowloon (Hong Kong). It was a good way to travel across as I really had the impression of leaving one place for another ("one country two systems..."). Passport control, immigration, stamps in the passport - the works! Unfortunately, the boat was one of those catamaran jet things so it was inside seating, and I must admit I fell asleep part way through.... but I did glimpse the towers of Hong Kong as we arrived and thought that was pretty cool!

Checked into my hotel which has to be one of the smallest rooms I have ever stayed in - it will require logistical organisation to keep it under control! But it is cheap... Now I am wandering the streets, trying to avoid everyone selling watches, illegal substances and god knows what else and finding my bearings! Tomorrow I plan to do the Island itself, with a Saturday trip to Macau on the horizon. I think I might need a breather from the hustle and bustle of HK by then.

More to follow!

Rob