Back in Hong Kong! We know how it works, we look forward to the modern technology and efficiency, and the not so boiling temperature! Coming back into Hong Kong, we hopped on our bus and got a taxi to the United Services Recreation Club. This is a members club in the middle of Kowloon, a little green haven in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Our stay here for 2 nights was organised through Greta and Gordon, who used to live next to B’s dad on the farm in Hikutaia.

They were very generous with their time as Prof Gordon made some free space on Monday to take us out to an island up near the New Territories, which we reached by speedboat. It was another green oasis in the middle of Hong Kong, and we had possibly the best lunch of our trip so far. First we were served fresh prawns, which we de-shelled and dipped in soy sauce. This was followed by fried cuttlefish, in a kind of tempura, which we dipped in sweet chilli sauce. Then we had what I thought was the piece de resistance, a scallop on the shell, covered with fried garlic, some fine noodles and delicious sauces. This was topped off with seafood fried rice and fresh greens! After lunch we wandered around the green island, it’s small fishing village and walked to a nearby temple, before being taken back to the mainland.

The next day we explored more of Hong Kong by ourselves, including the ladies market where I did a bit of cheap shopping! (Before we get to Europe where we can’t afford anything).

Street on Hong Kong Island

Everyone in Hong Kong has an umbrella – that’s what we discovered this morning when we ventured out onto Nathan Road to try and get to the pier and take the star ferry across to Hong Kong Island. There was a slight drizzle, but it was still warm and humid as we headed out for the day. Leaving our hotel we felt like complete tourists in back packs, rain jackets and sneakers, while walking amongst elegant and trendy looking Hong Kong locals. This was improved after we bought a red umbrella, to fit in with the rest of the crowds who either had an umbrella or a newspaper over their heads, as they rushed down the streets to work. I tried to figure out the umbrella protocol as we dodged the other umbrellas and rain drops down Nathan Road, which is just a huge metropolitan street with lights and signs and people and buildings everywhere. On Nathan Road at 9am there were few other tourists from what I could tell – the others seemed very obvious in khaki pants and backpacks like us – we will have to learn how to blend in better as we go.

We have discovered the city changes at every block, as we were in the tropical misty forests of the peak, before cutting through some tightly packed and crowded allyways with vendors selling goods from fish heads (still palpitating) to copy bags and watches. Then we would come across a luxe mall with the big brands – all this is squeezed together via subways and overhead walkways, which B navigated for us. A highlight today was trying to find the Vietnam consulate and ending up at the address we’d be given to find a hairdressers! We tried to ask at the local supermarket but the teller either didn’t speak English or didn’t feel like sharing with us. Most tellers here speak english so it’s pretty easy to queue up and order food or buy things in shops, and we have already come across some really helpful people – people who want to help out these tourists who stick out like sore thumbs! I am going to try and be more helpful to others now, as we were so grateful today when a few people took the time to help us out. I am proud of us getting an Octopus card though – HK version of the snapper card, so we can breeze through the public transport like locals.