The Day Before Departure

Well, I'm currently packing, charging all the electronics, and wondering what I've forgotten. I'm sure I've got far too much, and I've already cut down on half of the clothes so far. ;)

This will be the first trip abroad I've made by myself so it's a bit daunting. Though when you've done it once, it becomes easier, so looking forward to the next visit later this year already :)

I've got a huge pile of books, a 5yr old PDA loaded up with games, the iriver loaded with 2000+ songs. Just need the bisuits and I'll be sorted :)

Sunday

Rain. Rain. Thunder and some more Rain. And that's the forcast for the rest of the week too. So the original plan for lazing in the park reading books is out of the window. :( Ah well, best explore what Hong Kong has to offer indoors :)

Monday - Day Before Return

Went for tea in Tsim Sha Tsui, place is full of sodding tourists and over zelous tauts ramming flyers down your throat and blocking your way. Tailor made suits, crappy watches and curries amongst over tat. Glad to get back to Mong Kok afterwards, far nicer weaving amongst the locals without having to avoid being snared by the tauts.

Unsuprisingly, I've settled in nicely over the course of the last two weeks, and now don't want to leave again. The climate, albeit cloudy and muggy, is lovelly and warm which suits me nicely. The food is vastly varied and cheap and plentiful. There are shops selling gadgets and clothes galore, and I didnt even get on to the films and music. And everything is just just a hop-on-the-MTR away.

I'm already planning my return visit, with intentions to scour the island next time. A brief visit to Ocean Park in Aberdeen showed how less polluted it is over there. If not a little too pretentious and self-overrated the air is at least cleaner on the island.

I would recommend to any traveller to try and spend time on the mainland. It may seem a little less inviting to tourists, but is worth the persistance in scratching the surface to see the real value beneath. Also, I'm going to have to learn to read and speak Cantonese asap. There are definately different menus (and prices) for English speaking and Cantonese speaking peoples respectively ;)

Photos

The photo gallery can be found here

Places you Have to Visit

Computacenter - computer stuff shopping mall, Nelson St, Mong Kok

Sham Shui Po - Golden Computer Centre, Computer land, and the flea market

Kowloon Tong - Classy Mall

Allied Plaza - Shopping Mall with really good clothes shops at good prices, Prince Edward (Nr Mong Kok)

Star City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Books, Tat, and more Computer stuff