Hong Kong 31 January - 3 February

Interesting dude at the bar

Sara and me

Sara and Aaron with drunken faces

Outside Po Lin monastic temple (no disrespect pic taking outside a temple, just inside)

Cable cars near Tian Tan

View from Tian Tan Buddha (1)

The wrecked trainers

View from Tian Tan Buddha (2)

Incense burning

Central Island shot from Ferry

Steps up to Big Buddha (Unfortunately the sun ruined it)

Tian Tan Buddha

Buddha and me

Thomas

Central Island at night (fuzzy pic)

Awaiting for a Ferry

Country - Hong Kong (Special Administrative region)

Est. Population - 6,985,200 (2008)

Currency - Hong Kong Dollar

1 HKD = circa 0.10 EUR

1 EUR = circa 10 HKD (both at the time of writing)

Arrived into Kowloon, HK, at about 13h30 and one subway station later I was at the hostel. The dorm was far from great (no windows and air con was lousy) but it was cheap and it was HK after all. Met an interesting guy from the UK at the room, George. He works as an intern for an ex-pat magazine based in Shanghai. No salary but he does get an apartment paid for. Took a walk through Kowloon park and meet some guys playing football on an all weather pitch. Asked could I play and they did not have any issues with that. Actually played quite well during the game we had - sort of an odd bunch of ex-pats versus a team of HK friends you have played together for years.

After the football I went back to the hostel and chatted to George. Invited him to join me for some street food. I got two meat sticks; one with beef and the other with chicken. Seriously pricey compared to mainland China. 26 HKD! Nothing in Europe but in Asia that's expensive. Suppose it was HK after all and I knew it would be more expensive - that's why I was eating on the streets in the first place! George said he was interested in catching some of the weekend football from back home and was considering hitting a bar. I explained one could watch the games on the Internet at no cost. George had a laptop with him. Decided to collect a few beers and kick back at the hostel, chilling and watching some late night football.

However, the router was really far from our room (we surmised) as the signal was very weak. I suggested testing other parts of our floor to see if the signal got stronger. We went near the hostel floor main entrance. Dramatic improvement in signal. Clearly the router was located there, our room was at the far end of the floor. George went to collect beers while I set up the action. I was watching some of Stoke v Man City when a dude came in the entrance door. I explained about watching the footie online. Thomas, from Bern in Switzerland, asked could he join us. Of course.

We watched some of the football for a while and then Thomas went to his room which was right beside where we were at. I suggested we relocate to his room in case anyone complained. Motion passed. We watched West Ham v Arsenal (boring) and Everton v Man U (equally dull) and had a laugh. Got to my bed at about 04h30!

On Sunday Thomas and myself went for a late breakfast, well brunch really, at about noon. Salad and OJ; got to reward the body for the punishment of the night prior. George had a few things to do but I told him all about the football I played yesterday. I had arranged to meet the guys again at 16h00. George and Thomas were up for it. Firstly, Thomas and myself went to go see a Kung Fu exhibition in Kowloon park, free admission. Mostly kids aged between 4-14 years but wow they were amazing and some were so fluid in their movements.

We went back to the football court area and jammed with a ball for a while, waiting for the others to arrive. Didn't look like we were going to get a game, the court was booked. Then some guy landed badly after pretty much the only tackle of their non-contact game and severely damaged his elbow. Ambulance, the works.

Back on court so. However, my trainers were a mess. Ken - an Afghan guy I played with the day before - told me where I could buy cheap tennis shoes great for football. 22 HKD! Yeah! We played against a team who looked like teenagers. Decent players but they lacked any edge; not clinical enough in the final third. Unfortunately my game ended early, which now I'm glad of. Was on the verge of a hamstring strain.

Afterwards we went for some cheap Indian food at Chunking Mansions, where we were staying at. Was delicious, Indian is one of my favourite foods (1. Sushi; 2. Mexican; 3. Thai; 4. Indian..). The Australian open tennis final was on. Federer v Nadal. Thomas didn't want to miss this, he quickly showered and went to the nearby Irish bar for the coverage. George and myself only made it for the final set. Epic tennis. Federer is from Thomas' home town, he was devastated. We had fun winding him up :)

Being at the bar was a great relieve from sitting in Thomas' room though that was clearly the cheaper option. The Irish bar was so incredibly expensive. We voted to go back to the hostel for a few cheeky (cheap) drinks (Thomas had a Kilkenny at the bar for 65 HKD! Was funny seeing him stare at the bill when he got it, what a novice!). Went back to the bar for the Liverpool v Chelsea game for the midnight kickoff. One night of expensive drinks was worth it for the air con! We watched the game with two English guys and had some great banter. They suggested we go visit the big Buddha statue (Tian Tan Buddha), the largest in the world.

The plan for Monday was to do exactly that. George left at this point so it was just Thomas and myself. We got some breakfast and got a ferry over to Central island (ferry costs 1.7 HKD; subway costs 9 HKD! Nuts - probably trying to recoup the cost of the investment). A further hour ferry ride and an hour bus ride and we made it to the small village of Ngong Ping, deep within the mountains on Lantau Island. The Po Lin monastery is nearby and is exquisitely serene. Surrounding the temple within the monastic area are plenty of food vendors but they do not serve any meat; obviously the monks are vegetarians and want the food served to respect their own environment.

The lead up to Tian Tan was magnificent. Circa 250 steps at a steep incline lead up to this enormous statue, the symbol of the greatest religion on this planet. The view from the vantage point is truly breathtaking. You can see other islands in the distance and there is a cable car you can take to less populated and even more peaceful views (human traffic was a little too much but understandably so; a place everyone should visit whilst at HK). After the brilliance of the Buddha statue, Thomas and myself - hobbling (in pain from my sore hamstring) - walked to the Buddhist monastery. Such a tranquil mood. Plenty of incense burning throughout.

To witness the monks at prayer through singing was an experience, I tell you. Unfortunately no pictures/video out of respect for their ritual, just as Erik explained to me in Ningbo. After a wander around we made our way back to Kowloon via Central Island, even had a nap out of exhaustion! Went for some wonderful cheap Sushi (California rolls for 19 HKD) before we went to the fake brand markets.

Thomas was set to fly to Sydney the following day and wanted to get as much cheap clothes as possible. Before we went there we stopped off at a bar as it was still happy hour: pint of San Miguel, normal price = 36 HKD; happy hour price = 22 HKD! Went to the market and I even bought a lovely pair of shorts (25 HKD) and a summery jacket (65 HKD).

After the market we went back to that bar again and played a game I played when I was younger, think it's called something like coin football, serious banter and beer combo :) We ended up joining up with a few girls from HK after playing some darts and we tagged along with them in a game of Chinese dice. Afterwards we went to another bar and did some karaoke for kicks. At this point it's 05h30 and we're kind of smashed so we make our way back to the hostel. At Chunking Mansions (where the hostel is based) we very randomly bumped into a crazy Welsh guy. Seriously crazy. Hadn't slept in three days and it showed. He had some green so we went off for a few smokes. Man, I got to bed at about 08h00 and was annihilated. Good times :)

Tuesday, last day in HK. Only got up at noon, Thomas had already checked out but he left a note on my door. Actually he left it on the wrong door but I knew it was for me. Was really wrecked. Went for more Sushi and chilled out by a pond. Didn't get up to much for a while, was working on an earlier blog post and chilling at the hostel Internet. Then met a cool Australian guy (Aaron) and we had some good banter. Took a walk down by the river with Thomas but asked Aaron did he wanted to vendez-vous for a drink at about 17h00 with Thomas before he left .

Just got some beers at 7/11 and had them at the Internet area (it is a room with a door so no issue). There was a dutch girl - Sara - who was also there and joined us for a drink. Aaron, Sara and myself decided to go out for a few and we said good luck to Thomas as he went to catch a bus to HK International.

We had a great laugh out during happy hour at the same bar as Thomas and myself (I know, kind of lazy but I knew when happy hour began and finished) went to. So happy hour finishes at 21h00 but the great thing is that they ask you would you like to get last orders. Once your order is in before 21h00 you can continue to drink post deadline for the happy hour price! We order six beers and that kept us going for a while! Sara couldn't drink any more, she was smashed (sorry Sara, but it's true and you know it). Didn't stay up late, around 00h45 and then crashed.

Got up at 07h45 to pack et cetera with my flight to Taipei at 12h05. At the time of posting this entry I'm in Nanning in the capital of the Guangxi autonomous region in southern China. Trying to cathc up on my posts so don't be surprised to see another post within the next day or so.

All the best,

Liam O'Connor, travelling hobbit