Hong Kong

Here I am in Hong Kong.

Arrived here two nights ago after making the long trip from Mudanjiang! Big difference. It's 20 degrees here as opposed to 20 below zero!

I'm happy that I got here in one piece cos without that telescope thing to help me see things far away, I'm sort of useless. The place I was to stay (Tsim Sha Tsui) was as I imagined when I arrived.Lots of bloody hawkers annoying the fuck out of ya trying to get you to stay in their hotel. My place was nearer than I thought, so I overshot it but I asked in a shop and 2 student-type chaps helped me out. That hostel was a bit of dodgy. It was clean but not very secure. And it was very noisy. I changed to the Cosmic Guest House, and myself and an Austrian guy got a room here. So much better and just slightly more expensive!

So, HK: big difference from mainland!! This place is more Westernised ad more international. Lots of expats and tourists here! The narrow streets give it more the feel of a European city and the double-decker buses and driving on the left remind me of home!

I met my friend Paul here, who is Irish born Chinese, so it's cool to meet him and also he speaks Cantonese and knows his way around, so it's cool. Went up the peak yesterday and then went for a few pints to see Ireland get beaten by France in the rugger.