China - Hong Kong

10 - 15 May '08

Our train took us straight into the heart of Kowloon, and unsurprisingly the city immediately had a multicultural feel to it. We managed to find our accomodation which was located on the 14th floor of a building on the main road (Nathan Road), with the first 2 floors littered with tacky shops and tailors. Our room was so small that we could barely fit our backpacks in it (about 8x5 ft), and the shower was almost on top of the toilet (but there was a dog-faced watertight toilet-paper protector!). That evening we had a craving for indian food and using our trusted Lonely Planet Guide, we went to Branto Pure Vegetarian where we ordered a Gujarati Thali and Masala Dhosa (the food was good and we really recommend it - we're sure our mothers would also approve).

The following day, we checked into some slightly better accomodation and then lazed around the park. In particular, we hung out around Kung-Fu Corner (Kowloon Park) where we saw the locals perform various martial art routines. After wandering through some street markets (where Preya did some haggling), we hit a bar where we met an American who shared some weird and wonderful stories about his travels around Asia (Fact: In China, if your first-born is a girl, you are allowed to try for another child, and if your first-child is a boy, you have to pay if you want more children). A few drinks later we had the urge for a massage, and a funny old lady on the street persuaded Yatin to have one - Preya claims this is the worst massage she has ever experienced (and Yatin is constantly reminded of this).

In Shanghai, we had become accustomed to the street-hawks approaching us with "do you want bag, watch,dvd"... in Hong Kong, this had changed to "do you want massage, tailor". With a new day we hit some of the sights on Hong Kong Island (a short ferry ride away). This area felt a long way away from where we were staying in Kowloon (it stunk of money). After hanging out around Soho (home to the longest escalator in Asia), we took the Star Ferry back. Preya somehow fooled the bar staff at the impressive Intercontinental Hotel that we were staying there so that we could watch the Symphony of Lights Show (world's only permanent light show) from their bar gallery - a gentle reminder of our once-corporate lives.

It was time to escape the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong; armed with our reading books we headed out to Lamma Island (30 minute ferry from Kowloon) - an island where cars are prohibited. After relaxing at the beach, we did a 2 hour walk to the other side of the island enjoying some breath-taking views (Raquel, nos recordamos del dia cuando andamos por las montanyas y vimos los siete picos, te acuerdas?). We drank on the veranda for the rest of the evening.

Ready for action, the next day, we took a large Catamaran out to another island, Macau - the Las Vegas of the east (this place is already turning over more money than Vegas with each gaming table apparently 10 times more profitable). After scoping out some of the deluxe casinos (MGM Grand and Wynn), we dabbled in a spot of roulette. A wise (or foolish) friend of ours once told us that if you are going to gamble, you need 'deep pockets'.... we didn't.... and in a matter of seconds we had lost the equivalent of 3 nights dinner. After exploring parts of Macau (including its old town where scenes of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were shot), we headed back to Kowloon where we drowned our sorrows with some B52 shooters (and more Masala Dhosa). Next stop... Vietnam.

Finally, we would like to say thanks to all those who sent messages of concern for our safety when the quake struck a couple of days ago.