Lost in Transition

Before the British left HK they used the huge surplus of tax receipts to build the biggest man made island in the world and upon it the most technically advanced airport I've ever seen. The airport and equally impressive train shuttle provides a great introduction to this amazing city where east and west collide. The world may be littered with examples British Empire faux pas but this is an unequivocal success. .......  HK quasi Britishness  (Right hand drive double decker busses even the 'please mind the gap' women is here) is going to make the transition into China easy

Commuting via Escalator

I've slowly gotten used to getting round this city - on foot it's a case of navigating 100's of escalators and elevated walkway, taxis are plentiful and cheap, the subway an air conditioned breeze and the trams are great fun.

Skyline

On Thursday Joanne, Elizabeth and I went up to Victoria peak. With the jet lag fully upon me it was easy for Joanne 'fitness women extraordinaire' to sell the 'walk' (better described as an exercise in mountaineering) rather the tram. Once at the top, pity set in an we agreed to get the tram back down (take a look at the gradient)

The sky line is impressive from the peak is impressive but on closer inspection there seem be only a few architectural gems amongst a quarry of rough stones. They seem more intent in building the impossible than the beautiful. At night the skyline really shows its colours..... quite literally there are a hand full of  buildings that put on a light show and from 8pm, are accompanied with lasers. Friday night mother nature also lent a hand with thunder and lightening - it's been 2 years since I was last in SE Asia and you very quickly forget how storms can come and go in an instant and here we're in typhoon season to which yesterday we were on a level 1 warning (the first time since Joanne and Phil have been out here!!!)

the tram we should have taken

Buddhism is meant to be the most popular religion but after yesterday I feel it's shopping..... temples are everywhere and impressive I'd like to know the stats but I'm sure there must be more Versace and Prada stores per head here than in any western city. Obviously given this is my practicing faith I've been more than happy here the only thing spoiling the funs is the thought that anything I buy will have a long way to travel so the credit card has thus far stayed in the holster. A second pair of aviators however will defiantly be bought!!!

Big thanks to Joanne and Phil for putting me up, there place is quite spectacular or as like to say ex-pat-ular:-), and Elizabeth thanks for providing endless entertainment - big eyed and a wide smile lets her get up to plenty of mischief!!!!