Hong Kong

Impressions: crowds of people like we've never seen before but very friendly and even in the biggest crowd everyone very polite and no jostling - if anyone accidentally bumps you they apologise - Gus loving being one of the tallest in any crowd! Lots of smog,can't see the tops of some buildings. Often see people doing Tai Chi - even people on their own in a park. Had a walk through some markets - the ladies market was incredible - so many people, hardly any westerners - we are so tall!

Had tea at a local restaurant - chose one that smelled ok, some of them reak of rotting meat!! Also chose it on having English subtitles on the menu so we'd have some idea of what we're eating... We were only westerners - food good and cheap - given chopsticks to eat with but managed to get a fork for Gus - bit tricky to eat noodles when he has enough trouble driving chopsticks at all! Rained HEAVILY on second day - cleared the smog so was a good thing except we got pretty wet! Had tea at a western restaurant on the peak - incredible views - was part of a tour so sat with an English and a Scottish couple. The Scottish people asked us to stay with them when we up their way, really nice people, originally from the Shetlands, so we probably will look them up. Besides we owe them a drink..

We also couldn't get over the scaffolding - there are 50 storey buildings and the only scaffolding we saw was made from bamboo - it's just tied together with what looks like plastic packaging strap - it stretches up to the sky - obviously no OSH here.

All traffic is taxis and buses, hardly any private cars, apparently extemely expensive to park. Apartments $2000 HKD a square foot! Not that much in NZD but they earn their money in HKD. Tax rates are low though, 15% highest rate. The few private cars are Lamborginis, Bentleys etc! Extremes of wealth but not as much poverty as some other places - only a few beggars - lots of cleaners in parks etc - not sure if they govt paid. Anyway that was Hong Kong - now we are in London and loving it!! But it's now time to go out and explore so I'll tell you about it another time!