Preparation I’ve an overnight flight so am making sure I have what I need for my trip today. I’ve checked out Volzone, our intranet for volunteers with all sorts of information about the country they are going to. It’s not the same for me of course as I’m only in Sierra Leone for a week, but good to see all the advice we give to our volunteers as we try to look after them before, during, and after their placements. Just checking out the VSO Sierra Leone...

Well I left on a cold dark evening, and returned, some 40 days & nights-ish, on a cold dark morning. Thousands of miles, once-in-a-lifetime sights & experiences, & having met some nice people on the way. Like all travel I think, it'll need to seep in to me too. Lots of photos! https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A2G6XBubg5J3O Thank you for being with me on my journey, it's been good to travel with you. This is Angela, signing off, on the Big Tr...

Spent my last day in Hong Kong around the markets - the Ladies, the Bird, the Goldfish, the Flower - and the computer centre. Men take their birds for a walk in their cages at the Bird Market and live crickets chirp in bags waiting to be eaten by said birds. My last meal was in a tiny Michelin listed cafe where I was able to skip the queue as I was alone. Shared the lovely food, which cost less than a fiver, with a young woman opposite who was also alone, and a...

Headed out of town a little today to the New Territories. There are newer, self contained towns, with tower blocks and amenities, not looking very attractive, sitting amidst the hills and greenery. One of them contains this old walled village, and temples, a study hall, and other buildings, mainly from the Tang Dynasty, who settled there hundreds of years ago. The nearby town has lots of shops and eateries and I had noodles and dumplings in a Michelin recommende...

Last night my 2 new Hong Kong friends who I met in Darwin, took me to a neighbuorhood restaurant for some good food and everything I ate I'd never eaten before. Visited the north of Hong Kong Island again today via the lovely old Star Ferry. Did a sort of self-guided heritage walk. Passed through streets full of traditional medicine & herbal shops and then streets made up of antiques and curios. Travelled on the longest covered escalator in the world which li...