I'm sitting on Tsim Sha Tsui promenade looking back at Hong Kong island, the sun set 10 minutes ago and I'm watching the lights come on a few at a time across what is a slightly hazy Victoria Harbour. Along the promenade There is hustle and bustle and chirpy conversation between both tourists and locals. The former photographing themselves obsessively with the palm print inserts of Chinese stars of the cinema and a statue of Bruce lee. For the brief moments of relative quiet, up-beat christmas classics can be heard from the speakers behind. A bit of saxophone and piano to boot. The low hum of engines of passing vessels add to an atmosphere that, in spite of the view, is entirely encapsulated by the sounds that accompany it.

A hot chocolate in hand with added caramel (thank you Cassie Meyer) and a jumper take the edge off a chilly evening...after all I have become accustomed to 30 degrees plus and 95% humidity 24 hours a day!

As the twilight fades, I take a view from left to right (east to west) to see a gradient from that which has succumbed to the dark to that holding onto the last light of the day. The yellow glow of the building lights becoming ever more prominent. And then that of the Christmas lights...

There are no Christmas street lights per se, (admittedly I have only been along about 3 streets) rather full frontal decorated buildings emerge, dominating the skyline. Invisible by day yet alive at night. I really like it. Some may say tacky, but you don't want to look too hard at what the decoration is, just appreciate that it is there at all and the effort has been made.

It's dark now, I'll take the ferry back across the bay (25p...ridiculous) and find something suitable for dinner. Although I could savour this atmosphere for a while longer yet. Brings real clarity of thinking.