Hong Kong-

It was a 12 hour and 9646km flight on Sunday afternoon, saw us begin our trip, C got lucky with the aisle seat so with me in the middle of a 3, I was hoping I'd be sitting next to someone fit, someone small or Javier Mascherano. My dreams were shattered when "Hairy Arm Joe" (6ft 17st Man) stopped on row 61 and glared at the empty seat next to me. Nightmare! Flight was ok, good food, between us started watching 3films neither of us saw the end of one!

Day 1

Anyway we arrived in HK at around 8.30am, having travelled throughout the night we were both pretty shattered. Got the express train to HK Island and headed straight to the 'Island Pacific Hotel'. (Which was located just off the main drag of Banks/Skyscrapers). Nice Hotel. Went out for tea that night, found a cheeky little Chinese Restaurant, we both played it safe, C went for sweet and sour Pork, I went for Beef with Noodles….. however, C's came out with a fork an spoon, not such luck for me….. I got chop sticks. I'll be honest it wasn't easy with the other 20 Chinese people watching the English boy attempt it. Nailed it, (wasn't easy). Then after that, needed to walk it off so we strolled round the city, attempted to take a lift ride to the top of 'The Centre' probably one of the tallest and most important buildings in HK, bit of a shame we got stopped at the 6th floor by 2 security guards, telling us it was a private building! We then thought it was best to head back to the Hotel.

Day 2 (by the way headline in the paper was "City enjoys rare winter sun") saw us using another method of transport, C fancied a trip on the tram, so we jumped on not really knowing the score. With map in hand (and my money belt on- MUM! told you I'd wear it) we were heading to 'The Peak' which as you can see on the pics is where you get the best view of the city. As we were about to hop off, the damage was a $2 coin each, we had about $200 on us but only in notes, an neither of us knew the Chinese for "Look mate.. we've only got a 20 so if we give you that then you give us change init!" so he got a bit jarred off and just told us to get off HAPPY DAYS! We got to the Peak Tram which drags up a massive steep hill to a spectacular all-round view of the island and the surrounding ones too. There was an incident at the top which I must tell you about….. So there we were just stood there admiring the view, when a female (of Asian decent) tapped C on the shoulder, no joke she looked like she had just won the lottery. In her broken Chinese or Japanese what ever it was, she struggled to ask but managed too some how, get C and myself to pose for a few pics on the top of the peak with her wedged in the middle, she took a shine to C think he even got a hug, I think it was the height! (no offence) ha. We laughed it off. Then 5mins later she was back for another, this time on her camera phone.(she claimed she "accidently deleted the other one") Crazy.

The rest of the day we spent in Kowloon, which is the Island directly opposite HK, where we enjoyed a cheeky beer an soaked up the "rare winter sun".

That evening we played even safer and went for a meal where we knew what we were in for. Chicken and Chips. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.

On the way home, we thought about renting a car for the next day but look at the size of them! (see pic of C with what looks like a remote control car).

Day 3- Method of transport number 5 had been introduced, we got a Boat to Lantau Island, when we got off we ignored the bus station opposite and headed for a re-fuel (maccy d's) then when we got back to the bus station we had missed the bus, school boy. Hour wait. We were heading to the 'Giant Buddha & Po Lin Monastery', turned out neither of these were Chinese restaurants! As you can see on the pics, pretty large Buddha. I'll be honest, it was worth the trip because of the views off the top of the mountain, but to be fair I don't think me or C went there for a religious purpose. So with the people praying away, we made a swift exit round to the side to see the stunning scenery. Bus and Boat back to the Island, and out for our last night for a nice bit of scran.

Now I've known C for about 16 years, I have never seen him so excited about his experience about eating at "Bubba Gumps" a restaurant located at the top of 'the peak' dedicated and based on Bubba Gumps Shrimp Company from Forrest Gump. He was buzzing, there were no Chinese paparazzi snapping away at us on the peak this time, and we didn't spend much time up there, Bubba Gumps was waiting. (Please see pic of C which will prove his excitement and animation). In fairness it was a good meal, and capped off a good 3days in HK, probably the perfect amount of time to spend in HK.

So were now in Australia for 3 months, stay tuned for the next blog probably be done around Xmas time.

Merry Xmas to you all from the both of us!

Stay in touch on the message board.

Take care,

Barnes and C

xxx