Back in Hong Kong we arrived, through the back door this time though. A bouncy, bumpy and 6 hour late bus ride across the south of China brought us to the gates of Hong Kong and once through immigration we sailed to Kowloon and back to the same guesthouse we had stayed at a month previously. A quick walk around the local park and off we went to the temple street food market where you can buy all sorts of watches, clothes, trinkets and the like, but no food. So a quick detour took us to the cheapest eatery we could find and an early night after our trials on the bus the night/day before. Rising early the next day, we got the ferry to Central and then another ferry to Lantau. A quick bus ride up the hill took us straight to the feet of the 'big buddha', which, as is suggested in the name, was very big. However, it is pretty impressive as well! Another quick bus ride back down the hill and we stumbled on a very nice and very quiet beach. We strolled along by the side of the sparkling sea breathing in the sea air and savouring the warmth after a chilly mainland China. After a stroll and a paddle we headed back up the hill in time to catch the cable car and watch sun down over the Buddha. In the evening we treated ourselves to a meal at Fat Angelos which, despite it having recently moved across town we managed to track it down. We had a hearty meal accompanied by the sounds of the likes of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin. What a treat! Not quite the early night we needed but we won't be in Hong Kong again for a while at least.

The next day we arose and took the ferries and buses again to Lantau but this time with another plan in mind: to climb the highest mountain in Hong Kong, Lantau Peak, which is on part of the Lantau trail. Despite having climbed a few mountains this was perhaps the hardest yet, but as always, well worth the effort. On the way up we met 'Johan' from Tahiti who seemed like a regular hiker here but we whipped his ass! Not that we were rushing it! It was sad to leave the mountain behind and head back to Kowloon to prepare for our departure. Hong Kong has just got better and better and we have still only scratched the surface of this gem. It has everything: mountains, culture, great weather, the water, efficiency, cleanliness, friendliness. Hong Kong is going to be hard to beat. The first time may have been made even better by contrast to where we had come from but it did not disappoint the next time around. Still, we can always come back! On to our last stop in Asia: Singapore.