12th April


The train from the airport to Hong Kong Central only took 24 minutes but I was desperate for the loo by the time we finally arrived.
"Do you have a toilet please?" I ask a uniformed man "One moment please" he said. I ask again in Chinese just in case he didn't understand my English. In fact he did, he'd radioed a colleague to escort me to the toilet. I soon realised when the guy used his ID card to open a door that they didn't have any public toilets. "Thank you so much" I called back to him as I ran to the female workers toilet.

Stepping out of the MTR (underground/subway) station I was confronted with what felt like mini London, just the buildings were closer together, the lights shone brighter and the buses were tall and thin!
Finding the Youth Hostel was easy enough but getting a room was another question. "We are full! Try the next block" and that was it. I entered Block C, but I had forgotten to ask what floor. Up and down, up and down I went in the lift, the hope. I waited at the bottom of the lift to ask people exiting and again no hope, until an old lady appeared. She wore a blue and white jumper covering her stooped back. Mrs Chio became my first friend in Hong Kong. Her face was old and scarred but her face was gentle and her smile warming. She said she owned many guest houses and that she would help me.
Many people in Hong Kong speak English, otherwise I'm sure at this point I would have had wet trousers and maybe a comfy spot on the train station floor!
Mrs Chio took me to a building where I met her husband. We exchanged some Mandarin as Mrs Chio rang a friend for any vacancies. $HK700 for 2 nights; Yep seems a good deal, cheaper than what my guide book quoted for a Youth Hostel.
"Please sit down" Another old lady greets me as we arrive in at another building. "This is the kitchen. This is the bathroom. Good view, you see" Right. "Okay lovely, can I put my bags away?" "Yes here" pointing at the sofa" Huh?! When Mrs Chio first told me I would be staying with others, I thought she was simply explaining what a Youth Hostel is. When May pointed at the sofa I thought I was paying to sleep in someone's house, turns out it as House Hostel, which made at ease. There were beds, in fact 6, but all occupied. I didn't mind, at least I had someone to stay.


13th April


Checklist:
Seen the World's Biggest Sitting Buddha
Sun burn on my neck


After applying for my visa, next on my list was to see the World's Biggest Sitting Buddha.
I caught the MTR to the final stop. Tung Chung, where I was going to take a bus to Lantau Island but spotted a fun cable car. Do I save money on the bus or have the opportunity to say, 'When I was in HK…' J Cable car it was!
I decided on a joining a tour group at the end of the cable car ride. I go to many place and never actually know what I'm seeing, the history and facts behind it.
Our first stop was a 200 year old fishing village, where the villager's homes were on stilts and drying fish were their main selling product. From shrimp to puffer fish, it was all preserved amongst the many stalls. Inside one shop was a the dried skin of shark hanging from the ceiling and outside any other the skin of some kind of ray.
A short bus ride took us to Hong Kong's largest temple, Po Lin Monastery. The inside was certainly impressive but for me it did all seem too set up. I didn't feel it spiritually.
The Bronze sitting Buddha sat a 22m high (34m including the stone pedestal) making it the World's Biggest Sitting Buddha. A lot of detail had been put into the facial features, with the eyes slightly open and the mouth slightly slit. I liked these features, the Buddha looking out over us all, keeping an eye on us, making sure we're okay.
4:00pm came, my feet were tired and I was extremely hot walking around in my jeans (bad bad choice!) The sun had done a good job on my neck, as I discovered later a classy red band above my t-shirt collar line.

I'm up for trying all sorts of food but the baby chicks in the window, well, my excuse was I wasn't sure how to eat it; Is there a special way such as with pigeon feet where the bone and nail is gobbled down too. I ordered some lovely duck with rice and green vegetables. This was to be the end of my brilliant day in Hong Kong. I think I have officially fallen in love with this place. Teaching job?



14th April


Picking up my visa, I hurriedly flipped through my passport pages. I've been granted another month in China, yes!

There was a Pixar Exhibition celebrating 25 years of Pixar Animation, but unfortunately the Museum was closed on a Thursday, Space Museum it was. If anyone reading this in the future decides to visit Hong Kong, the Space Museum defiantly doesn't need to be high up on your list. It was old fashioned and well, boring! Within 20 minutes I was back outside in the sticky heat.

With a judder the plane starts up. I adjust my seat belt. 'Goodbye Hong Kong. I long to know more about you and hope it won't be too long until I see you again soon!' I say to myself looking out of the window.
I wasn't really looking forward to travelling to Hong Kong, as I'm not a city girl. I hadn't read up on the country as it's never been somewhere I've fancied to travel but the spirit of Hong Kong captured me something real. I think it was the people who made my trip so brilliant. English is widely used, even amongst the elders and so of course my travelling was made a lot easier but it was the way people spoke to me, answered my questions. So kind and caring, ever so friendly, going out of their way to help me. Out of all the places I travelled to I've always said, 'oh I could live here', none of them of course being realistic such as an African village but Hong Kong, I could see it. When I caught the MTR it felt natural, as if it was my home town after only a couple of hours.

I began running as soon as I saw the Immigration sign. We arrived in Pudong airport at 9:40pm and the last subway to Songjiang was 10:30pm, it was going to be tight. Waiting for the man to check my passport and visa at Immigration seemed forever but as soon as her passed it back to me I was running as fast as my legs would take me. I turned the corner to the Metro, "No it is shut. Maglev" said the security guard. 'Ahhhh' as my rucksack rubbed against my sunburn. Slowing my speed, I asked a security guard about the Maglev, "That way, 6 minutes." "Line 9?" I asked and his response was exactly "No hope!" I didn't listen, 'you can do this Emma'. Out of breath I collapsed in a seat on the Maglev. "We will shortly be arriving in Shanghai" said a lady from the announcement speakers. I was already at the doors waiting to run. It was onto Line 2 and transfer at Century Avenue onto Line 9.
Running towards security, they ushered me on seeing I was on a hurry and not wanting to scan my bag. I made it into Line 2. 'Come on, come on' I said every time the doors opened and finally closed on the train. "Next stop in Century Avenue" and again I was already at the doors. 10:15pm, goooooo! I ran and ran, down the escalator onto the platform. Panting heavily and my face flushed red, I had made it!



15th April


Listening to: Any Other World by Mika


Have you ever sat in front of the sun as it set in the evening or even rose in the morning? Did this beautiful image transfix you, left with no thoughts just this amazing display of nature? Well to me this is a form of meditation without us really knowing it.
Today I sat out on my balcony and realised this perhaps is just the case for me. There is no display of beauty or anything interesting to look at, just me with the sun beaming down and the wind passing by. Trying to mediate in my room is too forced, I'm trying too hard to relax. Out here it seems to come naturally. I think when I need or want to and otherwise I'm at peace with myself.


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