For our final day in Hong Kong it was decided that we would take a trip around town in an open top bus - to be just like tourists - and do a little bit of shopping for prezzies !! Having packed all the bags, checked out of the hotel but leaving the cases in safe keeping for later (not departing till 8:55 in the evening when the taxi to the airport was due) we walked back down to the piers at Central Harbour and had a light breakfast then off to catch the bus. On the way to the bus station we walked through the local park and noticed lots of people placing what looked like white roses onto sticks in the ground and were obviously wiring them all together ???? No idea why ???

Also on our walk we saw the boat that we had been on the previous night for the Symphony of Lights Show. It looked different in the daylight.

It was a jump on and off trip where we could get off anywhere and jump back on later anywhere else. We decided to go all the way around to see where it went then get off on the second time round at the shops in the Centre of Hong Kong.

The trip itself was very informative and wound around the streets of Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Victoria Park, Central and the harbour. Lots of historical information about the old and new buildings and landscape and how much of it is now reclaimed land. Nearly 8 million people now reside on the island at approx 600,000 people per square Km. It's not a wonder that they live in such tall "High rise" towers. Every time the traffic stops for pedestrians it seems as though the whole population crosses the roads at once !! There are just so many people !!

Honk Kong of old was mainly a trading centre but is now High Finance and Banking and Top Brand Name shops. In amongst all of the opulence, small street traders can still be found selling their wares as if locked in a time warp of an era long since passed.

The bus did it's complete tour, which lasted about an hour and half, and we thought we would stay on for the next trip as we now knew where to get off. The driver had other ideas as he was finished and we had to change busses……

On the new bus and off we went again on the tour. This time though the commentary was different so we learnt a lot more information.

About half way round we jumped off to show Pat the back street traders that Dee & I had found the day before. However, toilet stop was the first order of the day so off we went in search of relief. McD's was in sight so in we went with the idea of relief and a coffee-tea break. Once in though that idea disappeared very quickly as the place was filthy, staff not much better and the gents were shut anyway. We got out of there fast !!!!! Trev, still needing to "go" wandered off in search of somewhere else, Paul & girls tramped around the stalls. A while later we all met up but poor Trev had not found anywhere.. As luck would have it we spotted a "Starbucks" right next to us, so off Trev went up the escalator with a smile on his face. Pat & Dee went off to the stalls again for more shopping while Paul stood around with camera in hand !!

Minutes later Trev reappeared, much relieved look on his face, gliding back down the escalator.. Girls came back so off we toddled to get back on the bus. Bus trip finished we jumped off and walked back to the restaurant area. On our way we wandered through the park again where the people had almost finished with the white flowers. We managed to ask one of the "workers" what they were for and eventually deciphered that they were actually for "Valentine's Day" and once switched on would actually glow red !! More celebrations obviously !

Onwards we went to find somewhere to eat and after a bewildered wandering we found the place we were looking for. In we went, got seated, ordered food and drinks and relaxed after an exhausting day on a bus !!

The actual food was quite good except for the fact that the "fries" we had ordered did not turn up, on enquiring we were told by the waitress in her best pigeon "Engrish" that no fries were available !! So they were off the menu, "No worries mate"…. Fed and watered we bimbled off back to the hotel to collect the bags and await the "taxi" .. We found some comfy chairs on the mezzanine floor and settled in for a while. Bang on time the taxi arrived, bags loaded, we were on our way to the airport to begin the second leg of our epic tour !! Arrived at airport, bags checked in, boarding passes got, tea and coffee again consumed it was time to find the departure gate… No 69 we were looking for which meant we had to go down into the bowls of the island, going down three very long elevators to catch a "driverless" train to the boarding area. The train whizzed along for a few minutes, stopped, out we all got and up more very long elevators to the seating area !! Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, it was time to board.. just about on time for a change (midnight) we took off and Hong Kong was now in the memory.. Next stop Sydney !!