Well this my last entry from 100% China (Hong Kong is obviously a special administrative region of China but is very different). I've been in Yangshuo for 3 days now it's been a great place to be. It is surrounded by spectacular karsk hills, river scenery and and green paddy fields. It's also very touristic as it's a popular destination for Chinese and western travellers. I'd describe the feel as like Ko Samui without the beach and sea (but with amazing scenery).

I spent the first day, getting my bearings and just wondering around. I also found a lovely Dutch owned place that serves western food (which I've been craving for as 2 months of rice and noodles has become a bit much). There's loads of chinese places that serve western food but it doesn't taste very western half the time.

On the second day I and few of the group hired bicycles and a local guide and cycled out of the centre, through the paddy fields and villages. It was lovely to see real locals going about their daily lives (including ploughing fields with cattle and farming in other traditional ways) whilst seeing the spectacular scenery all around us. It was definitely a highlight for me as the best way to see places like this is on a push bike (as I did in Vietnam). We cycled to Moon Hill. Only three of us (including me) were brave enough to climb the 800 odd steps to the top to see the wonderful scenery from another perspective. It was breathtaking (both in terms of the climb and the view when I got to the top!). We also saw loads of climbers doing their stuff (rather them than me!). We were on the bikes for about 5 hours and ate a traditional farmers lunch at lunchtime which was lovely

In the evening, a few of us went to the famous light show. The karst limestone landscape is lit up as a magnificent backdrop to a light spectacular. Literally hundreds of people take part in the show, many are locals that have other jobs during the day in the markets, as fisherman or bamboo rafters. The show takes place on a large pool at the side of the river. Hundreds of people glide in from the river on rafts, scenery is dragged across the pool, patterns are made with swirling cloth across the pool. The finale involves hundreds of people decked in fairy lights appearing out of the darkness and dancing. It is so dark you cannot see them at all , only the dancing lights. It is touristy, but most of the tourists are Chinese so it doesn't really feel like it. It was very busy and there are three performances each night playing to 3000 people at a time. It is directed by film director Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers and other films). Zhang Yimou has also been chosen to direct the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games so it will be something spectacular and I can't wait to watch it.

Today, I had my first proper lay in during this trip and got up at 10am. I then went for breakfast with Joe (to the Dutch place for one of their gorgeous flying dutchmen breakfasts). We then hooked up with Leo and spent the afternoon wondering round the shops, bargaining (which is the fun part) and drinking green tea whilst watching the world go by.

Tonight at 9 pm we catch our final overnight train (yippee). We have at least a fifteen hour journey to just outside Hong Kong where we will need to get off, go through immigration and then catch another train for the final 30 mins of the journey which will take us into Hong Kong. I loved Hong Kong last time I was there a couple of years ago and am so looking forward to going back. I've also booked a really nice hotel for my last couple of nights in Hong Kong when I'm staying on my own (Renaissance Harbour View - deluxe harbour view room) which should give me panoramic views of the harbour. It will be nice to chill out, swim in the pool, sit in the spa and of course enjoy the view from my room in between shopping and sightseeing trips. It is in an excellent central location in Wanchai (the area I stayed in last time I was in Hong Kong).

I've enjoyed this trip immensely. There's been loads of ups and downs of one sort of another but it has been a great experience and I have made some new friends along the way which is always a bonus. It will be nice to get back to normality though because nothing in China has felt normal for me (which is part of the whole experience of course). It has done me good and I know I will come back with a much better attitude than when I left. I was not in a good state when I left the UK a couple of months ago (hence the trip) but I've started to feel human again at last. I always say that I hate the UK but now I've changed my mind - we are so so lucky to have the freedoms that we all take so much for granted.