Hi again everyone, we are all still alive- huge apologies for the delay in updating the blog. Although we havent updated it we have still been checking the message board, so thank you very much for all of those!!!

So here goes the next chapter in our travelling tales.

We were all really sad AGAIN to be leaving Thailand but excited as we were heading for the city of Hong Kong!!!

We arrived in Hong Kong late at night and caught the bus to the district of Kowloon. It was a good time to see the city for the first time with maximum wow factor, seeing all the huge skyskrapers and buildings with their array of neon lights.

We had done a bit of research and asked other fellow backpackers about cheap accomodation, and this was a task within itself. We quickly realised there was no such thing and had no choice but to head for the Chung mansions.

As you looked up and down Nathan road, the busy main street there were lovely buildings with luxury hotels and designer shops, we were getting our hopes up then suddenly we come across two of the most unattractive, old, dirty, delapidated, high rise buildings - and guess what thats where we would be calling home for the next few days!! We thought we had become accustomed to low range budget rooms but nothing could of prepared us for this kind of squaller and certainly not cheap at forty pounds a room.

There were swarms of people of every culture you can imagine hanging around at the base of the building, very intimidating characters (especially at eleven at night) you definitely wouldn't be inviting them to your mums for a cuppa! You walked through the entrance with its tatty dishevelled appearance made worse by the stench from the dry fish shops that lined each side and had to fight your way through the crowds.

We then had to stand with hundreds of people all tightly squeezed like sardines, amongst the hustle and bustle with the wheelers and dealers and dodgy goings on waiting for the temperamental lift to take us to god knows where..........

That god knows where ended up being at the very top floor of the forty two floor building, we all poked our heads out of the lift in terrified anticipation and were greeted with a scene that resembled ward 90 (or what we have always imagined behind the doors of that house on the A34). Thank god all the rooms were taken, so we made our way down in the lift stopping at each floor in search of a bed for the night. Everywhere was full to the brim and it was getting later and later and we were getting more and more concerned, but a good fit of the giggles seemed to lighten the mood.

Our problems got even worse as we tried to get back into the lift and it was no longer working, we had to start carrying our backpacks (now bulging with Thai tat/ souveniers) down the hundreds of steps. It was obvious there was something not quite right as people started running past us, a lady then informed us that the police had shut the building down looking for illegal immigrants ( and believe us there were plenty to be found here!!).

It wasn't long before we came across the police and had to produce our passport and get stamped (at this point a night in the cells was sounding much more appealing he he).

Eventually we found a room in the next building -mirador mansions, same standard as the other one- like a dirty chinese laundry. We checked into the smallest rooms you have ever seen, the box room in a caravan would seem huge in comparison. The shower was over the top of the toilet, so you had to straddle the loo while washing- nice!!

Next morning we woke up earlier than usual, probably due to the cramp and pins and needles in every limb - the beds were definitely not made for westerners!! We got straight into the tourist tracks of Hong Kong and following the map did the walking tour of Kowloon (women + maps = lost four times). Once out of our building Hong Kong became a bright, spottless, huge, interesting city!

We found our own little piece of England and went for breakfast at the 'Knutsford steps'. Following the walking tour we made our way around the vibrant busy street through Soho, quickly past all the deasigner shops, food markets, old schools and churches. There were three or four different museums, we chose to explore the space museum. Next on the agenda was the harbour city, one of the largest shopping and entertainment centres in Hong Kong. We made a sharp exit when we spotted the 'InterContinental' recommended by Lee, soon realising that lee had forgotten we were scummy backpackers not business men- totally out of our league (maybe one day hey lee).

As we left we were struck by the most spectacular jaw dropping sight - the famous skyline of Hong Kong Island, this is certainly one of those things to do (well see) before you die. We struck a few poses next to Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee on the avenue of stars, as these were the only two stars we recognised!

Later we enjoyed this view at night with the 'Symphony of lights' - the largest light and laser show displayed nightly and for FREE. All the main skyskrapers across the sea were lit up and dancing in tune to the music (Alton towers eat your heart out).

We were dying to try some local/traditional food,we seemed to find every other type of cuisine other than that so after searching high and low and finally getting through to Vikki that this wasn't going to be the same as number 34 set menu at Lims, we settled for a restaraunt and ended up having the worst meal yet!! So with throbbing feet,aching calves and dissatisfied tastebuds we made our way home to our rabbit hutches, Vikki and Steph decided to cheer themselves up and found an irish bar and sampled a few long overdue guinness and ciders!!!

New day new destination as we got onto the ferry to take us to Hong kong Island and again followed the walking tour around the city, passing through Bird nest street (believing to be essential for longevity, energy and fair complextion, we could all do with a bit of that!!) then dried seafood street, herbal medicine street, beautiful Man Mo chinese temple, we gave our feet and legs a rest and cruised the worlds longest covered escalator. After another few hours sight seeing we took the Peak tram to the lookout point which provides stunning views of Hong kong, the harbour and south China sea from the highest point slightly hair raising but well worth it!

We decided to treat ourselves and have another bash at sampling local food from a posh restaraunt. After tasting the soggy Dim sum and dumplings, cold soup and fish balls in gloop we were yet to be impressed and in desperate need for Shaws Chippy!!

Once again we headed back to asylum seeker central absolutely exhausted by our cram packed two day whirlwind tour of Kowloon and Hong Kong City. Fantastic, loved every minute but now we're excited as tomorrow we will be supping on a stubby, cooking on the barbie, and saying "G'day mate" as were heading to Australia!!!

Promise we will be informing you shortly of the antics down under as we have since left and can afford the internet rates, food, water and everything bloody else for that matter!!!

So as always leave plenty of messages, take care, miss you all, love you all loads, enjoy the nice weather and you'll hear from us soon!!!

Love Sarah, Vikki, Lisa and Steph xxx