Hi everyone! We are here. Arrived in Sydney safely after 4 incredible days in Hong Kong.

Right to keep you all in the loop it makes sense for us to start from the beginning.

We arrived at Heathrow with no problems check in was fine, fast and efficient, so efficient that Emily checked her pillow in - bad times! We had breakfast with dad and the went through to our gate- again hassle free! We went for a drink to celebrate the start of our adventure then proceeded to board.

The 12 hour flight was as expected - no sleep and not great food but not an issue as the in flight entertainment excelled itself with the film options it provided. We arrived in Hong Kong safely and with our 18kg bags on our back and ventured into Hong Kong. We got the express train to Kowloon station then got a taxi to our hotel. Check in wasn't until 2pm and we arrived at approx. 9am so had to dump our bags and go into the city tired. It was early so the streets wern't mad busy which was good to ease us in. We bought what is called an Octopus card (a card that you can top up and just swipe it through when going on the MTR - Mass Transit Railway aka the underground) saving us time and money rather than buying individual tickets for each journey. Our hotel was on Kowloon so we went over to Hong Kong and wondered around. To save on weight we hadn't bought any travel guides so we were pretty lost with where to start, arriving at the conclusion that the best idea of the day (and turned out the 4days) was to go on the open top bus giving us an idea of what we wanted to see whilst in Hong Kong. The bus tour was actually quite good, as they always are and we paid extra to keep the ticket for 48hours, use the Star Ferry and the tram up to The Peak. After the bus tour we used our ferry ticket to return to Kowloon were we got back on the open top bus and the tour again on the Kowloon side. After both tours and feeling tired after loosing a day from our lives we decided to go back to the hotel and check in. We laid on our beds for what felt like 10mins - apparently not. We woke up at 2.30AM!!!! Annoyed we had over slept and hungry we got dressed and went on a food mission. We found a small Chinese cafe full of the locals enjoying wok's filled with soup and noodles all smiling and sharing - perfect we thought. We went in and .... well lets say probably found the only place in Hong Kong not happy to help two english girls. We sat down and they gave us 2 menus, they were avoiding us like the plague. Me and Emily both sat awkwardly avoidng eye contact until a little chinese lady with a voice louder than Fireworks yelled something in chinese (Is there anyone here who can speak English?) a customer came over and took our order for us and then we paid before he left so not to offend the owners any longer with our white skin. We were laughed out the restaurant after being served god knows what and went back to our hotel.

On the second day after many hours rest we ate breakfast at the hotel - Emily had the fish dumplings her favorite JOKES! we didn't go for the Asian breakfast, we kept it simple with egg on toast. We went to Lantau on Day 2. A really really good day. Lantau is a seperate island we went to after recommendation from Nan and Grandad (great advice, thank you) We got the MTR over there and once we arrived got the cable car to the top. We got a bus down to a traditional fishing village with houses on stilts, was really good and then to a temple - built purely for tourist as there was not one religious requirment. Also on the island is China's biggest outside bronze Buddha (Emily loved it) was very impressive. Our guide for the day was probably the best part of our stay in Hong Kong - he was brilliant we called him Google but we are pretty sure he made everything up as he was going along, me and Em asked a couple of questions, we may as well have spat in his face he was so offended that we were showing an interest in his country. Anywho that was a really good day we went out for dinner that night and then had an early one.

Day 3 was my 22nd birthday - officially old! i'm not too sure at what point i became 22 but here we are! Bov went all out got me a card and cake from the local bakery and we got the ferry back over to Hong Kong and got back on the bus to the tram stop. We got a tram (travelled on a vertical track i swear!) up to the Peak. It was amazing, like incredible! We took loads of pictures and had lunch at the top (Yes we did go to Bubba Gump - it was good! Emily treated me for my birthday thanks again Em) then we walked around a little and got the tram back down. It started to rain so we went back on the bus (massivley pushing our luck but needs must) and went to Causeway Bay the main shopping area and to Victoria Park to watch some Tai Chi but the rain meant everyone had ventured inside. We went for a power nap and then out in Soho for drinks. Had a funny night and a pretty late one.

Our last day was wet! It poured down all day so restricted us massively on what we could. We went to the museum and to Nathan Road for food and then back to the hotel to get our bags and back to the airport. We arrived with plenty of time and again had a hassle free experience except for the weirdo who followed us around the airport and tried to speak crazy to Em but apart from that was ok.

We arrived in Sydney safe and sound and Liam and Tara met us at the airport was really good to see them both. We went out for breakfast with Liam and then back to his for a nap. In the evening we went for dinner in Newtown to a gorgeous Thai restaurant and then some drinks back at Tara's house. Today we have just wondered around and lay in the sun. We are going to Bondi tomorrow and then we will start on the job hunt.

That is all for now i think. We send our love to everyone and will update again soon - pictures still to come!

Love to all,

Soph and Em

xxx