Hi there,
Although this blog entry is coming from Nanning in China, it is mainly orientated to our last few days in Hong Kong. This also explains the photo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

Friday 1st May, Hong Kong

First thing we did today was check out of the hell hole!! Thankfully we had only been able to get 2 nights there anyway when we booked so we had to leave. Prior to this we had managed to find a hostel with dorm beds over on Hong Kong Island. so after a quick ride on the metro and a brief walk we found Yes Inn Hostel. God we wish we had known about this place before!! It was a little bit of a strange set up with the office and some rooms in one building and then other rooms on two floors across the road in another buiding. But it was clean and spacious, with free internet and washing facilities. It basically did what it said on the tin!! Unlike our prievious hostel. Hostels in Hong Kong are not easy to find! And since moving hostels we have heard many horror stories about Chunkquing Mansions! I'm glad we were only there for 2 nights!!

Once we had checked in and sorted some washing out we then headed over to Central area (Hong Kong Island) to find Hollywood Road. We had loosely arranged to meet Leanne there (friend from Shanghai) but its also the antique area of Hong Kong. Very hilly and steep area as well!! We wondered around for a bit whilst waiting and then came across a whole street of bars and restaurants! Well what more could we do, it would have been rude not to have a beer! Especially as it was happy hour!! (5pm-10pm). We couldn't afford to drink at normal prices (6 pounds a pints) but happy hour being half price. Caroline also very happy as she could have wine! After our 1st drink and using some of Carolines free minutes to ring Fran we then spotted Leanne across the street! Slightly strange as we had said Hollywood Road to meet and although the bar street was near we didn't expect to just bump into each other in the middle of Hong Kong. So we had a few drinks with her and her friend, Lisa (She lives in Hong Kong) and said our goodbyes to Leanne as she was heading for South Africa that night. Once they had left, and by this point we were a little tipsy, there were a group sat next to us and Caroline thought as one of them was Chinese she would get her own back and ask for a photo!! Only turns out she was a chinese Scouser!! Would you believe it!! Anyway after a bit of laugh about it we got talking to her group and once happy hour had finished we went with them up the hill to a live music club. We stayed for a bit and had a dance before grabbing a taxi home! Not as easy as you may think but thats another story!!!

Saturday 2nd May, Hong Kong

Bit of a slow start today due to last night and Caroline's inability to keep anything down. After some late breakfast/early lunch we headed down to the central ferry piers to take a ferry over to Cheung Chau Island for the annual very famous Bun Festival. For Caroline hangover&ferry did not mix!! Once there (about half an hour by ferry) we ended up bumping into Lisa and 2 of her friends, so we tagged along with them. The place was heaving! I later read in the paper that over 60,000 people attended during the day. We arrived just before the parade but due to the number of people it was very difficult to get a decent place. But with a bit of shoving and tip toes we got to see some of it. There was a mixtures of flags, floats, dragons, music and kids on stilts. The children on stilts are particularly famous as their only on one stilt and are meant to give the impression of floating. Every time one went past the crowds cheered!!

Once the parade was finished we had a walk down the main street, fall of stalls and food, before heading into the square where the main temple was. This was also the area where the scene was set for the midnight bun race! Basically very big towers covered in buns and the contestants have to climb up the towers and claim as many buns as possible. The one with the most buns/points wins. The actual midnight race was the final as the heats had already been and the bun festival was the climax. Also found out that up until recent years the bun towers used to be a free for all until one year the tower fell down injuring about 20 people! So obviously the authorities stepped in and stopped that pratice! Also in the square was a stage with chinese opera being performed so we watched a bit of that and also watched the parade participatants bringing back all the flags and statues to the temple. A bit strange there was lots of running and cheering, also all groups were giving gifts to the gods. Interesting to watch! (I'll try and post some photos soon!).

By this point Caroline really wasn't feeling good so she headed back to the main land and I stayed with Lisa, Elisa and Sonny. (I wouldn't have let her go if we'd not moved hostels, but it was safe for her in the new area). From here the four of us decided on a quick beer before Lisa had to leave, so we found a step and some beers. After bit of people watching and a very friendly dragon, Lisa had to leave, so the 3 of us then headed up to the other side of the island and had some dinner. Thankfully Sonny spoke some Cantonese so he could get by at the beach front restaurant. We had some prawns, clams and some pork. Also whilst eating I had a front row seat on how to kill a moving fish, several times!! Also saw a lovely sun set. By now it was about 8pm so we went back to the main area so those two could get ready to que for the tickets for the bun race and I could get in the que for the ferry! I've never seen ques so long! But thankfully it moved alot quicker than it looked! Whilst waiting I also had a look at a ritual ground (the only way I could explain it!), they were burning lots of incense and leaving gifts for the gods! Another interesting experience. From here I got the ferry back and rejoined Caroline, who thanfully by now could stomache some food!!

Sunday 3rd May, Hong Kong

Today we decided to go and see the giant budda at Lantua island situated at the Po Lin Monastery. So after a much needed starbucks we caught the ferry to Lantua Island which took 50 mintutes (You'll all be pleased to know I managed the ferry much better today). Once we arrived on the island we had some lunch and then got the bus to the giant budda. This was a 40 minute very hairy bus ride up some very windy narrow roads neadless to say we both felt quite sick when we arrived. From stepping off the bus we were met by a very amazing bronze seated budda built on top of the hill (The worlds tallest). After climbing over 250 steps we reach the top and walked round the budda and took lots of pictures. The Budda was started in 1981 after getting planning permission in 1973 it was expected to take 12 years to complete but they managed to finish it by 1989 (good lads!!).

After climbing back down which i'm pleased to say was much easier than the climb up!! We went to see the monastery which again was interesting. It was decided by us both that we couldn't face another bus ride so we walked through the Ngong Ping Village next to the budda and caught the cable car to Tung Chung station. Where we found a coffee shop and had our first proper chat with mum since we left and Granny who was very surprised when we phoned.

By this point it was 8pm so we caught the MTR back to central station and caught another bus to the peak to see the accodingly best views of Hong Kong we were not disappointed. We took the peak tram up where the incline is so steep the buildings looked like they were at a 45 degree angle (glad we had a seat some people had to stand). The views were amazing shame our pictures don't do it justice. We thought we might get some food up there but after seeing the price for a meal we decided against it (80 pounds for a steak). So back on the tram down poor Suzie had to stand up she did look a bit green on the way down!! After finding some food in our price change wonton noodle soup and a drink 2pound50pence (Thats more like it!!) we went to bed.

Monday the 4th May Hong Kong

After packing up and checking out we headed to the train station to get our tickets for Guangzhou which was very easy and managed also to get our tickets for Nanning. So the train to Guangzhou was at 13.10 which took 2hrs, after customs and quarantine (we had our body temperature taken and had to declare are state of health) we took the subway to the main station in Guangzhou. Our train to nanning wasn't until 21.06 so we had to hang around the train station for hours as there's no where to leave you luggage. After dragging a meal out for 2 and a half hours we decided we really had out stayed our welcome and had to resort to sitting back on the floor outside the station. Boarded the train at 20.30pm (not as nice as our previous trains, but at least there was a bed).

Tuesday 5th May Nanning

Arrived in Nanning at 9.45am with instructions for the hostel (typical not as easy to follow as we first thought) So after an hour of walking around one of us waiting with bags and the other seeing if we could find the way we gave up and got a taxi, 80p, wish we'd just done that in the first place!! The Hostel is very nice, small and clean and the most fantastic showers (it was heaven). After making ourselves feel human again, we had a very lazy day doing some washing and updating the blog (Nanning is a bit of a dump, but a good base to get the visa's for vietnam hence why were here and even better the hostel do it for us).

Found a wonderful night food market that the hostel recommended very over whelming it took us 3 walks up and down to decided what to eat to the amusement of the locals. They sell every thing here dog, crocodile heads, fish, live birds (We weren't as adventures to try dog or even worse crocodile heads) we settled for bbq beef screwers, octupus, eggplant and vegetables it was very nice so were going back tomorrow night. The owner gave us a free beer as we said how good the food was (compliments are the way forward I think) but she then came to sit with us she didn't speak a word of english we don't speak a word of chinese so it was a very interesting conversation hand gestures and all!!