Our last day in Hong Kong was spent in baking heat we managed to burn both me and Tiger because Oliver would not pack the sunscreen or sunhats on the basis we had not previously needed them and that the flight was not for several hours and we needed to pack for the flight not the day time! I could feel my skin burning for the whole flight. We spent the time before the trip to the airport in the aviaries in Hong Kong park and the botanical gardens looking at exotic birds, gibbons, lemurs and reptiles. Tiger is just in heaven looking at creatures and if she is happy we are generally all happy. The gibbons were amazingly entertaining swinging from ropes and carrying their babies around. Honestly I thought Tiger was going to burst.
Bbefore we left I think we were finally adjusting to Hong Kong life. Oliver and I even ate some street food (some kind of deep fried spring onions and leeks – I was more comfortable with veggie options!). We wandered around the neon lit streets until about midnight and it was still as bust as Leeds city centre on a Saturday afternoon. Tiger and I were swayed by some sparkly hairgrips in the “ladies market” and we looked at endless little shops and stalls selling mobile phone accessories and tat. We decided that the people of Hong Kong do not sleep at all or at least they are only allowed to sleep every other day because the y hotbed with relations in tiny tiny apartments. An “I’m shopping tonight because its Grandma’s time in the bed”- kind of arrangement. We all slept top to toe in our tiny apartment this evening with sub-standard air-con and the traffic and noise continued all night. How these people live day after day in the smallest of spaces I do not know! In our apartments the reception is Kitty’s living room. We walked in to find the family eating dinner in the corridor last night!! We have taken some photos of her neon sparkly abode with the shower over the toilet but I am really note sure we have done it justice....
J