Hi all,

Bit of a step change this week. Flew to Hong Kong(HK) last Wednesday and then onto mainland China (Beijing) on Friday.

HK was a massive change of scene. It was overcast. No sun on my head all day and no rickshaw drivers/merchants in your face every 10 seconds. HK is a mainstream western type city. The best way I could sum it up is that it seems to be a massive version of Chinatown you would see in any western city. All the main stores/banks are there.

One thing that does make it unique is the combination of locations. Whilst there are many massive downtowns with skyscrapers on water basins (e.g. Manhattan), this is the first I have see with high mountains in close proximity to the other two factors. You have a dramatic combination of water, hills and huge man made structures packed into a small area. Population per sq kilometre is 6.300 compared with 4 in Australia. One of the cleanest places I have been to, you can go for miles without seeing litter.

Expensive place. They have only a nine hole golf course (bit like Knightswood). There is a five year waiting list for lifetime membership and that costs over one million US dollars.

Due the weather not being great I didn't really see it at it's best. I took the tour and visited a Taoist temple. This place would be shut down in Scotland due to passive smoking issues. There are so many candles and incense sticks being lit I coughed my guts up for ten minutes on the bus, and I only was in the place for less than that time. Most of the views from the peaks were poor due to low cloud. HK is worth a visit only to pass through I think. I was reminded, by comparing it with India that the poorer a place is, the more hassle you will get from everyone. Hk was no problem with taxis, sales staff etc as people are not desperate to make a few bob in the way they are in India.

Finally on HK, the well known company Showers For Short People are doing a roaring trade here. The water hits you just at the bottom of the shoulder blades.

Am now in China. the plan is to do a 10k hike on the Great Wall tomorrow rather than take the regular tourist trip which only gives you a couple of hours at the wall. Will write about mainland China in my next letter once I get a better impression.

Thought I would finish with some detail on the nationalities of people I have met and talked to on the trip so far either in hostels, hotels, on public transport or just in the street. List so far is, Canadian, US, English, Irish, Swiss, Swedish, French, German, Australian, Korean, Indian, Chinese,Dutch, Kiwis, Ecuadorian and even one or two Scots. A few interesting stories I don't have time for here. e.g. What do Indians think of the British rule in hindsight? What do Chinese people think about Mao?

More to follow.

Possibly some of you are keen to get impressions of religion in these countries I am visiting. When I leave Asia I probably will try and some up what I have seen, but will take in Thailand first so as not to cover it in a piecemeal fashion. Have not omitted this so far for any other reason.

Last point for those of your concerned over my continuing batchelorhood.For me the Chinese women have the edge over the Indian women, but as you all know me you'll also know that neither is really an option. Falling head over heels whilst travelling is not really in character.

Thats all for now. Take care and keep writing

M