Ngong Hong Kong Pong Ping

Saturday 16th December 2006</strong

My powdered milk is running low, despite having “real” milk for the first couple of days in Hong Kong, but due to the humidity it won’t last very long and isn’t that cheap (about 35p for a small 1/4 pint measurement). Subway adventures today took me a few stations up to the capital of electronic goods, you want mobile phone, camera, computer, anything electrical you got it. It was all a bit too full on for my liking, there’s only so much choice before going mad. As it was a clear day – the first clear day since arriving in Hong Kong I decided to go to the Peak I was evil today, I found a glamorous and glitzy shopping mall much like Meadowhall Sheffield with a Boots Chemist, French Connection, Espirit, Body Shop and Pret Sandwich shop. Not only did I have a “pret” sandwich for lunch – the kind that pretentious Londoners spend about £5 a day on with their posh yoghurt as desert (but costing a little less) I also gave in later to a Starbucks cup of tea. My insides are on the mend but after some 5 weeks on the road I am craving the simple things in life, a sandwich, yoghurt, banana and a cup of tea. I can however say that I am the only westerner I have met that hasn’t set foot in a KFC, Mcdonalds or Burger King, so I believe I am allowed one multinational consumption a month. The views from “the peak” were breathtaking, all around high rise buildings rose as far as the eye could see. Rather than do the Japenese way of soaking in the atmosphere for 30 seconds then depart, I took the anti-japenese way, I first walked up a rather steep road which lead to amazing views of the other side of the Island. It was hard to believe that 20 minutes away was the hussle and bussle of the city. I then took a 3k circular walk around the peak. I was killing time a little waiting for sunset and darkness to set in as I had heard it was well worth the visit in the evening too. It was well worth the visit, as crowds gathered on the platforms to watch darkness set over Hong Kong. An unbelievable experience

Feeding the hungry Multinationals

Saturday 16th December 2006

My powdered milk is running low, despite having “real” milk for the first couple of days in Hong Kong, but due to the humidity it won’t last very long and isn’t that cheap (about 35p for a small 1/4 pint measurement). Subway adventures today took me a few stations up to the capital of electronic goods, you want mobile phone, camera, computer, anything electrical you got it. It was all a bit too full on for my liking, there’s only so much choice before going mad. As it was a clear day – the first clear day since arriving in Hong Kong I decided to go to the Peak I was evil today, I found a glamorous and glitzy shopping mall much like Meadowhall Sheffield with a Boots Chemist, French Connection, Espirit, Body Shop and Pret Sandwich shop. Not only did I have a “pret” sandwich for lunch – the kind that pretentious Londoners spend about £5 a day on with their posh yoghurt as desert (but costing a little less) I also gave in later to a Starbucks cup of tea. My insides are on the mend but after some 5 weeks on the road I am craving the simple things in life, a sandwich, yoghurt, banana and a cup of tea. I can however say that I am the only westerner I have met that hasn’t set foot in a KFC, Mcdonalds or Burger King, so I believe I am allowed one multinational consumption a month. The views from “the peak” were breathtaking, all around high rise buildings rose as far as the eye could see. Rather than do the Japenese way of soaking in the atmosphere for 30 seconds then depart, I took the anti-japenese way, I first walked up a rather steep road which lead to amazing views of the other side of the Island. It was hard to believe that 20 minutes away was the hussle and bussle of the city. I then took a 3k circular walk around the peak. I was killing time a little waiting for sunset and darkness to set in as I had heard it was well worth the visit in the evening too. It was well worth the visit, as crowds gathered on the platforms to watch darkness set over Hong Kong. An unbelievable experience