Nov 2004

Left Manly on Monday 29th to pick up our Campervan in Kings Cross, Sydney. Had a cool drive to Borderee National Park in Jervis Bay which is a massive 'spit' or headland you might call it about 200km south of Sydney. Driving in the country is fine, the roads are pretty good and the AirCon is a god send. Thankfully the other drivers are pretty sensible so no scares as yet!

Once we got to Green Patch (a camping area of Borderee) we took a stroll along the beach as the sun went down, very cool indeed. Jervis Bay is rumoured to have the whitest beaches in the world and I can't dispute it as I've never seen one whiter.

Last night was the first in the van and there were loads of strange noises to keep us awake. The site has a phone and after Karen hung up on her parents I tried to call my mam & dad. As I did a Kangaroo came up behind us which was pretty amazing. Karen was really scared and I was slightly worried. Some plonker had left a loaf of bread out for it to eat so it was there for ages. Eventually we gave up on the phone and went to bed. When we woke up the 'roo was outside our van! I guess i6t thought that we were going to feed it.

Looking forward to more adventures tonight when we get to a place called Eden at the southern tip of New South Wales before heading into Victoria tomorrow towards Melbourne.

So, after the Hong Kong experience we've spent a week with Family in Manly, a suburb of Sydney. We've done quite a bit but we are leaving the full Sydney experience until after the road trip to Adelaide.

We've drank a fair bit and eaten well, blowing quite a bit of our budget but it's been worth it. A hire car has got us to wonderful beaches such as Palm Beach ('Summer Bay' where Home and Away is filmed) and Dee Why where we saw some pretty good surfing and a Christmas Tree on the beach.

The Manly Ferry has also served us well getting us to Sydney on a few occasions to see the Opera House and the Bridge. We've strolled through Hyde Park and the shops and we've also visited 'The Rocks' which seems to be the old part of Sydney.

I'll write more when I have more time. Suffice to say all is well and we're having fun!

A quick summary of our travels so far...

Monday 15th
Spent a relaxing evening with friends Andy & Lucy in their swanky London pad.

A chinese curry ended the day. The significance of the meal has only now dawned on me as I sit full of rice in Hong Kong (should have had something English like a Kebab).

Tuesday 16th
a.m. Went for a nice walk through a London Park with our friend Lucy before having a relaxing coffee in a bar. Lucy Kindly made lunch and then dropped us off for the tube ride into Heathrow.

p.m. Hugely boring 13hr flight to Hong Kong. Watched I-Robot, Collateral and Anchorman. Managed 25mins of sleep, missed a day and landed in Hong Kong at 2.30pm on Wednesday feeling knackered. Got to hotel ok, sun was blazing on my ginger scalp and had a MacDonalds. Welcome to the east!

Wednesday 17th
Altogether more positive day. Chinese Butter Loaf and Coffee for breakfast and then a blast into town on the metro. Had some cool Japanese food (less spicy than the cantonese food which is more widespread..) and did some shopping. No sightseeing at all apart from downtown which is busier than Happy Hour at Off Shore!

Thurusday 18th
Took another trip into town, trying some different areas. More shopping though... Ended up taking the Harbour tour by boat which was good and got more familiar with a few different areas of town.

On the evening we had a Shanghai style meal in the Old Hong Kong Restaurant. Everything was really nice apart from the main dish which was probably the spiciest Chinese food I've ever had. Chicken in Paprika sauce the phrase book said.... The closest thing to a Vindaloo ever to come out of China. Needless to say, not to Karen's taste.

Friday 19th
Best day so far...Left the Hotel after a lie in (Jet Lag and Motion Sickness are a bitch). Grabbed some Coffee and a Pastry in preparation for a hardcore walk into town via Victoria Park. Did a little Tai Chi, walked the foot massage path (loads of pebbles and stones arranged in descending size order over the distance of a path through a large garden), took some photo's and then walked the rest of the way to the World Trade Centre and NAMCO WONDERLAND amusments where there were loads of crazy slot machines, dance mats and drumming games.

We walked further through Causeway Bay into town and grabbed a tram up to The Peak which looks out over the whole of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Watched an amazing sunset and saw the city come to life at night with the millions of lights on the skyscrapers turning on simultaneously! Sweet. Ended the day with another Japanese meal and a walk around Fortress Hill where we're staying.

Saturday 20th
Last full day only half over. Had a walk around Causeway Bay and found the central library in Tin Hau so totally abused the internet connection to the full. Karen was outside sunbathing as we both felt really tired.

We then forced ourselves to get the tram, not as difficult as we thought. You don't need to ask for a stop, it's a flat fare ($2 / 16p) and you get off where you like so we got back to Causeway Bay and grabbed the MTR to Wan Chai. Wan Chai was pretty good for shops and we got to look around the technology shops, in particular Computer Tower which has about 100 computer dealers. All the prices seemed fixed though so loads of bargains but every shop seemed to sell the same things at the same prices.

We then walked down to the new Hong Kong Exhibition Centre which is massive but with nothing really going on we left pretty quickly to get the Star Ferry to Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui which was on the surface at least more up market than Hong Kong Island. Step away from the Malls or the main street of Nathan Road and you get into some pretty dodgy areas (red light and worse)! After a walk through Hong Kong Park we ended up at Temple Street Night Market whcih was a bit of a let down

Back to Fortress Hill and Karen really struggled to find anything from the local restaurants which she wanted to eat and so we ended up in an italian having pizza!.

Another long flight tomorrow ahead (deep joy) but then we'll be in Oz...

Kowloon was an experience. Karen and I were targetted by two pickpockets, a young Hindu boy and a young Chinese girl. The first was right behind us for ages. He stopped when we stopped and pretended to look lost. I think that he was eyeing my wallet which I noticed looked really obvious in my pocket as I walked. I'd never thought of it elsewhere because Hong Kong Island seems so safe in comparison. The girl was just about to hit Karen when we noticed her. She was with two boys so I guess it was going to be a hit from the girl and then a pick from one of the boys whilst we were confused. By this time I was ready to leave Kowloon,

Temple Market was really odd. Despite reading many good things the market traders all sold the same stuff, nothing was priced meaning you got what you bartered for and the quality of goods was questionable. Add to that the fact that it's pick-pocket city I think it's probably best avoided unless you desperately need a rip-off Louis Vitton bag or some illegal VCDs (of the frankie vaughn variety)...

Fortress Hill has been a great base. Not too busy at nights, everything you need and really close to the MTR for transport around the Island. (I Love the MTR) On the final night though Karen really struggled to find anything from the local restaurants which she wanted to eat and so we ended up in an italian having pizza! (Really Nice Pizza I might add). It was strange munching on mozzarella whilst looking across at a street trader hawking his goods in front of a 7Eleven store! Not a bad way to end the Hong Kong experience in hindsight. The place is trying so hard to be like a European city that eating pizza is probably the future (we've seen 2 Pizza Huts under construction and the place already has McDonalds and KFC!)...

I can't describe Hong Kong, I like it and I know why. It's a glimpse into the East with all the comforts of the West but I can't help being disappointed with the compromise. Despite that and on face value Hong Kong is a fantastic place. It may even be good to live here but I guess it would be a short lived experience. A years secondment or a project in Hong Kong would be great for any Brits with the opportunity. I think that you could live like a king here and not miss home comforts too much. I would recommend a trip into mainland China for anyone else coming. I know Karen and I haven't done it but that's a regret and in hindsight something I would change were I to come again.

So far so good. Hong Kong gets better with everyday. Today we went up to 'the peak' via the Tram. It gets to about 27 degrees incline in some places and the floor is scooped so you can attempt to stand up straight as you are dragged up the Mountain by a cable!

The top is tourist city with loads of viewing points and gift shops. The views of the city and the harbour were amazing. It was so good we shelved all our other plans, got something to eat and waited for the sun set which was so good we waited around for night fall. The city looks amazing from the peak and got better as the day wore on with a spectacular night time shot of the skyscrapers filling the sky with light. Sure it's all adverts but still pretty great.

Karen and I are really feeling the jet lag at the moment but we're forcing ourselves out for full days and nights. Last night's meal at the Hong Kong Old Restaurant was lovely but a bit spicy for Karen!

I think that 4 days is going to be about right for our stay. Much better than just continuing straight on to Oz but I'm not sure that there's much to come back for. China or Thailand next time maybe!

Kevin & Karen...

So, Hong Kong eh. Flight out was pretty boring to be honest. Very little sleep and a few movies later we are in Hong Kong.

The Hotel is quite nice, in a quiet area of town. What's the nearest eatery nearby? Dim Sum? Noodles? Nah, a big bloody pair of Golden Arches! MacNoodles, the lot!

Spent the first evening getting to know the area. Today has been more about sussing out public transport and a bit of shopping in what might has well have been the MetroCentre. A couple of pairs of M&S undies later and we're now in the Central MTR station which has free net access and about a million people walking past.

Whatever was Hong Kong appears to have been lost to the West. The only things that give it away are the street signs and shop entrances which I keep banging my head on. Karen and I are a good foot or 3 taller than everyone else!

We've sampled the food which to be honest has been great so far. Our hotel has one of the oldest restaurants in Hong Kong so we're going there tonight if the motion sickness and Jet lag doesn't get us first!

Things are ridiculously cheap here so money is doing ok. Transport is less than 50p per journey so the old legs aren't getting too much of a hammering!

Anyway, getting bored of this whole public internet thing and the keyboard is fixed down low for a local so I'll go before I snap my back.

Kevin & Karen.

Having a relaxing few days in Somerset at Holly Bush Caravan Park (owned by my good friends Gary and Rae). Karen and I are pretty much ready to go but just have a few parties and gatherings to attened so that we can say goodbye to everyone.

Somerset has been great as usual and the food at the holman clavel in (Culmhead) gets better and better each time we come. Seafood Platter for me tonight!!!

Title again says it all. I find out if I am successful before Christmas. Let's hope that Santa is good to me!