Back to Hong Kong

Day-trip to Shenzen

After a very quick stop in Kuala Lumpur where we stayed in a 'basic' hotel (that we later  discovered rented by the hour), we made our way to Hong Kong to the Chungking Mansions.   A massive building on Nathan Road, it was home to immigrants (we think illegal), mobile phone accessory shops and money lenders/currency converters.  Oh, and our hotel. While getting to our hotel was always an adventure, once inside the front door it was a safe and spotless haven from which to re-explore the city we had last seen four years previously, from the comfort of an air-conditioned, chauffeured car. After our first night wandering the streets in Kowloon we headed in for an early night as we were off to China for the day the next morning for some shopping.  While normally you need to apply in advance for a Chinese visa, Shenzen has a special arrangement where you can get a visa at the border (which is reached by a short ride on the MRT fron HK) to go shopping for the day.  I may have gone a little overboard with the shopping but it was worth it.  After spending EVERY penny we had brought with us we walked back to the border hopped on the train, and headed back to Nathan Road.  That night we spent the evening in Lan Kwai Fong, the Canadian owned bar area.  After a non-eventful last day spent wandering around Hong Kong and stuffing ourselves with Dim Sum, we left early the next morning to fly to Manila. 

Dim sum

Hong Kong fast facts:

Currency: Hong Kong Dollars  7 = £1
Average price of a beer: £5
Average price of a vodka tonic: £8
Average price for dinner for 2 incl. drinks (restaurant): £50
Average price for dinner  for 2 incl. drinks (street food):£10
Average price for a manicure: £20
Favourite national dish: Shling: Anything Dim Sum  Noah: the jury is still out, though bubble tea is rapidly growing on him

Hong Kong skyline by night