To China and Beyond....

Wow what a day - and it aint over yet! I woke up terribly early and spent the early hours of the morning, watching terrible movies, and amusing chinese cooking shows. Did you know they whisk using chopsticks? BTW Today I was told I don't use my chopsticks properly. The food reaches my mouth - isn't that success?

Just as I got out of the shower, my phone rang and it was Rita (my saviour from the airport) inviting me to China tomorrow. She had plans to go to Shenzhen for the day for shopping, massage and yummy food. Well that sounds like a great plan for a day. So I ran out of the hotel and met with Rita to apply for my visa for China. It was amazingly simple (yes it probably helps that Rita speaks fluent chinese) and I picked up my visa tonight. All set for an early start tomorrow to China.

I had planned to spend the rest of the day exploring Hong Kong Island, but after the visa stop in Mongkok, I went to Rita's niece's place so she could drop off her bag (and to check out the flat). We were wondering around the suburb and talking about how different it was from Hong Kong Island (and peaceful) when we stumbled across a real estate. We were looking at the pictures outside (and Rita was translating) when Kiki our friendly real estate approached. She was all of about 23 and very sweet, I'm sure she speaks english, but she was spilling all the goss to Rita in chinese. We ended up seeing 4 flats, 2 including roof areas and BBQs! The last one I could definately live in, but I need to decide if I want to live on the Island or not. It will be interesting to compare it to a flat in the same price range on the island.

We then ate and walked and ate and shopped a little! I am zonked! Hopefully I will be catching up with Mira tonight, then an early morning start and off to China - I can't wait! How can a day filled with food, shopping and massage be anything but spectacular?

Almost 24 Hours....

The flight arrived early, but the bags took about an hr to come up. It didn't bother me, given I was waiting in the gweilo queue which took forever. Checking in at Sydney airport, my bag was sooo overweight that I had to unpack 7 kilos. After a very traumatic incident with my parents (yes all their fault), they managed to find a poor innocent to get dragged into our saga. So Rita (the sister of a friend of my parents) kindly checked in my extra 7 kilos. Of course being a Hong Kong National she didn't have to wait in the gweilo queue. I was worried she would have to wait around for me, but thankfully the bags hadn't arrived yet ;) Rita was very lovely and helpful, and soon she was off to Kowloon and I was off to Lan Kwai Fong.

I arrived at the hotel and went straight to sleep (OK I watched dodgy Hong Kong TV for a while - first time, I've ever watched NYPD Blue!). I woke up at 7am this morning, realised it was too early, rolled over went back to sleep and woke at 1:30pm. Much more civilised.

After testing my digi camera (which I managed to drop last night, and pictures were blurry - thankfully after a bit of a nap it seems fine), I got dressed and headed out. I found my way out of my hotel, down the many lanes and into the main drag. I have a map with my hotel circled, but I think the chances of me finding my way back are very thin!

I stumbled across a noodle bar, which although wasn't on Benny's recommended list, looked safe enough (and busy). When I got my menu (in english and chinese), I realised this wasn't a normal cafe. Hong Kong Style Cafe, serves western style food - exciting dishes like spaghetti bolegnaise and new zealand cutlets in tandori sauce served with naan bread! Thankfully they had chinese dishes too. I went for the mixed meat and rice in soup. My soup arrived with chicken, mushrooms, choy sum, duck, ham, prawns, octopus and giant looking scallops. I then proceeded to pour soy sauce on (turns out it wasn't soy sauce it was plum sauce). Add the soy - a lovely mixture of soy and plum sauce, I limited the chilli oil! I survived my first meal, wasn't bad but I avoided most of the mixed meat! I drunk the tea they gave me , tasted good, although I felt I may have been doing something wrong - when I saw the woman at the next table keeping her spoon and chop sticks in the tea. Hmmmm

I finally found the Star Ferry and took a lovely ferry ride across to Kowloon. In search of an internet cafe, I ended up in a massive shopping centre with very bad navigation. It makes you appreciate Westfield! I'm now heading down Nathan St and should run into Temple St Markets by the time it opens about 7 or 8 tonight. I'm not planning to buy much, maybe a new bag. Then I have to somehow find my way back to the hotel. Should be an adventure.

Oh and I suck at Chinese - even Thank You is difficult. Lots of room for improvement!

Still doesn't feel real!

I'm leaving for the airport in half an hr - I'm all packed, I've said almost all of my goodbyes - and it still doesn't feel real. I guess it wont until I rock up for work next tuesday in Hong Kong.
Sydney has been great- I've had some very fun parties as of late and it's a great city (that will always be home) but I can't wait to get to Hong Kong. Wish me luck!!

Annoyed, Tired, Irritated

I can't wait til Thursday. I'm sick of packing, I'm sick of calling Lukas at the shipping company, I'm sick of snapping at my mother when I know she is only trying to help. I probably shouldn't have spent the majority of sunday on the couch hangover. I should have finished packing, I should have filled out forms, I should have put my finances in order. Cause I can't be stuffed doing anything now!

So two days before leaving, yes my boxes are packed and gone, but my car is still here, my belongings are all over my bedroom floor, and my neck hurts! On the up side, I had my first Hong Kong dream last night - getting kinda excited. In between, being pissed off!

Just put another ad out for the car - this time in the paper with funky green writing. It has to sell now - right? Oh well another day or two and I can forget about it.

What am I looking forward to? Getting on the plane - I love that - even if it is economy. Watching terribly crap films, and eating plastic tasting food, all wrapped up in separate compartments - it'll be great. I've got a brand new book to read that I'm not starting until I get to the airport - "The Kite Runner", and chinese language books to study on the trip. And that's all before I get to Hong Kong. I have 4 wonderful days there, where I can explore the city by myself, and pretend I am on holiday and not about to start a new job on Tuesday. Not sure what plans I have yet, but I think I'll have to at least fit in a ride on the star ferry.

Maybe I'll have Hong Kong dreams again tonight - Let's hope! (Yep, when I don't think of the chores I have to do, I am excited!)

Almost Time....

Just a quick one, as I am ready for bed. 4 more days to go, most packing done, car not sold but otherwise all going to plan. I already have plans for next saturday night in HK (with my friend Mira) I can't wait!

I have put up some photos on Flickr - from about new yrs onwards. So take a look - I'll try and keep it reasonably up to date - and put a notice here when I have new ones. (Oh and at the moment they have no titles or anything, but I may get round to it)

Take a look---> www.flickr.com/photos/natinhk/