OK, finally got my flights sorted. Or NOT! Quantas cannot fly me backwards around the world so I booked my ferry and train. I’m leaving in the morning to make my way overland through China by train. It’s gonna be cool but will mean I will be on a train compressed with some Chinese folk for St Patricks day. 🙁 Oh well. It is suppsed to be an adventure. It will also mean i will be in Australia for 4 days now against my will. I have 2 free flights now though so I can go somewhere else if my milage will allow.

Anyway, went on the longest walk of my life today. By far the most interesting day in Hong Kong so far. Me and Soledad (Dont worry, shes 30 years old with 3 kids1) were going on a walking tour around the central island and district. After like 15 mins, her and her shopping pissed me off and we decided to go our own separate ways.

I made my away around so many cool places and saw so much cool stuff. I have uploaded LOTS of new photos in the Hong Kong section.

After the 4 hour walk I went to Kowloon and did the tour there. Went to the space museume, Flower market, Bird Garden and market and of course, charlies favourite place on earth , the goldfish market. So many of his friends were there. They all miss him.

Later I went to the space museume and at night I went to the island view to watch the Hong Kong city light show. They turn all the lights off in te city, play music and the lights on the buildings are all computer generated and in synch with the music the other side of the harbour! It was so cool.

Anywa, Ill write a more detailed explaination tonight when everyones in bed. Miss you all. Having a ball. Miss Sarah too much though. I love ya and miss ya babe!

I’d write a longer update but theres a queue forming behind me and I feel guilty. If you dont get an update in another few days, assume I was lost on the train in tibet somewhere.

Ciao

Well, I think I have had enough sampling the Hong Kong nightlife. Last night was Steves last night here so we HAD to have a session. Its only right. Went to Laguna (Thanks a fucking lot Lawrence for the crappy advice) played some drinking games and jst got generally lagered up. I met a Canadian guy who was with his phillipino (However you spell that) “lady” and he introduced us to her group of friends. We all then went to Fenwicks which was a LOT better.

Steve was freaked out because 90% of the ladies were hookers. I’m used to seeing that from Thailand, but he got really angry. Could not explain to him to just ignore them. Christoph was in his little element! Learned some philipino from Sol and Darrah so Im happy that my culture vulture urges were satisfied. I can now say “Can I have a cup of tea” in 11 languages!

I have seen a lot worse so it was nothing to me. Had a DEADLY laugh with Christoph (I asked him how to spell it). He is by FAR the craziest and funniest preson I have ever come across. There is NOTHING he wont say. Anyway, just danced and had fun all night. Only updating you because Im so hung over and cannot watch another episode of Opera or American idol. Theres only one English station over here. Got in at 11AM this morning but I DO remember aving noodles for brekfast again.

Dont really have any more news other than I could not sort my flights out today because the place closed at 12 noon and I was still drunk coming in. Down to my last few pennies already. Have to get to Vietnam ASAP. Got an EMAIL from my friends from KPN in Thailand. They all want to meet up in Vietnam (Although now I am travelling the oposite direction to them).

Anyway, I uploaded some more photos. Got a little mixed up with the whole category thing. Some are in China some are in Hong Kong, Im sure you can figure out wich ones!

Off to Kowloon Bay again tonight. (To buy a whammy bar!) to do some nice sightseeing and some cheap shopping. (Frayed ended jeans are a fashion crime here!). Ill have a quiet day tomorrow and upload all my photos from last night and tonight. The internet connection here is REALLY fast so its not a problem and it will probably be the last photo upload for a while.

Anyway, thanks for all your comments, I LOVE reading them and they make me feel like I’m home. Leave me more!

PS: Sorry Jennifer, I didn’t know I packed that! Ill make sure I get it back to you safe.

PPS: Christine Davis. My Suitcase is FILLING QUICK with your keyrings!

Miss you all. Tell Buttons I sid Hi. Sarah, hope you have a great time in the land of the Gaeltacht. Love you and miss you.

OK, This is going to be a LONG update so be prepared. Last update I had just moved to my hostel and was getting a littel bored with the place. when I got to my hostel it all changed. Staying in a dorm with 4 other guys and a girl. An Irish Guy from Meath, a Boring English guy who does nothing with us, An Australian girl who also does nothing, Kristoph the crazy German and Steve, the rich US student on Spring Break.

I promised myself Id give my impressions of Hong Kong on my next update. Biggesst ting about Hong Kong I noticed is how SLOW everyone walks! Its nuts! And Its not just a few people or most people, its EVERYONE. Its slow even for ME!

Its also really clean. Everywhere yuo go theres these hand sanatizers and everyone wears those face masks. I really want to get one!

Anyway, a few night me and the Irish guy went up victoria peak and did the real touristy thing. It was absolutely amaying. I met an old lady up there from Wales originally but lived in HK for 40 years. I spoke to her for ages and she gave me the history of HK and it was really interesting. I also did a REAL touristy thing. I got a professional photo done of me with the HK skyline. I love being a tourist!

Anyway, couple of days ago we went clubbing and met a group of chinese people and I learned LOTS of Mandarin, and my cantonese is picking up already. We stayed out with them all night and had lots of fun. Next day we went to Macau (A Portugese colony along mainland china) and we had a deadly day! There was so much to do. Got the turboJet Ferry to Macau.We did the lonely planet walking tour and visited lots of cool museumes and sights.

Visited a temple (Godess of fishermen temple). None of the lads were interested so they let me go in for an hour while they waited outside. Met a chinese man and his daughter (older than me) and they saw my look of awe at the place and they came over to me and brought me round the temple. He introduced me to three chinese girls my age and they showed me the Taoist stick wish or blessing and around the temple. The man sat me down and explained his religion and the differences between Taoism and Bhuddism. He let me ask LOADS of questions and I had a really nice time.We all offered the incense to the goddess and It was the best part of my day.

Later we went to the black sand beach wich was so weird. The whole beach had ONLY black sand (Something to do with volcanoes). Steve got in and actually swam. Nutcase. After we went for dinner we hit the casinos. what an experience. I have no photos of inside cos they dont allow you to bring them in. Dont know why. Spent 100 euros (Lost actually). Learned how to play BlackJack, Poker (Properly), Bakerat and roulette! So Cool. Its JUST like you see on telly. The rich guy lost a LOT of money!

We met our chinese friends in the casino (What are the chances) and we went clubbing and it was a lot of fun.

Next day our friends were going home. they asked us to come, and being on the adventure were all on, we just, spur of the moment, decided to go to china. Train only took a few hours and china is weird. I would like to stay here a lot longer. Might skip a week or two in the US and go to Shanghi or Beijing. Then again, I have no idea where ill end up! Just got back and im wreked. really long last few days. Got lots of photos and I bought a new card reader and memory card. I LOVE BEING A TOURIST! So glad I came here. Made some really cool friends. reinforces my idea that traveling is 45% the location, 5% the journey there and 50% the people you meet along the way.

This ones just for Eimh. Tonight, guess where Im going clubbing???? KOWLOON BAY! (I was born in Kowloon Bay) Ill take some photos for you!

BY The way, a few months ago, I made Kerrie a promise. Here it is. IM THINKING OF YOU KERRIE!

Anyway, I have settled nicely here. The place is still really eypensive to live in but all the people I have met in my hostel (Especially in the main common room) have all traded advice on where to go for the cheapest food and stuff. right now I can live here for about 30 euro a day. Thats not including clubbing. Thats cheap food and staying in the hostel getting drunk and making our own disco! I had to buy vitimans because Im (Like everyone else) LIVING on noodles. I actually cannot remember how to use a fork! Chopsticks are so much more versatile!

By the way, I only got to upload some of my photos. Ill do the rest in the morning as I have them on the computer now. Queu gathering behind me (Free internet in hostel) so I cannot really stay on and wait until the lot upload! Miss you all. Especially you Sarah.

Off to Vietnam soon, but will update before then. Take care, mind yezerselves and give Buttons a big and a kiss from me. Also, if my mother is still in Ireland or anyone has seen or heard from her. Tell her that her eldest son has been trying to get in touch with her every day since 2 days before “MOTHERS” day! 😉

BYE

Just to let you all know that I’m finally moving! Getting the hell out of this insane priced hotel and moving to a hostel to a dorm that I can spend 10 nights in for the price of 1 night here.

Went to Vietnam Consulate today and applied for my visa. Have to wait 3 days, but it will probably be then by the time I get my flights changed. Also had to set my fecking ports of entry AND exit. What a joke. What if your a nomad like me? 😉

Anwyay, spent my entire budget on socks and a jumper last night. What a rip off city. Also got a memory card for me camera so thats a plus.

Everything except electronics are expensive here. Laptops are cheap enough too, but by far and away the cheapest thing (Almost cheaper than food) is mobile phones. Latest brand spanking new ones too!

Anyway, I’m sure this is all very boring to yall. Just nice to keep yall updated while I have my morning cofee.

Take care.

Arrived in Hong Kong alive and well, albeit Tired and stinky after a LONG day and a half travelling. Jodie met me off the airport train and brought me to a hotel. This place is EXPENSIVE as hell! I cannot afford anything!

Jodie brought me out and I met a load of her friends. Thank god none of them are like her at all. She has not changed a bit. She showed me around Central hong kong down all the little ally ways etc. Nice to see.

We then went to Wan Chai to meet her friends. We went for dinner and then for a dance but after all my travelling then advanced level drinking I had to leave everyone.

Jodie had to head to Phuket to see her mam for some reason, but she left me in the hands of her friends who are all really nice. Half Chinese and Half western (Australian and Swedish) so Its a good mix.

Went for dinner again with them tonight and am now sitting in a really cool cofee shop (One with couches like I have always wanted) using the free internet cos I couldnt find internet ANYWHERE here.

Its absolutely freezing here. its like winter and NOTHING like Thailand. Struggling to find where I can get a Visa for Vietnam but I think tonight Ill just take advantage of my Hotel, stay in, eat sweets and watch a movie. (Not a bluey!)

Got the subway today. In my opinion, its the best way to figure the layout of the city and learn the initial ropes. After a few times, you become more comfortable. 😉

Tomorrow I have a long day. Have to find a hostel, find a jumper, find some socks and a belt (They were stolen from my laundry!) and find a memory card for my camera. Im so pissed off, I left it till I came here so I could get some decent prices.

I really cannot stay here. I need to leave as soon as possible, otherwise all my money will be spent for the other locations.

Well, Ill love yall and leave yall. Ill probably update you again soon because I found this cool little cofee shop and above all its free!

Miss you all, especially Sarah!
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