#while i was in thailand there was this market and i saw sunglasses like those small round black ones that one iconic hwa meme

[hwanswerland]

Hi hi I just wanted to drop in and say your blog brings me so much joy and I get such a big smile every time you pop up. I'm always a bit shy to say hi to people but you seem really cool and I'm glad I discovered your blog 🥹🫶🫶🫶

Hiii thank you! <33 this made me happy, thank you 🥰😊 you only think I'm cool because you don't know me irl, I'm actually really lame (no surprise considering who chose himself as my bias lol). I'm glad you like me and my blog though and that you felt comfortable enough to say hi 🫰🫶

[willswalkabout]

Hong Kong. The site only lets me use 10 photos and just whittling down to these was pretty difficult. The top 3 photos were from my first full day. The highest point in Hong Kong is Victoria Peak, known (and heavily branded) as ‘The Peak’. I’d been wanting to try out the sports photography setting on the LUMIX for a while, and I was lucky enough to come across this Saturday morning basketball training session on the way to the foot of the hike. I took about 10 photos that I really love but this is one of my favourites. There is a famous tram that goes to the summit of 'The Peak'. It used to be used by the most affluent of the British, to get to their residencies on steep private roads up the hillsides. Due to this there are still around 20 stations on the route but nowadays the tram just ferries tourists from street level to the top. You can queue over an hour for the tram and pay around £5 or the entire route can be hiked along a public path. Warned of Hong Kong’s expensiveness and not wanting to queue, the hike took about an hour and a half. It’s a leafy and fairly unused route that provides some great photo opportunities. It is this that leads to a shock if unprepared, when upon reaching the top, you emerge onto the grounds of a 6 storey shopping centre. It feels very out of place but does have enough food options to replenish calories burned aptly. It costs £2 to take the lift to the top of the viewpoint. Although it does provide a great sight and helpful map of Hong Kong island and the mainland, I was somewhat underwhelmed. I think this was however nothing to do with the view, but how intense the crowds were at the top on a fairly small viewing platform, the sense of achievement somewhat marred by knowing 80% of those alongside you got a taxi or the tram. That evening I tried and failed miserably to find the inconspicuous HK Arsenal supporters club to watch the Hull game, and so watched in an expat pub. This is where the expensive line ran true, my pint costing equivalent £7.

I spent Sunday exploring some markets. I enjoyed the bartering culture hugely. My best experience was being quoted $280HKD (£1 ~ $10HKD) for a pair of sunglasses. I had been told you should actually not pay much over a ¼ of the stated price. I therefore offered 70. I was first laughed at, then told no, then asked for 200, then 150, 100, 90, 80, and then as I walked away, grabbed by the arm, and given them for 70. I also saw some temples, which is where the penultimate photo is taken. I liked the contrast between the ornate and serene Buddhist temple amongst the brutal skyscrapers. This was also home to the fortune tellers. It is a serious business here, with the soothsayers in smart offices and suits. You see them consulting singles, couples, and sometimes families of 8 crammed into a tiny room. After this I went on my favourite hike of 3, up to Lion rock for the sunset. There’s 2 photos here but I took many, as well as a time lapse, the success of which I won’t really be able to asses till I’m home, or have access to some decent editing software. The hike was led by a group called Hong Kong Free Tours. I did the walk with 6 Taiwanese exchange students, Mike from Pennsylvania, Richard from Rio de Janeiro, and Annalise from Manchester via Chicago. The guide was worried about Richard who was in shorts and a vest top, until the Brazilian informed him that only 3 weeks previous he had been on the trans-Siberian, which in January incurs temperatures of -30'C. (It was about 18'C at about 8pm on the hike which was a glorious temperature).

Monday was my last full day. After meeting Howard, an old school friend who attended sixth form in Hong Kong, I went to Lantau island to summit Hong Kong’s second highest peak. It’s a 40 minute train costing about £3, and then an hour bus that costs 40p, though I’d have paid 20x that. The coach ride around the island’s perimeter was absolutely stunning. After looking at the ‘Big Buddha’ which is reason enough to check the island out, I started the climb. It was about 28'C and this was by far the most challenging. Standing at the foot I triple checked my map because it just didn’t seem feasible. The hike is about 600m up over 1.5km. It is mostly quite deep steps and took about 2 hours. However with less than 10 people attempting the walk the effort was well worth it. I spent about an hour at the top and then descended during the 'golden hour’ which was a joy.

On my final day I had to leave for the airport at 4. I met up with Howard again and we spent some time looking around Hong Kong’s version of LA’s walk of fame, which turns out to really be one big ode to Bruce Lee. We then got some great Dim sum, pictured, before heading our separate ways.

If it appears all I did was hike that is only partially true. Hong is expensive so given walking is free and I really enjoy it, I don't at all feel I missed out by being on a budget. I also spent time exploring the built up areas of Causeway Bay, Central, and Mong Kok, though there is less to say about them and they aren’t as photogenic! I did really enjoy Hong Kong the city, it’s very easy to navigate, helped by the fact the public transport is extensive, cheap, and efficient.

I actually managed to only spend about 70% of my budget for Hong Kong. £110 over 4 days ALL INCLUSIVE (Accomodation, food etc). I could see myself living there for a period, and will definitely return.

As I type this my plane is descending into Surat Thani on the east coast of Thailand. From here I need to find a bus to take me to the harbour, from which I will get a boat to Koh Samui, my island home for the next 4 days. I’ve just had 2 days in Bangkok, and on Monday I’ll probably post an update covering that and Koh Samui. That’s all for now.

(No, I didn’t watch the Munich game, it started at 3am, and I don’t want to discuss!)