Break out the Patritti and kill the fatted Yogo - I'm coming home!!!!

Hong Kong, China

Tuesday 24th October 2006

My Last Day... I can't believe 69 days could have gone so fast.

Since blogging last, most of what I have done is travel. From Yangshou our group walked to the bus, from the bust to the train, overnight sleeper to Guangzhou, walk to bus, bus to Ferry Station (where we farewelled our China tour guide), Ferry to HK, bus to hotel. We all felt like we were dumped a bit as far as the tour is concerned. A guy was waiting for us at the Ferry Terminal in HK and took us to the hotel, telling us only not to drink the water and then we were completely left to our own devices. We took ourselves off to Victoria Peak and gazed over the Hong Kong skyline before wandering the streets. We were already having withdrawal symptoms from having a guide because we wandered like a flock of birds continuely changing directions, moving but really not getting anywhere.

Hong Kong is busy, loud and close. Coming from Yangshou which is more laid back it was a bit of a shock to the system to be amongst a big city again. If ever you were looking for a sign from above to travel - come to HK, there is a billion and one of them. Look down any street and the billboards would be the equivalent of reading a novel. It has a good atmosphere and it is nice that most people speak good English (yay - no more charades). I was worried about my current spending habits and was crying out for someone to stop me - I am outta control. HK stopped me in a heartbeat. It isn't cheap here, you can't even barter in markets anymore - it is all a set price thanks to other tourists who could be bothered with the 'how can I feed my kids at that price' routine. Good for the people here, but not good for me. It is probably just as well. I really couldn't carry three bags around with me.

I spent yesterday walking around with one Aussie guy from our tour while the rest of us scattered to different locations and destinations. He showed me some markets and we had an awesome Vegetarian Indian buffet for lunch at which I ate the same weight as Teliah and Tanner combined, in dahl and rice! It was fantastic but I had to lie down at my new hotel room because I overdid it. I found my new room after quite a bit of looking. The building is really old and dingy. The general vibe of the building I get was that I should rest a chair under the door knob (no chair was supplied) and sleep with a gun under my pillow (which I didn't have either). I can write this now because mum I slept there last night and am still alive so you don't have to stress. If you used a wide angle camera lens to take a photo of the room it would look the size of a hamsters cage. But it was clean, had a western toliet and an air conditioner so that is the essentials covered. The bed was soft whihc made it more luxurious than other hotels I've stayed in these past 2 weeks. The people on reception are friendly and helpful.
Last night I met up with 5 other people on the tour and spent my last night of my holiday watching the lights of the Hong Kong skyline flash and show off to the crowds on the foreshore. We went to a bar for a farewell drink and I was sad to say goodbye to them. There was one particular girl that I would have loved to see regularly if she didn't live in England and me in Australia, we got along really well. Such is travel life! As I headed back to my room, I began my list of lasts. Last sleep away from home, last time I pack my bag up (won't be missing that!), last shower in a foreign land, last breakfast on the run to see the sights... etc It doesn't seem like that long ago I began my list of firsts!

So now I sit in a coffee house, sipping a Peaches and Cream frappicino and talking to you for the last time from overseas. I am going to see the largest outdoor Buddha today at Po Lin Monastery and wander the gardens and surrounding hills. Then it is back to my hotel to collect my luggage and headed for the last time to the airport. When I arrived at Hong Kong on the ferry, there were people waiting for loved ones at the arrival hall. I got really excited because the next time I was in an arrival hall - there would be fabulous, wonderful people waiting for me!!! I am really hanging out for some family lovin', I don't think I will let go of them for awhile.

Now I will sign off for the last time in Hong Kong and say thanks for reading. I have had a wonderful time and hope you have too.

See you all in 21 hours, 10 minutes and 5 seconds.

Love Kym