Hong Kong (via Guangzhou and Shenzen)

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We managed to get the train ok and laden with enough pot noodles to keep a pikey council family from Newcastle happy we survived the train journey. We are real pros at these now. Arrived in Guangzhou in the Guangdong province about 5.30 and headed straight to Mc'donalds to use up the last of our Chinese money so treated ourselves to a few breakfasts each. We have eaten far to much Mc'donalds and other fast food but it is honestly the cheapest option out here. Anway, after we were stuffed we headed for the bus station and hopped onto a bus to Shenzen, which is a town a couple of hours away that borders Hong Kong. Arriving in Shenzen we were expecting to get a train across the border and whilst looking for one pretty much stumbled across the border into Hong Kong. After getting some new Hong Kong currency our first experience was how expensive it was. We needed to get the metro to one of the islands and it cost us a hell of a lot more than it would have done on mainland China.

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After a lengthy train journey we ended up on Lantau. This island is a lot quieter than the rest with nice beaches and lush landscapes. Upon getting the bus to somewhere near our hostel it became apparent that it was pretty remote. Being the bright sparks that we are the guide book only listed one hostel here and rather than book ahead we decided to just turn up. Well, serves us right when it was fully booked! Luckily the hostel owner knew of another but unfortunately it was a fair distance away. With night creeping in we went for it and followed his directions. These directions involved us literally wading waist deep in across water with our backpacks and all on. If we fell we would have been up a proverbial paddle! Luckily we didn't because we are awesome and we headed onto the next bit of direction, a 45 minute trek through the forest. Eventually we found the hostel, checked in, and then promptly realised why we were the only guests there. IT WAS A DUMP! Never stayed anywhere like this before, and we had booked 2 nights as well! Every hostel so far has served food, some better than others, but not this one. Not a scrap of food there, so after taking a quick dip in the sea (and it was quick because we soon got onto the topic of sharks and couldn't decide if this sea had any so decided not to chance it) we headed off on this 45 minute trek to the nearest village for food. The hostel owner told us a shortcut that would knock 5 minutes off, every little helps so we followed his instruction, in the dark with our torches...until we stumbled across a herd of water buffalo blocking the road! That is how remote this place was, unbelievable. Not fancying our chance against them and being big girls blouses we went back to the start and did the route again, this time without the shortcut. Eventually found a village, got plotted up with a well deserved drink and some food and watched the first game of football in over a month. With a bit if dutch couragce we strode back to the hostel and decided that we needed to get out of here and head to Kowloon, one of the main islands.

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After successfully managing to get our money back on the night we didn't want to stay we headed to the busy-ish part of Lantau where there is the worlds largest sitting buddha statue. We climbed up to that and had a look around at the view then jumped into a cable car that takes about 45 minutes and drops you off at the metro station. The views were amazing but the length of time it took made us realise we choose correctly in not walking it. From there we headed to Kowloon and boy was that a stark contrast!

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Where we were staying was one big road of massive apartment blocks that called themselves names like Chunking mansions. Now, they were as far removed from a mansion as I have ever seen. These blocks of flats basically were filled with dodgy looking African and Pakistani blokes all selling drugs, women or generally just rowing with one another. A cross between Peckham and Zimbabwe would be too kind. It was like Nelson Mandella house out of Only Fools and Horses! I can honestly say I have never experienced anything like that before and these words do not do it justice.  In the end it turned out ok, we had a stroll around the park, looked in a few shops and bought some badges and a sewing kit. We have decided to sew a badge of each country we visit on to our backpacks. I also got a hair cut reluctantly. Turned out ok but a bizarre experience.

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The following day we went to Hong Kong Disneyland, much to Noddy's delight! It was an ok day out although predictably cheesy. The train over there had Mickey Mouse shaped windows and handles. There were not many rides there in comparison to other Disney worlds so we saw a fair few shows like the Lion King and the Disney parades. As they are having the halloween special on at the moment there was a night time parade as well so it was a fairly long day out. Managed to get back to the hostel ok and crashed out with exhaustion (on my part) and pure euphoria (on Noddy's)!

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The following day was our last in Hong Kong so we went shopping for last minute supplies like shampoo e.t.c. and bumped into a couple of Finnish girls who we met in Xi'an and Shanghai. They persuaded us to come out for a few quiet drinks as they were leaving the next day as well. Anyhow, we rolled in to our hostel about 4.30 am and needed to be up for our flight at 5.30am so instead of being sensible and staying up for that last hour we got some sleep.