Not peak hiking...

'Very Hot Weather' is the current weather alert, and whilst this feels no different to normal weather, it was the perfect reason not to go peak hiking. So off we went to a healthy restaurant (where I ordered the halumi and avocado burger - possibly not that healthy - but v nice).

Managed to fit in a few more HK top spots (Steps at Stauntons and Peak Cafe) so a few glasses of wine and raspberry mojitos were consumed.

Am absolutely shattered this week though. Month end (cue work madness), the excitement of a visitor and trying to fit in saying 'goodbye' to Honkers, whilst packing.

This has not been assisted by the laundry dying my wardrobe a new shade of grey (soooo not good) meaning I am reluctant to get any more done - but clearly need to as have packing issues otherwise. Moral high ground may have to be put to one side in search of clean clothes...

Right, I'd best try and fit a few more tons of stuff in the case. Remind me again of airline baggage allowances???

Two more nights in HK. Tonight is spicy crab night. Yes, more eating...

Seafood...

For some reason I associate the "I'm on a seafood diet, when I see food, I eat" joke with Ursula. She of Little Mermaid (and birthday cake) fame, wrapped in the tight black purple and black number. Tell me you know what I'm talking about. If not, you probably never came to one of my sister's birthday parties, and certainly not the "Under the Sea' themed one. Was this part of her song? Who knows (who can say why).

Anyway, it appears that a level of concern has been raised about the amount I am eating and resultant impact on my waistline. Well, you'll have to wait until you see me but the eating has certainly not stopped in the last few days!

Sunday afternoon I went to meet my visitor at the airport. For once there was not torrential rain, instead we have a Tropical Cyclone Warning. Good-oh.

From the airport and straight to eat (obviously). This detracts from said visitor's hotel being slap bang in the middle of the red light district and mid-renovations... (that explains the bargain price!) Although 'straight' is a little generous. Step 1 is the cab from the airport express. What do you know we end up with the singing taxi driver... Fortunately we stuck to the Bee Gees and were spared the Chinese opera...

Step 2 is the MTR + minibus trek to Po Toi O, although again the seafood was well worth it. Crab, razor clams, lobeter-esque items and 'elephants nose' (do not ask me to describe what these look like, think long, white elephant trunks.....)

Post Po Toi O food, beer and the obligatory torrential rainstorm we headed back for a wander around Lan Kwai Fong (absolutely quiet on a Sunday night) and off to the Pawn, which I am sure I have mentioned previously. Now an ex-pat bar, previously a four storey pawn house. Stayed here chatting until they asked us to leave. To be clear, it was closing time rather than our outrageous behaviour. (I do consider ordering GBP21 glasses of wine 'outrageous', even if that is genuinely not the top end option...)

Monday lunch was my team leaving lunch where they stuffed me full of delicious dim sum. Unfortunately it was predominantly delicious due to the large amounts of MSG it contained. I still can't feel my tongue. Nice!

Not deterred by having eaten enough to keep a (very) small army fed for a week at the dim sum lunch, it was my leaving diner that evening (yes, that is bad diary management). So off to the Seafood Restaurant (Fuk Loi Kee) in Kowloon for yet more eats. Man alive. Eight dishes (plus rice, plus veg). Stuffed. I nearly fell asleep at the table.

However, who can sleep when there is the excitement of Temple Street night market to get to? Not me I tell you!

Finally (it was a Monday night...) headed home to try out the GBP 6.80 peaches (I kid you not, that is for one) and a glass of wine on the indoor/outdoor terrace.

Currently trying to decide if I will miss all this. I think if the MSG effects wear off soon and I stop shaking / am able to feel my tongue, I may well do so!

About to go for dim sum, actually having to mentally prepare myself to think of eating food...

Lan Kwai Fong - take two

I feel I am starting to get into the swing of things just as I am about to leave. Yesterday turned into a lovely lunch trip to Ten Yoshi in Causeway Bay. Delicious tempura and sushi. The restaurant owners have three Japanese restaurants on three floors of Henry House. Tempura, sushi and yakitori. You can order from any of the three menus in each. Absolutely delicious and just what was required.

Following that it was a trip to the mandarin for the HK essential. A pedicure. Well, how else would I spend a Saturday?

The hangover kicked in (again) and I headed back to Wanchai for some CSI, a bit of a stroll round the market and then noodles. Late on I headed out to meet some friends for 'one end of night drink' in Cafe Gray (a bar I do wish I had found before). They do delicious elderflower and grape gins. Highly recommended.

Post the 'one' drink it was decided that, as this was my last Saturday, Lan Kwai Fong was a must. So off we went. It was absolutely heaving but I did discover there are actually some very nice places there (most unexpectedly).

We went to a bar called Lilly (apparently only open 3 weeks, impossible to get a table reservation and yet they don't advertise it?) which is on the 6th floor of Hotel LKF. I will be attempting to go back. Great drinks (the tequila and grapefruit cocktail was a favourite - reminiscent of Shady Lady's at the Zap) and they have this amazing cigar room. Provided you remember to send everything to the dry cleaners first thing the next morning, it is a great place to sit (and drink gin).

From Hotel LKF and onto Volar. Like everywhere else a 'members only' club but we (clearly I was a lucky bystander here) have known the bouncer since it opened six years ago so queue hopped and no admission. Good work! My favourite thing about Volar was the carousel horses that hung above each table. Really v cool design. Apparently there have been a few broken bones from people falling off so I did not attempt to climb on - although I was tempted.

Right, I have to go meet my next (and final!) HK visitor at the airport (excited!!) so I'll sign off. Have a good Sunday.

This is not just...

This is not just Friday night drinks, this is Marks and Spencers balmy summers evening, rooftop terrace and famous skyline Friday night drinks.

This is not just Saturday morning hangover, this is Marks and Spencers head splitting, dizziness inducing, Saturday morning hangover.

Packing again - seriously??

I cannot believe that once again I have to pack everything up! Time has flown by. This time next week I will be t-4 hours from a flight to Bali. The continuation of the blog is under consideration - technically that will (a) not be HK; and (b) is holiday. But, we do have some fun things planned so I'll see.

Current plans means it looks like I'll be back in the UK early October. However, current plans do not have associated flight reservations so we will see. The final, final, final decision is being taken on Monday. I'll believe it when I see it.

It is incredible how many 'essential' items I packed I have not used. It is less of a surprise that items such as my London A-Z have remained in a box which has stayed in my office since arrival. Along with copies of exercise plans from 'Zest' and the like. I acknowledged today they are unlikely to be implemented and decided to put them in the bin rather than courier them back. [Note: if you are ever considering dieting check out Liz Hurley's 'tweets'. Alarming and will ensure you decide against it].

One more week if you are wanting 'gifts' bought back (umbrella shaped like a wine bottle anyone?). Don't all shout at one now!

Also, much as I have been loving the post the time has come to stop writing (boo) as the flat will not forward it on. Boo again. Please do keep writing to me in the UK though - you know I'm fond of letters. Again, along with the super-fitness plan my letter writing extravaganza also did not happen. C'est la vie. Too busy eating really.

On that note I have managed to fit in another fancy eating experience, Cipriani. In the old Bank of China building (floor below China Club) and also owned by David Tang, it has a private lift and tasty Italian food. However, given the choice, China Club has the edge.

So there you go.

Lan Kwai Fong

Ok, ok. I admit it. Finally I went for a night out in ex-pat world. What can I say. I'm leaving soon. It had been a late night at work. It had to be done.

First stop was "Rat Alley". Land of outdoor thai restaurants and (hopefully) named after its thin shape with only one entrance (ie trapped like a rat). Unfortunately, given the rodent problem (recent reports of tourists and babies being bitten) leads me to believe this may be due to its inhabitants.

As ever, more food that is reasonable for 10 people, never mind two, arrived. We did our best but an embarrassing amount was left over. Actually considered asking new arrivals to come join us.

Next stop we strolled into Al's diner and asked for two jello shots. Oh yes. 10pm, sober, in work clothes on a Tuesday night. The barmaid looked at us as though we were bonkers (she had a point). However, I am assured jello shots are a "HK tradition" and I could not leave without going through this ritual.

Hmm. These were a little bigger than my version of a "shot" (Think 3x the size).

Step 1: Use cocktail stick to separate jello from edge of plastic cup (again, so NOT a shot)
Step 2: Empty jello onto the back of your hand (whole)
Step 3: Hand (and jello) to mouth - put jello in mouth whole
Official Step 4: Swallow
Unofficial Step 4: Spin round in circles with cheeks bulging with jelly trying not to spit on anyone / have anyone see you in this state. Try and convince your body it wants to swallow while attempting to forget that you don't actually like jelly, never mind want to swallow a cupful of it mixed with alcohol, whole.

Ahem.

So, we left there reasonably promptly (I had used most of their napkins, it was time to go) and went back to the nice bar, as referenced in prior posts. I was recognised (and asked where my mother was!) Much more civilised. Honest.

A good night was had by all.

Apparently I now have to go to the Feather Boa Bar... I'll keep you posted.

More market based excitement

Today was the turn of Wan Chai market. This is more of an everyday market than a tourist market. You will no doubt be thrilled to hear that I picked up the best item of HK tat to date (now who will be the lucky recipient..) and also some lovely tops for my lovely sister.

Moving away from the bargain hunting and browsing of unusual shaped vegetables, I went to Ying Kee Tea House. This was a much more upmarket experience and I got to try some delicious (yet fiendishly expensive) teas.

Here are some tea facts for you:
- you should 'wash' your tea leaves first, you do this by pouring hot water onto them, emptying the pot, then refilling it
- tea should be left to brew for 40 - 60 seconds
- tea should be stored in an airtight container and can be kept for 12 months like this
- Old Luk On and Pu-erh tea can be kept longer, the older the better
- for black tea use boiling water
- for green tea, water at 75 - 85 degrees C.

Teapots at the ready...

Stanley Market

Today I decided it was about time I went and bought all those HK gifts. Only two weeks left and come Christmas I know you'll all be wanting HK goodies, don't try and pretend otherwise. So off I went to Stanley market.

Now I have been to Stanley once before, for the Dragon Boat racing. But never to the market.

Again it was one of those weekend trips when I question if I will ever become a mildly less-inept 'traveller'. We've had a lot of rain recently so I opted to not wear the white frock with a tendency to go see through, and instead popped on a green number. Its first hong kong outing (no, I've not been shopping, it flew over with me and has just been neglected due to the heavy duty ironing requirement).

But, ironed and ready we hopped on the bus. I was really, really, really wanting to have a Loreal / taxi moment (talk yourself through the advert and it makes sense) but, predominantly due to the vast array of holidays I have booked recently, the budget is not looking quite as healthy as I would like so I opted for the bus. More funds for shopping!

It was on the bus I discovered that (a) the dress had a hole in; and (b) this dress shows up sweat, a lot. And today was a very hot day. Oh hurrah..... Dress is now in the bin.

So I arrived at Stanely and tried to act as though I was either completely unaware that my entire back was wet, or, that I was completely aware and utterly carefree about it. Then I just prayed the super-hot sun would dry it out, and rapidly. Oh the shame...

Stanley market is a pretty cool covered market. A complete tourist haven. It sells every item of tourist tat you could ever want, and quite a few items you had never dreamed you could ever need (new outfit for your wine bottle anyone?)

Admittedly the first purchase I made was for myself, a painting of Johnson Road, just near where I live. Now before you think I am being all extravagant, it cost GBP25. Less than a return taxi fare.

I did then buy a few gifts, fear not, before picking up some of the most expensive fruit I have ever bought. GBP12 for a few cherries, two peaches and three mangosteens - heavens! Good thing I did take the bus!

I rounded off my day with a nice long foot massage, which was wonderful other than the fact the masseuse burped his way through it. He did this last time I went. It does sort of ruin the relaxation for me but I can't think of a way to ask him not to do this. Any suggestions? I am loathe to change spas as this is one of the nicest I have found (Mandarin Oriental aside, clearly).

Post foot massage I went to the weird vegetarian restaurant just down the road to get takeaway. They make so many 'vegetarian' versions of meat items it is difficult to entirely trust the 'vegetarian only' signs. My 'seafood' soup even had carefully crafted 'octopus' bits. All made entirely of vegetables. Quite simply the most delicious sweet and sour 'beancurd skin' (our version of normal tofu - the non silken one), the soup is slightly odd. And, as per my usual ordering skills, I appear to have ended up with two soups. Hmm, one in the fridge for tomorrow me thinks, I'm just not entirely sure how I managed to do that.

The 'Exciting' world of CSI

What can I say, the title says it all - I'm having a quiet-ish week. Clearly there has been the usual amount of eating an drinking so I'll talk you through that.

Post wise it has been a bumper week.
Monday = twirls
Tuesday = more twirls!
Wednesday = flowers!!

How lucky am I!?!

You know what they say. A twirl a day...

Clearly I need to up my intake as I have been feeling a wee bit poorly. Hopefully this will pass and quickly.

Monday night was a trip to China Club. I do so love that restaurant. I just wish I didn't have to wear a moustache and pretend to be someone else each time I go there (is members only, clearly!) The food was delicious as ever and, by Hong Kong pricing, is actually quite reasonable. Ish.

Tuesday night was a quick drink at the Mandarin Oriental, a bar with a view. I discovered they have a favourite red wine of mine so I think I will be going back. They also do Earl Grey martinis. Despite the incongruous title they are quite delicious.

And that is about it I think. Clearly I've managed to fit in a fair amount of CSI and a bit of work too.

I hope all well and thanks for the post!

Hopping busses and Louis Vuitton

How do you see KL in just over 24 hours and with children in tow? Simple, you head straight up the Menara Tower (not pictured) for views of the city and then get the hopping bus!

Winner of "The Best of Malaysia Travel Awards 2009" (as invented by a friend of mine) the hop-on-hop-off bus takes you on a handy tour of KLCC.

We started at Bingtang walk (KLs answer to Leicester Square but with better shops), in the Golden Triangle area of the City (near the Petronas Twin Towers shown in the pictures).

The bus took us down past the National Palace, the National Museum, the Bird and Butterfly Gardens (I had to resist getting off) and past the National Mosque (which is beautiful). We 'hopped' off at Independence Square for a few photographs and to mutter about why they no longer played cricket on the green there (possibly a health and safety issues but even so...). Then up to Raja Lut, the Indian area, where we hopped off more permanently.

The Indian area was amazing. Hindereds of shops selling fabric and ribbon (I've more than stocked up for Christmas wrapping purposes) and market stalls selling every kind of curry you could imagine. At one point we were handed a free plastic bag (and not a small one) of chicken rice porridge. Still roasting hot! I have no idea what we were meant to do we this (I smiled and put it in the bottom of the buggy - I now understand why people seem to like taking buggies shopping so much, its the storage space). Collecting free savoury porridge seemed to be a popular option, one man had about eight bags (no mean feat to carry all that!). My highlight was buying new sunglasses for GBP2. They are fabulous and I can afford to sit on them (which in itself means I am less likely to).

Through the Indian area to Central Market, an indoor market that is a mix of antique stalls, tourist tat and nice gift-type shops (incense burners and spa products). I resisted further shopping here although there was a beautiful antique jewellery box that I was very very tempted by. Hmm, maybe I can go back. Do you think they would trade in the non-antique one I bought at the HK market??

From Central Market on to China Town, a mass of stall selling every fake item you could ever imagine wanting. Watch, dvd, handbag, scarf. You name it, they can sell it. I was also, somewhat alarmingly, asked if I wanted a boyfriend. A few times. This was in the same tone as whether I wanted to buy a dvd. I wondered about asking if they had the same range for selection (for the dvds they have whole rooms full with every dvd you could ever want) but I decided that was probably a high risk strategy and politely declined. I declined the dvds too, in case you were wondering.

The 'you need boyfriend chat' reminded me of the conversation with the taxi driver on the way into the centre. His first enquiry was how many babies I had had (his words, not mine). He then expressed his sincere condolences for my being 30 and barren (he had had three babies by the time he was thirty). Somehow I kept a straight face and managed "we just haven't been blessed yet".

The other classic taxi-based conversations whilst in KL was "is it true that people in HK are so busy they eat while they are walking"...

The weekend was rounded off with a trip to a spa (bliss) and fun and games on the AirAsia plane...

Many thanks to the friends who took me around for the weekend, we had an ace time.

Right, I'd best get to work. I hope you are well.

KLCC

Well greetings from Kuala Lumpar. I'll be brief as I need to go explore but I'm aware I have been getting a little slack on the old updates. My apologies.

So, other than grumbling, what have I been up to since Wednesday? Well, I've been for a nice work lunch (soooooooooooooooo much food), and then mostly calls, meetings, video conferences and strategising. I do love that my job involves spending time doing 'good thinking'.

I have three weeks left at work here (how time flies) and a combination of the realisation I will be leaving shortly and a desire to not be in my tiny room all weekend led me to hop on a flight to KL. The nice people at the hotel clearly appreciated this and have upgraded me to a suite! Don't get too excited, it is tiny and dirty but - IT HAS WALLS!!! I've spent a lot of time walking between rooms! (However, I still would not recommend staying here, dirty place - albeit with the fanciest rooftop bar and the fanciest business center I've seen in a long time).

So, do have an excellent weekend and I'll let you know all about KL when I do!

I'm a celebrity...

...get me out of here!

Ok, so that is a little over dramatic. I'll explain.

Firstly, in HK if you're not someone you must be no-one. EVERYONE has a VIP card or three, as a minimum. Even your bank card makes you entitled to 'VIP' discounts at one shop or another. Clubs, restaurants and bars are members only. At Prada, if you spend more than GBP25,000 per year there you get 10% off everything you buy. (Even I know that's not a discount worth having!)

However, having waxed lyrical about all that is good and interesting about HK there are a few things that are beginning to get to me (cue Snow Patrol). Now don't get me wrong. I'm not spending my days singing along to Ugly Kid Joe but there are a few things that are genuinely starting to get to me.

Top three:
1. Burping - culturally acceptable and a mechanism of expressing appreciation for a good meal, but genuinely please talk me through why I have to spend my afternoons listening to a chorus of burps.
2. Slurping - again culturally acceptable, but didn't your mother always tell you to sip your tea nicely?
3. Queuing - the lack of. No one queues. A queue is a competition to see how many people you can walk into / over in a campaign to get to the front. Whatever the cost.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH

So, have decided to take a weekend mini break. It was that or anger management courses and those are rarely run in beautiful hotels with a view.

Byeeee

Well. I am a little bit sad tonight as it was the last night with mum. Has been so lovely so am not looking forward to saying goodbye tomorrow.

However, never one to let something like that get in the way of a good meal, out we went for a delicious last dinner in HK. Restaurant of the evening was Bistro Manchu. According to them they are they only Manchurian restaurant in HK. Regardless of whether this is correct, the food there is very tasty. I will be going again!

Post dinner we popped to our new 'favourite' bar for a quick post dinner tipple at Varga Lounge. Worth it just for the bar mats even if you;re not into people watching. If I weren't superstitious I'd be asking the price of the beautiful peacock feather print they have too....

Last night we went with some colleagues to a 'local' restaurant in Kowloon (near Prince Edward MTR). A seafood restaurant, busiest at 3am when the taxi drivers go for breakfast. Amazing food, is just very disappointing I can never go on my own - they speak no English. Smiling and pointing anyone?

Afternoon tea at the Penninsular

Today we went for afternoon tea at "the Pen".

Supposedly a Hong Kong institution and the place to go. So, along we went, dressed appropriately (no flip flops, no sportswear) and ready for High Tea and High Times.

We did have great fun, lovely catching up and chatting. Looking at the very appropriately dressed, super stylish, crowd and also at those who had not read the dress code (yellow baseball cap ladies??).

But, the service was appalling. Never, ever go there. The tea was drunk well in advance of any food arriving - which took over an hour. The food was average but the waiting staff killed any desire to go again.

The morning was spent eating (noodles), shopping (my mother is a bad influence), and then to happy foot for a painful but beneficial foot massage. More pain than seems entirely necessary at the time but your feet feel wonderful afterwards.

Post Low Tea we had a wander then headed back to Wanchai on the Star Ferry. I do so love that ferry.

I rounded off the evening watching CSI, wearing my new heels, eating mini cheddars and drinking a glass of red. Perfection.

How could I forget Friday??

How could I forget Friday night?? First stop Star Ferry over to Kowloon. I love that ferry and it only costs 25p.

Next stop the waterside at Kowloon to watch the famous light show. I've seen this before from a boat but never from Kowloon where you can hear the accompanying music! The HK skyline is truly beautiful and the light / laser show is a combination of hilarious (due to the ridiculousness of it) and stunning.

Following the show we hopped in a cab to Temple Street (this is HK so no add-lee prices, you're looking at about GBP2 per trip) for the night market.

A lovely evening. I made my first proper HK purchase (jewellery box - now I just need to fill it). The Temple Street night market is the mens market. (There is also a ladies market). This means there are many a stall selling Calvin Klein y-fronts. Nice! Also clothes, electronics, leather goods and the usual tourist tat.

We went to one of the outside restaurants and had masses and masses of wonderful food. Razor clams, spicy tofu, piles of fried noodles, yum, triple, yum. Topped off nicely with ice cold beer.

We missed the opera singers but from the taxi experience (see earlier post) I am now slightly relieved!

Dim sum + beach

Saturday, weather sunny and dry but threatening to rain.

We hopped into a taxi. HK taxi drivers notoriously claim to not know where you want to go. Our taxi driver claimed to know everywhere in HK and advised us of this in a semi-reassuring tone as we hopped in.

Traffic was bad so it was a reasonably long journey. A few minutes into the ride said driver advised he liked singing and would we like to hear a few lines. Cue a drive with two English songs (short, a lovely effort, no idea what the songs were), a mandarin song (this one I actually recognised) and a long piece of Chinese opera. How I wish someone had not recently described Chinese opera to me as "like hearing cats being strangled". We were killing ourselves in the back of the cab trying not to laugh! I feel mean saying this, but seriously, you should have been there...

Stop one was a restaurant called Dim Sum for, well, Dim Sum. Delicious! As ever we over-ordered. We did make one ordering error. The menu listed "deep fried milk" as an option. We ordered this to find out what it actually was (English translations often confusing). It turned out that it was indeed deep fried milk. Deep fried condensed milk to be accurate. Not my top dish but another fit of the giggles...

Back in the taxi and we went to Shek-O beach. We had packed swimmers and towels but it was actually so hot that we opted for sitting in the shade at the "surf cafe' reading our books. I felt slight guilt at sitting on a beach in HK planning a holiday to Bali. Almost like planning a holiday, while you are on holiday. Regardless, the Bali trip plans do now look super-cool.

Shek-O is lovely. A tiny beach although not ideal for swimming. Strong currents, someone drowned there only 2 days ago and someone had to be rescued while we were there. No one pays attention to the red flag being raised and repeated calls of the lifeguard towers (is there a proper word for these) for people to get out of the water if they are not strong swimmers. The nice chap at the surf shack was explaining how they are trying to work with local schools to educate children about the dangers of water and swimming etc.

The beach and surrounding area does have a real holiday feel about it. Lots of little stalls selling snacks, ice cream and beachwear. Given upcoming holiday I was having the bikini-diet or new bikini dilemma. Am now firmly in the new-bikini camp. Four week starvation diet wholly unrealistic (I have chocolate and mini cheddars sent from home to eat still) and there are some really lovely bikinis here. Yes, you have guessed correctly, I am about to become a holiday bore!

So the day had been a combination of eating and sitting. Wonderful. Home for a change into glad-rags then out for a wander through Lang Kwai Fong (always good people watching on a weekend), a few drinks in a lovely little bar I will definitely be going back to, and dinner in Pecatto Soho. Delicious.

Just as we finished dinner a thunderstorm alert was announced and the rain started POURING down. I have now learnt what to do and immediately hustled us into a cab home. Lovely evening though.

Rain appears to be holding off this morning but forecasts indicate this will not last the day... Possibly a spa day methinks.

Hutong again?

Last night I leave the office (it is dry and sunny) to collect mum from the airport. 1. she has whizzed through so I am late, 2. a red rainstorm kicks off, 3. no taxis, 4. grotty hotel (NEVER book the Novotel here).

So, the solution was to throw alcohol at the problem. This morning was a hot ribena and peanut butter, plus butter, on toast kind of a day.

Doing this in style we dressed up and went to Hutong for (yet another) FABULOUS meal. The asparagus with chilli and white sesame deserves a special mention and I will be hunting down the recipe. I really do like that restaurant!

After dinner we decided to keep on going and ventured upstairs to Aqua (see photo). Even more spectacular views (the rain makes it quite dramatic), more champers (always a good tipple to follow red wine) and the surreal experience of being in a bar playing house music, accompanied by my mother.

We had a great time and I was sad to remind myself I had work in the morning so we had to call it a night.

The rain continues to fall so plans remain 'fluid' (pardon the pun) this evening.

Many thanks to all who sent gifts across with mum. MUCH appreciated!

One of those days

Ok. So its 10am and I'm in the ladies at a fancy hotel. Stepping out of my frock. (Yes you read that correctly). Not quite as bad as it sounds (possibly). I was there for a meeting. On the way there I had discovered that I had lent against something white. Which marked. I was in a black dress. Less than ideal.

10.15am, cup of tea and a muffin in hand, I make it to the sign in desk to collect my name badge. (Dress now back on). Cup of tea goes all over the sign in table. Muffin hits the floor. I am handed a second cup and second muffin. This (muffin2) also hits the floor. Why oh why does this happen to me?

So, I kept a low profile for the rest of the day. I think I avoided most further incidents.

By early afternoon I had gained sufficient confidence to take a trip to the Manolo Blahnik store. My first ever trip - can you believe it? And what timing. Almost as if to make up for the mornings humiliation, today was the first day of the sale. 50% off. Rows of beautiful shoes.

However, I was restrained and decided to sleep on it before purchasing. Hence, an early night for me. The quicker I sleep, the quicker I get to shop. Perfect logic, yes?

Holidays!

Hello all. Well I am frequently told that the joy of Hong Kong is that "it is so easy to get to other places". Well, with 4.5 weeks to go of my time here it seemed time to book those all important holidays.

Mere moments (ok so it took a little while) on ebookers later I now have flights to Bali and Sydney. I hasten to add these were not booked in an orderly manner. Despite Bali being halfway to Oz, I have managed to get myself flights where I go HK - Bali - HK - Oz - HK. Nice. Good planning there! Note to self. Buy an atlas.

I have also booked with an airline that was until recently banned from flying to the EU due to safety concerns. Oh yes. Still, I used to drive a Ford KA on the M25. I know which is riskier. Crisp bag on wheels!

All well in HK. Last night I finally made the Peak Hike night again, three weeks missed due to Tokyo jaunts. Made it up to the top. Just. Feel it would be easier if I did go every week. Or did any other exercise. Ahem.

Moving quickly on to food tales I did get to have a delicious lunch at Zuma, and clearly the biggest pizza in the world post peak hike. The O Cafe does a pizza 1m sq. Yum!

Today is meetings, meetings, meetings. The excitement never stops. I expect I'll round off the day by doing my washing.

Mum arrives tomorrow, hurrah! I have heard tales of treats from home.... I have already had one exciting message saying twirls are in the post. Can this be true!? Hurry the plane, hurry the post!

Oh, hold on, I almost forgot the REALLY exxciting news! There is a Manolo here. New season arrives today. Maybe I will be amending those evening plans... (Shoes for work don't count dad!)

Lantau Island

Lantau Island. What can I say. As the pictures show, the views are beautiful. However, the warm up to the views is not exactly all you would want it to be.

Those of you considering a trip:

1. book tickets in advance;

2. pay extra and get the "crystal 360" - not for the glass floor but for the queue jumping;

3. bring drinks and snacks; and

4. avoid if you have vertigo.

Ok, so it was the ultimate tourist end to a weekend. What else were we supposed to do other than a trip to Lantau. So we merrily hopped on the metro ready for a day of sights.

We had not prepared ourselves for a two and a half hour (yes you read correctly and that is being generous) queue before getting onto the cable cars.

'Great' things about the queue:

1. the man with the beer belly bumping into us with said belly (sweaty and gross);

2. the lack of food; and

3. the fact that in HK people don't queue, so by "queuing" you are actually "watching queue jumpers".

Grrrrr.

Still, we made it onto the cable cars (not the time to remember you have vertigo) and the sights were beautiful - although probably not worth the queue. Next time I'm booking in advance.

Clearly first stop was to eat. Guidebook tip was to head to the vegetarian restaurant that forms part of the Po Lin monastery. Tasty treats and eating there means free entry to the museum within the big Buddha. Top tip number two!

The big Buddha is actually the Tian Tan Buddha. 34 metres tall and weighing 250 tons. 256 steps to reach it.