Hong kong from victoria peak

Our rooms were not ready which was not a great surprise so we had hours to kill, we had breakfast then set off to Kowloon where I had heard there was a cheap camera shop as I wanted to buy yet another camera. We took the subway and landed right in the middle of Kowloon. This area seems to be right on the edge and I was not happy with some of the shops I went into - certainly would not trust my credit card to them. I found the camera I wanted and tried to haggle but it was not to be, the owner would not even chuck in a free case. Bought the camera! Discovered that the menu was in Chinese and had to go back to get somebody to convert it for me, Tom bought an I-Pod.

we found a street market selling fish, animals, fruit and veg. The fish were all alive and some of them were flopping round on trays waiting on someone to buy them when they were chopped up - it was quite barbaric. The worst bit for me was the chickens, there were cages of them in the market, all alive. Somebody chose this nice plump one, the woman took it behind the counter, there was a bit of clucking then thump - it;s head was off and that was the end of the chicken. I could turn vegie - not really.

We went back to the mainland and then came back to the hotel, the rooms were ready so we managed a shower and a rest before heading back out to the Victoria Peak. The views from here can be stunning but as you can see the smog was down so we were disappointed, if the smog gets better I'll go back. We had a Chinese meal up the peak which was nice but not really my thing but "when in Rome" and all that. We've just arrived back at the hotel at 9.00pm.

Not sure I like Hong Kong, the buildings are impressive and the hussle and bustle is fine for a while but after New Zealand where everything is so relaxed it's a little overwhelming for me. I'm glad I've been but I cant see me returning. People are very subservient when they are serving you, lots of bowing but then you get knocked over by people rushing to catch a train. It is also quite dirty.