So I'll post this blog when I land but I'm currently on a plane to Jakarta (being handed my free drink and mixed nuts) after spending the most amazing week in Hong Kong! I want to share all of the stuff I've been up to, so please forgive me for trying to turn into a travel blogger over night, I'm clueless. Really.
In Hong Kong we were lucky enough to stay with the family of one of my best friends and they were amazing hosts! I honestly couldn't have asked for a better week. We saw so much and easily could've spent longer - don't let anyone tell you there's not much to do in Hong Kong except shopping - all you need is to stay with locals - they know how to show you a good time! I can't thank you enough for having us Lizzie, Luca, Venetia and Henry - you're all awesome :)
So here it goes!
DAY ONE! Tuesday 8th July 2014
The first day of our trip was exclusively travelling and was really rather exhausting - 7 hours flying from Gatwick to Dubai (during which I got covered head to toe in polystyrene balls after the guy next to me exploded his travel pillow - so funny, but you probably had to be there....moving on), 3 hours at Dubai Airport (which was so shiny, chrome everywhereeeeee) and then another 8 hours flying from Dubai to Hong Kong.
What with the 7 hour time difference and travelling time, we actually ended up in Hong Kong at 3pm the next day - SO EXHAUSTING! No time for jet lag though, jet lag is for wimps *clears throat* *conceals yawn*.
DAY 2! Wednesday 9th July 2014
When we arrived at Hong Kong airport, I had a minor (okay, major) freak out that my bag had been lost between connecting flights. I was having a nightmare, thinking I was gonna have to wear boy clothes until my bag turned up. Jack's bag had arrived safely and there was me, staring at the baggage collection point like a rabbit caught in the headlights. I was so happy when it arrived that I actually skipped back to where Jack was waiting for me, depsite the undeniable weight of my rucksack.
There I was, a blur of excitement as I was reunited with the bag that contains my life for 6 weeks. I heart bag <3
Bags collected safely, we jumped on the airport express and met Lizzie at Hong Kong Central station and headed to their very swanky apartment in Causeway Bay, where we stayed for the next week.
We headed out to Hong Kong Football Club where we became temporary members and had a lovely dinner - it definitely did NOT feel like backpacking! Here's the football club by night - surrounded by lots of beautiful skyscrapers and quirky little low rises!
Here's us on the famous Sogo crossing, looking fairly bedraggled after our flights. It's HUGE!
DAY 3! Thursday 10th July 2014
We got stuck straight in with the sightseeing and headed to Cotai on the ferry with Luca on Thursday morning. It's an island located an hour off of the coast of Hong Kong and is basically a replica of Las Vegas. Full of casinos, gambling and drinking, much like Vegas, the land of excess.
We actually got lost in The Venetian - so lost. I swear they make the shopping centre part so hard to navigate so you have to spend money in the stores - curse you clever business people!
When we'd got bored of taking selfies by the fake Venetian canal, complete with photo bombing gondolas, we headed to the island of Macau!
Macau used to be a Portuguese colony so along with more casinos like the Wynn and the Grand Lisboa, there's a bit of history to indulge in! We went to this amazing church that had been burnt down many times and all that's left is the façade - so cool!
We then explored an old fort opposite the church, complete with old canons pointing straight at the Grand Lisboa!
We wandered back into the centre of Macau to meet Luca and grabbed a taxi to the industrial part of Macau to a new restaurant called Bar.Celona, where Luca was meeting the owner to discuss selling his wines there (he's a wine merchant). What we weren't expecting was to get a free 12 course meal made up of tapas inspired by the Catalan region of Spain, but that's exactly what we got!! It was sooooo delicious - check it out if you're ever in the area! Here's the piece de resistance, pork with pineapple!
I could totally eat that again right now instead of forcing down Garuda Indonesia's version of plane food!
DAY 4! Friday 11th July 2014
We headed to the football club and spent the morning by the pool in the sunshine. Cue Danii managing to get burnt in the first hour. My skin is clearly not built for 34 degree weather, even when slathered in factor 50 suncream!
When we'd finished sunning ourselves we headed to Stanley Market on a little shuttle bus. If you ever go on this bus try to sit on the right hand side of the bus - you get the best view of all the bays! Here's us with the best seats on the bus - smug selfie!!
And this is one of the beautiful views:
And a less beautiful view of me in my very stylish bumbag! Jack was not amused by my choice of bag...
When we arrived at Stanley Market we were greeted with exactly what you'd expect, cramped little market stalls selling quirky little souvenirs and the odd diamond in the rough!
Jack and I both invested in what we're calling "traveller pants", you know the ones, baggy trousers that make it look like you're trying to replicate Aladdin's fashion sense - I'm sure you'll see pictures of me looking like an idiot in them at a later date!
I also bought myself what I hope is an authentic jade bangle - here's to good health and good luck (if what the Chinese say about Jade is true!).
After we'd done some shopping we tried some local food for dinner! Jack had fish ball soup and I had wanton noodle soup - it was surprisingly yummy!
After dinner we headed back to the apartment to get ready for a night out with Venetia and her friend Robyn! Starting with drinks at the top of the Crowne Plaza (amazing view!) and ending at 7 Heaven and Play in Lan Kwai Fung. So much fun! And guess what ladies, girls get into the clubs for free (sorry Jack!). Here's the view over Hong Kong from the Crowne Plaza and a picture of Jack, Robyn and I!
Such a good night out!!
I'll leave it there for now because I don't want to overload a single post - I'll actually be amazed if anyone managed to read the whole thing. If you did, you deserve my applause *claps enthusiastically*!
Bye for now!
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