Well I am on the way home at last. Here you can see the Cathay Pacific Airbus that will transport me over China, Russia, The Arctic and down through Northern Europe (At least that's the way it says it goes in the inflight magazine. There is also a picture of my hotel and one of the Christmas deccies at one of the posher hotels



As usual I have no idea where the pictures will end up and where the text will be.

I walked back down to the star ferry last night and took some pictures across the water to Hong Kong Island. It was quite surreal walking round sweating in my shorts and T shirt amongst Christmas trees and piped Christmas Carols. Christmas is huge and there were decorations and displays everywhere. I suppose it may be for the local populatiopn, but all could be the multinational stores just finding another way to make money.

Nathan Road was really busy, so I walked along some of the side streets that run parrallel to it on the way back. This meant I went through the Temple Street night market, an intriguing collection of stalls selling everthing from underwear to screwdrivers.

Got back to the hotel about 10:00 pm, having eaten out. Decided I wasn't brave enough to try the local Chinese and went to the Mong Kok spaghetti house for Lasagne and Garlic Bread. Having looked at the people eating in the local Chinese restaurants it seems noodles in asoupish broth is very popular. as the menus were all in mandarin and I couldn't identify the broth I thought pasta would be more enjoyable.

Slept from 11:00 through to 7:00 so missed Tai Chi in the park again. Had bfast in the hotel and then got the shuttle bus to the airport. The bus picked up at 4 more hotels so I also got a tour of Kowloon side. Got to the airport about 11;15 and the check ins were open so \i checked in, had a walk round the shops and nearly bought an Olympus digital SLR, then came down to the lounge to check my mail have a beer and write this.

I will post a final instalment when I get home.