Home safe, tired, going for a bath, sort of missing Hong Kong...Hastings just isn't the same. That was an easy blog for today, catch you later. Have a joke in the meantime:
Let me paint you a picture, imagine sitting in a Sauna for 3 1/2 hours, full clothed, watching a football game, this is how we felt this afternoon. I'm actually surprised i was still sweating, don't think I had any more sweat to sweat out. Saying that, a shower was thoroughly enjoyed when we got home after the game. Fair to say it was one of the hottest days of the year yet, especially with the humidity, maybe not great weather to watch football. I can't even imagine to think what it must have been like to play in it, Tottenham Hotspur players did seem to be struggling, the scoreline shows that.
Final score today - South East China 2 Tottenham Hotspurs 0. I don't think it was so much South East China were brilliant, more of the fact that Spurs were shockingly bad, even when they brought on Keane, Defoe and Lennon. I do get the feeling that they felt the heat, as did most of the crowd. Even so it was a very good game, and a well deserved win by the Chinese. Their first goal was a cracking volley, one of the best goals i've seen in a while. Also nice was the fact that even though we were 5000 miles away, every member of the crowd and teams stood in a one minutes silence to remember the great late Sir Bobby Robson (see above pic).
One thing that has fascinated me recently is the Chinese Scaffolding. There's no metal poles or clambs, it's all entirely made out of Bamboo (see above pic). And there's all these little blokes climbing all over it. How it stays up is amazing. Just shows what you can do with natural products. I don't think the reaction would be great if this practice was used back in Health & Safety gone Politically Correctness mad Britain!
Forgot to mention last night the crazy Pakistanis who pester you constantly in Nathan Road asking if you want to buy watches or have a suit made. Even when you say no they still don't get the point. Figured out though that if you give them a firm no, and then they keep on, just ignore them and they swiftly get the message. I'm not one for being rude to people, but sometimes ignorance is the best idea.
Anyway, hopefully tomorrow won't be as warm. Heading further outside of Hong Kong for a change tomorrow, off to see Tian Tan Buddha which is the largest outdoor Buddha in the world. Got to get on Ngong Ping cable car to get there, which takes about 25 mins, but apparently some cracking views from it. Then a traditional chinese meal tomorrow night. Bedtime now for me, night!
As you stand on Victoria Peak, from one side you see a busy metropolis of high rise skyscrapers to turning around and looking over to the other side where it is a green national park type region with beaches and the occasional apartment block. No city in the world is like this one.
It was warm today, around about 33oC with the sun high in the sky which made it slightly toasty, especially when walking along the promenade on Hong Kong Harbour or up on the peak. The peak is the place to go in Hong Kong for without a doubt the best panoramic views, of not only Hong Kong city, but the rest of the island and also the rest of the new territories. On a clear day it's an amazing sight, and this is what we got today. It was absolutly beautiful, slight treck in the heat up to the Peak tram which takes you up to the summit. The Peak Tram has been in operation since 1888, it takes you up 800 metres over Hong Kong island at times with at degrees of 27. Got an excellent video of us coming back down it which i'll upload to youtube in time.
I'm doing this blog a bit back to front, but I guess it doesn't matter. As we emerged from the Hong Kong underground system beside the Space Museum you get a sense of just why it's one of the most famous and recognised views in the entire world. Streching for what must be a few miles, no number of photos can really put into words just how amazing it is, it really is a case of, you must come and see it to understand just how immense the view is. It's almost more breathtaking than the view from the Peak, but in different ways.
Before I got here, I imagined Hong Kong to be like any normal city e.g. London, New York etc. but it isn't at all. Even if you don't love cities, you can spend a day in the city, but spend another 6 days out in the wilderness treking up mountains. It's like an english summer around November and December time, so quite pleasant. I've got tons of photos, and will be uploading the best ones to Facebook when i get back to the UK and have the time. Up until then its just the tasters on here.
We finished the day with a nice meal in the famous Nathan Road, you may not have heard of it but you'd recognise it in the photos. This was followed by us returning once again to the waterfront for what is officially the biggest permenant Sound and Lighting Show in the world. 44 buildings participate in this dazzling display of the areas culture and technology. Containing 16,594 dynamic light fixtures, the nightly show is programmed and co-ordinated through the internet using a custom built show control system installed in all the buildings (can I have their internet speed please?) A truly amazing show, especially for someone as geeky about the whole this as I am. And very busy on the waterfront too.
Tomorrow is a bit of a quieter and easy day, it's off to support Tottenham Hotspurs....I never thought i'd see the day. Well it's either them or South China, and I should support the english team! More photos and blogs to come, along with hopefully some more vlogs! Watch this Space!
As with most things, no matter what quality or size of the photograph, it will never show you just how amazing this place is. I still can't believe how 10 mins from the centre of Hong Kong, you can be sitting in the middle of a forest in pretty much silence. I'm beginning to see why this city is so popular with tourists, and am yet to set foot on Hong Kong island. 
Two photos above, the first one is Hong Kong by night, you can just about make out the lights of Hong Kong island in the distance. Second one is the view from my bedroom window in the apartment. Woke up at 4 this morning, went back to sleep and then got up at 10am. My body clock is a bit all over the place but that's jet lag for you. Hopefully when I go to bed at 11pm Hong Kong time tonight it'll sort itself out. 
Today has been a nice day of relaxing and seeing the local area. Have been looking at Hong Kong island all day but haven't quite made it there, that's what tomorrow's all about. After a late start, food shopping was needed, nothing special really to talk about there...the best bits about shopping in this sort of country is the markets. Everything is available on the markets, even cats and turtles! Though i'm not sure these are to be eaten... 
It was meant to be a traditional chinese lunch tonight, instead we ended up in a Japanese restaurant...minus the Sushi. Was very enjoyable, looking forward to a proper Chinese dinner when we get round to it. Cost was only £14 for the 3 of us. Heading to the tourist area tomorrow so that'll be a bit more pricey. 
This was followed by a short walk down to the the sea, took the above photo of my dad looking out of the South China sea there. Headed up to Nina tower which is the 33rd biggest building in the world, originally it was planned for the tower to be made the biggest building in the world but due to its close proximity to Hong Kong airport at the time, they were restricted to its height. This towers, as does most of Hong Kong, among tons of greenery and hills. My Dad described it very well, it's like something out of "Sim City", it very much is like one of those cities you build with everything in it. 
Once we'd headed back to the apartment, got a drink and cooled down it was decided to head over to a viewing point which looks over Lantau Island in the direction of Hong Kong International Airport. Lovely weather to jump on a motorbike for a quick drive through both city and countryside to check out the views out to see and over the surrounding islands. Some excellent photos from there, but can only really upload one without me being here all night, so tried to add the best one. 
**Photo not taken by me, i've only been here 6 hours!**
Just booked my flights to Hong Kong in July, off to visit my Dad, and fulfill another one of my many goals in life. Any suggestions of places to visit or things to see would be greatfully appreciated. Nothing like finding out from the people that know...
