Sunday

Brilliant day today! We went across to Hong Kong Island on the Star Ferry and took the Peak Tram up to the Peak. We spent about 3 hours walking round, including a diversion to see N_M's "secret place." It is so lush and green up there, full of ferns and palms and banyan trees. It was incredibly hot and muggy, although slightly cooler in the jungly parts. The views are fabulous, as the weather cleared we could see right across Kowloon.

In Hong Kong there are loads of Filipino maids, and the only day off they get is on Sunday. So they all get together and sit en masse under buildings where there is some shade. They chat and do each other's hair and nails - here is a picture of them under the HSBC Headquarters. It was just a cacophany of noise!

We had our hands moulded in wax - something we've never seen done before! They dip your entwined hands first in ice water, then in hot wax, then back in cold, then wax, over and over to build up a shell. Then our hands were "relaxed" out of the mould, which was dipped in colours and set on a base. It's a great souvenir.

As we made our way back to our hotel, we came across this little chap trying to make his escape from Hong Kong Park!

N_M picked him up and carried him back to the pond in the park, rather than him get squashed in the road!

We had a McDonald's tonight, blimey it's cheap over here! A Big Mac meal, together with a large salad (no salad cream, thank god!) a cup of sweetcorn and butter, and a milkshake cost less than £5!! The rents over here are sky high and they must still be making a profit, so it makes one wonder just how much money they are making in the UK!

We've been buying things at the Night Market as well tonight, everything is such good value that your money seems to go a long way. Our pet sitter will be pleased to know there are already 2 bags for him!!

Right signing out now, it's gone 1am and I'm getting tired. At home, N_M never walks anywhere; here we walk miles so bed is calling!