I thought I heard him say fish head?

Markets, markets, markerts. Ladies, western, food, clothes, electronics among others. All nice and enclosed to trap the sapping heat and smells. One shock was flicking through a few canvases finding the same painting, painted twice, noticeable differences included. I picture some poor aspiring painter hunched over an easel paiting the same picture over and over again. Still, it'll be sent in mail this afternoon. There was even one of Van Gough's sunflower.

Whilst at Danny Mung's, we'd noticed feasting over a single split hot pot, centered in the table, droping, cooking, and fishing out various morsoles of meats and vegies. On advice, we'd gone trecking for a restaurant about ten k's from the hotel, accompanied by an address in Chinese. Waiting in line to try the newly discovered fare, we observe the filleting, preparing, and serving of a live fish still mildy thrashing in shock of losing half it's body.

Seated, the well meaning supervisor tries to explain, but more successfully demonstrates , how and what to eat and bravely agree to his recommendations.

A variety of side dishes arrives, proscuitto thin steak, meat balls, and something we decided was the skin of a former animal? We prepared our own mixture of soy, chilly, spring onions, garlic / ginger / onion mix, and something else that was crunchy to use as a dipping sauce. Then, the main event, the hot pot, one side boiling with a beef style soup, the other white, with corn, tofu, a few unknown vegies, fish skin, and I think pig knuckle. Oh, and a big ole fish head. Although both a touch squeamish on the fish head, consumed and enjoyed. The meat balls especially tasty, with a garlicy buttered centre.

Hmmm, You'd think with all this talk of eating, all we've done is sample the local tucker?

Tonight, shopping, washing packing, then off to the peak for a night time view of HK and flying to Amsterdam and five past midnight.

Now, dim sum for breakfast :)

Organised Chaos

Fast, dynamic, massive, but unbelievably in sync. Everyone seems to have a purpose, no matter that be dull, boring, difficult, or complex, the job get done and done well. Whether in a museum, park, restaurant or eating some slush called black sesame everyone is eager to help a giant white boy and his tall, by local standards, wife, with buffuddled looks on their chevy chase hovering over a map.

It may just be lust, but I have fallen for HK!!

The food is sublime, eating dim sum last night, similiar to yum cha, the restaurant supervisor proudly shows his aussie 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, and $2 slamming it down on the table. After a brief chat, I gave him (Beth's) 5c and $5. All of a sudden, we are Danny Mung's new best friends :) Free deserts, drinks, peanuts (not for Beth), choclates, and half priced box set of moon cakes. btw They have a aquarium full of the biggest baby killing (alaskan) crabs I've seen.

Especially proud and shocked, yesterday, after long walk around hong kong island, meandering around the edges of town found this ram shakle of an eatery on a dodgy side street. No guessing the missus wasn't keen until bam, of the five words the owner knew, one was dumplings. Next thing you know, Beth and I are sitting on a stool in a tin shed and she is all in for desert too, a bowl of blackish sludge; Consumed and enjoyed. 20 of your best backpacker points to Beth please.

Runs on the board:
Kowloon bay light show - I was a touch skeptical rocking up to the nightly version of safm's skyshow, but I kid you not, literally 80+ skyscrapers synchronised with music, lasers and lights across the harbour, awesome.

Habana express (photo's to come in facebook)
Me - "Are these all cubans?"
Staff - "Yes sir, they are"
Me - "Oh yeah....."

Walking and riding through Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific
- Reasonable food and your personally video / gaming system. All of sudden it's 1988 as Hamish is playing arconoid for about an hour.

Danny Mung 35 - 37 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Room 31 - 22
Best view of the harbour. "It's all downhill from here"

Lost wickets:
Picked out by the local monks for a donation.

Siting in an english bar listening to your best 80's rock. Cat's in the craddle and a Silverspoon, little boy blue and a man on the moon (I know it's a cover song)!

Lost after a visit to the botanic gardens.

Leaving tomorrow

Leaving tomorrow, hooray although I've been a bit grumpy. Beth has been understanding :)

Hopefully, we'll have a few interesting comments in the coming days in honkers

Done.

Rather surreal spending my first night at home with my wife :) Who would have thought?

Wedding was fantastic, but unbelievable hectic and fast paced. Beth looked sublime, groomsman and bridesmaid's were a treat, and all our family and friends made the day really special. With thanks to all those who helped. Of the top of my head, DJ Rob, Julie the Celebrant, the guys at Sebel, Gary for video taping, Keith for MCing, the photographer, and everyone I've forgotten - sorry. Oh, and many thanks for all the presents!

We greatly appreciate everyone rolling and helping make it a special day :)

Now for two days of anticipation. First stop, honkers.

Last day @ work

Woohoo, it's my last day at work :)

I might try and actually put in some serious and hopefully, half interesting blogs

count 'em

Count 'em, 21 days of work left!!!!

Would not be able to survive these hours at work without the four months break :))))

Five weeks to heaven

Shots, shots and more shots..... yellow feaver, hep a + b, typhoid and waiting on a medical clearance for the flights..... Works is all consuming, but FIVE WEElKS TO GO!!!!!

Have had random thoughts about catching a rugby game in bordeaux for the world cup. Apart from that, only movement on dates and times is to spend more time in south america and less in europe....

So far will visit Beth's friend Zoe in Holland, Ellen in Belgium, and maybe the DECSies in London Southy and Vanessa, and I also hear the lumberjack, Derek Ryan will be in the mother country.

Would love to fit in the octoberfest, but don't want to push to much.

The cows will get up tonight which might help something else....