Hello from Honkers!

Take several beautiful, mountainous islands, add an array of ultra-modern skyscrapers, hundreds of shabby government high rises, several million people, and more designer shops per square meter than perhaps anywhere in the world, and you have Hong Kong and its outlying districts.
Hong Kong is a furiously busy metropolis, where old China, with its bazaars, temples, lazy parks, and restaurants meets the ultra modern business world of both the East and West. There are so many people living and working in such a small area, that it is about the only place where there is as much going on above your head as there is in front and around you. The buildings are tall, the streets are crowded and the atmosphere is electric - life seems to be lived at 100mph, and the inhabitants are extremely hard working.
One of the Chinese favourite past times is smoking. I have no doubt that 99% of the 1+ billion people chain smoke their way through the day, and every restaurant, bar, shop and square inch of the country seems to be shrouded in a thin fog, sponsored by Marlboro. Mind you, it is only adding to the smog generated by the factories over on the China mainland, which are now in the full throws of an industrial revolution which is contributing to the fastest growing economy in the world. It is also, I am afraid to say, contributing to the fastest growing smog cloud in the world, which seems to eclipse any blue from an otherwise beautiful sky in Hong Kong for most of the year. I only saw blue in the sky on two days out of the 30 that we were there, and that was due to the factories closing for a Chinese festival at around the same time as a Typhoon hitting in the Philippines and pushing the usually South heading breeze Northwards.
Nevertheless, the lack of colour in the sky was tempered fully by the colour on the streets and in the markets - red and gold lanterns; ancient Chinese temples; hundreds of markets selling all manner of fruits, vegetables, flowers and fabrics; and thousands of neon signs and flashing lights combine to stimulate all senses and ensure that you are knackered at the end of the day.
We were lucky enough to be welcomed into life in Hong Kong by Lou's cousin, Rachel, and her wonderful group of friends - all of them making our stay in Hong Kong unforgettable. Lou had no less than 3 birthday cakes given to her for her celebration, one of which was even baked for her by Rachel's collegue and friend from work!!! So, our planned post-Aussie diet didn't really work out as well as we'd hoped, but my goodness the cakes were good...
It is at this point that I should thank Rachel for letting us stay in her apartment for the month, and everyone for buying us drinks, cooking us meals, and generally making us feel so welcome in Hong Kong.
I would recommend anybody to visit Hong Kong if they want a first-taste of Asia. It is clean, progressive, and very accessible - no more than 300 Stirling from Heathrow, and (I hear on the grapevine) even less from October.
So, my little ramble aside, we are back to Thailand after Honkers, with plans to visit the North and all points missed out previously...