On our last day in Hong Kong, Briony's birthday, we got up early and headed for the ferry to the Lamma island. The day started cloudy but by the time we got to Lamma it was bright and sunny for us! It was great to get out of the city a bit and visit a place that's so quiet (though that could have just been because we were very lucky). Compare this place to HK and you can be utterly bewildered that it's only half an hour by boat. There are no cars allowed so everyone is on mopeds and bikes. No skyscrapers clawing their way toward the sky. And, above all, we had an entire mountain walk to ourselves!
The walk was about 2 hours, where we took a couple of stops for beaches, vantage points and photo opportunities and it was a very nice epitome of China. Mountains and beach alcoves that were stunning stretches around a huge bay... where at the end is a massive power station! If you ignore that bit where China seem to want to try and mess up a view an any way possible (at least this time there were no annoying tannoys or thousands of red, blue, green and white capped tourists). We couldn't have chosen a more perfect day though. At the end of the walk we were hearing some music and it turns out we arrive just in time for the ceremony of the Gods (or something along that title). We had an excellent table by the sea and were served possible the best seafood dinner I have ever had! Prawns in soy and chili sauce, bamboo clams, steamed fish, deep fried calamari... 'twas a dream come true!
We stayed for the rest of the ceremony and when it was done got back to Hong Kong island by ferry. We went back to the hostel and by this time it was about time we should start getting some drinks down us. It was Briony's birthday and we wanted to give her an amazing night out in HK. It turns out it was brilliant. Or so I've been told. I remember up until a point then it goes a bit hazy. We found a bar with a big walk in freezer at the back and had some vodka wearing huge fur coats and hats. We found a bar and met some Chinese locals who kept buying us Jagermeister, and so the story goes. Great night.
Hungover the next day we moped about in the park near our hostel for a while and proceeded to find some lunch and head to the bus station. Caught the sleeper bus to Yangshuo, dubbed backpackers paradise. I can't ascertain why it is called a sleeper bus though, the beds were way to small to sleep in. It is basically a coach with 3 rows of 3 tier bunk beds. I happened to be in the middle row on the top and couldn't shake the feeling all night I was going to topple. However, to keep us entertained we were hit by a massive storm. Constant lightning. Thunder so booming your ears are pounding to the noise like the worlds biggest base drum. And the rain. I got caught in it running to the toilet on a short stop and i was drenched head to toe wearing t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops where the water came up to my ankles!
Arriving in Yangshuo at 5.30am and we walked to our hostel. This town is very cool. It's not huge, though not much is coming out of Honk Kong. There are mountain outcrops wherever you look though. It's crazy. Awesome views everywhere. This afternoon/evening we have been on a 3 hour cooking course. It's our first so far and we want to do one in every country we go to. I'm hoping I can show of my culinary expertise of Asia when I eventually arrive home. Today we cooked Beer Fish (a local favourite), Gong Buo Chicken, and Vegetable Dumplings. It was fantastic, if I do say so myself! I'm really looking forward to the rest of my stay in Yangshuo, it's a fantastic town and there seems to be so much to do here. I think some people are waiting for the Internet and I'm tired so that's it for now!
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