Bonkers in Honkers

12th November

Firstly, a little explanation about the title... You see, I can't lay claim to the creativity behind it. No, it belongs to some random writer at Company magazine who saw fit to write an article in 1997 about the ex-pat scene in Hong Kong. Splashed across the title page was my sister's old flat mate, Sarah, who was bonkers to be fair so it seemed only fair to continue the theme.

Sadly (well, there was no-one there to bear witness other than some Chinese people who I'm sure think I'm a Buddha in disguise anyway), I refrained from launching into the YMCA song and dance every time I entered my hotel in Hong Kong. The lyrics were strangely apt (apart from me being a young girl of course!) which might make some of you google it because lets face it, you don't sing it on karaoke every week... or do you?! So, I was energised into getting lots of sightseeing done!

....That was until jet lag set in and my first mistake was not waking up until 12.30pm on Wednesday. Oops! Having said that, I got myself up and going and headed across to Hong Kong Island on the Star Ferry (an institution in Hong Kong transport) for about 20p and walked my way through the madness of 'Central' where all the chief honcho's of the financial firms are shouting 'buy' 'sell' on their mobiles (which even work on the underground....) - oh I remember it well, where's my blackberry for comfort when I need it?!

I found my way to the Peak Tram and headed up to Victoria Peak (quite scary that gravity suggests to you that you should be falling back down were it not for a few strong magnets or something like that!). I had to spend about half a day getting the David Bailey quality (yeah, I know, you're impressed.... what?!!) photos from about 50 different lights, angles etc etc... Can you tell I love my camera?! I can't take pictures of me successfully so it'll have to be the scenery ok?

On my way back, I decided to 'mingle' with the glitterati of HK. Saw (heard the engine purring first!) about a dozen Ferraris and was walking past Gucci, Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton et al thinking that in my trainers, linen trousers and random t-shirt, I'm really fitting in. All I need is a man to offer me a ferrero rocher and I really will be spoilt.

Updated!!!
I just had to head into Marks and Spencers... failed to see a percy pig so left soon after. Maybe I just didn't look hard enough or they had already been warned that I was on my way. So, I rather dejectedly, decided to head back across to Kowloon. No gingerbread lattes at Starbucks and no percy pigs, I'm destined to stay miserable!

I stopped off in the Harbour City mall where the cruise ferrys dock and just got lost in a maze of shops. Perhaps time to retire for the evening!

I thought I was feeling tired, I had certainly done a fair amount of walking so you'd think i'd be ready to collapse. Sadly, my jet lagged brain was having none of it - oh no, it was still 8 hours earlier as far as it was concerned and ready for a party, even if my body wasn't. 5.30am I finally got to sleep after watching Legends of the Fall, The Crow and some other random film from yesteryear. I was not impressed!