Smoke gets in your eyes, but incense dust gets everywhere!

The public transport system here is brilliant - today I've been on trams, trains & ferries, & none of the journeys has cost more than 40p. They also have the Chinese equivalent of an Oyster Card.

The trams are lovely-they're the original Victorian ones & are made mainly of wood, just like the Star Ferries that cross the harbour every 10 minutes. The trains are very different though - super modern & all in chrome, with flashing lights that show you the direction of travel & next stop & everything!

Getting around does seem to be a contact sport though, with people pushing & shoving, even if you're not in the way. The large crowd I was part of had to wait nearly 3 minutes (that's outrageous-we can only wait 10 seconds for anything!) for a ferry to Hong Kong from Kowloon, & when it came into sight, I couldn't stop myself saying quite loudly "BUNDLE" as everyone swarmed en masse to get right up against the barrier in case they were second or even third on. People were actually running onto the boat. It's really funny being the tallest person as you get to enjoy so much more of the action!

I smell of incense! I've visited 2 Buddhist temples today & was quite tempted to start setting fire to stuff & waving it around myself - what an exciting way to worship. The karma here has a pretty swift turnaround though, as I got superbly hustled by a monk lurking with religious intent in one of the subways. After accepting the very shiny gold "token of regular bowel movements & nice shiny hair" or whatever the heck it was, he then invited me to sign his little book & donate 500 Dollars to help restore the temple. Do I look like a complete chump fella? I think not. I gave him 10 dollars & told him he should think himself lucky that I'm not local, or I'd be round at his place on a regular basis looking for special prayers & free paper to set fire to.

I may have accidentally boosted the black economy in a small way, as I have purchased a pair of spanking G-Star combat trousers for 140 dollars or 14 of your Earth Pounds, & a most excellent utility watch for the bargain price of 90 Dollars or 9 of Gordon Brown's weak & feeble Great British Pounds.

Crack on - tomorrow evening I leave for Sydney. Please let it be less than 30 degrees, as I'd quite like to be able to go outside in daylight.

Local Beverage of Choice: Tsing Tao Beer - I've had 2 this evening.
Prevailing Skin Condition: Red cheeks from air pollution
Local Interaction: Mainly male waiters, interested in my hardware.

Interesting Fact No.1 

The bacteria that caused the plague of 1894 originated in the slums of Hong Kong.
Interesting Fact No.2 

It appears to be traditional to finish an evening meal with a glass of hot water.