19 January - Hong Kong

Don't like it. Probably twice the size of NYC and not half as intersting. Unless you're an architect and you study skyscrapers. Sure, that one over there was used by Lara Croft who lept off it (as if) and it's in the forthcoming Batman (as if anyone would jump 98 floors) and nearby there's an even taller one going up. But me? not my thing and neither are the shops. Divided into incredible malls with all the brands you're used to and the super ones (Gucci, Vuitton, Armani, Dior and .. suprisingly Ferragamo) which are every where .. and a whole bunch of shops that sell fakes and a whole bunch of shops that sell primark style stuff, in Kowloon mainly.

The food is good, but as usual that matters to Toph more than it does to me. The highlight of 3 days here (in overcast weather which usually doesn't help) is my pedicure - very good, smooth tootsies for six quid and a dinner with friends who live here and take us to some old colonial building /club in the premises of the old bank of China and that's superb but it's a sad building as it's low and cute and all around it are these giant skyscrapers full of ... financial workers. No, never here again, next time switch planes in Bangkok.