The sight of Hong Kong in the night time is Blade Runner-esque, particularly in the week we have been here it has rained most days. The city is all high rise that are interconnected to create an underground world that enables you to spend the day entirely in artificial light and air conditioning, it is a bit like a Las Vegas casino in that it could be any time outside and you would never know. Looking at all the bright neon from the harbourside is very impressive and every evening at 8pm the lights on the buildings come together to dance a superb show to the sound of music. These huge buildings flash in time with one another shooting lasers across the city and the night sky, flashing simulated lightening up and down the futuristic Bank of China (which has rugby posts on its roof!) and different coloured shaped and imagery pop on and off creating a kind of video game Tetris effect.

We have loved the markets here, from the interesting food markets that sell all types of fish and medicinal things, including dried gecko, to the bustling night markets with all the knock off electronics and cheap t-shirts, to the fascinating art and craft stalls . The smells and sounds are fantastic and the vendors are nowhere near as pushy as in other markets in Asia or indeed from our experience in South America. One night we eat at one of the street restaurants at Temple Street market, plastic chairs in the middle of the strip, it was loud but the food was excellent and cheap.

As Julie grew up here she has been the tour guide and has taken us all over. We have been up to the Peak via its famous tram to get a great view that of the city, we have been to Lantau island to visit the Big Buddha, though it was so foggy we couldn't see his head even when stood at his base, brings a new meaning to head in the clouds. We've visited the market in Stanley in the South of the Island and got some great bargains. We walked along 'Avenue of the Stars' on the harbour front of Kowloon, which is a kind of Hollywood Walk of Fame but for Chinese and Hong Kong stars with amazing views of Hong Kong city, the best place to see the light show. Julie's Auntie Jenny took us out to Yum Cha (drinking tea and eating lots of dim sum) one lunchtime and to Jumbo Kingdom on an evening, a huge brightly lit floating restaurant in Aberdeen harbour, which is an experience in itself. By the way she was buying the food I think she was trying to fatten us up. We also went to Ocean Park, Hong Kong's theme park institution with rollercoasters and Pandas. 

The city is unique in its East meets West culture that makes it both welcoming and alien, and importantly it has class and efficiency. It is a buoyant, fun city, just a pity my time here was spent mostly shrouded in mist.

Tomorrow we head to Bangkok.