Hong Kong - National Day

Nothing like an early morning bit of exercise - local parks have "playground" areas for the elderly to keep them limber and Romany was no match for this spry old fella, particularly as she couldn't quite reach the handles when the pulleys went up. Unreasonable competition really.

Passed back through the flower markets where they dye the blooms for effect as well as through the meat market including toads and turtles. Unfortunately not snake season (which is winter) so deprived of those sights. Turtle chopping was enough for the kids though to want to move on. And then through the bird market including areas to hang your bird cages which you have brought out for a walk so they get some fresh air while you have a chat. All very sociable for man and bird.

In the afternoon we took the scenic route into Hong Kong Island as it was National Holiday, the annual day to celebrate China on the 1st October. The lanterns were still out from the mid-Autumn festival and there were people everywhere (10 million come over from mainland China during the week) as a prelude to a spectacular 20 minute fireworks display on the harbour including fireworks writing 08 in mid-air for the Olympics, Harry Potter's lightning scar (to the movie theme music) and making smiling faces. Very impressive (especially seen from the 30th floor office window of one of Mhairi and Jean's friends)

Hong Kong (and Sai Kung)

Whereas in Hong Kong there are the amazing malls which stretch over 10 floors with escalators going everywhere (making for an odd image) and anything you want for sale (but especially clothes). We particularly liked the tv shaped as a sheep (which you would as a New Zealander). They do have a fine array of ice cream too.














But over the other side of the island you can go out on a sampan at Sai Kung and come back where all the fisherman have brought in their catches and they are displayed in front of the restaurants in all their variety.
So you ask for the fish you want, to be taken home or cooked on the spot.

Romany is perusing the stock looking for what takes her fancy.
I'm just not sure she will go for Moray eel, starfish or cuttlefish (or the thing that looked like a giant woodlice).

Barcelona

Short trip to Barcelona happily coincided with a festival. In the Gothic part of the town they had multiple tents with displays, dancing lessons (from Bollywood) but the highlight was the Castellars as at left. A typical team would have 20 odd people on the bottom (big blokes) then 10 people on top of them then progressively stacking them up to 8 levels. The top most level was a 5 year old kid who shinnies up over the adults to anxiously raise their hand and get down really fast. To the wild applause of the crowd.

But they did get the protection of a solid black hat in case they fell. (and some towers did collapse with multiple people falling onto those below)




And of course the Sagrada Familia is well worth several hours attention. A great city