Hong Kong 2009 Photos now available.

Another day comes to an end.

Last night's visit to the Temple St Night Market was a good one. After leaving the Pacific Coffee House, I wandered down to the Market's edge and found a good seat at my favourite roadside restaurant. The place doesn't look like much and the cheap plastic tables and stools don't necessarily get your taste buds into overtime, but the owners cook the best sliced beef and vegetable satay, this side of the Pacific.

I sat in the warm humid afterglow of the afternoon, happily munching on this spicy dish and washing it down with a large chilled bottle of the local Tsing Tsao beer, watching life go by and the stall owners finish setting up for the evening. An hour later I was strolling through the markets, haggling for all I was worth with the stallholders and having a great time into the bargain (no pun intended).

At the end of Temple St, I watched the many fortune tellers plying their trade and as always, it was interesting to see the range of clientele; from wizened little old Haklo boat ladies to young business executives in their tailor-made silk suits, everyone wanted to know what the future held in store for them. Just around the bend is a place I affectionately refer to as: Karaoke corner. Here, the wannabe stars of "Hong Kong's got talent" sing their little selves hoarse, while a couple of volunteers do the panhandling. Chinese singers are not high on my list of musical favourites, but they get full marks for effort.

By around 10pm, I'd had enough and I dragged my tired ass and aching back down onto the MTR and returned to the hotel. After a long soak in a hot tub, I passed out on the bed and the next thing I knew it was 9am and the maid was knocking on the door!

Out and about again today - this time over to the Market st temple, where I burned a stick of incense and said a short prayer to any Gods that might happen to be listening. I'm somewhere between an athiest and an agnostic in matters of religion and belief, but something someone said to me once has stuck with me; just because we don't believe in the Gods, doesn't mean they don't believe in us.

After a quick lunch of Dim Sum at CMOT's stall on Peking Rd, I hopped back on the MTR and headed out to Tung Chung, right out on the end of the line. This was in order to visit the village of Ngong Ping via a spectacular 25-minute ride on the Ngong Ping cable car. Ngong Ping is home to both the Po Lin Monastery and the famous Tian Tan Buddha and every previous time I have come to Hong Kong, I have somehow run out of time and failed to get over to see both places. This time that wasn't going to happen...

After climbing the 250-step "path to enlightenment" in front of the Buddha (*puff* - *pant*) I was presented with fantastic panoramic views which none of my photos do justice to. The collection of Buddhist relics was a bit interesting, but not very well displayed. Visitors who pay for access to the collection at a cost of $HK23 are funnelled through the interior where all filming is prohibited and suddenly find themselves back outside with the exit door closing behind them. Still, the fee does include a bottle of water and an ice cream...

Back down in Ngong Ping, I grab a free "wish card" from the gift shop and after writing my wish, I tie it to the "Wish Shrine" in the village centre, before strolling back to the Cable car in the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

By the time I reach Tsim Sha Tsui, the sun has set and Hong Kong once again comes into it's element as people surge out of their homes and offices into the cooler evening air.

Think I'll join them...

See ya.

Did you read Part 1 yet?