Rebecca Richmond

Oahu, Kauai, Hawaii, Maui and back to Oahu. All beautiful, Maui was the favourite!

Going from Sydney, Australia, to Hong Kong was one of the most wonderful experienes. I stepped off the plane in July 2005 (Australian winter) into 30 degree (celcius) heat wearing jeans and a jumper. The humidity was severe and did not let up for the entire 7 nights that I was there!

We stayed at the Salisbury YMCA which is in Kowloon. It was good budget accomodation, we were harldy ever in our room so it only mattered that there was running water and clean sheets!

I cannot remember doing so much shopping in my entire life, being an Australian size 12 way layed all of my plans of spending up big on clothes and shoes! They had so many little artefacts and what not that I ended up bringing home half a suitcase full of them! The temple street night markets are a must… and you must get your palm read (even if it is a rip off).

We went up to Shenzen, just inside the border of China to go to Market City, which I do NOT recommend to anyone. It was full of culture and atmosphere, but every second person tried to pull us into their shop and rip us off, NOT fun. If you get the train up there as we did, I recommend paying the extra $10 for a first class ticket ont he way back… you get air conditioning and plush velour seats (ultimately the same standard as a Sydney millenium train… but worth it when you’re tired!).

If you’re staying in Kowloon and you’re lookin for an outdoor swimming pool, venture into Kowloon park and look for the olympic pool, it’s the only outdoor pool you’ll find in Hong Kong!

Having lived in Sydney for the most part of my life, the Gold Coast for a holiday destination is ideal. It has a lot of the same type of cahracteristics that Sydney has, except the scenery is better, it’s not as crowded (if you stay away from Surfer’s Paradise) and it’s not as polluted.

Beautiful destination for winter holidays when you need to melt the frostbite you get from the icy southerlies in Sydney!