So, Im currently sat here at the desk writing this up ready to email out tomorrow morn as the wireless is not hooked up in the room yet… there is access downstairs but only until 9pm!! Hopefully should be online in my room by Friday. In the meantime will have to pre-write my mails, so bear with me for a wee while til I get sorted. I was intending to keep a HK diary on the pc anyway…. I feel a bit like Carrie Bradshaw in Sex & the city, the HK version!

So… the plane was lush, no one sat beside me so plenty of room, also managed to blag a window seat, next to that was a girl called Helen who I immediately befriended once she had told me she was originally from the UK and has lived in HK for 3years! We were nearly 2hours late taking off, something to do with the air conditioning not working and didn’t I know it…swelteringly hot…until they fixed it and we took off…then freezing cold!

Got to HK airport about 6ish and had a palaver finding my driver (he was at a different arrivals hall…minor panic!) The first time I tried to ask someone for help …in Mandarin I might add, was not very successful, he kind of looked at me blankly and then started rattling off Cantonese!!
Once I had found my driver Kwok we set off for the car, and the first time I set foot outside the airport suddenly understood the importance of air con out here… instant sweat… not pretty! We then got a bit lost trying to find the hotel but made it eventually by about 7.30. Monica (the HR manager) met me and got me checked in.

Room is super lush, if I can get an apartment like this when I finally settle I shall be more than happy! Monica is an absolute legend, she took me out for a Chinese dinner and I had some of the most delicious sweet and sour tempura pork I have ever tasted! Also, out here they serve up complimentary green tea (when your cup is empty it is customary to tap the table with your fingers and say xie xie for more!) with every dinner and desserts are free with all main courses in Chinese restaurants… liking it here already, had some warm papaya soup for dessert!
Afterwards she showed me around the local area and set me up with a HK sim card, doesn’t work in my phone at the moment so will get that sorted out this week then will give you my mobile no. My hotel number at the moment is (852) 3166 1756. Should be at the hotel til around the 1st Oct, She also gave me an Octopus card (like the London Oyster for travel) and an A-Z street map!

In the morning I have to catch a shuttle bus to the local university where I will be picked up.. at 8.30am (1.30am Uk time!!!). 1st day at work tomorrow, going to get my Chinese visa sorted out so that I can travel to Shenzhen by the end of the week. They have also arranged a welcome lunch for me (ooh fancy!!).

Right now I am severely sleep deprived and very very HOT! It’s a choice between air con (dry skin) or window open (sweat attack!) hmmm! Beginning to regret bringing any clothes bigger than a bikini!

So, off to bed for me am going to attempt to get up early and send this before I leave for work…

Miss you all loads already, wish you could all be here with me. Anyone I said I would Skype this week might have to postpone until Fri/sat when I have internet set up. So weird that it is only mid-afternoon for you guys!

Lots of the Tanya love for you all, will be in touch soon,

T xx

Ps: also going to work on my witty writing skills to keep you entertained with these little updates! x