And so our 2016 odyssey begins - May 2016

'Bling Street' - right off Nathan Road

Towering exoskeletons of bamboo lashed together with fat cable ties clutch their host building, endless streams of people, noise - and smells that conjure memories of overripe tropic fruit - and other 'organic' matter. Nathan road! We have arrived in Hong Kong.

After an eternity of hurtling through the skies hermetically sealed into a large tin can with crying children, snoring and snorting adults, and beautiful attendants trying to sooth us all with smiles, drinks and food. Ah, the tyranny of distance. Having battled through two major travel hubs we spilled into the early season humidity of Hong Kong now a mass of development - massive spans of bridges stretch precariously over who knows which stretch of water in which this amazing metropolis nestles, acres of transport containers, shimmering towers of steel and glass which would dwarf Melbourne's cluster if inner city 'high risers'.

The sights had us gaping.

Bamboo + cable ties - hope it's strong plastic!

Once a British colony there is little left. Yet the 'west' is everywhere - well perhaps not everywhere but billboards feature very Anglo orientals and brand names which seem to be global. BUT we did taste a bit of the real HK. Vertical arcades with escalators taking you higher and higher through cupboard-sized shops selling everything from miniature animals and fantasy characters to faux Armani 'this and that'. We plunged into the back streets and cheek by jowl street markets selling every imaginable thing but especially bling for every body part or piece of clothing. Fascinating!  Food? We ended up after many flights of stairs in what looked to us like someones wedding celebration with all the trimmings to boot. What did we eat ... hmmm well we opted for safety, given it was a 'point and nod' kind of thing. Suckling pig and yummy lotus root. Wine? After puzzled looks we settled for beer. We provided the entertainment for the staff and felt like total curiosities. One left with a renewed sympathy and growing empathy for new comers to the Land of Oz. What did we pay for? Who knows, it was all written in Chinese ..... but of course!

Waking to aching feet and hips, we face a day which will end with us sleeping in the Vladivostok airport arrival lounge awaiting for our morning flight to Kamchatka from whence our real adventures begins ..........