Back from Wilson Trail

After exploring Konloon, and Honk Kong island I felt the call of the wild. Though as you folks know, the wild has me on speed dial. I have a load of notes about HK city, but thought better to present them once I've had something to compare them to.

Day before yesterday I made my way down to Stanley on the South side of HK main island. Though everything here is very expensive for Asia, comparable with London. Transport is the exception, the 45 minute journey cost about 8 hkd

Accomodation at eh cheap end, aroung 130 - 250 hkd for a private ensuite room, with room to swing a kitten. Stanley his more the sort of place to rent an apartment, unlikely to find anything below 500 hkd, so I slept on the rocks. The signs about the place forbid everything from racing model cars, and even lying down on places for sitting will get you grief. So I was as discrete as possible with a bergen with thermarest attached to the side.

After spending too long in the city, it was magical to sleep with the sound of the ocean, orion was a reasuringly familiar sight. With shark nets prominently placed, I skipped a moring dip, but did manange a full ashtanga yoga sequence.

Later I met up with an HK born Indian, not living in London who I met on the plane, we swam out from a nearby bay to a swiming platform, where I was able to teach him som e sun salutations as the sun was setting.

Now flexible and cooler I headed up to stage one of the Wilson trail, described in "The Serious Hikers guide to Hong Kong" as very strenuous, starting with a 1000 steps. They were not kidding, I also very much doubt the authors were carrying over 30kgs including this laptop. Still, after a snooze in the bivvy just past the summit, then steadily through the night, I made it to Wong nei chung gap road soon after sunrise very glad of my new lightweight boots - thanks Mum!

At the end of section 1 of the trail, I found the pill boxes used to defend against the Japanese, the jungle here was much denser, now with trees big enough to support my hamock, for my second snooze of the day, and a read of the new Malcom Gladwell book: Outliers, the story off success, still a few chapters to go.

Back in HK now, having fuelled up on Noodle Beef Combinations which contains Brisket, Stomach, Gristle and Beef Combinations. My first recursive meal, and throughly delicious, even if I struggled to work out which the various bits were.

My main pack is stashed in the woodland, with a stash of good firewood, water etc so I'll be heading up there tonight. I have some anchovy paste, garlic and chilli so hope to find some tomatoes and pasta for a putanesa sauce mmmm.....