Is that a ... cow on the road?

Again, we had heard a lot of different opinions about Hong Kong, but it ended up being one of our favorite cities so far. During the days we were there, the huge streets were mostly devoid of passenger cars. Instead there were lots of double-decker buses AND double-decker trams. Below, there was an efficient and cheap subway system, with the longest underground trains we have ever seen. (Of course, the traffic experts among us were excited.)

HK traffic in action

There was plenty to see and do in Hong Kong as well; from the astonishing skyline, to an impressive 'dragon fire dance' as well as a beautiful 'lantern festival'. But we knew what we had to do: blend in and experience the famous nightlife. One night, we met Paula, Eva and Erica, funny ex-pats who took us to the cool places and proved that, unlike some other countries in Asia, the party does not stop at 11PM.

 
HK's surroundings are also quite diverse with giant buddha's on hilltops, desolate temples, the longest suspended bridge in the world and even beaches. To reach these places, one day we took a pleasant yet speedy ferry through Victoria Harbour. On board, Dimitri and I had a (slightly odd) conversation about what we would do in the event the boat would start sinking. We were perplexed only a few days later to find out that a very similar ferry had found itself in a disastrous and shocking crash with 36 fatalities. Surely made us think.

Next stop was Nepal. Our first days in Kathmandu felt chaotic and unreal. We hurried from one "administrative building" to the next to settle our hiking permits as well as some of Dimitri's visa's. Walking through the streets of Kathmandu we encountered amazing temples in alleys and squares, but the streets themselves were not quite as inspiring. Large crowds, strangely placed shop stands, swirling motor bikes, cars, buses and even cows in narrow roads! The pedestrian is evidently not the king of the road, and due to the large mass of people, a lot of drivers never lift their hand from the horn. After dusk, the experience is even more surreal if you find yourself in heavy traffic during one of the frequent power outages, literally bumping into strangers in the dark...

The true meaning of life

It was all surprisingly stressful so we were glad when we escaped the city to commence our treks. The mountains of Nepal offer strenuous walks but with sheer amazing views along the way. It was at times a spiritual experience and one of the extremely friendly inhabitants of the region offered me the true meaning of life.

And that was also where Dimitri and I parted after about 11 fantastic months of travel. He will carry on the legend of the journey on his own, (but I hasten to add that my trip isn't quite over yet either). At the time of writing, Dimitri is tackling a treacherous 5000m+ mountain pass at the other side of Mount Annapurna. No need to worry, I have already received word of his safety, but I think I speak for us all when I say:

GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED TO YOU DIMITRI!