Day trip to China

Today we caught a train to Lo Wu which is the station on the Hong Kong side of the border with mainland China. This took about 45 minutes from our hotel in Kowloon, travelling through the New Territories Provence of Hong Kong. This cost (1st class which means bigger seats and air conditioning) around HK$66 = A$10. From this station you walk through immigration, out of Hong Kong, over the river, and then through the Chinese immigration and customs into Shenzhen. The moment you step out of the station the touting starts and does not let up for the entire duration of your visit. We only saw the one major shopping complex which is adjacent to the Shenzhen railway station. If you like crowds, and constant "missy look at this" "missy look at this", heat, very little English being spoken, amazing colours, "bling", everything you could ever think of then - this is the place for you. After an hour and a half Paul was over it (as was I....nearly....after 2 hours) so we adjourned to the lovely Shangri-La Hotel for a bite to eat and a drink and NO HASSLING!!!! It was also heaven to use a Western toilet, as I had to use an Eastern one at the railway station, did not have any loo paper, found it hard to squat over a hole in the ground, not only nearly falling in, but missing the loo completely and having to then "tidy up" my surrounds! Great experience and all part of the fun. Did some purchasing when we went back to the shopping centre, had a quiet disagreement with Paul as to where we were going to pack stuff (we are already overweight) and then caught the train back home with the locals. Great day but very tired legs and we have decided that tomorrow is a "veg out" day. Temp around 32 - 35.