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    Channel Islands - The Holiday That Never Was!

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    Today I was due to fly with my Cousins to Jersey, to spend some time with my Aunt Helen and her family; something we had planned for many months! Like most things in my life, things didn't go to plan, and I am laid up in bed at home. Not only would it have been wonderful to see all of my family, but three relaxing days on the Channel Islands was also something I was looking forward to. I have never travelled there before and had long booked and paid for this short break, including a trip to Sark; yet another disappointment, in a life full of disappointments. That sounds bitter doesn't it? It is however how I feel, especially today!

    A few weeks ago I went to the Doctors for a check up after my trip to ASIA, when I happened to mention I had a bit of a chest infection. The Doctor did all the usual diagnostics including listening to my chest and I was issued with a course of standard Amoxicillan, that would last five days. As chest infections go, it was stubborn and the constant coughing was getting me down, but over the next few days I did begin to finally feel better and was looking forward to getting back to normal.

    On Sunday, two days after my course of antibiotics had finished, I suddenly went down with what I thought was flu and literally couldn't get out of bed and my cough was back. After two days incapacitated I phoned 111 on Tuesday morning who suggested I contact the GP surgery and request more antibiotics to help shift the cough. Instead they told me to come in for an assessment, just before I started work!

    The Doctor was concerned about my holiday to ASIA and suspected I may have acquired an infection while travelling through the region. I filled a specimen tube with sputum and hoped to get some answers in a few days. Meanwhile at work I spent a difficult few hours working. My body wasn't coping well; I had been run down for days and was feeling worse and worse!

    On Wednesday I was due to start work at the pub and despite feeling terrible made a decision to go in as I didn't want to let the boss down. Whilst getting ready in the bathroom, I took a pee, when I felt an almighty pain in my abdomen, after passing what looked like large clots of blood. I literally collapsed with the pain and passed out for a short period of time. I managed to make a call and was given immediate help. Once again more antibiotics, some of the strongest medicine I have ever had, which seems to at least be clearing up the diagnosed UTI. The flu symptoms I had experienced were actually linked to this infectionI; the two are very similar and I wouldn't have known any different until I collapsed with severe pain at home. Each day was just going from bad to worse.

    Today I am still suffering, although did manage to go out briefly to get supplies. The UTI is much better, the cough that I still have no answer for, is still there and I am just waiting for a call from the surgery with the results from the sputum test. The medication however has knocked me for six, prompting me to cancel my holiday to Jersey.

    I have been prescribed Nitrofurantoin, which is as strong as antibiotics get. My head is elsewhere and I generally feel unwell. The medication doesn't allow me to sleep at night. I am restless, suffer with extreme night sweats and have been left in a state of confusion. I would never want to take these pills again, in fact I would decline them if they were offered, they are horrendous. I looked them up online, in forums and searches and the difficulties I am experiencing appear to correspond with everyone else's story. Try to avoid this antibiotic if you can, always ask for something else. I have had to change my plans and miss out on a family holiday, not specifically because of the UTI I have, but because the medication is just too much to cope with at the moment. Even after I finish the course I can't drink alcohol for two or three days, because I will likely end up in hospital, these little pills quite simply make you feel like you are dying!

    I would like to wish my family well and hope they all enjoy their time in Jersey and Sark and once again appologise I can't be there; I will be following your adventure online!
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    Oxfam - Uncovering The Truth!

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    Its official, the Charity Commission report detailing abuses carried out by Oxfam has been published and the evidence contained in it is damning, as I believed it would be. Readers of Roaming Brit are well aware of my connection to Oxfam, I worked for them as a Manager between 2008 and 2015. These were testing years; a time when I was given little support or direction by Managers at the top of the chain. I was more or less left to my own devises and always sought help and advice from colleagues, who were also unable to get guidance from a failing Management structure, that hadn't changed since Oxfam was formed in 1948.

    The report highlights bullying, intimidation and harassment, perpetrated by a powerful elite who thought nothing of the victims they violated. There was a calculated plan to destroy and discredit employees and volunteers who dared to speak out about their mistreatment across this organisation, both at home and abroad.

    Both my partner and I worked for Oxfam at a time of change and we did our best to try and "make poverty history," a mantra used across this charity. The politics of this trust were not always in  step with my own and we were encouraged to support and maintain a connection with left of centre organisations, at the expense of fair and balanced campaigning. There were many times I challenged Managers for their one sided political stance, especially in meetings, but was promptly made to feel wrong or inadequate in front of those who worked alongside me. Having a voice and speaking up against Oxfam's politically motivated appeals was discouraged. A shop I managed was situated in the middle of a large Jewish community, yet we were expected to raise money for the very people who were bombing Israel, almost on a daily basis at the time. This wasn't about supporting Israel over Palestine, it was about objective and impartial working practices, especially at times of elevated tension. Ignoring local and regional concerns was at odds with the ideals Oxfam promoted. We lost many Jewish donors; there seemed to be a crusade, instigated by Oxfam for purely political reasons and it was hurting us as a business. No thought was ever paid to the demographic of the individual areas we served, left leaning motivation always won the day!

    The region I worked for was in a mess; personal ambition and vengeance took priority over getting results and I was often in the middle of an altercation or difficult situation between staff or volunteers, who were left bewildered after yet more pressure was piled on them, from Managers who were dismissive of their needs. By 2015 I discovered the extent of bullying in the South West region. Staff were leaving without reason, fabrication and falsohoods were used to discredit their work and I began to notice I was also becoming the target of what I can only describe as immoral behaviour, after I had dared to report my superior for acts of wrongdoing against volunteers. My partner had also become the victim of abuse after he was targeted for reporting a member of staff to Human Resources, when a vulnerable volunteer became the subject of a sustained campaign of bullying. Like me, his views were dismissed and we both became the subject of attacks that continued for two years. Misinformation, lies, threats to us and our property, homophobia and in several recorded cases, sexual harassment were now part of our life; the strain began to take its toll and our health began to suffer!

    Inappropriate behaviour by Management was commonplace. I know of at least eight incidences of unspeakable conduct that those closest to me endured. Unable to do anything about the constant attacks, many of us decided to leave. My partner and I left the UK in 2015 to start a new life in Spain, to try and forget our ordeal.

    In 2018 I was contacted by the Charity Commission who interviewed me about my time at Oxfam and what these crimes had done to my sense of well-being. I was forthright in my assessment of a culture at Oxfam that sought to destroy personal liberty. I suffered for many years after the events that shaped my life and even today remain unable to forget the evil that so nearly destroyed me. The interviewee was sympathetic and informed me of what the Charity Commission wanted to achieve, as a result of allegations and affirmation made by a cross section of people from all walks of life. She was distressed by what I had to say, disgusted that nothing was done to protect me at particularly difficult times and stunned that my pleas for help fell on deaf ears, ignored by those who were there to look after our protection. This was not just about my immediate superior, this was about the whole organisation, from top to bottom. This was about a corrupt Human Resources department, a union who were complicit in the atrocities committed against victims and their refusal to stand up for their membership and most importantly a CEO who covered up criminal activity across the charity!

    Today I spoke to an ex colleague who directed me towards an article about Oxfam. This was a shocking expose detailing the worst transgressions committed by this once respected trust. I was gobsmacked; what had transpired at Oxfam and continues to this day was astonishing, far worse than I expected. A telling paragraph from this report loomed heavily, as I continued to read - "In Britain, investigators found that scores of serious complaints by staff or volunteers in its charity shops were not reported to the authorities, including 11 cases involving potential crimes." This struck a chord with me and told me all I needed to hear. What happened to me and others was an affront to common decency; discrimination and abuse that had no place at Oxfam was mainstream, accepted and considered almost run-of-the-mill. As a result nothing was done to stop the continual cycle of damage that was so rooted in the structure of this organisation.

    As a starting point Oxfam must apologise to people like me, so we can continue to rebuild our lives. No amount of compensation will make up for what I endured, but the Charity Commission now needs to help the victims as they learn to live with what occurred, often over prolonged periods of time. Over the next few months I expect to reopen my concerns with the commission and hope they will finally do what Oxfam didn't; offer the support and assistance that all of the victims needed at the time, but were so unsparingly denied. in order to finally close this dreadful chapter in our lives, the commission finally need to listen to the voices that were dismissed for far too long, then and only then can we all move forward positively, emphatically, conclusively and get on with living life once again!
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    Asian Adventure - Hong Kong to South Korea, 6 May 2019

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    I was up at 4.30 am today as I prepared for the next stage of our journey to South Korea. To be honest I wasn't sad to see the back of Hong Kong. It was indeed an experience like no other and I was pleased to have visited the 'Pearl of the Orient,' but for me, it was just too busy, in your face and difficult to navigate. Together with the pollution, heavy traffic and high western prices, I much preferred our stay in Hanoi. Of course mine is just one opinion and I am sure many other travellers have enjoyed this city, but as I have got older, I am looking for different things from a holiday and a more quiet, measured and relaxing adventure would have been preferable.

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    We grabbed a taxi outside the Dorsett Mongkok, which quickly took us to Kowloon Station at a cost of just five pounds. On arrival, amazingly, we were able to check our baggage in for our flight at the train station, in what was a very painless exercise. This was modern Hong Kong working at its best, how many other cities should follow suit? Not having to check in luggage at the airport was a godsend and allowed for a final stress free few hours. I have never experienced this kind of organisation at any other destination I have flown to; there really are things Hong Kong can do well!

    The train journey to the airport was fast and we were there in no time. We passed tall skyscrapers, roads resting above open sea and countryside, busy shopping districts and lines and lines of traffic; drivers impatiently waiting in queues, horns beeping, the sounds of street traders and commuters just audible above the noise of the train. This was a city of contrasts, the haves and have nots, rich and poor, modern and ancient, all happily coexisting side by side in this melting pot in the South China Sea; this was our final farewell and the end of our expedition to the stunning, amazing, formidable Chinese territory of Hong Kong!


    We are currently on the Hong Kong Express travelling to Seoul, which should take us about three and a half hours. HK Express is a budget airline like Ryanair, no frills and for the first time we have to pay for food - about sixty five dollars or just over six pounds for a chicken curry - reasonable, when you compare the price to European carriers and it didn't taste too bad either.

    Suddenly half way into the journey we are suffering extreme turbulence, the worst I have ever experienced, it feels like we are going to die. At the moment I am grabbing hold of the seat in front, rigid with fear, closing my eyes hoping for divine intervention, in between writing of course. My Aunt has just been woken up by the mayhem on board, so I know it's bad...NOTHING EVER WAKES HER UP!

    At times I made a shriek or two as the plane jolted violently from right to left. This was indeed the journey from hell I was expecting, we couldn't land soon enough, but we survived another day as we arrived in Seoul bruised and battered!

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    Like Hong Kong the journey from Incheon Airport to the centre of Seoul was perfect. Sitting on the train the first thing I noticed was the amount of young lads, no more than eighteen years old dressed in military uniform. I later found out that national service is compulsory for eighteen to twenty eight year olds. The carriages were immaculate and everyone respectful. A small cuddly toy with the name 'Arex' emblazoned across its chest also sat on each seat nearest the door, this was to signify a space for pregnant ladies; such an initiative in the UK would be greeted with vandalism and scorn, yet Arex sat there happily, waiting for his or her next customer to sit down. Now I believe Arex is the name of the train operator, but a cute enough name for the little emoji tied to the hand rail. Oddly I didn't notice the same courtesy paid to disabled passengers, strange in such a progressive society!
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    After arriving at our first destination, it was time to navigate probably one of the biggest underground systems I have ever been on. We got off at a stop close to where our hotel was, and decided to take a taxi the rest of the way, since we had no idea where we were heading. This was easier said than done. After finding the taxi stop, we were firstly greeted by a large queue or people, then just when we thought we had finally got a cab, a rather confused irate driver refused to take us, not having any room for our cases in the boot of his car, which had been taken up by a large LPG cylinder. This did seem rather odd, since passengers have luggage and need to use public transport. For a large modern city, there appeared to be, at least on the surface, a distinct lack of understanding for the needs of tourists; not a great start!

    We were by now tired, hungry and a little bit exhausted, so after conversing with a lovely Korean gentleman, who did his best to help, to no avail, we decided to go back to the station and get the train once again, this time heading to Myeongdong, a few blocks from our hotel. Confusion with tickets, getting on the wrong train and short tempers eventually got us to our destination, the Oriens Hotel and Residencies where we were staying in a seventh floor apartment!

    The apartment was modern and tastefully decorated; just where we needed to be at the half way point of our journey. We chose to stay in a self contained flat because it offered us the opportunity to experience the real Seoul. It also allowed us to do some much needed washing after ten days travelling, as well as the ability to come and go as we pleased, without inflexible hotel rules and regulations.

    As I looked out of our apartment window, looking over the buildings of Seoul, I suddenly felt at ease and happy to be here. I had a feeling I was going to like this place and our large spacious retreat for the next week was the quintessential base for our trip to this Asian metropolis! South Korea is not the usual holiday destination and it showed, from the moment we arrived, but that is what makes this place so special, leaving a lasting impression, that I still dream about today!

    After freshening up and a quick change of clothes, we had just enough time for dinner and we didn't have to walk too far to enjoy some impressive Korean cuisine. A small restaurant just off a busy street in Myeongdong, was open serving local dishes, that I can only describe as mouthwatering. For a reasonable thirty pounds we had a huge array of food, all freshly cooked to order and a couple of beers each. This was a great price; I had heard some horror stories about the costs in Korea, so this was a gentle introduction. Already Seoul was streets above Hong Kong; the food was far better and most importantly the people were friendly and a delight to be around. Everyone wanted to help and make sure we had everything we needed, the standards of service were impeccable!
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    Switching on BBC World News on our return to the hotel we were greeted by two major news stories - the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's new baby boy Archie and news in the Korean Times, that Kim Jong Un had fired missiles from North Korea.

    Korean Television had wall to wall coverage of the missile firing and were showing a series of public information films, explaining what to do in the event of a strike....Not particularly comforting on our first day, but certainly brought home to me, exactly how far away from Britain we were. Korea would offer many surprises during our stay and we were lucky enough to be there at such a historic time!
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    Asian Adventure - Chi Lin Nunnery, 5 May 2019

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    Yet another dull, grey and rainy day in Hong Kong, but that  didn't distract from our visit to the beautiful Chi Lin Nunnery, situated in the heart of the city, surrounded by skyscrapers, busy highways and all the trappings of a modern World. Quite simply, the nunnery was a stunning destination and the highlight of my trip to this little piece of China!

    We got a taxi from outside of our hotel; the half hour, 5 kilometre journey to Chi Lin, cost just sixty Hong Kong Dollars, about six pounds. I have a lot of blisters on my feet from all the walking yesterday, so it was comforting being able to sit in a car for a while, rather than adding to the pain I was feeling; a taxi ride was just what the Doctor ordered!

    Hong Kong is known for its tall buildings and bustling, tireless lifestyle, so today it was perfect to spend time walking, relaxing and comtemplating, without rushing. Chi Lin Nunnery is one of the wonders of Hong Kong and I was looking forward to spending time here; I wasn't disappointed. I have always had an interest in Asian architecture, customs and culture, which on the surface looks calm and peaceful, but like any civilisation this part of the continent has suffered its fare share of struggles, which can also be seen in the history that surrounds Chi Lin. This religious site is truly wondrous, an oasis in the middle of urban sprawl, framing the nunnery perfectly. From every angle you can see the city outside, the modern in stark contrast to the old.

    As we drove up to the complex, I couldn't have imagined what lied within the walls that surrounded it. At first glance the structure looked pretty unassuming and it isn't until you enter through the gates that you realise the magnificence inside. One is immediately greeted by a panoramic view of Chi Lin, the city skyscape beyond and in the centre, the prepossessing welcoming gardens of Nan Lian, so popular with residents and tourists alike. I was awestruck by the enchanting foliage in the gardens, Buddhist architecture - The great Maitreya Hall, golden statues around every corner, the well maintained lotus ponds, Bonsai Tea Plants and intricately carved artifacts, an echo of the Tang Dynasty it was intended to imitate. This was my kind of place, a piece of history I was happy to explore.

    As I walked around the gardens I genuinely felt emotional, vehemence running wild with my senses. Little old me, was able to travel to Hong Kong and see first hand the sites unfolding before my very eyes. Travelling the World is something special to be savoured and enjoyed, after all not everyone can see what I have and continue to experience as I journey around the far east. This is a trip predominantly about meeting Darrell, but our circumstances has given us an opportunity to see Countries, others can only dream of seeing. Hong Kong isn't my cup of tea, it isn't a place I could or would want to live, but I can appreciate just what makes this autonomous territory tick. It really is where east meets west and modernity sits happily side by side with ancient architecture and I am so glad I was able to traverse this small part of China. The 'Fragrant Harbour' is a great introduction to the mainland, a trip I hope to make in the future. The words I write and thoughts expressed today are at the forefront of my impressions as I quietly meander through time! This historic monument at the top of Diamond Hill is a special location and will always have a poignant place in my heart. It is doubtful I will return here again, so I am glad it will be my enduring memory of Hong Kong!

    My Aunt and Darrell took a trip around Hong Kong on The Star Ferry in the afternoon. Despite wanting to join them, I decided better of it after a travelling to the harbour on the hotel shuttle bus and noticing just how bad the weather really was. I wasn't particularly happy about sitting on a boat in the rain in any case. As soon as we arrived, I travelled straight back, preferring the comfort of the Dorsett Mongkok. Anxiety did once again get the better of me that day, but it actually was beginning to get somewhat easier. When you suffer with agitation and in some cases panic attacks, big cities can be a major source or trigger. I imagine it is difficult for my Aunt and Darrell to understand the feelings I have, but I am not in control of them at the moment. I am happy enough to do what I can and even happier just to be near Darrell, the fact anxiety is playing a role in the trip, just shows me how much I have changed in the last four years and I can at least now adjust my plans when travelling in future.

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    Eli Jackson

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    I would like to formally congratulate my Cousin Rachel, on the birth of her new son Eli Jackson. Eli was born at 7.11am on Tuesday 28th May 2019, at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. This is the first opportunity I have had to announce Eli's birth on my blog, an event I am delighted to be a part of, no matter how small. Of course I wasn't at the birth or even at the Hospital, but just being around family during this period is important to me, especially at my time of life!

    Eli is Rachel's third child and a special addition to their family. To be honest since returning to the UK, I have been surrounded by more children than I can remember. As someone who was never really close to my kinfolk, especially the younger members, I am relishing the opportunities close contact brings. Kids are our future and also a link to the past, in looks, mannerisms and body language; a part of all of us lies in the heart of those still to come and others who have just arrived. Eli will include many of the characteristics of his ascendants and will undoubtedly carry the hopes and aspirations of a generation; milestones that we can only dream of today!

    As another generation is born, I am conscious of my finite place in this World. When Eli is my age, long after I have departed this mortal coil, his prospects for the future, will in all probability be far better than mine. Speaking to a colleague at work the other day, I was quite vocal in my wish to go back and do 'it' all over again and just how differently I would do things today. With nearly fifty years between Eli and I, I am hopeful that his life will be far more enlightening, productive and fulfilled than mine ever was. This is an age to look forward to new beginnings and a time to celebrate the achievements of family, who were instrumental in ensuring our place in the World. Welcome Eli, welcome to this mad mad World, ignore the doubters, don't squander your future; keep the faith, love your family, live life with humour!
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    Asian Adventure - The Streets, 4 May 2019

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    Breakfast at the Dorsett Mongkok was exceptional, just like the Light Hotel in Hanoi. I have always considered standards to be higher in Asia - the hotels, service and of course the breakfast. The amount of different types of food on offer was large, certainly not the miserable displays I have consumed in continental Europe; this was a banquet fit for a king. You may well take the boy out of England, but you can't take England out of the boy - naturally I chose English fayre, or rather the Hong Kong equivalent, which was pretty good. We ate as much as we could before the day ahead, by now standard practice. Navigating the streets of Hong Kong on a full stomach was preferable to a rumbling belly. The restaurant on the second floor was busy, as an early start beckoned, a walk through the famous streets of Kowloon was the plan, nothing too strenuous on our second day in this large thriving city, the pearl of the orient!
    It must have taken us an hour to walk to Nathan Road. Rain was spitting ever so slightly and I know we were all glad to see the bright lights of Hong Kong's famous shopping district. People were gathering on corners taking photographs, laden with heavy shopping bags full of designer clothes and bargains from one of the many department stores, that patronise the area!

    We decided to find somewhere to eat in one of the many Cāntīng Houses at the top of a shopping mall on the periphery of Hong Kong's famous district. After much deliberation we settled on a restaurant over looking the shops and bustling road below and sat down waiting to be served. We ordered a beer to start, which we were informed wasn't possible. This was rather confusing, since we were sat right next to a bar, advertising alcohol for sale, draft Hong Kong beer on tap and bottles of wine on display. Maybe it was just tourists who couldn't drink? Maybe we just weren't allowed to drink before midday? We just had no idea. Bewildered, we got up and left, leaving the poor waiter looking dumbfounded! It became blatantly obvious that we wouldn't be able to purchase an alcoholic beverage before 6pm, at least in this part of Hong Kong.

    It was strange walking around the streets with all the food on display, freshly cooked to order, yet not a glass of wine or bottle of beer in site, in complete contrast to Europe, which would be full of holiday makers and tourists alike, having an afternoon aperitif before lunch!

    We spent the next few hours walking around shops and markets, buying some souvenirs, haggling with vendors and soaking up the lively atmosphere. To be honest as much as I was enjoying my experience in downtown Kowloon, it wasn't particularly different from any other city I have ever been to. Overpriced gear, tourist tat and a population on the move, without a care for anyone but themselves. Pushed and shoved, hit by umbrellas, we stopped in a local restaurant for a bite to eat, without the much needed alcohol!
    The food in this small cafe right next door to KFC, which we had considered going in first, was lovely. I chose some of my now favourite Dim Sum and a rather hot rice and beef dish which was tasty, well cooked and filled a hole, at least in the food department. I was still rather miffed we couldn't get a beer, but accepted that wasn't going to happen until we returned to the hotel. The price was rather good too, costing about twenty pounds for three of us to eat. Considering we were in Nathan Road, the Oxford Street of Hong Kong, prices were more than reasonable. Looking over my shoulder outside, I was content to sit and watch the people outside, rushing to their destination, popping out for a bite to eat in their lunch break, or like us admiring the great expanse before them. This was a city like no other and it was a World away from the UK.
    The walk back to the hotel was long, having got lost on a number of occasions. Once again I was delighted to observe, contemplate and appreciate the culture on display. Despite Hong Kong's western feel, there was still much about the place that oozed the far east. The way people live and work, buildings so tall they made me shiver inside. Live fish and other aquatic life for sale, consumed fresh from the stalls. Colours and smells unlike anything I have experienced before, all temping the senses, as we eventually found our way home.


    At 6pm we went to the Executive Lounge at our hotel, where guests were given complimentary wine and food to consume at leisure. This was something we opted for when booking this friendly hotel and we weren't disappointed. For an hour and a half we sat comfortably, watching the sun go down outside, as Kowloon took on another persona. This was an ever changing neighbourhood of Hong Kong that I liked. It wasn't in the flashy business district with no soul or personality, it was the centre of normal life for most residents of this part of China. The Dorsett Mongkok hotel was the perfect stop for us on our Asian Adventure, centrally situated and within walking distance of bars, shops and eating houses. The Executive Lounge was an added bonus, beautiful serene, comfortable and very much appreciated after a busy day walking.

    We managed to get through a good few bottles of wine before leaving our hotel and  exploring the local area, enjoying a few well earned beers along the way. Chillworks, just a few blocks up, was a local bar run by by Kenny Mok, who made all of us feel at home, as we sat talking to an Australian couple, also travelling across Asia. This was the evening I felt finally relaxed, despite having a nine pound pint of Stella spilled on me; an accident effectuated by our new Ozzie friend, rather drunk after copious amounts of alcohol. Still it didn't put a damper on the evening and we all chatted the night away. Hong Kong is an amazing place, full of encounters one couldn't find anywhere else, so it was heartening to find this little bar, tucked away in a side street. Chillworks felt like a home from home; do try and make time for a visit, should you find yourself in the area. Hong Kong does seem rather different from the bottom of a glass, sometime alcohol can be an amazing tonic!
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