hong kong

I'm back. Two frenetic, busy weeks in Hong Kong and I'm ready for a holiday! Between a lot of work, visiting a much-loved friend in hospital every day, and catching up with other friends, I barely had time to draw breath. I did, however, manage a trip to one of my favourite spots in all of Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po, with my dear friend Cath.

Sham Shui Po is a crafter's heaven. There's nothing fancy about SSP. The fabric market looks more like a squatters' village - row up row of fabric stalls huddled under makeshift tarpaulins - and you'd hardly know the treasure that lies inside. Granted, you have to search but if you're in the market for some gold lame Yves Saint Laurent fabric (and frankly, who isn't?), silk, sequins, leather or lace, you'll find it all here. And then some.

In the streets around SSP, button shops, beads, ribbons, rope, rickrack, pompoms and all manner of crafting paraphernalia will keep you entranced for hours (and wondering what the heck you are going to do with all this stuff you've bought?)

I managed to forget my camera 90% of the time - hence the iPhone photos - and then forgot it completely when I packed my bags. Oops.

But I did get a few shots along the way. Crossing the Lamma Channel (one of the busiest shipping channels in the world) on the ferry to Central, it's not unusual to have to take a lengthy detour to miss one of these massive container ships.

Hong Kong is a city of contrasts. In among the sleek skyscrapers of big business,

are little gems, like this traditional printing shop that still manages to resist the relentless tide of development in this amazing city.

I do {heart} Hong Kong.