My words of advice to sister Sarah was that the Japanese as a culture are uber-polite and this ill prepares you for the hustle & bustle of Hong Kong, where if you fell over, chances are that you’d get trampled.

I thought I’d use the opportunity to practice my ever rusty Cantonese. There were two unforseen disadvantages of this – firstly my Chinese appearance; which ironically prejudices me in Australia, here the assumption is that I’m a local with all the knowledge, wit & wisdom of one. Secondly by using Cantonese, the locals assume I can fluently speak & understand it, which I don’t.

Whilst waiting for a 7-11 attendant to give me verbal acknowledgement to proceed to the next stage of a purchase, it was gruffly pointed out to me that I was standing around like an idiot and why was I waiting to compelte my transaction. And buying my ever useful Octopus card,  I was almost bowled over by an 80 year old because I was holding up the queue (waiting innocently for the sales clerk to becon me).

The Octopus Card is a must have. This stored value card is instant, works at all pocket change stores, can be topped up instantly anywhere, and works instantly on public transport (the future rude shock of return to Melbourne’s Myki awaits).