globalcitizen

The remains of an extensive British military defensive line used against the Japanese stretch for several miles loosely tracing the border between Kowloon and the New Territories. Unfortunately, the line fell almost instantly upon the invasion of Hong Kong in December 1941. The deep defensive tunnels with ventilation shafts and observation points were named after London streets to make life easier – and more familiar – for the British soldiers based there.

If you’re happy to ignore the very real risk of a rogue rhesus macaque ripping one’s face off, many are still intact and can be walked through…

“I hereby make it my personal mission in life to perform a “brucey thinker pose” (in honour of light entertainment legend Bruce Forsyth) in as many countries around the world as possible!”

Bruce is an old British entertainer and presenter, he is famed for striking his trademark pose when he comes on stage. See his Wikipedia entry.

– Vietnam - One Pillar Pagoda & Ho Chi Minh Museum

– USA - Statue of Liberty & Times Square

– Thailand - Khao San Road & Grand Palace

– Spain - Catalunya Square & Sagrada Familia

– Singapore - Esplanade & Raffles Hotel

– Russia - The Hermitage & St. Basil’s Cathedral

– Philippines - Old Town & Rizal’s Walk

– Myanmar - Shwedagon Pagoda & Mandalay Hill

– Morocco - Black Desert & the Atlas Mountains

– Mongolia - Gandantegchinlen Khiid & a ‘ger’ tent

– Malaysia - Petronas Towers by night and day

– England - Buckingham Palace & Big Ben

– Laos - Pha That Luang & Patuxay

– Japan - Meiji Shrine & Shibuya Scramble Crossing

Journal Extract:

…I drove back to Kuta to do my third and final bungee jump on the beach. I’d bought a deluxe package of 3 jumps – a standard jump where the cord is attached at the feet, a ‘spider’ jump with a harness around the waist giving you more freefall freedom and a final jump where you do a run-up on a BMX (the bike is attached to you). In preparation, I’d not eaten for a while and did the biggest poo I could muster to ensure no messy accidents during the escapade…

I’ll be honest – I derived no enjoyment at all from the exercise and literally spent 8 minutes ‘contemplating’ on the edge of the platform during the first jump. By the second one I’d cut my emotional crisis on the edge down to 6 minutes. The crew told me that the longer I wait, the harder it would be – they weren’t wrong and I wish they’d have just pushed me. They say skydives are easier – I have a couple of solo skydives to my credit and agree, at least, that parachute jumps are more abstract – you’re up in the clouds and are generally pushed out! However, here you have a situation where you can see the ground clearly and are being asked carry out an action which your brain reminds you is – in essence – an act of suicide.