thanks for the response! your suggestions sound right up my alley - yes sounds like we have a similar interests.

I'm somewhat aware of the visa rules, hoping to get away with just a single entry, we'll see how that goes. I'm assuming i can arrive in HKG, day trip to macau and back if i decide to go ahead with it (i'm not a gambler either), back to HKG and then just enter China once, do my thing for a couple weeks then head to Cambodia.

Thanks for the tips on antique/muslim markets. i'm not a shopper but watching people shop is entirely different. also just seeing different things for sale you won't find in "the mall" here at home is great.

Yellow mountains sounds right up my alley - unfortunately i'm a bit of a sweaty man and from the sounds of it i'd perish halfway up of heatstroke/dehydration. uneven/difficult to navigate/strenuous doesnt bother me but in 35 degree humid heat won't work too well for those of us living in the middle of the north atlantic. how long would you say it took to get to the top? possible to take breaks along the way for side sights?