It's not actual Asian food but I have found food that I will eat and now I am certain that it is possible for me to survive in HK for an extended period of time.
I just got back from my first flashmob rehearsal. Again, this is one of those things that I never foresaw myself doing in HK so it wasn't on my bucket list, but when in Asia...do a flashmob. This is going to be especially fun because so many locals are participating and it is really nice to get to know them. I love the exchange students but meeting locals is all a big part of the culture that I wanted to experience while I am here.
I am probably still in the honeymoon phase of my journey but I can't see myself falling out of love anytime soon. Every day I find new things I want to try and places to go. My list is growing much faster than I am checking things off of it and my schedule is already pretty packed. I have loved every minute though. I don't want to sleep here (my body does not feel the same way); I just want to explore. While I miss my family and friends back home, I don't want to be home even a bit. I wish everyone could all be here with me. These sights I am seeing are incomparable to anything I have seen before. Descriptions and pictures don't even begin to portray what I am actually seeing and experiencing. Every picture I post can't relay the sounds, feelings and memories that came along with them. Anyways, here are my most recent updates:
I just got back from my first flashmob rehearsal. Again, this is one of those things that I never foresaw myself doing in HK so it wasn't on my bucket list, but when in Asia...do a flashmob. This is going to be especially fun because so many locals are participating and it is really nice to get to know them. I love the exchange students but meeting locals is all a big part of the culture that I wanted to experience while I am here.
I am probably still in the honeymoon phase of my journey but I can't see myself falling out of love anytime soon. Every day I find new things I want to try and places to go. My list is growing much faster than I am checking things off of it and my schedule is already pretty packed. I have loved every minute though. I don't want to sleep here (my body does not feel the same way); I just want to explore. While I miss my family and friends back home, I don't want to be home even a bit. I wish everyone could all be here with me. These sights I am seeing are incomparable to anything I have seen before. Descriptions and pictures don't even begin to portray what I am actually seeing and experiencing. Every picture I post can't relay the sounds, feelings and memories that came along with them. Anyways, here are my most recent updates:
- Anna (one of the good friends I have made here) and I planned a trip to the Philippines for the first half of Chinese New Year since we get an extended break. We will be visiting Kalibo for a cultural taste of the Philippines, and then moving on to Boracay, the party island, for cliff jumping, parasailing, zip lining and partying on the boardwalk.
- The stores have started putting decorations out for Chinese New Year. There are red lanterns and gold ceiling decorations everywhere I look. I am so excited, I cannot wait for the festivals and parades.
- This weekend was full of adventure. On Friday, we hiked up Tian Tan Buddha on Lantua Island. I ditched the hike because turns out hiking means 2.5 hours of climbing steep stairs and why do that when there is a cable car taking you on a gorgeous ride over all of the mountains? It was absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. Both Buddha and Tai O, the small fishing village we visited after, are tucked in the mountains and are absolutely breathtaking. On Saturday, the school offered a local tour. It ended at ICC, the tallest building in HK and 5th tallest in the world. We went to Sky100, a 360 degree observation on the 100th floor of the ICC. It was incredible. I am so in love with HK, it is unbelievable.
- Believe it or not, I do go to class. School is school no matter what country you are in, and even less fun when you just want to explore and don't feel like dealing with the copious amounts of group projects. But I have a China Tourism class with a great professor so I am looking forward to that class.
Disclaimer: I changed the picture and caption at least six times before settling on this one. This was taken at Tai O, a little fishing village tucked away on Lantua Island. Tai O is so beautiful; it is a quiet and peaceful village with all of the buildings built on stilts to keep them out of the water. The streets are lined with seafood stands-all either selling dried out or live seafood. Tai O is not the best smelling place, but it is beautiful and nothing like I have ever seen before.
This is my favorite picture from my last blog post since I didn't post one but I love this picture. It was taken from Victoria's Peak, overlooking the city at night. Isn't HK just the prettiest city you ever saw? In case I haven't said it before, I LOVE IT HERE.