Since we got back from Lunar Break, everyone has buckled down. It is time for midterms (which makes me so upset--where did the time go?) This past week has been a blur of writing essays, studying and working on group projects. I was so busy with school, I almost resorted to the cliché "Week in the Life" blog post...but then our camping trip happened and I couldn't not write about it. For the people who know me, the idea of me camping is probably ridiculous...and my friends can attest that it was. I was persuaded to go in the same way that I persuade everyone here to do everything ("When in Hong Kong..."). It is the most effective way to get people to do anything. I went with a wonderful group of 26 PolyU students and we had a blast making memories and sleeping under the stars (okay, we were in tents). Here's the timeline of our time camping:
- 11 AM-A group of sixteen met up in our hall to set off on our journey to the campsite. No one was positive on the directions or exactly what adventures the night would hold. We started on the MTR, moved to a bus, another private bus (the best bus for a giant singalong) and finally arrived at Sai Kung Country Park where we had an hour hike ahead of us. I don't know why I continuously think that hiking is not going to be that difficult. We trekked up and down (it felt like much more up) for an hour. We were also carrying backpacks full of our camping gear (alcohol and blankets). On the plus side, the view was absolutely breathtaking. It is so much easier to hike when there is a beautiful view (because I can always stop to "take it all in"--aka catch my breath).
- 3 PM-WE MADE IT TO HAM TIN BEACH! We joined up with the group of seven who left before us. We rented our tents and sleeping bags and set up camp right on the beach. It didn't take long to set up our site and gather some firewood for later. Finally the real fun could begin (even the journey was a blast).
- 6 PM-Nothing bonds everyone like a good competition. One of the girls who came with us taught us a really fun German drinking game called Flunky Ball. Our teams ended up being girls verse boys and I think it is pretty obvious who won. We stormed the "court" like we had just won a huge championship.
- 7:30 PM: Dinner time! The final three campers had joined us at this point and we all headed to a big table for an AMAZING barbecue dinner cooked by the boys complete with delicious mushrooms, eggplant and sausage.
- 8:30 PM: One of the guys brought a guitar (a camping necessity) and we gathered around the campfire, singing songs. It was a really enjoyable night full of late night swims, sandy s'mores and enjoying each other's company.
- 4 AM: I had been passed out in the tent since midnight. I was awakened by my tentmates when the tent cover blew off. By this time it was freezing cold and camping was no longer fun. The wind was blowing furiously and continuously forcing the tent to whack against my head. I attempted to curl up in a freezing ball and ignore the sand blowing in through the holes in the tent. Everyone agreed that the fun and excitement was over. I just put my head back on my T-shirt/makeshift pillow and told myself it would be over soon...
- 11:30 AM: We were all awake and ready to leave. The campsite had been picked up, the tents returned, and our bags all felt ten pounds lighter since our beverages were gone. We decided to take a different way back because it would be quicker and our bodies were still sore from all the uphill walking from the day before. Surprise! This new trail involved just as many hills and took the same amount of time.
- 3 PM: WE ARRIVED BACK IN THE HALLS. Everyone made it in one piece and I am proud to say that I survived my first camp trip!
This is a view of Sai Kung Country Park during our hike. It still amazes me how beautiful and unique Hong Kong is. One minute you can be in the heart of the city surrounded by traffic and people, and shortly after you are on a peaceful beach or mountain, isolated from civilization.