Day 30 - Sep 26

Eyy, free Fridays! Went swimming this morning in a pool with 85 degree water (not actually a good thing). Then went on an adventure in Sheung Wan to find wallets, currency exchange centers, and Citibank. Not a great success story there, but we did find some milk tea and a hipster shop. Afterward, spent the afternoon doing schoolwork and then went to Karaoke in Wan Chai.

But for now though, goodbye Hong Kong, Shanghai awaits tomorrow!!

Day 29 - Sep 25

At the start of the day, I glanced at my Google calendar realizing that the next few weeks are going to be crazy. Trips back to back to back (like the Lakers) the next few weekends. Many good times await.

After that realization I spent the day in class (and sitting in on a psychophysics class), then visited the rooftop gardens but the smog was intense (top).  After class we went to the Butchers Club (bottom) down in Wan Chai to satisfy our meat cravings. Also after getting back, witnessed some of the infamous "Hall Culture" - basically residence hall sanctioned hazing for the local students.

Day 28 - Sep 24

After a less intense than the previous political philosophy discussion, I spent the next hour in the gardens on campus finishing up my readings. After, met in the library for the Haier case project. Ended the day with a trek to Tung Chung to meet up with UCLA friends (and friends of friends). Pizza Hut outside the United States is a totally different animal. Boasting real interior decorating, seafood on pizzas, and romantic set dinners for two, it was a huge step up from the plastic seats and delivery focused stores back home.

Day 27 - Sep 23

To start off, these pictures are actually terrible and I'm sorry. Started off with Company Law, then went on a field trip to Cyberport - basically a government sponsored incubator for information and communication technologies. They basically offer the perfect setup for any tech firm looking to get off the ground. Crazy nice office spaces, ridiculous studio capabilities (above blue screen room) and a gym, hotel and recreation rooms on campus ( below the view from the offices isn't bad either) Met with some different entrepreneurs, including the founder of SensBeat. After, went to Japanese food in Kennedy Town with my business group, and then grabbed Maccas later with the UC + Canada & France crew.

Day 26 - Sep 22

Getting back to the classic hall shenanigans, and catching up with my orientation group + other Sky Hallites (actually what we're called). The top picture is our first high table dinner (not my picture) which meant a five course meal, speeches from distinguished guests (including the president of the university) and a true learning experience about how the acceptable method of eating spaghetti is different in pretty much every country. Bottom is a reminder that even with google maps it's pretty easy to get lost, even when just venturing only a few blocks from campus.

Day 25 - Sep 21

Sort of study day in the Chi Wah learning center - (LEED platinum certified) crazy nice study space. Followed by dinner out at an "American" 24 hour breakfast joint in Central (Soho).

 Rode on the longest escalator system in the world [top] to get to the diner [bottom]

 

Day 24 - Sep 20

Met up at Hong Kong station at 10 am, and then took the MTR to Lantau Island, bused to Tai O, hiked 3ish miles to reach the infinity pool. Check out that view.. After, got back to Tung Chung and saw a movie.

Day 23 - Sep 19

Today was a solid work day. Got through tons of red tape and figured out everything for the Netherlands next semester. Afterward, my roommate VB showed me and Michael one of his favorite Thai places by campus (pictured). Finished off the night meeting some more people from UC Davis.

Day 22 - Sep 18

Hours of class, moments of joy. It was definitely an interesting day, spent 6 hours in class - basically making up for the missed class because of the typhoon warning. Learned a good amount, finalized work for most of my classes and met one on one with a few of my tutors. After those hours of class, grabbed dinner and dessert with Sab, Michael and Sherman then met up with AKP from HKUST in Lan Kwai Fong. Fun night, productive day. Carpe noctem!

Top picture - basically I wanted to show how Hong Kong is as a city. There are no suburbs in/around the city it is completely urban and then completely rural/untamed. Parts of campus resemble a rainforest, and directly behind my dorm is a basically untouched forest. The dichotomy between the city/man made buildings and nature is stark.

Middle Picture - got dumplings at this place which is ranked among the best in Hong Kong (something we realized after we had already ordered). The meat in the foreground is actually donkey, which was surprisingly tasty.

Last picture - here I know it isn't a great picture, but I wanted to show how wherever you walk in the city there is a high rise towering over you. Even with all these structures everywhere and very little square footage per apartment there is still a shortage of housing. Mind blowing.

Day 21 - Sep 17

Getting back into the studying part of studying abroad. Had an intense philosophy discussion, group project for China Business Environment and read John Stuart Mill for hours. Nothing too exciting really happened today, but definitely not a bad time. The pictures are actually random and from other days earlier this week~

Top - Macau
Middle - Cheung Chau
Bottom - Campus

Day 20 - Sep 16

Typhoon warning strikes again! Level 8 means no class, but it got overridden at 10:40 am so afternoon classes still had to meet. Spent the morning doing my readings and planning out flight/the trip to Japan! In the afternoon met up with Anna from UCLA and hung out in Tsim Sha Tsui - feasting on some delicious sushi and green tea ice cream!

The fancy mall pictured is a historical police station/fire station and marine base.

Day 19 - Sep 15

Ichiran. After a long day of classes in China Business Environment and Company Law, we enjoyed some ramen at Ichiran in Causeway Bay. This restuarant is all about the experience, and has immaculate  decorations, cute "cubbies" to eat in and extremely polite workers. On the Japanese theme, I booked my tickets (tentatively booked) to Tokyo for later in October!

Day 18 - Sep 14

Macau. What a place. Got my passport stamped for the first time after arriving in Hong Kong. Macau is basically the Las Vegas of China. Set up as a special administrative district, just like Hong Kong (Portuguese colony until 1999), it has its own money, and own laws - specifically those governing gambling and casinos. It's a packed tourist destination with people from all over the world and overall it was a great experience exploring the busy streets, huge malls, and eating world famous Portuguese style egg tarts. The casinos light up the night sky and offer the water shows, concert venues, and clubs built in the lavish over-the-top style that similarly defines Las Vegas. The pictures don't really do this place justice. 

Also, a note on the pictures, I haven't doctored a single picture that I'm putting up on the blog- they're all #nofilter so hopefully you can see the sights just as I see them.

Picture note - the Venetian in Macau has its namesake indoor canals and gondolas as well.

Day 17 - Sep 13

Didn't know where I was going on a hike, but we ended up on this small island called Cheung Chau after taking a ferry. The island was beautiful complete with dense forests, caves in the rocks by the shore (which we explored) and picturesque postcard worthy scenes of the boats in the harbor. We spent the afternoon exploring the island, then the evening enjoying dinner by the moored fishing ships.

Day 16 - Sep 12

Today it was hot and pouring outside, so I spent the morning cooking and then going over my schoolwork. Later in the afternoon I finally went to Central and got my phone fixed with a Hong Kong number and data which is making my life much easier! And then went to Mong Kok for dinner and then karaoke. The picture is of the food I made using the hot plates and jank utensils available. Eggs, toast, veggies and yogurt. Sorry, didn't snap any other good ones today.

Day 15 - Sep 11

Today was a pretty crazy day with tons of classes and trying to get my schedule finalized before Friday! Then spent the evening at the top of the ICC- the tallest building in Hong Kong and seventh tallest in the world with good friends.

Day 14 - Sep 10

Went grocery shopping today! Besides that trip and a visit to a Kennedy Town noodle joint, it was a pretty relaxing and chill day. 

Day 13 - Sep 9

On the public holiday with most businesses closed for the Mid-Autumn Festival it was only fitting to visit the patriotic "Beef & Liberty," a hipster joint in Wan Chai serving very tasty burgers. After our lunch we went down to Victoria's Peak, which was very touristy but had some great views. We hiked up to a freshwater reservoir plant with similarly killer views, then spent some time in the gardens and around the peak mall. Afterward we ventured on to central for dinner at Under Bridge Spicy Crab, apparently a local favorite and typhoon shelter.

Pic 1 is the view from the reservoir plant around 5:30 pm

Pic 2 is the burger

Pic 3 is the view from Victoria's Peak observatory

Day 12 - Sep 8

Mid Autumn Festival! So in Hong Kong, they give you the day off for a holiday the day after the actual holiday. So tomorrow is no school and all public buildings are closed, but today was the actual festival day. We spent the evening in Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, treated to a lively festival atmosphere with lights, performances, lantern lighting, and the Lion Dance. The gymnasts' performance was utterly ridiculous with literally jaw dropping stunts.

The pictures show the festival, which was done on a massive scale with an exceptionally well designed system of getting thousands of people in and out of the park easily.

Day 11 - Sep 7

Sunday! today was the final day of orientation which included a cooking competition, which we won with a quiche and some other games. After that, got ready for the Mid Autumn Festival tomorrow!

The top picture is one of the ridiculous games (not my picture).

Bottom pic is definitely something you can't get at a Micky-D's in the states.

Day 10 - Sep 6

Today was a crazy busy day- with a scavenger hunt around the city in the morning, followed by a barbecue at night on the beach, complete with swimming in ridiculously warm water- some delicious meat, and water games. Then met up with some guys from my orientation group and went to the roof of a hostel with a bunch of other exchange students.

The first pic is down by the avenue of stars again, but I wanted to show how many things are under construction. Hong Kong is constantly changing, stores moving in and out, metro stops being added, streets completely changed - and they build so much faster than back at home.

Second pic is the bbq space on the beach at the southern point of Hong Kong Island, past Aberdeen.

Third is the rooftop view from the hostel.

Enjoy~

Day 9 - Sep 5

This day was a crazy one- we took an adventure out to the Kowloon Tong station in search of food, and one of the biggest record collectors in Hong Kong. We found both, and had some great times along the way. This street market above is more focused on aftermarket electronics, rather than some of the others - like temple street for example that has more wearable goods like purses, watches, etc. Below is a picture of us in the record store with the owner (not my picture)

Day 8 - Sep 4

Today marks a week in Hong Kong! Definitely learned a lot in that time, and although I'm not counting down, there are only about 15 more, so have to make the most of it! Above is my student ID, by the end of next year I'm going to have 3 different student IDs. In terms of academics, this school is going to be very challenging and very rewarding. The professors are incredibly engaging and today I had my last two "new" classes - Liberalism and its limits (very interesting to take in Hong Kong), and Chinese Business Environment. Looking forward to the weekend and the start of trip planning to definitely Korea and definitely Taiwan, with a lot of other maybes in there as well!

Day 7 - Sep 3

Again we have a 2 picture post! Today I woke up fairly early on my day without class- took the MTR to Tung Chung, the farthest station on the Orange Line to meet up with Joanna, Jacky and Rosanna who I know from AKPsi UCLA. We then took the cable car~ pictured above to reach the giant Tian Tan Buddha Statue on Lantau Island (pictured below). It was magnificent, and the view from the pedestal was incredible. In the upper picture, the area to the top left of the image is the Hong Kong Airport. Then later after getting back to campus, we went out to Wan Chai. At this point I'm becoming very comfortable in the city and navigating the city- it's going to be a great 4 months!