Exploring the Streets

After the city tour and seeing the beach for only five minutes, we decided a longer trip to the beach was completely necessary.  WAD, Benedicte, and Maria took the 45 minute journey through MTR and bus to Repulse Bay.  The area to swim looked more like Jordan Lake than actual ocean water.  Surrounded by pretty tall buildings and mountains, we stationed up with our newly bought beach mats.  Of course it was unbelievably hot like every other day so we spent most of the time in the water or braving the heat to read a little in Harry Potter 7.  After our day on the beach we took the 6A bus further down the coast to the Stanley Market area.  We decided to eat at Pickled Pelican restaurant and enjoyed our burgers and pasta on the water at dusk. It was wonderful!! Great ambiance and great company.

Repulse Bay

Dinner after the beach

The next day we set out to visit the local markets of Hong Kong. Andrew and Debbie had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they agreed to come along, mainly because I didn't know what I was getting them into.  Our first stop was the Ladies Market, aka street market with lots of trinkets and fake silk ties.  It was okay, but not the type of place you would actually go shopping, more of just a place to look around.  Then we ventured to the Gold Fish Market.  Not exactly sure what I was expecting, but probably something like tents set up with just bags and tanks full of gold fish everywhere. The Gold Fish Market was actually just a long street lined with pet stores, mostly fish, but with a few cute yet sad little puppies (you all know how I am with puppies).  From there we walked a bit further to the Flower Market.  They had plants you could buy (which I did and it is sitting on my windowsill), and beautifully wrapped flower bouquets.  The Flower Market was by far the best.  Our last stop, and by now we are completely struggling in the 107 degree heat, was the Bird Garden, also known as sketchy little area where they sold birds and bird food and had a little tiny bird on a chain leash. Yes.

Orchids from the Flower Market

We came back to rest after a very long day of walking, not even strenuous, just hot.  We have a facebook group for all of the exchange students where people can post places they are going in case people want to join.  We wanted to go see the Symphony of Lights, which is a light show every night on the buildings on Hong Kong Island, so we posted it thinking that maybeeee 3 people would meet us and we would have completely failed. We walked outside and 40 people were waiting outside, yes we were the last ones there and we planned it.  I was so excited!! Everyone knows how I love to plan so I was glad that it was actually successful. We walked in our massive group down to the water and everyone got to mingle before the light show began.  The show was incredible. It is more elaborate for Chinese New Year and other holidays, but this night was great too.  They play music on speakers behind you while the buildings light up to the music in different colors and patterns.  Everyone enjoyed it and then we split up for dinner.  Our group for dinner had German, American, Norweigan, and French people in it.  My table was Andrew, Christian (Germany), and Marie (Norway) and we had a great time talking and trying some new Chinese food.

The Symphony of Lights

Another day had come and we decided to get some errands run and lay low. The errands part was successful, but this still required a lot of walking in the heat.  We went to Sham Shui Po, phone district I suppose, to purchase a US$25 phone.  This area had cool little stores, like the one below, with all sorts of dried foods and spices, bead stores, and almost yard sale type stands.  On the way back to the residence halls we stopped at Yogurt Bar for some delicious Pink Berry type yogurt. Very refreshing.  That was pretty much it for our day because we had our first class early the next morning.

Dried vegetables and fish and things

First day of class went well.  We had our textiles class with a really young professor named Chris and a class of 17 local students. He lectured part of the time and had us split into groups to form our own version of the supply chain.  I think the class will be interesting, but it is 3 hour block which is painful. My next class was Chinese History and Culture, which I think will be very interesting, but a lot of reading.  Both professors seemed really nice though.  After my second class I just went to pick up some things from the supermarket and a local fruit stand and came back to get ready for our big exchange dinner.  A local student organized a dinner with true Chinese cuisine for all of the exchange students in Hong Kong, totaling around 700.  

The table at dinner

The dinner was in a hotel ballroom that is widely known for its wedding receptions.  I sat at a table with my roommate, Katrine (who just got here and is from Latvia, but studying in the UK), some other PolyU students and 2 students from other Universities.  We had 10 courses including jellyfish, goose foot, octopus, and shark fin soup and I tried all of them! The jellyfish was actually pretty good and the shark fin soup tasted like egg drop soup. Afterward our "group" went to Wan Chai district for ladies night where we got in free with free drinks.  Really a great deal if you ask me.

Whole fish. Delicious.

Today we just had class, very interesting teacher for our marketing class, but a bit tired from last night.  Now we are headed on a whim with a group to the big Buddha on Lantau Island. It is a bit foggy, but I did not want to miss the chance to go with them so we may just go again on a clear day!