Random Happenings in HK (Fall 2014)

Dear jumjum...

  Once again I have neglected my blog (surprise, surprise...). So here we go, random stuff in one go.

Saint Nicholas Day

  Helped Patricia out at her Dutch festival event in early December, where Sinterklaas arrives to meet the children on a boat. It was held in a sea school in Stanley, a part of HK island I have never been to before. The best part was trying Dutch food! I'm not a picky eater- I basically devoured everything, even stuff that Patricia herself doesn't like. She'd be like, 'You should try that,' and then after it's on my plate she's go, 'oh I don't like that by the way' xD

  The kids were so cute!!! We were in charge of the hat table, stapling paper in circles appropriate for their little heads and encouraging them to decorate their hats afterward. Many times I had to go apologetically, 'Soree, I don't speak Dutch'- however I did pick up how to say 'Santa Claus', 'blue', and 'feather' in their language. I didn't manage to take any pictures with the kids in their hats though.

Study break

  HJ brought me to the 1st floor of the library to study and I liked it so much that I went there for the rest of study break. Being the dynamic cat that she is, she soon got bored of the place and abandoned me for 'greener pastures'. Mika says it's 'too quiet (which makes her sleepy) and meant for old people (meaning postgrads)' -_- I even got a favourite corner that I became very possessive of, shooting daggers at whoever occupied My Spot.

High class cyber cafe
  Had to fork out a considerable amount of ka-ching to use a hotel business centre near the Chinese embassy to print a letter in order to apply for my Chinese visa. Melody and I reckoned it was like a high-class cyber cafe, and being the Asians we were, we wanted to get the most out of the money I forked over. So we grabbed handfuls of complimentary sweets and paper clips. Heh heh.

 Post finals 

Fish 'n Chips at Sai Kung w/ Ele

 Pat thought I was taking a snapchat- I abused her face in this picture by setting it as our group chat display pic =D

Last minute Christmas shopping

  I decided that due to the lack of traditions in my family (especially now that all the grandparents are gone), I wanted to start getting presents for everyone beginning this year. So Ele and Pat accompanied me shopping around Central.

  After getting everything, we were wandering around and came across the Mid Levels escalators, which was on my to-visit list. There are some really interesting little restaurants of food from all around the world on the way up; now I know where to go for food if I'm around that area. I didn't anticipate that there were no escalators to go down, aaand I was in my boots (with heels). Dammit! 

  The same night Patricia had a drinking party...let's just say we had a helluva time ;)

Thanks to HJ, I had to drink for this one...

*atm*

Freedomzzz

Dear jumjum...

  After an unacceptable hiatus..I'm back!! Just had my last final today- and a crazy load of stuff happened in the months before that, not sure how much I'll remember and write about.. Anyway, right after finals Melody and I went to pick up our Chinese visas (finally "returning" to my ancestral home next month! Pretty excited =) )

  After that I went to pick up my replacement earphones. Bought these a few months ago and the paint job was terrrrible, peeling off everywhere no matter how carefully I stored them. I went to the customer service place with not much hope, to be honest- I was even asking for advice on what to threaten them with should they turn me away; but it was all good, they got me a brand new pair. On the way there I got terribly lost though, (thought I didn't need directions from Google maps cause I went there once before), and since I arranged to meet Melody an hour later for dinner I was rushing and I banged my ankle against a cart =.=

  We had a lovely, juicy beef burger dinner; then I headed to meet my relative to change ownership of my mobile number. I realised too late that I was going there from a different direction and I had no idea which bus to take to get to where we were to meet. Because of the hearty dinner I decided I should walk there from the MTR. Map said it would take 40 minutes but I only had 20 and I made it! Part running part fast walking. Heh. 

  Just two nights ago, four of us Jji jji's had dinner with seniors in Hang Hau, the nearest town from campus. It was an all-you-can-eat hot pot, so we were feeling like balloons afterwards, aaand we decided to walk back to campus! It's only a 10-minute bus ride but it's a hilly route and the way back is uphill, so we ended up walking for almost 2 hours. We were singing Christmas carols along the way, and somehow that turned into Chinese New Year songs... Crap load of carolers we were- for most of the carols we could only manage the chorus xD 


  I have been informed that I'm getting rounder- yes I am aware of that, thanks Mum & Ee ee. 

 
 I was watching 500 Days of Summer just now (in fact I'm writing this to its soundtrack off YouTube). I really really enjoyed it and highly recommend it for silly little sensitive souls like me. I just wanted to pass time and the ratings were good but I was pleasantly surprised. Also, Zooey Deschanel!?!?!?!?! (I do realise that I might be lagging in my appreciation, but look at that face! And HER HAIR! ohsogorgeous).

*atm*

MAHK OCamp, Dad visits and First Boat Trip

Dear jumjum...

  It has been a busy, busy month and it will be even more so this month. First off, I told Terence I wanted to be involved in this year's MAHK orientation camp for freshmen (I missed my own last year) and I was assigned to be a Jouma 组妈. It was pretty exciting, running from uni to another and getting to know the other Malaysians. I think I was more like of the participants than a senior...

  Dad was in town for a few days for business, so I joined him on Thursday night in a hotel then Friday night at my aunt's place. It was such a treat sleeping on a comfy king-sized bed after cramping in my Hall V bunk bed!!! Appreciate the little things in life man. Dad and I spent most of our time talking and eating.

Tim Ho Wan

Seafood at a store above the market. Found this place within walking distance from where we were staying through an app. Was very doubtful at first because it was pretty empty for a Friday night but the place soon filled up. Dad and I were too ambitious and ordered waaay too much. Tapao-ed for lunch the next day.

  We were shopping around for a new pair of sunglasses for dad, and he bought one for me as well! Yeeeeees! I've been thinking of getting one for a long time, just never had the heart to spend that much xD

Say hello to spanking-new 2nd (1st was Disney ones at age 5 I think) pair of sunnies! 

  The very next day after Dad left, Mika, Ho Jeong and I joined the Catholic Society's boat trip. It was A-W-E-S-O-M-E! It was a highly subsidised treat and we really enjoyed ourselves. I went swimming for the first time in a long time at the beach, and we also did some kayaking. Then we headed to Cheung Chau 长洲 island (where YP and the girls have been several times for cycling and fish balls etc but I've never) where we had chinese seafood dinner. Very interesting place, definitely gonna go there again.

Spot the dead cat sunbathing behind us

  On our way back whilst checking our phones we were flooded with Occupy Central news, thank goodness we docked at TST instead of Central. Last week the class boycott didn't affect HKUST much, but after the events last weekend, definitely more people have joined the cause. Have received concerned messages from friends and family, but I'm not joining the protests and UST is so ulu that the protests will never reach us, so no worries.

  Midterms are creeping up, and at the end of this month I'll be taking my first trip out of Asia! So eggcited but so much to prepare for! Till then-

*atm*

End of Summer Term

Dear jumjum...

  I can't believe 3 months past me by just like that!!! Had the last full-day lab today before classes start next week. Kinda 舍不得, I'd rather work in the lab than attend lectures and take exams again...

  Ele arrived in HK last week! A little surreal having a Lenian here with me. It's kinda weird how normal and natural it feels to have her here though. We spent Sunday together, helping HJ move halls, then had late ramen lunch at this place I've wanted to go for ages. 

  After that we headed to Ikea (Ele has never been and I've never been to one in HK). So different from the one in KL. The place was really really small with low ceilings, and for some reason the locals here seem to hang out at Ikea like it's a recreational park. There were teenagers sitting in a ''bedroom'' chatting away, old men reading newspapers on the couches and girls just chilling out on the beds. We braved the long queue at the cafe and had some meatballs and chicken wings.

More food! Frozen yoghurt at Smile.

We hung out at Times Square and went back to Kowloon side on the Star Ferry. Brought her for reaaaally late Korean dinner at Tsim Sha Tsui.

  So I finally moved into the infamous Hall V! I was really upset about it but you know, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. As long as I have a roof over my head. I really don't like discolored/stained walls and peeling-off paint, so I covered most of my part of the room with colored paper. The most essential part was the bed frame which was once white but had since turned yellowish.  HJ knew that I find it hard to sleep the first night in a new place, so she very kindly came over and spent the night to keep me company since Melody (current roommate) wasn't going to come back until the 2nd night. 

  Slope up to Hall V. For some reason Google backup likes to automatically beautify some of the pictures I take...

My side of the room just looks super blue now xD

 

 View from the window.

So this is home for the next academic year!

*atm*