Sunday

Wow, oh wow. Sunday was maybe my most favorite day in Hong Kong so far. I woke up a little early to make sure that I got time to go through some emails (and facebook) and catch up but then I called up Sumana and Andrew and Sung to see if they wanted to come to a day in Hong Kong that my buddy, Sharon and her friends, Chris and Michelle had come up with. The three of them decided that they would join us in the Atrium (which I have yet to post a picture of) at 11:50 where we were going to meet Chris to take the minibus and MTR to meet up with Sharon and Michelle. At around 11:15, I remember that I told Ray the day before that I would call him if I was heading into town with my buddies. He sleepily agrees to come with us.

We probably finally left for the minibus and then MTR station at around 12:20 after everything was said and done. There was alot of plan shuffling but we got every straightened out and we headed out for a day in the City. We went down Sheung Wan and walked around the city where we got to see the awesome Tram (which Hong Kong peoples used before the MTR was built. It cost 2 HKD to go from one end of the line to the other..cheappp!) and we found a local HK restaurant where Sumana and I decided that we can't see food go to waste anymore so we should start splitting meals (more practical and cost efficient!). So Sumana and I had fried rice (what else) and it was actually pretty good. I am getting pretty good at using chopsticks and I was told that I have good "posture" when I hold them...as opposed to some of the people here who cross their chopsticks when holding them (to me, it looks cooler to cross them but whatever).

We had some great conversations about alot of things. On the MTR, I started to learn more about South Korea from Sung and he was telling me that maybe 600,000 people may still have their families split but the border between North and South Korea but for the most part families are in either one side or the other side. While at dinner, there was definitely a lot of cross culture talking. People were asking about Hinduism (there is a Hindu temple in Hong Kong!) and about India and such. And we were all discussing the various dialects and languages in China and who speaks what. It was really cool.

After a long chat during we started walking around the city (which locals call Central) and we went into these older streets where there were some awesome stalls selling all sorts of things. I can definitely see myself getting some sort of dragon to take back to the US with me. The way they are so intricately carved is just phenomenal.

The streets, in some parts, were very, very steep and very narrow. I think Andrew almost fell up and down steps more than a few times. It was just one of the coolest things to see highrises in the mountains. Its an indescribable view. I don't know that I have very good pictures of that but I will try and post some, for sure.

Anywho, Chris was a very good "tour guide" and he explained the significance of alot of things around Hong Kong. We got to see the awesome HSBC building, which is kind of built like legos...and Chris was saying that they built it as such so that if they every felt the need to more that headquarters/building (maybe in times of political instability?) that they would be able to do so by unlegofying the building. Yes, I did make up that word.

We walked some more around the city and took the tram for a little bit so that we could experience a more historic part of Hong Kong culture and then we made our way down to the convention center area and were able to see the Golden Flower (?) which signifies the return to a sovereign HK. It was really pretty, right on the water and you could see Central skyline in the background. After we took pictures there, we went on the Star Ferry and crossed the Harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui to see the "Symphony of Lights" laser show that they have on the highrises of HK. It was probably the coolest thing that I have ever seen. The lights and the skyline and everything combined was unbelievable.

While we were waiting for the show to begin, Ray, Sumana and I were talking with Michelle and Chris and they were telling us how they want to speak American English. I thought this was really interesting because for some reason, I always thought that most people want to speak British English because its more proper or widely understood? Atleast from my experience thus far, with HK locals (which is admittedly, minimal), I am pretty much mistaken.

After the show, we went off through Tsim Sha Tsui and we went to dinner at this Hong Kong style steakhouse where I had eggs and talked talked all about Korean Culture. In South Korea, it is mandatory that all men go to the armed forces for approximately 2 years. From what I gather, they can choose what they would like to be in but then its up to that particular area on whether or not they would like to accept them and if not, then they try something else. Most Koreans go to the army around their first of second year of college unless they are studying to be a Lawyer or Doctor, in which case they wait until after their board exams.

One interesting story that Andrew told us was that the Koreans are required to go through training where they have to be exposed to biological weapons without their gas masks and what not. I guess they are exposed to, I think, tear gas and they are required to endure it for 3 minutes a bunch of times. Craziness. I don't know that I would be able to do that.

After talking for a long time, we headed back to HKUST by MTR and then minibus. It was probably the best of the days in HK so far. Soo much learning and listening and talking.

Good Company, Good Food and Good Conversation. :)

I could really get used to this.