Thoughts on Meandering

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:06:57 GMT

I think I'm coping with my stress better. And my time. I've started both the essays which are due next week. And I've actually written almost half of the 4000 word one, which I'm very surprised by. I feel like I've gotten a surprise present of motivation, maybe the world's way of making up for the horrible illness I had? For whatever reason, I'm actually doing these essays and not being terrified out of my mind that I wont get them done.
Shockingly I also exercised to day. I went for a jog, something I don't think I've ever done before. I always thought it a bit silly, but it actually woke me up, weird. I think I'm finally getting some confidence in myself back, and just in the nick of time.

Also, OMG! Everyone should find an excuse to go into the Rare Books library, especially where they keep the collection in a climate controlled area (which is apparently heavenly during summer). The books they have! So many are bound in leather, and it's just fascinating what they have back there! And it's so very quite and respectful, like a proper library should be. It's just heaven.

Car!

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:36:41 GMT

I have a car!
And I drove all the way from Wye River to Melbourne all by myself, tehehee. I feel so proud and accomplished.
Though peak hour traffic is a nightmare, and scary.
Having a car makes me feel like I have so much freedom... I can go shopping any time I want to! Wheee, no more worrying about carrying stuff home! *dances*

My last Hong Kong post

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:31:00 GMT

I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I'm actually leaving. I find it strange that by tomorrow evening I'll be back in Melbourne, in my own place. Seeing family.

My time in Hong Kong is finally coming to a close. It's had its ups and downs, as all adventures do. These past months have been one of the longest stretches of time. Just four months, but I have enough memories to fill a year and spill into the next.

Points from my journey:

Jump right in, do those things that seem crazy and weird, often they are the best memories (Whoo, I'm The Monkey Queen!)
"bu yao", just keep repeating it in China, and those pesky street sellers go away!
Monash really is a good uni. The lecturers generally don't blatantly disagree/hate you.
Pollution is a major problem in Hong Kong, almost constant bronchitis proves this. So shut up all you hong kongers who don't think so.
I'm never going to live in halls again.
I now think going to bed at 12am is early.
China has one of the best public transport system the world. For the size of the country, the fact that trains are almost never late, and go pretty much everywhere you need, and if not there will be a bus. Fast, clean, comfy and a pretty decent price.
Chai latte means coffee and tea to the Chinese, as in them mixed and served in the same drink. Very weird taste.
Escalators and lifts are awesome!
Me and Hong Kong clothes do not fit. Drat them not knowing what hips are!
I shall begin campaigning for an octopus card system in Australia immediately.
7-11 is an institution in Hong Kong. It'd collapse without them.
Baht!
Friends make everything so much more interesting, or I should say, crazy.

I shall miss you Hong Kong, I really will. But I'm happy to be going home.

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:26:59 GMT

I'm off to Yangshuo, China tonight. I'm going on an adventure! Yangshuo is this littlish town in southern China that has beautiful countryside and will hopefully be nice and peaceful. I'm going to be there until the 23rd.
And then it's going to be christmas, which I may get to spend camping out on a beach, or maybe something just as random. May crazy Finnish friend is organising it and that means anything is possible.
I still can't get over that in less than 2 weeks I'll be back in melbourne... just 11 more days. And I bet they are going to go really slowly, like a snail asleep, and they can sleep for 3 years! I'm getting pretty excited about coming back though! I've missed everyone heaps.

The lecturer: I should have known

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:11:53 GMT

I met a lecturer. She teachers about global migration, a sociology class.
The first week in we learnt about Marx, maybe I should have thought twice. But it is sociology...

On the class went, and I really should have thought twice. She liked to get opinions, she encouraged them.
But much to my suprise, she only wanted us to think along one particular path.
I really should have left.

On this went, she taught what she believed, what she agreed with. And woe to you if you thought any different.

I have a friend. He is from the Netherlands, the most liberal place in the world.
Now mix the two together, what do you get? A lecturer that has a serious argument with her student, just because he held a different view. One that did not match, that she could not agree to.
I really should have left.

But could it really be that bad? "No" I thought to myself, and went on with life.

It began to become more noticable what she was like.
But still I thought "she is just the lecturer, I can do well dispite her". You just have to get on and do it. Well that's how it normally is.
I really should have run.

Then the assignment is returned... and the war began.
How can you do well if the lecturer is bad at her job? If she marks you wrong? And then wont talk to you in person...
On and on the emails go: we shall see how where it turns.

Together we named her true, a communist, Mao loving, feminazi.

My Life's Soundtrack

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 04:42:44 GMT

From wickedalchemist

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie.

Opening Credits: Down With the Sickness - Disturbed.
Ahhh, right. Well I suppose it could work with the changing part. But violence and sickness?

Waking Up: Sober - Tool.
Ok that works, but seriously my life seems very depressing right now.

First Day of School: Best Weapon - Something for Kate.
Ooo, I find this very fitting for school. Keeping my head down, and getting through it.

Falling in Love: Stupify - Disturbed.
In a distrubing (no pun intened) way that does work...

Fight Song: Creep - Radiohead.
That's the most pansy arse fight song! Man, I bet we are just being all emo and crying in a corner.

Breaking up: Just Hate Me - Pain.
That is so perfect! This has got to be one of the best end of a relationship songs, though it probably was a bad break-up.

Prom (formal, whatever): Love Comes - The Posies.
Hehe, that's sweet. I just have to be open and along it'll come. See, I'm getting over that previous nasty break-up.

Life: The Game - Disturbed.
Oh god, that is so not what I want out of life. Though the insane part might fit.

Mental Breakdown: Star Wars Ewok Song - Phish.
Yup, I've officially gone over the deep end. Whooo, I'm either a god, or a furry, cute ewok.

Driving: I Guess You're Right - The Posies.
Anything could be used for driving! This is a stupid one, well at least I'm not in a car chase or anything. Probably just cruising along.

Flashback: Achille's Last Stand - Led Zeppelin.
I must be remembering the start of my journey. I like it.

Getting Back Together: Voices - Disturbed.
It must be a bit of an effort to get back together...

Wedding: My Last Breath - Evanescence.
I may be dying at my wedding, but I'm going to interpret it to mean that I'm letting go of the past! I really don't want a depressing wedding.

Birth of a Child: The Pot - Tool.
I must have been high. And probably a painful birth.

Final Battle: Just A Man - The Cruel Sea.
My fight scenes are crap. I just see two people in an argument.

Death Scene: Injected Paradise - Pain.
Someone poisoned me! Still it works pretty well, I mean it is deffinately about death.

Funeral: Teach Me - The Cruel Sea.
Maybe people are learning a lesson from my life? At least it is about love.

End Song: Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Led Zeppelin.
Wow, that's a pretty freaking awesome end song, very nostalgic, but still a promise of hope (plus it's one of my fav. songs).

Hong Kong and the World

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:19:21 GMT

One of my classes over here is called Hong Kong and the World. It is a very interesting course. Every week there has been a different guest speaker talking about some topic. These people have come form diverse backgrounds, some are scientists, others politicians, a retired high court judge, and plenty of business people (because this is Hong Kong, and well nothing gets higher priority than business, but I digress).

Well everything had been going well, no problems. The speakers were interesting, mostly. One week Emily Lau came, she is part of a political awareness group here. She spoke on the self-censorship of the media, and biases within the election processes. And how people are simply following Beijing's "suggestions" (It shouldn't be directly interfering with free elections in HK). Then she went on to discuss two particular candidates for a district in Hong Kong, and that one is getting preferences because supposedly Beijing is backing her. At the end of the class she handed out some fliers about her political group.
No big deal, we all got on with other things, like falling asleep in international relations (he has got to be the worst lecturer ever).

A few weeks later we have a guest speaker called Ronnie Chan. Apparently he is quite a big business man here. He was supposed to be talking about corporate social responsibility. Which he really didn't, he kept on answering with questions, and not much actually solid information at all. And then someone mentioned that Emily had been criticising the business community for not supporting democracy that much, and I think mentioned the pamphlets. Now this is where it starts to get interesting: he goes on this long rant about people not being allowed to promote their own political views in an academic setting, they must be balanced, say like in a debate, etc. And then he wouldn't get off this topic for the rest of the lecture. He wasn't saying anything new. (I personally think he was doing this to avoid talking about corporate responsibility)

A week later our lecturer tells us some weird news. Apparently my course has become the centre of an argument between Lau and Chan. And it's going on through the media!! It is a strange feeling, Also it goes to show how easily people can misinterpret things, and then escalate the supposed problem out of all proportions.

YES!

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 14:55:22 GMT

I'm a very happy Australian right now. I lined up for about an hour to vote at the embassy today, and voting was worth it. Then I spent the rest of the night watching ABC on the internet.
I was jumping around, squealling, and giggling. Grinning from ear to ear. I got a lot of odd looks from the people around me, because well I didn't see any Aussies this evening. But I'm so happy! *dances*
Now I just have to wait and see how the senate turns out...

a question...

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:13:45 GMT

Why do Uni buildings always have to be so cold?! Especially classrooms and the library. I can understand if a lecture was packed, all that body heat, but seriously, when does that ever happen? Maybe the first week, the rest of the time, there are always yawning spaces. Because the students sure haven't turned invisible. So for those of us that do manage to drag our bodies out of bed and into a semblence of normalacy (and generally a dose of coffee) and get to class, well we then spend the majority of it wishing that we'd invested in skiing jackets. And we take less notes. Then those few that have managed to keep their eyes open and brain functioning trek off to the library. To be confronted by no less than even colder temperatures. Trying to type while the cold air blows down on your hands, making them stiff. Everyone is wearing jackets, and probably wishing they had a few more on. Hmm, maybe that sleeping person wouldn't miss theirs...
So why are these buildings so cold? Why can't they just leave them on about 21C? Ahh, the puzzles of buildings and A/C.

Little Old Granny

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:05:25 GMT

Today I had to do an interview for my sociology class about migrants. So I and my research partner went of to have dim-sum with the lady we were going to interview. We arrived at the restaurant, full of Hong Kong people, Koen and I were the only Westerns there, and boy did we stand out. Koen's Dutch, and very tall and kind of blond, and well you know what I look like.
So here were the two of us, looking very conspicuous, with a dear little old granny and her granddaughter. We needed her granddaughter there, she's 20, because, well the granny could not speak one word of English, so the interview would have been very silent without a translator.
I actually found it fun. I sat there madly scribbling away responses, some of which were surprising.
She'd come to Hong Kong in 1953 to marry a man she'd never met! And she travelled all the way by herself.
And then she told us her sister and her family came to Hong Kong 10 years later, but illegally. They came on a visit and just never went back to China and being farmers.
So I really enjoyed myself. But the funniest, and cutest part was that the granny was pretty much half the size of Koen, and well she was still small compared to me as well. A right little old, dear granny. But you can see times are a changing, because round her neck she had a cord, and do you know what was one the end of it... was a shiny new mobile phone.

Monkey see, Monkey bite

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:46:12 GMT

Yeah, I got bitten by a monkey...
So very random. But I had to go to the hospital yesterday for a rabies and tetanus shot. I ended up spending about 6hours waiting around and being told to go and wait in different places, at the 4 hour mark I finally got the shots... and cried the whole time, mean needles, they scare me...
and then I waited another 2 hours just for a nurse to put pretty much a fancy bandaid on the bite, which is more a bruise actually.
And now I feel all tired, achey and have a headache from getting the shots.
And well I have to go back four more times for the rabies shots. Next one on thursday, I may have to wait another 6 hours, god I hope not!
But I just keep on telling myself that the shots are better than getting rabies, considering that it is like a 100% fatality rate.
...mean monkey..

Queen of the Monkeys!

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:41:46 GMT

I went sightseeing today to a place called Monkey Mountain. Which is very aptly named.
There are a ton of wild monkeys that just roam around freely, sit on the path, in the trees and stare at you. There were a lot of cute little young ones playing around. All was good.
But well not sure what happened but one to a fancy to me, or more to the point my arm. It decided that I looked like good food, so it bit me!
Quite hard too, I have a nasty looking bruise now, ringed by teeth marks. Only good thing was I still had my jacket on, so it didn't break my skin.
I laughed so much, even though it really did hurt. Still kind of aches now, but it lead to a fun filled day. Beacuse my friends started joking around that I would turn into a monkey, and well we ended up doing some amatuer filming. And made a short horro film in which pretty much everyone died, and I got to be the queen of the monkeys. So my bite lead to much fun, and I'm fine with it.
Besides it kind of matches a nasty bruise I have on my knee from bike riding in Beijing.
And well the chocolate cake I had tonight really made up a lot for everything. So rich and sinful, and delicious!

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 09:29:53 GMT

I have 8 weeks left in Hong Kong. 8 weeks...
I feel that time has been moving very fast here, but at the same time so slowly.
I still have quite a few things I'd like to do, and a few things I should have done, but umm, haven't quite gotten around to them.
And know in Nov. I have so manu assignments due, I don't even know if I'll get anything interesting done.
It has been great to study in another country, it has shown me that Monash Uni is good. I miss lecturers that I can understand! And classmates that do discuss things, and don't always make it an arguement about the West not letting China develop, or some other such thing. Or even worse, when sometimes they start talking propaganda and believe it.

But I have enjoyed it here. And I'm going to miss the place. I still can't believe that I'll be heading back soon.

Photos of China

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:54:25 GMT

I finally put some photos up. Not all of them, only from the first couple of days, but still. Photos!!
I'll keep adding to them, I already have. But there are a lot! woo! and I keep on getting distracted by looking at them instead of uploading.

Back in Hong Kong

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:31:31 GMT

I had an amazing trip in China!!!!!!
I want to go back, I didn't want to leave. There is still so much to see!

I went to Beijing for three days, Xi'an for two days and Shanghai for two and a tiny bit days.
Not enough time. Beijing I think was my favourite. I got to climb the Great Wall of China!! I treaked it for about 4hrs. So amazing and beautiful. And the Forbidden City, and and and, well I could go on forever about all this. In Xi'an I got to see the Terra-cotta warriors, very interesting, but kind of tourist ridden. But the are well preserved and there are parts were the archeaologists are still digging.
Oh, food is so much better in CHina than Hong Kong, I ate heaps of street food. Mmmm cheap yummy food.
I had three other travel companions, which was fun. We all went by train. The trains in China are pretty good, they have sleeping bunks and everything, some even had tvs, but well everything was in mandarin, so yeah, couldn't really understand.
THe people are really friendly, and you can generally find someone that speaks English (I've suddenly realised how lucky I am to have it as my first language, apparently it is very difficult to learn, especially the grammar).
I took so many photos, I think somewhere around 800, quite likely more. I may put some up, when I feel more motivated.
Shanghai was the most meh, it was pretty much like Hong Kong. Ok, what I mean is this: it is very focused on business and trading. It lacks a feeling, it just seems to but about expanding and making a profit. It does have a lot of old buildings, but most of these are from colonial time, so this city was pretty much created by western countries. It has a different feel to it. I did find it interesting, but there are far better places to go, and this one can be missed.
Xi'an and Beijing are incredible. I really want to go back and spend so much more time there though. Two things I loved about Beijing the most, the Great Wall and riding a bicycle around the streets in Beijing (a crazy thing to do, but I felt like I had achieved something major).
In Xi'an there is this beautiful place, the temple of 8 immortals, it is Taoist. The murals and statues are just incredible, and it is still an active temple. Also one of the best things is that very few other tourists were there. I loved it. Very peaceful, I felt like sleeping.
I have a hundred and one other things I could tell...

Heading off to China

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:50:32 GMT

I'm going to China tomorrow! *Bounces all over the room* I'm so excited!! I'm catching the train with three other exchange students tomorrow afternoon. And we start the 24hr train journey up to Beijing. Such a long, long trip. But I'll be sleeping in a bed, apperently it's supposed to be soft. I hope so. But Beijing! I'll be staying there for about 3 days. I get to see the Great Wall of China! And the Forbiden City, and so much more. And then I'm off to Xi'an, the place of the terra-cotta warriors, and other amazing historical things, such as a city wall and temples. I'm not sure if I'm going to be here for 2 or 3 days, hmm. I'll have to decide at some point. But my plans are pretty flexible at this point, plus it isn't really the tourist season so I can get accomodation and stuff easily, at least I hope so.
*mutters* I hope things go alright. *nods* they will!
I'm going to take way to many photos! and I'm planning to keep a sort of travel journal, so that I will remember the little things, and the big things. Thoughts and impressions of the place. And since I plan on taking the train to most, if not all the places, I'll have quite a while to write. hehe.
After Xi'an I'm thinking of catching a train down to Changsha (I think it's claim to fame is that Mao was born near here) it's about a 9-13hrs train journey. So very long, but still better than flying for that long. Then, well I've kind of run out of time and must get back to Hong Kong, either I'm just going to fly (more expensive) or get another train (the time!). I really should make up my mind. Ah well, something will happen. Even if it's me being very confused!
I am so looking forward to it!!!!!
Becuase, well after this uni work starts to kick in, so I wont really have a chance to go traveling over the weekends and stuff. Though I will still do some day trips, especially to places just around Hong Kong Island, like Macau. And well assignments, lots of them, due in November. Then exams for the first couple of weeks in December, then I get some time in HK and need to decide if I should actually stay longer, and travel more or head back to Aussie when I originally planed to. Hmmm, choices, choices.

Random things

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:53:56 GMT

I feel like I've been doing so much, and yet at the same time nothing at all.
I think I've been a bit depressed the last few weeks. Some times little things would set me off, and I'd get short tempered, or quiet.
At one point I was so sick of Chinese food I almost broke down and cried. I just about screamed at the people I was with that I really didn't want to go to another damned Chinese place and eat rice and cabbage and mushrooms one god damned time more! It's easy for everyone else. They can eat the meat, they don't have to wonder if what they ordered actually is vegetarain or just food with vegies and meat. I'm so tired of picking through my food and finding meat. Smiling at everyone and saying it's fine, doesn't bother me. So I just stopped going out to eat. Stayed in my room, ate noodles. I think the only thing that really stopped me from losing it was that I could go to a supermarket and get pasta, cheese, tomato sauce and did I say cheese? I made the biggest bowl I could and pigged out. My comfort food, always has been.
And I got to talk to friends from Aussie for almost an entire day. Bless msn. And I'm just so glad that Nicole and Paul were online for that long. It just helped to talk, to laugh, joke and remind myself that I'm not alone. The simple, little things are truley what I miss, I can deal with the big differences, like the buildings, the language, the people.

I just wanted to curl into a little ball and sob my heart out. I felt so alone. But at the same time I felt I had to pretened everything was fine. Put on a happy facade. Who here really wants to know how I'm feeling? Ahh, I really want a hug.
Well I'm getting better. I'm going to China at the end of the week. But moslty I got to chat to my friends and my family. I love you guys, and I really do miss you guys.

National Day in Hong Kong

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 02:07:57 GMT

National Day was on the 1st of October.
(yes, yes, I know I've been very slack, but you'll understand hopefully).
I got up at 6:30am and along with Rachel, and exchange student from Beijing, we went to the flag raising ceremony. There were parades of policemen, cadets, and scouts. And lots of flag waiving (both the Chinese flag and the Hong Kong flag). There were quite a few people there, but it we could still move around and see things. We stayed there until everyone official had left, then we went and took photos and had fun, we even sat in the chair that the chairman of Hong Kong sat in for the ceremony. Had a giggle over that. Oooh, When they raised the flag, they had helecopters fly over with big flags, and the navy went past too, and there was a band playing. I even felt a bit patriotic. But it was fun.
Rachel was telling me how in Beijing people would get to Tianamese Square at about 3am, just to get a good position to see the ceremony! I found this so insane, but thousands of people would be going so it does make sense. You'd never catch me doing it though.
Then in the evening I went to the fireworks display! Oh My God. I have never seen some many people in one place before! It was a sea of people in all directions and so close. I found it more fascinating than the actual fireworks, though they were pretty good. Soo pretty, hehe.
I didn't get home until about 1am though. I was so tired, and then just to be crazy I got up early the next day. Well actually it was for a reason, I had to apply for my visa to get into China. I waited in line for over 3 hours. Fortunatley I was with a friend, she's from England, her name is Jo. We got talking about how people that really like England are called "anglefiles", she then asked what you'd call someone who like Australia lots, I told her I thought that it was "English". She loved it and couldn't stop laughing. She happens to really love Aussie and wants to find anyway possible to go back.

Did I mention that I didn't get to go to sleep before about 2am every night this week? Oh, and then waking up by about 8am, I 've been so tired. Plus I've been on medication for bronchitis. And I think It's been messing with me sleeping well. But I've one night left of the nasty stuff, then all done! I feel so blah taking drugs, I really don't trust what they are doing to my body. And doctors never seem to actually tell you what they do, they just give them to you. Blargh! I hate it. I wish I had my herbal medicines here.

Lamma Island

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:57:18 GMT

I spent most of yesterday at Lamma Island. It is an island to the south of HK island, and takes about 30mins to get there by ferry.
I went with 10 other people and had fun. Well mostly, because we did the walk from the south town all the way up to the north town, took about 2hrs. But it was a very hot and sunny day, so I got sunburnt, even though I put sunscreen on.
The walk was very beautiful though, with some interesting scenery, like butiflies, trees, oceans, oh and a coal power station. Hehe.
(I'd put photos up, but I'm feeling way to lazy *sigh*)
The walk was along a path that went through small little villages. They weren't very touristy, but they did sell water and some food, capitalising on the tourists that decide to take the long walk. I'm glad that they did, I would have died without that nice ice cold water. The path continued to wind its way up some hills, then down to a beach (and a wonderful view of the power station) and then into the main town. The island is renowned for it's seafood, so for lunch we decided to have Indian. It was a very good meal too. It was a good outing. Though Diana and I went home early, because we were so tired. The heat wasn't helping us stay awake either.
Got home and feel asleep, then I think I did nothing at all. Hmm oh wait, I played Oblivion, it really is fun being the grey fox, I can get away with just about anything! Most people wont get that, will they? No, Amber they wont *sigh* poor them. Oh, wait, why am I talking to myself!!
Actually, why am I eating a peach and egg sandwhich?! It's a very strange conbination. I'm not sure if I like it, or if my taste buds are just very confused. What is very tasty is the mandarin and lemon drink, mmm, and the sour cream and onion pringles. Yummy...

Blah

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:50:32 GMT

I've noticed that in HK uni they really like group projects. I mean really like them. In every single class the major assignment you are required to work in a group. I'm not complaining about this at all. It makes for a nice break from loads of essays, it's just a novel experience. Not to mention it does make things easier.
Oh and the other weird thing, if you do have to write an essay, it's not really an essay. You aren't required to have an introduction, conclusion, and all the other bits and bobs. Frankly I can't believe this, so I'm going to write them as I normally would. And they aren't as strict on referencing. Most of these are concessions for the local students whose English may not be the best. But referencing? Seriously, that's got nothing to do with grammar or structure, and the whole legal aspect of it?!

*sigh* I wish I could skip class tomorrow. I'm feeling so very tired. But I have a group presentation to give, so I'm not leaving them stranded and all alone to do it. And I actually have a legitimate reason to miss. I have bronchitis. Damn bronchitis! I sound like a long time smoker, coughing and wheezing like I'm about to die. The doctor explained that it's probably due to the high level of pollution that we had here the last couple of weeks. *sigh* Just my luck. And to make things worse I'm actually taking drugs. I hate drugs with a passion, but it's just not going away and I don't have anything else to take. But the icing on the cake is that I'm getting a couple of the side effects of the medicine. It makes me really sleepy, but at the same time I find it hard to sleep. But the worst one is that my hands get all shaky, actually so do my legs. Try taking notes when you can't hold a pen properly. Look at all the funny squiggles, wheee I can't read what I wrote!
Seriously, why do they think this stuff is good, when it does all this crazy shit?
Ah well, I'll end up in class tomorrow and just get someone else to give me their notes.

Taipei, Taiwan

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 05:35:50 GMT

I haven't posted in what feels like ages. Mostly because I'm so, so tired. And well I'm tired from having gone to Taipei, Taiwan last weekend.
Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, also known as Formosa. Some would have you believe that it is also the capital of the whole of China, but personally I think these people are slightly ... delusional. Though the ones that want Taiwan to be recognised as an actual independent country have a point, but a large problem is that no one really wants to overly annoy China. It makes for a very delicate topic.
But the country, well actually I should say the city, because that's all I got to see, is a very interesting place.

The major differences I saw between Hong Kong and Taipei is that HK is based on the British system. eg, British power plugs, driving rules, tiny roads, English as an official second language, and just the general feel of things. Whereas in Taipei it seems to be more based on the American system, power plugs, roads (they are really wide and open, well that's if there aren't any roadworks) pedestrian lights (they have a cool countdown timer on how long you have left to cross the street, which is apparently the same in USA), and several other little things.

I arrived there on Friday night, after spending more time in the airport than actually in the air, stupid security concerns *grumble* and left on Monday afternoon. Not that long a trip, but till worthwhile.
I didn't get to do much sightseeing, but this didn't bother me too much as I got to see my brother, David, and his ballroom dance partner, Corina, dance and win!! They came first place! We were, and still are, so ecstatic about this. They got a cool crystal trophy that lights up in the dark. It's like having a disco ball, hehe, all the pretty lights! Oh you should have seen my face at the dance comp. So many pretty, shiny dresses! I wanted them all! Short ones, long ones and things that pretended to be dresses (but seriously weren't much more than a small scrap of cloth strategically placed)! I had a major bought of dress envy. Everyone there pretty much convinced me that I have to start dancing. And I'm actually seriously considering taking it up when I get back to Aussie (and not just because of the dresses).

The comp was all day Saturday, so on Sunday, after everyone slept in because they we were all so tired from the previous day. We went sightseeing to Taipei 101. Taipei 101 is the 3rd tallest building in the world, (actually it depends what you base it on, some categories it comes out as 1st) and looks pretty interesting. But the best part is the lift. It is the fastest lift in the world, reaching speeds of 1010m/m. It has to be pressurised so it doesn't hurt your ears. It took about 45sec to reach the top of the building, where I then got to stare out at Taipei.
There is a lot of it. I know that Melbourne is a very spread out city, but is almost entirely suburban, whereas Taipei is largely skyscrapers. And trust me, this makes a big difference to the feel of things.
The city feels different, when you're there you do feel like you are in an Asian city. The street signs, the buildings and the language. It can be hard to get around if you don't know some Mandarin. One of the most common way to get around there is by scooter. I think that they are more popular there than even in Italy.
I then went to a market, lots of cheap things to buy, but I only bought a couple of things. I can get the same things for the same price in HK, so I thought I'd save myself from carrying them all the way back here. I saw a temple just before I left for the airport. I love the shape of them, with the large courtyards, and pretty roofs, plus all the detail work, like dragons, lions and some mythical beasts. (I'll try and put some photos up soon). It was raining at the time to, just a small drizzle, but I actually liked it. It made things feel fresh and clean.
This is a big deal for me, as I've been suffering from a sore throat for at about a week now. Mostly it is due to the increased level of pollution in HK at the moment and it doesn't help that the A/C is drying my throat out something terrible. I sound all croaky and weird.
It does give me an excuse to have lollies though, mmm yummy, sugary, throat lozenges.

I've been having a lot of fun in HK, and the other places you can so easily get to from here.

My 20th Birthday!!

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:01:45 GMT

Well I had a pretty busy and long day on my Birthday.
I didn't even have a chance to post anything. I'm going to consider this a good thing, and that it meant I was having to much fun to do anything else.

Well my day started at 8am, when I opened a present from my mum and stepdad (thankyou it was so cool to actually have a present to open) The balloons are so cool (they have my name on them surronded by hearts, so, so cute). Then I had to run off to get to class on time. I actually ended up being early, so I went and treated myself to a chocolate muffin, mmmm. Class was pretty interesting, I got to meet Dr. Malik Peiris, he's the micro-biologist that identified the SARS virus. This was very interesting. He was a very good speaker. Oh, and the people in the class who knew me all wished me a happy birthday.

I also wore some nice clothes to make me feel happy!

Yes, this is me stricking a silly pose, but hey it's my birthday! (This is part of the Global Lounge)

I than had a 4 hour break, so I sat in the Global Lounge (it's pretty much the international students haunt). And while I was there 3 people sang happy birthday to me! hehe, so cool. Had class, then rushed back home to get changed and go out to dinner at The Peak.

The peak is a very interesting place. We caught a bus up there, and the road is narrower and maybe a bit more twisty than the Great Ocean road. And it's pretty omg at times, escepially when two buses are passing, I swear there was only about 6 inches between them!

I went out to dinner with 7 friends. Cindy, Megha, Julien, Ted, Megan, Anski and Thao. They are pretty much my core group of friends here, at least so far. I mean it han't even been a month yet. But I digress. So we went to this lovely restaurant. The food was so good. I had ricotta and spinach ravioli with truffles, it was mouth-watering (this might have had something to do with it not being rice, mushroom and cabagge though, maybe). Lots of chatter and generally having a good time. I got a birthday ice-cream sundae as well. It had a candle in it! I blew it out and made a wish :)

One of the highlights of the night though was when everyone sang happy birthday. It was a very special song. Anski sang in Finnish, Cindy in Cantonese, Julien in Spanish (though he's french), Megha in French (though she's US/Indian), Thao in english but with a vietnam accent, hehe, Megan in english, and Ted in Korean. It sounded amazing!! They actually all have similar timing, so they wnet together. Also it was indicative that I really am living in an international environment. Mainly it was just cool, and a great experience.

I had a really, really good birthday.
Though I am sad that my friends and family couldn't be there for it.
You'll just have to through me one when I get back!

Here are some photos of my fun night at The Peak, Hong Kong.

My pretty new dress I bought for my birthday!

Crazy dancing, whooo look at the swirly patterns!

My birthday ice-cream sundae, mmm so good, I think it was a honey nut flavour.

My party hat!! (made from a napkin, a linen npkin I'll have you know!).

That's part of the Hong Kong skyline behind me, the photo doesn't do it justice. So many pretty shiny lights.....!!!!

Studying

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:42:39 GMT

I knew I was coming to Hong Kong to study. I mean I applied through Monash Uni, I choose subjects that would count towards my major, and some that sounded interesting and that weren't offered at Monash.
But the funny thing is I never expected to be up late, on the night before my 20th birthday, reading Karl Marx and trying to figure out what he defines capital as. (I think it's pretty much the exploitation of wage-labourers for the benefit of a select few, not that I expect anyone cares). It wasn't all bad though. Every now and then, Marx would say something that reminded me that I was reading something first published back in 1867, 120 years before I was born. I think this is kind of cool, plus some of his comments are interesting, as he has no real idea of what is coming, whereas I do. Hindsight is a funny thing. I wonder what he would have thought of the USSR, or even China?

Well I'm going to go to sleep, and wake up and be all excited, and happy, and bouncy, and ... well I'm sure you get the idea.
It's going to be my birthday! *dances around in anticipation*

So much to do

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:52:35 GMT

Well I spent pretty much all of today sorting out going to Taipei. I think I've just about done it though. I paid for the aeroplane ticket and the hotel. Traveling on short notice is a pain, but I think it will be totally worth it. (Even if it's just for the extra stamps in my passports, so so pretty, mmm, yes they are. And mine! All mine!!...)

I had a choice of going on China Airlines, but went, hmm extra money vs. saftey, hmm extra money vs. plane exploding, hmmm. I think I'll take the extra money thankyou very much. So I am going to be flying on Dragonair, which is the budget company of Cathy Pacific. So nice and reliable and safe.
I still have no clue as to what I'm going to go do in Taipei. Well I do know that on Saturday I'll be at my brother's competition, looking after his stuff and cheering him on!! Whoo, this is so exciting. I may go see some memorials, or maybe temples. Well I should find something to do there that will be fun and interesting. And I'll be taking lots of photos.

For the rest of this week I need to keep on top of my readings and studying. So far I've done 2 subjects, but still have an assignment left for another. But I wont let this trip put me behind. Actually all things considered it's happened at a pretty good time. It's only the second week of classes, so the teaching material isn't that hard yet and there are no massive assignments due. So the timing is good.

Here are some photos of my time in Hong Kong so far.

A market street in Central.

Mong Kok, one of the major shopping areas. There are several street markets near here, and most of the stores are cheaper than other places. The markets are open until about 1am as well. So lots of night time shoppers!

In Mong Kok again. With a bunch of other exchange students. The guy behind me, Ted, is from S.Korea, the girl next to me, Cindy is from Canada, but born in Hong Kong, the girl next to her, Cayley, (with dreadlocks) is also Canadian, Richard is at the back and from America, the girl in front, Kie is from Japan and the girl on the far right, Claudia, is from Venezula.

This place is in Aberdeen. Which is on the cost. Most of the exchange students went on a tour here. This stop was for a Sampan ride. A sampan is a small chinese boat.

This is me on a Sampan. Next to me is Remco, from the Netherlands.

The little boat in front is a sampan, but those other boasts look cool. I want one.

This is a little shrine at Repulse Bay. From left, me, Justin (Australia, QLD), Cyrielle (France), Megan (US) and Remco (Netherlands).
We have an awesome dragon behind us. The shrine was so colourful, and there were incence sticks burning and offerings as well.

Repulse Bay, this is a statue of the goddess of the sea. It is a very tall statue.

And the god of the sea. I love how colourful they are.

Megan and I being silly. This place is part of a museum and was once a fortification against invaders, like the japanese during WWII. It is quite close to the main part of Hong Kong city (and pretty much the other side of the island from Repulse Bay).

A whole bunch of us in Tiffany and my room. From front left, Megha (US/India), Me, Tiffany (US/Chinese). From front right, Julian (France), Ted (S.Korea) and Hoonji (S.Korea).

Lots of photos of random things. Hope it all makes sense.

Just for fun

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 07:31:19 GMT

68% Geek
They didn't ask anything about roleplaying though, or how much random trivia one knows