Just a Quick Hello from Greece!

The Greek Islands, to be exact. Today is Day 18-ish of my 45 day adventure across Europe. It has been amazing - I am having the time of my life. We have been to London, Paris, the Beaujolais Wine Region (near Lyon), Barcelona, Nice, Venice, Florence, Rome, Corfu, Athens...and now I am at a gorgeous little hotel on Ios. We have a few nights here before heading to Santorini...what a life.

Looking forward to catching up with everyone back home in less than a month! I can't believe that I have been away from home for more than five months - it has gone by so quickly. I am going to focus on enjoying the next 3-ish weeks fully...but I am also extremely excited to come home. I miss my friends and family!

PS. Mom, Dad and I had an awesome time in Hong Kong together last month. I couldn't have asked for a better week. I have the best parents in the WORLD!

I Just Can't Believe It...

I can't believe how quickly the past four months have flown by! All of a sudden, it is May 31st, and half of the exchange students at HKUST have already packed up and left! I am beginning to pack as well...but I'm not leaving until the 11th, because my awesome parents are coming to tour Hong Kong with me for a week!

The past couple weeks have been really busy. I had tons of presentations to complete during the last few weeks of school, and they took a lot of effort because it is nearly impossible to create a more amazing PowerPoint presentation than Hong Kong students. I tried my hardest...but I am afraid it was still pretty much no contest.

The last day of classes was May 14th, and then I had a few weeks to relax, oops, I mean...study for my only final exam, which was on the 27th. The class was called "Introduction to E-Commerce" and it talked a lot about blogs, eBay, Twitter, Facebook, etc. So, it was actually a pretty fun exam to study for...I just surfed the web. Well, that, and read the massive textbook. It's the largest textbook I have ever seen.

I had three reports due on the 29th, and when I handed them in...I suddenly realized. I am a university graduate! I mean, assuming all goes well, of course. It's very exciting, and still doesn't feel real.

So, for a couple days now I have been busy with good-bye dinners, "Last Nights" on the town, plus everything that is involved with preparing for my next adventure...52 days in Europe! Today I went shopping to pick up the few things that I need for the trip, and once I leave the computer lab that I am in right now (I broke my computer...I'll explain later), I will attempt to begin packing.

Either that, or procrastinating. I can get away with procrastinating for one day, I think. After all, I am still in denial! I simply cannot believe how quickly the past four months flew by. It is really the most incredible thing.

7 Days in Hong Kong: A Sample Itinerary for Travellers

After living in Hong Kong for four months, I know exactly the things I would want to see if I could only spend a week here. And I know how difficult it can be to plan trips to places you have never been. Sure, there's LonelyPlanet and stuff...but planning is still difficult.

I included a LOT of Western-style restaurants, just in case you aren't into trying more of the local cuisine. If you are feeling up for it - go for it! The food is delicious, and local food is always cheaper than Western-style food!

Oh, and there is so much more to do in Hong Kong than just these things...these are just my personal suggestions!

Day 1:

Dinner: Jim Chai Kee Noodles (98 Wellington Street, Central)

The best noodles in Hong Kong - popular with Westerners and locals. They only serve three dishes: Prawn Wonton, Beef Ball Noodles, and Fish Ball Noodles. The serving sizes are supposed to be quite large. It’s the best deal in town: only $15 HKD per person!

Evening Activity: Take the Tram to Happy Valley Racecourse

Walk to Des Voeux Road (toward the Central MTR Station) and grab the Tram (Eastbound) and get off at the Happy Valley Terminus.

Day 2:

Breakfast: Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) Campus Eatery ($4 CAD per person)

Morning Activity: Take a tour of the HKUST Campus

Lunch: Dim Sum at the HKUST Chinese Restaurant ($4 CAD per person)

It's located across from the library and if you go after 2:30 pm, everything is half-price. I love Hong Kong's dynamic pricing schemes...

Afternoon Activity: Take Tram to the Peak and Watch the Sunset

How to Get From Central to Peak Tram: Take MTR to Central and take exit J2. Follow signs. The price? Adult Peak Tram + Sky Terrace Ticket: $48 HKD ($7.20 CAD) each


Dinner: Sushi One (29 Leighton Road) – Causeway Bay ($11 CAD per person)

How to Get from from Peak Tram Lower Terminus to Sushi One: Take MTR from Central to Causeway Bay Station. Check map to see which exit to take for Leighton Road.

Here's another tip - if you plan to eat after 10 pm, sushi is half-price! (Be careful - it's not the entire menu that is half-price...so be sure to ask if you aren't sure) The minimum order is $60 HKD. Also...try to get in line before 9:30 pm. The half-price sushi is very famous here!

Evening Activity: Explore Causeway Bay


Day 3:

Morning Activity: Take Cable Car to Lantau Island: See Big Buddha, Ngong Ping Village, Po Lin Monastary

How to Get to Cable Car: Take MTR to Tung Chung Station (Exit B). The price? One-Way Fare: $8.78 CAD per person. Round-Trip Fare: $13.30 CAD per person.

Lunch: Picnic Lunch

I would recommend buying some sandwiches and snacks before heading to Lantau - then you can enjoy them while surrounded by nature.

Afternoon Activity: Tai O Fishing Town (Lantau Island)


Dinner: Pizza Express ($15 CAD per person) in SoHo

How to Get There: Take the Mid-Levels Escalators until you see the huge Pizza Express restaurant on your left.


Evening Activity: Explore Mid-Levels/SoHo/LKF

If it is a Wendesday or Thursday, be on the lookout for Ladies' Nights for free drinks! They are everywhere.

Day 4:

Breakfast: The Flying Pan ($6 CAD per person)

It's in SoHo - take the Mid-Level escalators, and you will be able to see the sign once you get on the bridge that crosses Hollywood Road (at least, I think it is Hollywood Road...)

Morning Activity: Mong Kok: Flower Market, Bird Market, Goldfish Market, Ladies Market

How to Get to Flower Market/Bird Market:
· Take MTR to Prince Edward Station
· Take Nathan Road South to Prince Edward Road
· Turn left onto Prince Edward Road
· Turn left onto Sai Yee Street
· Turn right onto Flower Market Road

How to Get to Goldfish Market:
· Head back onto Prince Edward Road (the same way you came)
· Turn left onto Tung Choi Street

How to Get to Ladies’ Market:
· Continue walking along Tung Choi Street

Lunch: Street Food ($3 CAD per person)

Just try something! Even if it looks weird, it's probably delicious.

Afternoon Activity: See Peninsula, Space Museum, Clock Tower, Avenue of Stars, other TST attractions


Dinner: The Spaghetti House ($15 CAD per person)

How to Get to The Spaghetti House (57 Peking Road, TST):
· Take the MTR to TST
· Exit toward Peking Road

Evening Activity: Festival of Lights (It starts daily at 8 pm SHARP), Star Ferry back to Central (no later than 11:30 pm)

Day 5:


Morning Activity: Nan Lian Garden

Take the MTR to Diamond Hill Station, and then follow the signs. This is my favourite park in Hong Kong...it is so beautiful and so peaceful! It's also neat that it is set in a totally bustling residential area - from inside the walls of the park, you would never know.

Lunch: Hollywood Plaza Mall Food Republic (Less than $10 CAD per person)

Afternoon Activity: Sai Kung

To Get There: Take Double-Decker Bus 92 from Diamond Hill Station

It's a cute area and a harbour, so you will see a totally new side to Hong Kong.

Dinner: Find a great restaurant in Sai Kung

Evening Activity: Relax by the waterfront in Sai Kung

Day 6: MACAU DAY TRIP

Getting There: TurboJet Ferry Service:
· Hours: 7 am until 11:59 pm (departs every 15 minutes)
· Location: Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan
· Price: $20 CAD per person one-way (I am sure there is a deal for round-trip)·

Morning Activity: Macau Peninsula, Largo Senado, St. Paul’s Church

Lunch: Street Food ($4 CAD per person)

Afternoon Activity: Hac Sa Beach


Dinner: Fernando’s ($12 CAD per person)

Evening Activity: See the Venetian Casino and attend a Cirque de Soleil show if you can (tickets are very reasonably priced)

Day 7:

Morning Activity: Sheung Wan: Western Market, Causeway Bay: Victoria Park, Times Square

How to Get to Victoria Park:
· Take MTR to Tin Hau
· Follow signs

How to Get to Times Square:
· Walk towards Causeway bay MTR Station
· Follow signs

Lunch: DeliFrance in Times Square ($10 CAD per person)


Afternoon Activity: Stanley Park

How to Get to Stanley Park:
· Go to Causeway Bay MTR Station Exit B
· Walk to Tang Lung Street
· Take Green Minibus 40


Dinner: A Restaurant in Stanley Park ($15 CAD per person)

Evening Activity: Relax on a Lan Kwai Fong Patio

Day 8:

Head to Airport for flights - And hopefully, you enjoyed your time in Hong Kong!

Hey There, Google...

In case you didn't know, Google owns Blogspot. And I am just writing this to let Google know (not that they will ever read this) that, as a perfectionist, I have a hard time dealing with the formatting issues that are apparent in the blog below. I wanted a space between my introduction and the title for "Day 1"...but no matter what I do, it won't work. And that is one of several issues that I have.

Google, give perfectionists out there a chance...fix the formatting problems!

My Europe Itinerary...

Well, my time in Hong Kong is slowly coming to a close...which means only one thing: time to move on to Europe! I am SO excited for it!

I am leaving Hong Kong at 12:35 am on June 11th, and then I have 3 nights on my own in London before my Contiki tour starts. Once it starts...it's a whirlwind! Here's the itinerary for my 45-day trip, adapted from the Contiki website.

Day 1: London to Paris

A warm welcome from your Contiki Crew as we head for the White Cliffs of Dover and the Channel crossing to France. We drive past World War I battlefields to the splendour of Paris.

Day 2 - Day 3: Paris

Two full days to see some of the most celebrated icons in Europe. The best way to experience the "City of Lights" is on our included Illuminations Tour. We also visit the majestic Château Versailles, home to Louis XIV. In your free time take the opportunity to visit the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe or the Champs Elysées. Why not complete your Parisian experience with a French meal and a famous Parisian cabaret?

Day 4: Paris to Beaujolais Wine Region

Today’s journey leads us to Contiki’s exclusive Château de Cruix nestled in the Beaujolais vineyards near Lyon.

Day 5: Beaujolais Wine Region

This morning explore the French countryside and enjoy your included picnic lunch. In the afternoon relax and soak up the idyllic atmosphere of rural France.

Day 6: Beaujolais Wine Region to Barcelona

Our journey south today takes us to the impressive Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard. As we skim past the Pyrénées we catch our first glimpse of the world-famous Mediterranean and arrive in vibrant Barcelona.

Day 7: Barcelona

Our included sightseeing tour is a great introduction to this celebrated city. See Gaudi's Sagrada Familia Cathedral, the 1992 Olympic Complex and the Gothic district. A chance to experience Barcelona's famed shopping street La Rambla and discover some of Spain's specialties. Tonight why not experience the passion of Flamenco dancing?

Day 8: Barcelona to French Riviera

We return to France today and travel through the beautiful Provence region to Arles. Wander through the streets as the Romans once did in this historic town, before continuing to the glamorous French Riviera.

Day 9: French Riviera

Today we visit a French perfumery before heading to Nice. Stroll down the fashionable Promenade des Anglais for a spot of shopping or simply relax on the beach. Tonight we visit Monaco! View the Royal Palace and take the opportunity to try your luck at the casinos of Monte Carlo.

Day 10: French Riviera to Venice

Today we leave France and enter Italy! We skim past the seaside city of Genoa and stop in Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet, before arriving in mainland Venice.

Day 11: Venice

A short boat ride takes us into the historical centre of Venice to see St. Mark's Square, the Doges' Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. See glass and lace making demonstrations and why not treat yourself to a gondola ride?

Day 12: Venice to Florence

We travel to Pisa, home of the famous Leaning Tower. From here it's a short journey to the most spectacular of Renaissance cities, Florence.

Day 13: Florence

Your day includes a walking tour seeing the Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo and Santa Croce, and a chance to shop for leather, gold and silver. In your free time maybe visit one of the city's many museums and this evening enjoy the colourful Florentine nightlife.

Day 14: Florence to Rome

All roads lead to Rome where our included sightseeing tour is the perfect introduction to the Eternal City. This afternoon why not discover this city of Gladiators with a local guide? Then, do as the Romans do and stroll past the Trevi Fountain, the amazing Pantheon, and Piazza Navona.

Day 15: Rome

Once at the centre of the powerful Roman Empire this city, steeped in centuries of ancient history, awaits your discovery. The Colosseum, Imperial Forum and the treasures of the Vatican City make for a day of serious sightseeing.

Day 16: Rome to Corfu

A chance to take a guided tour of the ancient city of Pompeii as we travel across Italy to board our overnight ferry to Greece.

Day 18: Corfu Day 17

Two sun-filled days on the beautiful Greek island of Corfu staying at Contiki's Special Stopover. Windsurf, waterski, parasail, swim or just soak up the sun. Get off the beaten track in an open-top 4-wheel drive jeep or cruise along the coast. At night an opportunity to enjoy the local cuisine and try your hand (or feet) at Greek dancing.

Day 19: Corfu to Athens

Today we travel through the Peloponnese and across the Corinth Canal to Athens.

Day 20: Athens to Ios

Our sightseeing tour this morning takes in the national treasures of the Acropolis and Parthenon as well as the first modern Olympic stadium. Later, board your ferry to Ios for three nights of partying and relaxation.

Day 21 - Day 22: Ios

Ios is known for its beautiful beaches and fantastic party atmosphere. The perfect mixture of party and relaxation, it's also famous as the place where the great poet Homer died. Lucky you have three nights here!

Day 23: Ios to Santorini

A ferry ride from the party atmosphere of Ios to the spectacular volcanic island of Santorini.

Day 24 - Day 25: Santorini

Explore the main towns of Fira and Oia, take a day trip to one of the neighbouring islands or just relax on a beach and watch the world go by.

Day 26: Santorini to Athens

Cruising back to Athens today for your final night in the capital. Catch up with your fellow travellers on their arrival back from Egypt and swap stories. Dinner is your choice tonight, a great opportunity to dine in the famous Plaka district.

Day 27: Athens to Kavala

We drive past Spartan Thermopylae and Thessaloniki, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and then on to our seaside overnight stop at Kavala.

Day 28: Kavala to Cannakale

After crossing the border into Turkey we cross the Dardanelles to see Troy's Wooden Horse.

Day 29: Canakkale to Istanbul

We take time to pay tribute at Gallipoli and Anzac Cove. Travel onwards to Istanbul where you'll have a chance to revel in a night of belly dancing, eastern food, and music.

Day 30 - Day 31: Istanbul

Two full days to enjoy this amazing city. Join a local guide in the spice markets and the heart of the city. Plenty of time to search for a bargain at the Grand Bazaar or treat yourself to a relaxing Turkish bath.

Day 32: Istanbul to Sofia

We pass the Turkish border town of Edirne before crossing into Bulgaria and driving to the capital, Sofia. Enjoy an orientation tour followed by free time to shop at the stalls near the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Day 33: Sofia to Belgrade

Today we travel to the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. A country with a troubled past and a promising future, Belgrade is a surprisingly beautiful contrast between old and new.

Day 34: Belgrade to Budapest

Following the Danube River north today, we make our way to the jewel in the crown of Hungary, the capital city of Budapest. A chance to enjoy the sights and tastes of the city on a river cruise.

Day 35: Budapest to Vienna

Sightseeing takes in the quaint hill-top Buda and bustling Pest, before we waltz into the home of Mozart and Strauss to see the splendours of the once mighty Austrian Empire. Classical music to heighten your senses tonight?

Day 36: Vienna

On our sightseeing tour see the fabulous Palace of the Hapsburgs, the State Opera House and fashionable Kärntnerstrasse. In your free time try authentic apple strudel and Viennese coffee. Later why not sample some local schnaps and a traditional Viennese meal?

Day 37: Vienna to Austrian Tyrol

Today our destination is the picturesque Tyrol region. Along the way we pass through Austria's beautiful countryside before arriving in our home for two nights, Hopfgarten.

Day 38: Austrian Tyrol

The picture-postcard village of Hopfgarten is an excellent base to make the most of the beautiful countryside. Experience a vast range of outdoor activities: hiking, mountain biking, paragliding or perhaps trout fishing.

Day 39: Austrian Tyrol to Munich

On to Bavaria's lively capital Munich, home to the Oktoberfest. Our orientation tour includes the town centre with its historic Glockenspiel. Maybe join us this evening at one of the city's traditional Beer Halls.

Day 40: Munich to Swiss Alps

We stop for lunch in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. Enjoy time to shop and see the sights in Lucerne before reaching our idyllic stop in the Swiss Alps.

Day 41: Swiss Alps

A spectacular day where you can choose to hike the many trails or maybe enjoy a trip up the snow-covered Jungfrau mountain on a cog railway that passes through the Eiger mountain!

Day 42: Swiss Alps to Rhine Valley

Heading north we re-enter Germany and visit the university town of Heidelberg on the banks of the Neckar River. Tonight we stay in the picturesque Rhine Valley after seeing the famous Lorelei and hearing how German beersteins are crafted in St. Goar.

Day 43: Rhine Valley to Amsterdam

We cross the Dutch border and make our way towards Amsterdam. Visit a cheese farm and see how clogs are made. Cycle through the countryside and the village of Edam and enjoy the famous Amsterdam nightlife.

Day 44: Amsterdam

This morning why not take a canal bike ride to further explore Amsterdam? In your free time perhaps visit famous sights such as Anne Frank's House or the Van Gogh Museum. Tonight we celebrate our last evening together.

Day 45: Amsterdam to London

Time to swap addresses and e-mail contacts as we travel through the Belgian countryside and back to Calais for our ferry crossing to England.

I return to London on July 28th around 6:45 pm, and I have one last night in Europe before catching my flight home in the morning of July 29th. I will be back in Canada just in time for the August Long Weekend, which I will be spending with my family in Muskoka!

It's all very exciting...

Sometimes, We Spend the Day on a Yacht

Yes, that's right. On Saturday, 45 exchange students chartered a yacht - and it was so much fun!


It even came with a speedboat, with wakeboards!


It picked us up on campus at 9:30 am, and whisked us to a private beach about an hour away. The beach was gorgeous! A few people decided to swim from the yacht to the beach, while others took the speedboat over. We had only just arrived to the beach when...it started to rain. Of course - we had had nothing but blue skies for two weeks, and the moment we hit the beach, it starts raining.

But we did not let this ruin our day. We piled back on the boat, blared some music and proceeded to see who could jump off the upper deck of the boat most creatively! People were doing dives, flips, cannonballs...after about an hour, I built up the courage to jump.

I was really scared.

But it was so much fun!

By 3 pm, the sun was out and everyone was swimming. Around 6, the boat headed back to campus, and we got to see a breathtaking sunset en route. I swear, someone could have told me I was in Hawaii or something like that, and I would have believed them! Hong Kong is such a beautiful place - there really is something for everyone!

I Love the Ivey Network!

What a fun couple of days I have had!

On Sunday, I got a call from Rachel and Leslie - both friends and Ivey students. They had just spent three weeks in Vietnam, and were heading to Hong Kong for one night only, because their flight to London, UK was leaving HK Airport at 7:30 am. I was so excited!

They had already seen a lot of the tourist-y stuff in Hong Kong, from an earlier trip, so I decided that I would show them some of Hong Kong's lesser-known gems. I met them in TST, and then we headed to Diamond Hill's Hollywood Mall, a popular mall for locals. Then, we went next door to the beautiful Nan Lian Garden and took lots of photos. We took a double-decker bus to Sai Kung, a coastal fishing area that isn't too far from my university and had a delicious seafood dinner. On the way back to the downtown area, we took a quick tour of my university - even though it was dark by this time, they were both impressed. Finally, we ended the night in LKF, which was really fun, especially considering it was a Sunday. The best part was that, at midnight, it was Rachel's birthday! I bought her ridiculous bunny ears and made her wear them, and we got lots of free drinks...

Then, on Monday, I got a call from Shawn, Ron and Karl. They were all in my section at Ivey, and Shawn and Ron were actually my next door neighbours! We spent the day chilling in Hong Kong, and it was also really fun! It was great to see so many people from Canada in such a short amount of time.

Tonight, I am heading to a fun event at Ivey's Hong Kong campus. We were invited to a reception of Hong Kong's MBAs and recent graduates, and London's MBAs, who are visiting Asia for a China Study Trip. They have been to Beijing and Shanghai, and are in Hong Kong for a few days before heading back to Canada. I think it was so nice of Ivey's administrators to invite the exchange students to come along. I am sure it will be really fun!

Speaking of that event...I better go and get ready!

I Can't Remember the Last Time I Cried So Much!

I feel like a huge baby.  I have been working on my Mom's Mother's Day present for a few hours, and it is really getting to me!  I guess it is starting to sink in - I have been away from my mom for almost four months, and now that I am moving to China, it is going to be a long time before I can just see her anytime I want.

And it makes me sad because she is just the most wonderful woman and Mom in the whole world (and now that I have seen the whole world, I can really say that).

Basically, my gift is a slide show of photos, some that are mine and some that represent the lyrics of the song that I set the slide show to: The Best Day, by Taylor Swift.

Even watching Taylor's video makes me cry.  You can check it out by clicking here.

Bottom line: I love you, Mom!  Happy Mother's Day, to you and all of the Moms out there!

Twitter is Exploding...in a Good Way

If you haven't heard of Twitter yet...well, where have you been?

The micro-blogging-based social networking site has been picking up like crazy, and there is tons of talk about the site receiving offers to purchase from Google, Facebook ($700 million in cash and shares), and even Apple (the rumour is that the offer will be $700 cash)...  

Not sure how they decided on $700 million...but anyways...

If they sell out, it probably won't be as cool anymore...so check it out while you have the chance!  You can start by looking at my profile (click here), but then I encourage you to make your own.  

One reason I am really excited about it is because it will allow me to update everyone about what I am up to in Europe when I only have a few minutes on the internet.  So, keep checking this blog over the next few months...but check my Twitter page, too!

Oh, and once you make your profile, let me know so that I can "follow" you!  You will quickly find out what that means...

Only Two Weeks of Classes Left!

Yes, that's right...I will be done classes in two weeks!    After May 14th, I have only one exam (on the 27th)...and then my time as a university undergraduate student has ended!

Weird.

The Face Lift

PS. I don't know if you noticed, but I gave my blog a bit of a face lift.

I did it because it is going to become a permanent part of my life, at least for the next two years.  I thought I would celebrate that fact by making it look a little more interesting.

One of these days, I am going to have to take off the "2009" in the blog title picture.  That's a bit of a pain in the butt.

Interesting Things I Going Down in LKF on Thursday Night

LKF (or Lan Kwai Fong) is Hong Kong's super famous bar district, which is mostly frequented by foreigners and ex-pats.  It is a really fun place to spend an evening (and wee hours of a morning)...and when we went there on Thursday, I saw two interesting things.

The first was the biggest gathering of Dutch people I have ever seen (since I haven't been to the Netherlands yet).  They were all partying in the streets, wearing orange (their national colour, I was told), celebrating their beloved Queen's birthday.  It was a sight to see.

Just down the road, there was a guy in a lab coat standing with the bouncers at the entrance of a popular club.  He was taking all of the clubgoer's temperatures, so as to avoid admitting someone with a fever.

I'm not sure if the club was asked to do that by some sort of authority, or if it was a niche marketing strategy - the bars in LKF exist in a highly competitive environment.  Maybe their thinking was that, by taking temperatures, they could attract customers who are very concerned about the H1N1 virus.  Maybe these customers would be more willing to relax, spend money and stay longer in a "safe" environment, which could increase drink sales and the bar's profits.

Or, maybe the bar owner is just nervous.

Just something I was thinking about...

My Future Home

It's Beijing!

Well, it will never be "home", but it is where I will be living from the end of August 2009 until January 2011, for my Masters program at Tsinghua!

Lisa and Chelsie just got back from visiting Beijing for five days, and they had an incredible time.  After hearing about it, I am even more happy with my decision to move there...if that's even possible.  I mean, it is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!

In Beijing, they also met up with the Ivey students on exchange at Tsinghua, and they are having just as wonderful a time as we are having in Hong Kong...always good to hear.

From looking at Lisa's photos, the one thing that really stood out to me is how "green" the city is - it seems as though there are lots of parks and flowers and greenery!  The downside: they confirmed it...the pollution is absolutely terrible.

I wish the world would do more to reduce their carbon footprint.

Yangtze River Cruise Post Is...

...Done!

You can read it here.

This Blog Won't Be Ending Anytime Soon...

I am sure you find that confusing. But Heather, you're thinking, won't you be coming home in August? And wouldn't it be silly to keep writing about your adventures in Asia from your living room in Caledon, Ontario?

Yes. That would be silly.

But here is the juice: I am moving to Beijing, P.R. China!

For most of you, I am pretty sure you think this is coming out of nowhere. That makes sense...I have really only told my parents and a few friends. But now, I am finally ready to tell the world!

I have been accepted to the Masters in International Development Program at Tsinghua University (see below) in Beijing. Classes start in September, and I will be graduating in January of 2011.

There are two main reasons for the move:

1) Globalization has been a hot topic for a long time now - and China is right at the centre of it all. No one is denying the fact that China's economy has become one of the most important in the world. As a business student, I have known all this for a while. What I didn't know what how I could integrate all of this into my future. Actually, I didn't think it was really possible.

2) Then, I went to Shanghai (It was a great trip...you can read all about it here). There, we met tons of young, 20-somethings living in the city, speaking Mandarin and having an incredible time. And that's when I realized...that I could do that, too. I could move to Asia!

So, I have pretty much been working out the details since I got back from that trip. I knew I wanted to go to school in Beijing, because it is the best place to learn Mandarin (the Beijing dialect, Putonghua, is China's official language). I also knew that I wanted to go to Tsinghua University, if possible, because it is one of the best universities in China (if not THE best). In fact, at the Ivey Networking evening, one of the Ivey Alumni that we met said that Tsinghua won't just be the "Harvard of China" in a few years - it will be right up there on the same level. Cool.

Tsinghua offers a few English programs, but the Masters in International Development Program appealed to me the most. It is fairly new - only two groups of students have been through the curriculum thus far. It is also quite small. This year's class has 32 students, from 21 different countries - such incredible diversity! I am sure I will learn a LOT.

If you want to read more about the program, click here.

The only downside with this whole thing is that my time in Canada in August is being cut really short. I thought that I would need to plan to arrive in Beijing at the beginning of September, but I just found out that I actually need to arrive in the middle of August, in time for their Orientation activities.

I am so sad because I wanted to have more time to hang out with my family!

Oh, well. It's a sacrifice. The world isn't going to stop needing development just because I miss my mom.

I will update as I find out more...

Umm...

...I just saw a very small gecko-type reptile scurrying down the hall in my dorm. It went into one of the three-person dorm rooms...

Yikes!

The Yangtze River Cruise

On Wednesday, March 25th I left Hong Kong for yet another wonderful trip to a new place - this time, it was a cruise down the Yangtze River, in China!

This trip required some serious planning, since there were a few one-way flights involved. We used a travel agent, and he found us the flights we needed for only $60 CAD each...the only problem was that we had to fly out of Shenzhen, China - a Special Economic Zone on the Chinese side of the China/Hong Kong border.

Well...leave it to us to turn a problem into...a spa party! We left Hong Kong on Wednesday night, even though our flight to Chongqing wasn't until Thursday morning, and spent the night enjoying the amenities of Queen Spa! It was just as great as last time. I slept in the futuristic sleep-pods again, and was really refreshed for our Yangtze River adventure!

We caught our flight to Chongqing on Thursday morning, and it was perfectly fine. We arrived in Chongqing around 2 pm, and had a few hours to spare before we had to board the cruise ship. We looked around the city for a bit (it is BIG) and grabbed dinner at a restaurant by the port. We had "Hot Pot" - basically, the restaurant brings you some ingredients (raw meat like beef and raw veggies like mushrooms) and a big pot of spiced water. They put the pot of water on an element that is part of the table, and wait for the water to boil. When it does, you add the ingredients...and when they float to the top, they are cooked!

It was pretty tasty, but way too much work for my liking...haha.

After eating, we took a look at the river, and we could see our cruise ship! It was smaller than cruise ships that sail through the Caribbean, but it looked cute! We were relieved, because even though the cruise called itself "Four Star"...sometimes, with China, you can never be sure.

An eight-piece band greeted us as we boarded the ship, and when we entered the ship's lobby...we were pleasantly surprised! The ship was beautiful! Very much like how you would expect a Four Star cruise ship to look! We presented our passports so that we could check in, and we were in for another surprise - they told us not to tell anyone, but we had been upgraded from Standard Rooms to SUITES for free!

PS. Here is the ship's dining room...it's so nice!

Well, now we were completely excited! We headed up a few flights of stairs, and to the back of the ship..and there were our rooms! The upgrade made a huge difference. We had the whole back of the ship to ourselves. The rooms were very big, with two single beds in each one, and windows on two sides! We also had balconies on the back and sides of the boat. We were loving it.
That night, we had dinner and were given our itineraries for the next day.

The itinerary is great...it starts with early morning tea at 6:30 am, followed by Tai Chi at 7 am, plus so much more. Of course, I want to do EVERYTHING, so I totally go to bed at, like, 10 pm. And sleep like a baby.

The next morning I woke up at 6 am and headed to early morning tea (well, I have coffee, actually...and a muffin) and then Lisa and I did Tai Chi. Bahahaha...we SUCKED. It was pretty hilarious. Even though they offered Tai Chi every morning on the cruise...I decided not to go back. It's not that I didn't like it...it's just that...well, I didn't really like it.

I'm used to Cardio Kickbox, you know?

Our outing this day was to Fengdu Ghost City...within the city, there is a temple devoted to the afterlife. It is freaky. Check it:

Scary, right?

The rest of the day is spent floating along the Yangtze, and we also participated in a few on-ship activities. For example, we went to a lecture about Chinese Medicine, and Lisa got acupuncture:

That evening, there was some awesome on-ship entertainment...A fashion show of traditional Chinese costumes! Each one was so unique and so beautiful! Here is an example:



The next morning, our excursion was to visit the Three Gorges. We left the cruise ship and boarded a smaller boat, and then left that boat to board tiny boats called "sanpams". The sanpams took us down a small area of theYangtze River, and the scenery was beautiful!

That evening, there was more entertainment...a Variety Show. The cruise ship staff (dining room staff, bar staff, housekeeping staff) put on a bunch of different acts - mostly dancing, but there was also some singing, saxophone playing, a band, etc. A group of cruise ship guests - five sisters who are now all living in different parts of China - performed a Peking Opera. It was...nice?

That evening, we arrived at the Three Gorges Dam Project. This has been a very controversial project in China, and it's impact is and will continue to be felt by the entire world, I think. Basically, a giant (GIANT) dam has been built across the Yangtzee River (in Sandouping), and the water level upstream has been raised to a maximum of 175 metres. Although the dam project has many benefits, including flood control, enhancing navigation and providing clean energy, it is controversial because it has caused millions of Chinese citizens to be displaced. This is because, as the water level upstream increased, many riverside cities have been completely flooded.

No matter what your personal view on the dam is, it is definitely a site to see. At night, we went through the locks (there are five separate ones - the whole process takes four hours), which delivered us from the upstream portion of the Yangtze to the downstream portion. In the morning, the cruise ship docked, and a bus took us to the Dam Site. We were able to see how truly vast the dam is - it is MASSIVE. And pretty ugly. But really powerful.

After checking out the dam site, we continued our voyage downstream towards Yichang. After taking a few more breathtaking photos, we packed our things and left the ship. A taxi took us through Yichang (it's NOT like Shanghai) to a bus station - we needed to get to Wuhan for our flight back to Shenzhen the next day.

Have you heard of the recency effect? It's some psychological effect that BASICALLY says that we will be more likely to remember the things which happened to us most recently, rather than a while ago. Well, I am glad I know what that is...or this post's title would have read "This Was The Worst Trip Ever".

The bus from Yichang to Wuhan was the absolute sketchiest three, nope...four, nope...SIX hours of my life. First, we got ripped off by the person selling tickets. We didn't know it at first...90 RMB seemed like a good price for what was supposed to be a three-hour bus ride. Then, once we were on the bus, we found out someone else paid 45. Great.

The inside of the bus was dirty, stinky and pretty much broken-down. My seat was in a permanently reclined position, and there was pretty much no cushion - I was pretty much sitting on a spring. The bus broke down art least three times on our way to Wuhan...we had to pull over, and the driver had to get out and do something to the engine. At least we got two bathroom breaks - yep, the bus pulled over to a gas station, and we were able to get off and pee in holes. Awesome.

When we finally arrived in Wuhan, the sketchiness continued. We needed a place to crash for the night, and found one. Well, I wish we had looked at the rooms first, or at LEAST noticed that the hotel had an hourly rate. The rooms were horrifying...I won't even go into details, because I don't want you to know that places like this even exist.

We busted it out of there pretty early in the morning, and explored the city a bit. Again, not at all like Shanghai. We ate some street food ("Ghetto Food" as Shannon likes to call it) and then grabbed a cab and headed to the airport.

The flight back to Shenzhen was uneventful (as all good flights are), and so was the subway ride back to campus - other than the fact that we SOMEHOW lost Chelsie. I still don't know how it happened...

All in all, it was a great trip. Very relaxing but also really educational...I loved that about it. Even though I didn't include every detail from the cruise, there was a TON of programming offered, from Introductory Mandarin lessons, to lectures about Chinese calligraphy, to discussions about the Dam Project and it benefits and costs. And the food and entertainment was great!

I definitely recommend a Yangtze River cruise to anyone heading to China - it is perfect for groups, friends, couples and families. The travel agent we used was www.ChinaHighlights.com, and the cruise operator is "Victoria Cruises".

Anyways...that is pretty much it for the Cruise! Check back soon for a post about my trip to Thailand!

So, I'm a Little Behind...

Gosh, time really flies. I am SO far behind on my blog posts!

I still need to write about my Cruise down the Yangtze River, and my Spring Break in Thailand!

Lucky for me, it is Sunday afternoon, and I have nothing to do except continue to sit here in Starbucks (armed with a very, very big coffee), writing to my heart's content.

So...hopefully, there will soon be some new material here for you to read...soon!

Safe and Sound!

Hi Everyone!

I am just letting you know that I am safe and sound...after surviving two crazy events.

Event 1) Riots in Thailand

I don't know if you heard, but there was some political activity in Bangkok while I was in Thailand for Spring Break. We hadn't planned on spending much time in the city, anyways (we were all about the beach, way down South!), other than exploring it for a few hours before our flight home from Bangkok to Hong Kong on April 15th. Well, the riots changed those plans. We opted for a 13 hour layover in the airport instead. Lisa got a manicure and pedicure (for $10 CAD!). I slept.

Event 2) My 22nd Birthday

Yes, I survived. Actually, we had a great time. I went downtown with a bunch of friends, and one of them even bought me a tiara so that everyone would know it was my birthday! We hit up a few different bars, and before I knew it...it was 5 am. At this point, HKUST students have 2 choices. We can either pay HK$120 to get back to campus (about $20 CAD) or we can wait until 6 am, when the subway opens and go home practically for free. Taking the subway home at 6 am also seems cooler, for some reason. So we did that. By the time I went to bed, it was 8 in the morning.

Oh, to be 22 and in Hong Kong...

PS. Dad, I am so excited that you are on Twitter! How cool are you right now!

One More Important Thing...

In case you forgot, a VERY special day is coming up soon!

It's my birthday on April 17th! I will be 22!

Gosh. 22. That is horrifying...