Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Welcoming All New Students

Hey Everyone,

Today, I attended Hong Kong University's Inauguration Ceremony for New Students. The ceremony was the first formal University gathering for new incoming students, freshmen and graduates. We had the opportunity to meet the Vice-Chancellor, senior academics, alumni bodies and the President of HKUSU. During the ceremony, students were invited to put on HKU's traditional Green Gown, Following the ceremony, tea receptions with respective faculties allowed for professors and student to interact with one another.

This sounds all peachy right?

Inauguration Pamphlet left on everyone's seat

The celebration started at 10 am. I woke up earlier than usual, by summer standards of course, and got dressed. I was debating between a grey top and black pencil skirt but changed my mind at last minute to sport a blurple (blue and purple) coloured dress and thick belt. The invitation had indicated "formal" attire, so I grabbed my nude heels and stuffed them in my purse. I figured that I'd switch into them after hiking up the stairs needed to get to the University campus. When I arrived at 9:15am, I went to look for the lecture hall. It was not located on the map! How convenient, I thought to myself, at least I'm here early!

As I meandered my way through campus, I had gut feeling that something wasn't right. There were plenty of people around... but a lot of them we wearing black skirts, and white tops! "Uh-oh!" I thought to myself... please don't tell me formal wear meant business attire: white blouse and black bottoms...

To my horror, almost everyone
was wearing the same outfit!

The night before, I had spoken to my friend back in Winnipeg about "formal" attire. We wondered what that had meant? I mean, did formal wear mean "evening wear" or just dress up more, like a Sunday best? The ceremony was in the middle of the day right? Haha, boy was I wrong! Business attire! Yay... and here I was in a obviously very blue dress, at least I brought the heels and pulled off formal. Sure, I was fine walking in, and sitting down, but secretly I was cursing whoever wrote that lovely invitation... they should have just written, "Wear a white blouse, and black slacks or a skirt... otherwise people WILL stare at you!"

And yes, they do stare...

Image by C.Wong

Other than being one of the handful of people (aka foreigners) that didn't get the white blouse, black bottom memo, the celebration was actually quite enjoyable. I met a few of the professors from my faculty as well as was introduced to a couple other M.Arch students. Everyone was very friendly, and very interesting to talk to. Not a bad morning after all.

Well, after this experience, now I know. Their version of formal attire is a white blouse, and a black bottoms... I wonder if I would have felt out of place had I worn my first choice a grey blouse and my pencil skirt.... hmm... Probably!

Note to self:

Formal = business attire (white top and black bottoms)

Since I have no white blouses... looks like I'm going shopping!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Please don't hit me, please don't hit me....

Hey Everyone,

Today, I experienced something that I've never experience before, not in Winnipeg, and definitely not any where else that I have travelled. I was so fascinated by this event that it captured my attention and it was almost impossible to look away. It's like this, in the words of my younger sister, "It's like... a REALLY ugly dog. It's just SO ugly, it's cute... do you know what I mean? [you just have to look at it?] Yea! Like it's just SO UGLY you HAVE to look at it."

So what is this event you may ask? <drum roll please>

Someone taking off their shoes on the bus, and .... CLIPPING THEIR TOE NAILS!!!

I'm sure there were other people on the bus thinking the same thing, "You're doing
that here? Why?!" This person was sitting three seats away, and thankfully my
stop was coming up soon so I moved... but there were quite a few people still within shooting range.

I'm all for keeping up with personal hygiene, but do I really need to see it?



PS: I don't think this post really needs a picture to accompany it...
                                                                                             so use your lovely imagination.




Monday, August 12, 2013

Chi Lin Nunnery

Hey Everyone

Aunt P and I went to the Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill. The nunnery is said to
be the largest nunnery in Kowloon and houses a nunnery, temple halls, Chinese gardens, hostels, and even a vegetarian restaurant for visitors. The buildings on the premise
were built following the style of the Tang Dynasty, which is the traditional
Chinese architectural Style.


The view of the temple halls upon entering the central garden


One of the interesting things that I learned was that the Tang Dynasty was known for their wood framed building construction. What was so different about this style was the absence of fasteners such as iron nails. The Tang Dynasty specialized in an interlocking wood system that held the structure in place. According to one of the brochures, Chi Lin Nunnery is the only place where this style of building still remains in today's Hong Kong.


Scene from one of the bridges in the entry garden

Aunt P and I arrived relatively early in the morning and walked on the grounds, following the paths, but it was very hot and extremely humid. Not only did we arrive earlier in the day to avoid the sun, but also so that we could have lunch at the vegetarian restaurant, which the nunnery was famous for.


Looking towards one of the sitting areas

The restaurant was not exactly what I thought it was. I actually took a picture of it, because it was hiding behind a lot of vegetation, and a waterfall! Upon walking inside, the waterfall really did give a different atmosphere to the restaurant. You were isolated from your environment and through the glass you could only see water.

Vegetarian Restaurant under a waterfall

Okay, so the next segment are the dishes we ate. I'm not a vegetarian by any means, but I was very happy when the food came. We ordered a set menu, and were able to taste several very delicious vegetarian dishes.

Pickled Eggplant

Some Version of Vegetable Soup

Deep-fried Stuffed Eggplant

Shredded Potato with Mixed Vegetables

Fried Enoki Mushrooms Topped with Seasonal Greens
Fresh Beancurd sheet rolled with Chinese Spinach


Fresh Beancurd Rolls in Mushroom Sauce

After we had finished our meal, and were about to leave, a couple of ladies sat next to us. Upon hearing them speak, they had to be either American or Canadian. And of course I asked! And guess what, one of them was from Canada, and had actually lived in Winnipeg for a few years! It's funny how small the world is.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Ladder Street

Hey Everyone,

So, not too long ago, Aunt P and I were walking around and we stumbled upon Ladder Street. I had heard a lot about ladder streets, but I did not realize that there was an actual street named "Ladder Street". Ladder streets make reference to the spaces that were built as pedestrian corridors which allowed people to move from one lateral street to the next, via several flights of stairs.

The actual Ladder Street

Along these pedestrian spaces and smaller streets were a bunch of little shops selling "traditional" and old fashioned knik knaks. Now, I'm not one to usually wander into an antique shop, but how could I not browse what was already around me. Some of the items on display were really neat. All of the shop keepers were happy that I was taking an interest in their items and many made small talk as we examined their wares.

These are bracelet cases that were designed
to protect Jade Bracelets, personally I think they look like
colourful bagels

Making small talk with the store owners was very interesting. Many were happy to share some history behind specific items, but I think that it was because Aunt P was so friendly that they felt inclined to give me a short history lesson.

Now, this has been mentioned time and time again, and I don't quite understand it, but apparently I don't look full Chinese. Since I've arrived here in Hong Kong I can recall at least 5 occurrences in which my ethnicity has been put into question. The latest one though I had to share and this was from one of the shop keepers. Please note that I am paraphrasing this:

"I don't mean to be rude, but you don't look Chinese. It must be the different food, and being exposed to all [the Caucasian] people that your face has changed to look like them"~ Street Vendor

He of course said this jokingly,... I think. I find these comments amusing, only because half the time people make them without realizing that I can understand them. There will probably be another post on the collection of phrases that I've overheard but you'll have to be patient with me.

A fish shaped lock

This was just a sample of all the cool things that were available for sale. I mean, look at the detail! Each scale was engraved and this thing was massive, as large as my palm. I had to seriously consider whether or not I should have bought this trinket, but the weight itself deterred me from wanting to carry it around. What does one use a massive fish shaped lock for anyway?!... oh wait I know! Paperweight!


Dragon Statues

Among the many things that I wanted to get my hands on were a few dragon statues. I know, its completely typical for me to want something that has no use what-so-ever, but look at them, they were just begging to be bought. (No dad, I didn't buy them... but it would have made an awesome paperweight... not that I need any more)

One of the many shops that displayed their merchandise

I can safely say that I did not return with a bag full of new souvenirs, but for future reference, for those of you in Winnipeg, if you see something you like, let me know and I'll keep an eye out for you. 

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Hiking on Dragon's Back

Hey Everyone,

I'm happy to say that I haven't spent all week sitting on my bed and watching Grey's Anatomy, even though I have been doing a lot of that but... This past Sunday, I was invited to go hiking near Shek O. I know, me hiking, ridiculous right?... but I went! What started out as a two hour hike ended up being a four hour hike! How did I manage? Well, for one thing, the company was great, the view was spectacular, and I was
too stubborn to say I was tired.

I had met E and J a few weeks before while attending a swing dancing event. It had just so happened that E had a friend from London who was staying in Hong Kong. E invited me along and I was glad to accept the invitation, as it seemed like an interesting adventure, and it was.

The morning started with me meeting up with E and J at Sheu Kei Wan station. I got there a bit earlier than the meeting time because I didn't want to make them wait. When E and J arrived I was amused that their other friend had been sitting across from me the entire time, waiting for them too. We all took the bus towards Shek O and started out on our journey.

The trail was definitely a challenge, not because it was very difficult, but because it had rained earlier. The trail was uneven and very muddy, but thank goodness there was cloud cover and a slight breeze.

Lovely isn't it?

Only a fraction of the stairs we climbed.

One of the many little streams we encountered

The Trail proposed a variety of challenges. We had a lot of stairs to climb, a lot of rocks to step on, a lot of mud to tip toe through, and even a few small streams to walk through. It was definitely an adventure. But we made it to the top, and were rewarded with a beautiful scenery. I'm not a hiker by any means, and I'm not one to choose to rough it when I could have a perfectly air conditioned hotel room, but I was happy to accept the challenge and do something different. I will by no means decide to go on any of J's ridiculous 10 hour hikes but four hours? Why not!

J, Me, A, and E 

I had a lot of fun hiking with these wonderful ladies. When they all get back from their travels we're planning to head to Shek O's Big Wave Beach. So until next time, Take care!


The view from the top