9/9/10

Today I went to Wan Chai with Jay, Bryan, and Tiffany to get their Chinese visas at the embassy. It was the first time I've been on Hong Kong island in the daytime...Hahahaha shows how much partying I've been doing instead.


See? Still pretty cool lookin' in the day! (The hookers come out at night *cough*)


We passed by a pretty fountain & garden...


...So we had to camwhore :)


After an unfortunate event that involved bird shit and hair, we finally arrived at the embassy! And we were met with the slowest security check in the world. C'mon guys, pick up the pace!!!


WHEEEEEEEEEE! Bryan and Tiff had to go back to campus to meet up with other people for dinner & LKF, so Jay and I went to check out the Hong Kong History Museum before I had to go meet up with relatives for my Uncle's birthday dinner.


A very pretty light display


Posing with some hawt guys


This is how boats looked like decades ago!


Conducting ma cable car from yo parent's generation


My cousin's daughter (niece once removed?? whatever) actually MADE this cake herself! It's filled with sponge cake, mango mousse, and topped with a layer of glazed sliced mangoes on top--baked into perfection. Oh btw, she's 15. :)


My very happy uncle cutting a very delicious cake :) He's turning 69 this year! O_O


I had an awesome time with my grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousins, and their kids! It's really rare for me to actually have family gatherings since my relatives from both sides of my family do not live in America (except for one aunt...but kind of far away in Vegas). I'm definitely gonna take advantage of the fact that I am staying somewhere close to family for the next four months! :)

Hong Kong Thus Far

Alright, I'm on a roll tonight! The storm is still going strong and my only tutorial tomorrow is cancelled, so I'm free to stay up and blog more :)

I must apologize in advance though, because I got waaay too lazy to bring my camera around during orientation week. My most action-packed week. But nevertheless, I had tons of fun meeting exchange students from all over the world!


I arrived in HK on the 23rd of August, only to get morbidly sick for the next week and beyond. I was literally throwing up every single dinner I had, and I had this terrible cough that is still lingering even now. This wonton noodle soup was the first thing that I could finally stomach and stay in my system. Yummmmmmm.

Which brings me to another random point: HK doctors suck. I'm sorry, but using only 30 seconds to check on my lungs does not make me feel like you properly diagnosed me. I know you guys are super high-tech and shit but I did not involuntarily throw up my food until I took the 82748274927 different medicines you prescribed me. Blehh.


Gai dan jai sold in Tsim Sha Tsui of all places. Hahaha. Good snack food :)


Explored TST and its awesome harbor view on my own. Avenue of the Stars with hand prints of all the famous HK celebrities, son! Okay, so I did get a bit giddy when I saw Leon Lai's hand print. Stop snickering.


BRUCE!


Went to eat at Dai Pai Dong (well, a bit classier version than that) and this drink is actually soda mixed with beer! I was surprised that it was alcoholic cuz I just ordered what my cousin's daughter ordered (she's 15). The family baby sipped on it too! This drink makes beer a bit more tolerable.


*Salivates* If there's anything awesome about HK, it's the food. No lie.


CUHK organized a City Tour for all the intl exchange students. I found dim sum at the Peak Plaza :)


View from the Peak


Cute flower I found from the peak :)


We then headed to Stanley Beach and saw THE CUTEST DOG. A very fat welsh corgie closer to the ground than your lowered corvette! Hahaha.


Okay so now I know this is no San Diego beach. Bunch of crap in the water, but I guess it still has its own HK charm.


We didn't want to shop at the market nearby so we just ended up going for a beer at 4pm! Hahaha.


Cheeeeers! We went back to the bus and my friends started singing random oldies while we were waiting to go to our next destination.


Hahahaha TST again! But the night view is so damn gorgeous. I don't think I can ever get sick of it.

Alright, so lots of talk about HK and not so much about my university that I'm supposed to be studying at. Let's just say this campus is a pain in the A to navigate. With buses running only once every 20 minutes and serving only around 5 bus stops, there is no way you can get anywhere without walking up a slope equivalent to a number 8 incline on the treadmill or 6 flights of stairs. Just imagine UCSD campus, but doubled in size (or maybe more...) and then slapped onto a mountain. Yes, I'm not kidding. The enormous size of this campus baffles me, but I think I'm slowly getting used to it. :) Perhaps I'm getting more fit from walking around everyday, but all this good food is gonna make me gain it all back. :P

Night view from my college. You ready for it?


Absolutely beautiful, and even more so when you see it with your own eyes. Almost makes all this walking worth it. Almost.

Proper Post on My Seoul 2010 Adventure

There's a typhoon-status storm going on right now complete with thunder and lightning. Thus, I am motivated to blog now that I am in my room with not much else to do. :P Here's my Korea trip at a glance with pictures included! Very much overdue...I know.

My 11-day stay in Seoul was awesome! There's so much to love about Seoul, and I also discovered quite a few new things about the Korean culture that I never realized. My meals there were usually very simple--ramyun, jajangmyun, naengmyun, KOREAN BARBEQUE, and lots of kimbap. I'm surprised I did not make food a very large part of my adventures, cuz a lot of my time in Seoul went to sight-seeing and shopping! :X

I don't think I've been to so many malls that have at least 7 floors each of endless clothing and accessories. OMGAH. Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, Namdaemun... Sometimes things start looking the same cuz there are just sooo many shops! I bought quite a lot but somehow I arrived in HK looking like I didn't bring much. o_O


Outside the nearest subway station from my guesthouse. College nightlife! Still not as lively as Hongdae's though.


Korean cold noodle dish called "naengmyun." Seriously, this dish saved my life because it was so. fricken. hot in Seoul.


Teddy Bear Museum at the ever-so-popular Namsan Tower! So many teddy bears :) Some even breakdance!


The view from the top of the tower. A bit foggy that day so the view wasn't as great as could be, but still very much a nice city view :)


Outside of the Namsan Tower are fences filled to the brim with locks! There is a very significant meaning behind these locks. Apparently couples would write messages to each other on the lock itself (usually well wishes for their relationship...or just cutesy stuff in general), secure the lock onto one of the wires, then throw the key away. This is supposed to signify the strength of their relationship and...I suppose, to never break up? Haha. Nevertheless, it's a cute enough idea. I didn't spot Khuntoria's (from WGM) heavy duty lock anywhere so I'm guessing they filmed it after my visit. Haha. Would've been epic to see it cuz that lock was so intense!!!


I have no idea why, but Dunkin' Donuts is such a hot commodity in Korea. It is literally everywhere and I don't even think they sell donuts for most of their revenue anymore. I see really cute cakes displayed and their menu mostly filled with various coffees and teas instead of donuts. o_0 Anyway, I ordered this coffee drink with jelly and....the jelly is coffee flavored. It was so goooood. Okay, Korean Dunkin' Donuts, I now have nothing against you. <3

So probably on my nth time visiting Dongdaemun's APM mall, guess who I ran into?!


Yeeeeeeeee Chase and David!!! Meeting coincidentally halfway across the world! If this is not epic then I don't know what is. So we celebrated by eating meat. IT'S A MUST.


We also sang and did the dansing in a noraebang.


Gotta finish it off with some Iceberry patbingsoo.


Went on a city tour bus and got to see the Traditional Korean Village.


Got a bit bored so I tried taking some artsy-farty photos. Success?


Headed to Changdukgoong (I think...or is it Changgyeonggoong?! Ugh whatever.) and chilled with Sejong Daewang. Hahahaha.


Cheonggyecheon at night...very pretty :) It felt so relaxing watching the little children play in the water.


Disneyland?!


Nah, we're at Lotte World! Of course, animals ears are a must around here.


Got ma haircut. First time in about 15 years since I've had my hair short. It's a strange feeling to not have long hair anymore, but I do enjoy the fact that hair dries faster at this length.


Man of my dreams found in Namdaemun market <3 Hahahaha. This guy was selling ahjumma clothing (basically old lady style) in the middle of the street. He has 3 bras on! Hahahaha. He also shook his "goods" when Mel started videotaping him. HAHAHAHA LOVE THIS GUY!


Had this like 3 times during my stay. It's called "kkong bul" (which is also the restaurant name) and it consists of bulgogi meat, sprouts, chili pepper paste, and a myriad of other things. The server helps you cook your meal and lets you know when it is ready. Our favorite way of eating it is incorporating the rice on the grill and make it like a rice pancake! SO DAMN GOOD. You gotta try this!


So who would actually pass up the opportunity to go to SM's biggest summer concert while they're in Korea?? Not me, obviously.


YEEEEE it's Super Junior! :)

The concert was great! And FREAKING SIX HOURS LONG! Debbie and I have already lost our voices by intermission three hours in. LMAO. The acts were all very entertaining and I loved the random features of SM artists in each other's songs. Things got exciting in the 2nd half with all the artists performing their hit songs...but after a while you notice the crowd being a little more quiet than usual....


Lights out! The Cassiopeians have started to show their displeasure! Awh shitttt.

Thing is, Yunho and Changmin did not perform until the very last hour of the concert. Imagine going 5 hours with no sign of the artists you went there for. Yeah, I can understand, I guess...


Got to see YH and CM up close. Life is good. I am happy.


And apparently they are too :)