Mong Kok and Prince Edward

So much has happened in the past week and getting settled. Our course in the "Arts of China" is fully underway - today was a detailed lecture of Jade, tomorrow is Bronze... Not going to lie - this is not really my cup of tea. However, there is a sociology class in South Korea we are taking next which I am very excited for.

This past weekend was very, very busy. On Saturday we traveled by subway to "Ocean Park" which is a zoo/aquarium/amusement park with roller coasters (including one with three inversions). After that we met up with Jessica and Matt (Jessica is Gavin's - a guy on the trip - sister's friend from Global '04 when she did it) and they showed us around downtown Hong Kong. We began by traveling along the longest strand of continuous escaltors and moving walkwaks in the world, my estimate was at least one mile long...unfortunately, we then had to walk all the way back down which the group failed to mention to me. Afterwards, we ate at this really good family style chinese restaurant and then visited Temple Street, a very popular night time market. It was a 14 hour very long, VERY LONG, day -- but so much fun.

Sunday Hayley and I traveled downtown again to visit the "Jade Market" and "Jade Street"; the market is full of hawkers selling cheap (and fake) jade, which makes for cool souveiners. However, I did by a beautiful piece from "Jade Street" with vendors who guarentee authenticity (which the price does as well). Afterwards we visited the Hong Kong Science Museum (small compared Minnesota's in St. Paul) but still very cool. Museums are free on Wednesdays, so I think we will wait to visit the History and Heritage Museums until next week. Tomorrow our class is taking a "field trip" of sorts to the Hong Kong Art Museum. After the museum, we went to a GREAT sushi bar and I tried jelly fish and anago for the first time (I missed on the squid and octopus as I've already tried those and know I don't like them). I learned that althought I dislike cooked tuna, I love raw tuna. We also had salmon, shrimp, and california rolls. Afterwards we visited the fish market and both bought tiny turtles (HK $10 about US$1 - so cheap) for our rooms...we figure we'll give them away to somebody in three weeks when we leave. We named them "Mong Kok" and "Prince Edward" because those are the subway stops the fish market is located between.

With class for only two hours a day it allows us to have a lot of time to goof off and go visit sites around the town. I'm very excited to visit a popular traditional villiage on one of the nearby islands, as well as take a day trip to Macau, which is a Portuguese colony located very close to Hong Kong. Hong Kong also has beautiful hiking I'm looking forward to taking advantage of.

- CM