So this past weekend was a ton of fun. Contrasted by today's (Monday) 12 hour long homework and group meeting marathon, i was able to really adventure around Hong Kong some more on my own terms, as well as with a giant group of almost 60 of us exchange students.
The weekend started out Thursday night, where i proceeded to cab downtown at around 9pm with a couple of friends and paid the cover for a fun bar called ShakeShake. it was on the top of this 10-15 or so story building, and we stayed there all night. unfortunately, i wasn't feeling my best on Friday as a result of the long night, and stayed on campus the whole day hanging out with some friends in my hall's common room, catching up on my American TV shows, and napping. Saturday however was a complete change of pace.
I agreed with a small number of Norwegian friends that we would go on this long hiking trip on Friday. we decided to meet out front of the campus at 9am, and after researching the best trail to take earlier that night, i was all prepared for a nice 7-8 hour ordeal the next day around Lantau Island. When i arrived in the front of campus however, there were about 50-60 other students, all waiting to leave for this trail north of Sai Kung, a fishing port, to check out a waterfall and spring area. I decided this would be more fun, and tagged along with them. What I experienced later that day was nothing next to paradise.
Perfect Weather and sunny sand beaches greeted us once we got off our taxi shuttle
Once we hiked a good 30 min into the rolling green, rocky hills, we found this amazing water fall and deep pool. at about 15 meters deep, we were able to jump off the nearby cliffs into the water below. I'll spare the pictures of me jumping. It wasn't the safest thing to do, but i have zero regrets.
After a solid three hours in the sun and roasting like a pig, we decided to head back to the beach for some lunch and a cold beer. The large group of us chartered 4 speed boats to blast us back to Sai Kung (close to campus), and then take a minibus back to campus. the speed boat ride was around 30 min, but i wish it could have lasted forever. it was absolutely pristine. The sole iphone picture of it just does not do the experience justice. it was like i was back in the British Virgin islands again.
Once i got back to campus, i washed off the sand and river water and soaked my burnt back as long as i could stand it in freezing cold water. i was literally radiating heat. The neck burn was pretty bad, but totally worth it.
That night i went downtown to a rooftop bar overlooking the city, but unfortunately did not have a camera for pictures. it was a very cool contrast from the unspoiled nature and beauty that morning to the modern, neon and technologically advanced city around me that night. We got sushi that night, but far the best i have ever had. better than japan actually. everything was half price, and because we had around 10 people at our table, we were able to sample practically everything off the menu. i sucked the brains out of a prawn. it was yummy
After a long night (got back on campus at 5am), i was still intent on going to Cheung Chau the next day. a number of people agreed to meet me at the red statue in front of the campus at 10am, but no one showed up when i arrived that morning (most texted me around 2pm, 3pm to tell me they had just woken up and that i was insane). I was determined however, but completely exhausted, to see this place. a small fisherman's and windsurfing island, Cheung Chau was one of the more inhabited islands of the outlying Hong Kong islands, green from the rainy season. I took a ferry there, which allowed me a good 45 min to nap.
I got off the boat at around 11:30, and immediately got food. i was absolutely famished, but found a nearby restaurant very quickly that served a killer sweet and sour pork. The boats surrounding me were also beautiful, and i had a fun time walking around the docks and checking them all out.
after checking out the bay area and feeling full off some juicy pineapple, roast pork and sweet an sour peppers, i decided to head towards a few temples, none of which were all that amazing but still pretty to look at
they have really cool trees in Hong Kong
Afterwards, i started to walk down the coasts of the island, checking out some good beach spots for later dates if i were to come back to the island. i found some nice water spot places, including a lot of windsurfing shops and other locals trying different activities.
The best part though was when i started to head down the south coast of the island, up what is called the "Mini-Great Wall" pathway, which lead me to lush green forests, incredible rock structures, and hidden temples deep in the brush.
I also found a most epic reading spot. I'm currently reading "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin. Hes what Time is calling the American Tolken. Im completely infatuated by the novel thus far, and have quickly devoured a little over 500 pages in about a week. Basically any time i'm sitting on a bus, train, waiting for class to start, or going to bed, this book is in my hands. If anyone wants to be a hero, send me the next four books in the series asap.
The highlight of the day came when i went on a little mini adventure off the beaten path. i found this really strange door in the corner of my eye while i was hiking. i crept up to it and it eventually lead me down some very unkept pathways through the forest. after another 10-15 minutes of not knowing where the heck i was going, it eventually lead me to this amazing mossy part of the woods, and a remote temple, where i eventually found shelter for an hour while it began to downpour. it gave me some more time to read. Incense burned by some statues of Buddhist gods, and it was so peaceful and smelled so good.
Overall it was a wonderful weekend, but not quite ruined by the unimaginable amount of built up schoolwork i have set aside to pursue all my adventures. but that's ok. I have Macau next weekend for a Benni Bennasi pool party, and we are planning Bangkok for the weekend after. until then...
