Kinkkisiä tilanteita - Kauppamies Hong Kongissa: I'm on vacation

On vacation

Sai Wan Beach

Lomalla viimeinkin

Viimeisten kokeiden jälkeen mulle on jäänyt sopivasti aikaa pyöriä ympäri Hong Kongia ja tutustua esimerkiksi päiväreissun vaativiin seutuihin. Ohjelmassa on ollut IKEAn vierailua uuden jättimäisen 10 neliön asunnon johdosta sekä 10 000 Buddhan temppeliä. Lisäksi jo ensimmäisessä tekstissä linkkaamani cliff jumping videon seudut näkivät meikäläisen. On mieletöntä, että näin lähellä suurkaupunkia pystyy käymään suihkussa vesiputouksen alla ja ympärillä kasvaa viidakkoa. Kosteusprosentti vaan nousee ja tällä kertaa myös auringon määrä päivittäin.

Sun!

Humid times!

The past week has been everything between the most rural and urban Hong Kong. The increased amount of spare time resulted into many kind of time-consuming activities. I also managed to find the most chill spot in HK and finally filmed my own cliff jumping video. I also picked up my working visa as well as found a huge 110 square feet apartment on Hong Kong Island.

Afternoon shower

Last Monday started with a revisit to Shek O beach. This beach is quite accessible since you’re able to take the MTR and continue with a bus straight to the site. This time we felt like eating though and my new favorite curry, the green curry, was awesome here. I’ve been ordering this dish for many times after this trip. One thing I find interesting is that at least this spring weather forecasts haven’t really been correct with the predictions. It is impossible to tell what the weather will be in 2 hours and I think we also have spent an impossible amount of time talking about the weather even though it being so popular among the topics for small talk.

Green curry

Another fun thing besides the rubber duck that is also inflated is the inflation exhibition in Kowloon. This exhibition has 7 different inflated ‘’sculptures’’ and one of them is a giant pile of dog poo. Another one is an inflatable Stonehenge where people are able to jump like in a bouncing castle. This whole area was quite an impressive sight with the ICC tower and the Hong Kong skyline in the background. After the exhibition it was sushi time in TST. Some of the rolling sushi places here are just awesome. Sushi one and Genki sushi are two rolling sushi chain restaurants that serve ok priced food for example.

The exhibition

Interesting inflatable art

The poo

@ Genki Sushi

As the headline says it has been humid here…very humid. I think Finnish people can get here with their imagination if they just think they are in a Turkish sauna with a million people. They do even sell these dehumidifier boxes for the wardrobe so that you’re clothes do not mold. I have seen these little silicon type of pearls in an electronic appliance package before but not like this. One other amazing thing on campus besides this humid air is the fact that while I’ve been here they have built several new colleges…yes, complete colleges with canteens etc. This is due to the changed school system where people go to Uni. at a younger age but also probably because it is easier for CU to expand than it is for other universities in Hong Kong that are located more close to central. Still, didn’t believe these buildings are going to be ready in just one semester!

Stonehenge

The past days have provided more sun than rain, finally! One of the sunny days included some shopping in IKEA for my new apartment and meatballs for lunch. Great to have some potatoes here and the portion was really cheap as well. An ice cream cost me 2.5 HKD or 0,25€. The local students always tell me how they go to have the hot dogs in IKEA for 6 HKD or 0,6€.

Another excursion was done after the afternoon shopping to Luk Keng Village. We took a taxi to reach the place more quickly but it was possible to take a mini bus back from the location. This very tiny place had three nice restaurants and surprisingly all the customers were from western countries…maybe it is popular among expatriates. The taxi ride provided some great views all the way to Shenzhen since it was exceptionally clear that day. It is also nice to see the more rural Hong Kong. This is the point where you realize that actually half of the people here live in the ‘’new towns’’.

Urban monkeys

There are surprisingly many things to see around campus and yet another thing I had not done yet was a visit to the 10 000 Buddha’s monastery. This sight is only a 10 minute walk from Sha Tin MTR station and includes 10 000 drops of sweat with this weather as well. Once again the ‘’too much is too much’’ feeling was there when entering the area but we are in Hong Kong! Some urban monkeys that for some reason like the electric cables more than the trees provide the entertainment here…

I see gold

10 000 Buddha monastery

The furniture that I had bought earlier in IKEA had to be carried to their new home and once this experience of moving with the metro was done we couldn’t resist going a rooftop terrace located just a couple of blocks from my new home. This is a very good way to celebrate a new apartment.

The awesome view from Wooloomooloo steakhouse

My apartment somewhere here?

The latest adventure on vacation was a trip to a waterfall near Sai Wan village. This great journey began with a bus ride to Sai Kung and continued with a taxi drive to the point where we started to hike. On the way to Sai Wan we met some cows that were running up the stairs. Something new every day!

Loyal friends at the beach

Hiking crew at the beach

The village has a beautiful beach in front of it but the most amazing thing needs a little more effort. The way to the waterfall wasn’t so obvious as we had thought and we had to find the inner climber of us to get there. The view from the location was great. After getting to the spot there was deserted lush forest and mountains around us with a perfect spot to do some cliff jumping. After we completed the ‘’free adrenaline’’ test it was time to chill and swim in the pond. Fresh shower in a waterfall was definitely worth the effort to get to this place. A highly recommended spot to visit that won’t be on the top list of every tour and tourist agency.

FEELING GREAT!