The moments

 Kasetin kelaus 6kk ajalta

HONG KONG 

Viimeisen kuuden kuukauden aikana olen kerännyt kokemuksia ja muistoja Hong Kongissa, Macaolla, Singaporessa, Taiwanissa, Kiinassa, Filippiineillä ja Etelä-Koreassa. Tämä Aasian ralli jää varmasti mieleen monina paikkoina ja nähtävyyksinä sekä rikkaana kulttuurikokemuksena. Ennen kaikkea päällimmäisenä mielessäni koulun lukukaudesta on ollut nyt viimeisten illallisten aikaan uskomattoman tiivis yhteishenki ja uudet tuttavat. Oma matkani kaupungissa päättyy vasta elokuun lopussa, mutta tietynlainen välietappi lukukauden lopetus kylläkin on. Muutto keskustaan työn perässä on aloittanut erilaisen 3kk jakson Hong Kongissa…aivan uudenlaisesta perspektiivistä. Viimeisten viikkojen sisään mahtui monta viimeistä aktiviteettia ja niin sanotun vaihto bucket listin läpikäymistä. Toiset hyppäsivät Macaolla maailman korkeimman benjin, toiset kävivät ensimmäistä kertaa Victoria Peakilla pimeän aikaan. Yliopiston kurssit on suoritettu kunnialla ja säätkin suosivat kerrankin pidemmän jakson ajan. Enpä tiedä mitä kymmenvuotiaana olisin meikäläiselle sanonut jos olisin tulevaisuuteen nähnyt. ’’Helkkari’’ nyt ainakin alkuun. Tästäpä syystä on hyvä kelailla vähän taaksepäin ja miettiä että mitä täällä nyt oikein tapahtui. Muutamia asioita kauppalistatyylillä mainittuna alla.

5.30am campus infinity pool

Rewind

There are many kinds of things I could mention about the past semester here in Hong Kong. Most times it is too hard to describe all of it in a nutshell. I usually end up saying to many people that it’s been nice, very nice or a lot of things. That’s why I’m going to list some things these 6 months included. After all it is end of one era and the beginning of a completely another type of HK experience.

• 6 different countries in 6 months
• 5 courses in CUHK
• 5 times in Macao…
• Incredible people from all around the world
• Playing badminton with locals in Beijing
• Standing at the Great Wall of China almost alone with -17 degrees Celsius
• Eating ‘’balut’’ in Philippines
• 7-eleven nights
• MTR rides with thousands of people
• ‘’Always hold the handrail’’
• Cable cars in 3 different countries
• Learning garden and web lab 24/7
• Learning Putonghua
• Marina Bay sands Singapore
• Wan Chai and LKF
• Neon signs that make it impossible to see the sky
• The cheap taxi drives, especially to campus
• Never having an umbrella when in need of one
• Octopus card and being able to go over the limit with it
• Cheap sushi and taco Tuesday
• Exploring caves and lava tubes
• Hiking in a paradise just 30 minutes from downtown, to the highest mountain in Korea and more walking than ever in my life
• The possibility to choose a new restaurant every time
• School canteens with their various dishes and various tastes
• Noodles for breakfast and noodles at night while studying
• Mong Kok sundays
• Dim sum
• Air conditioning
• Hong Kong skyline
• Extravaganza
• Hot springs in Taipei and family visiting HK
• Milk powder commercials in MTR
• Sweat and humidity like never before
• Some eye opening experiences in the places visited
• Asking a way to the rice fields in Guilin with a rice hat in my head
• Getting an internship
• Partying in Gangnam
• Getting lost with currencies
• The endless paperwork and forms with the exchange
• United college and hiking up the hill at night
• Chan Chun Ha hostel and the balcony with palm trees
• The unpredictable weather of Hong Kong
• Boat trips….especially Chinese New Years
• Philippines AVIS catastrophe
• Visiting the highest buildings on earth
• Visiting amusement parks in Asia and getting all LED
• Waking up 5am to see the sunrise at the campus infinity pool

The list would continue and continue but all these things had never been as much fun if there had not been such awesome people around me! I remember one wise person saying one day this to me at the Uni. MTR station: ‘’What if the people had not been like this here in CUHK’’. A moment of silence to that thought.

Like I said the weather really made the last moments of the school semester perfect and here is a compilation of photos from those days. I will continue the story with once a month update of summer in Hong Kong. This time it’s time to say goodbye to all my international friends and I really do hope to meet as many of you as possible again. Remember to always hold the handrail and quite many things will be fine!

11pm

Peak at night and new neighbourhood

Last day at CUHK

The statue I thought to be Big Buddha when arrived to CUHK (is not)

Picnic at a park

Hike to Sai Wan

Paradise

The beach

Perfect day

Helicopter ride?

Harbour city

Geopark in HK

Speedboatin'

Dragon boat festival

New way to work

Intern

Thank you CUHK spring 2013.