I *heart* Octopus Cards.

We really need those in Toronto. No more waiting in line for people to buy tickets, no more waiting for TTC workers to get back from lunch/dinner/second lunch breaks... Speaking of T.O., World Youth Day is just kicking off (or has already started, I don't know). Should be interesting. I hope all that garbage from the strike has been cleaned up, or else I'll be coming home to a very stinky city.

I've learned that there are three things that tourists in HK spend time doing:

1. eating
   
2. shopping
   
3. sweating

And maybe some sightseeing if they have time. I'm ashamed to look at the receipts in my wallet. Not beacuse there are a lot, but because of the number of Bossini ones in the pile. I can't help it! Everytime I walk past a store, I see giant pictures of Lilo and Stitch, begging me to spend my hard-earned money on them.

Had lunch with my aunt (relative) and auntie (family friend), and dinner with my dad's side. Shopping a lot with Ming. Split a toenail on the fitting room door at U2 (Pacific Place). Mmmm...pain and wontons. Re-read The Two Towers (Tolkien), and Bridget Jones' Diary. Took sticker pics with Ming and her friend Mannis, and a card with my cousin. Visited The Peak with same people minus cousin plus Lil. Freaked out by fake Chinese driver at the Ripley's Believe It or Not exhibit (took some pics). Imitated the Baha Men at the electronic harp (dog notes). More shopping, eating and sweating. Bought an MP3 player (Mpio, JNC) and a Chinese-English dictionary for mom (electronic). Going to Breakthrough camp tomorrow. Very tired.

Super Magical Air Conditioning Candy Attack!

Sitting at a terminal at the Hong Kong Central Library, freezing my little Canadian butt off (is that possible?) The air conditioning here is insane, but with 30 C plus temperatures everyday and over 80% humidity, I guess it's a necessity. So much for acclimitisation (sp?).

Lessee, what have I spent the last four days doing? Sleeping, mainly, eating rice, sleeping some more, eating more rice... Actually, I went out the second day I got here, with Ming, Tiff, and Ming's two friends, Celia and Mannis. We went to Causeway Bay and did some shopping (skirt HKD$60, U2 and capris HKD$90, Bossini), and saw Men In Black 2. Surreal. I didn't notice the Chinese subtitles until half an hour into the movie. It was weird because the five of us would hear the jokes and start laughing while everyone else gave us funny looks (until they read the subtitles and started giggling themselves).

Third day, went out with my aunt and uncle. Took the ferry (only $2.20!) to Kowloon, took some pictures of Hong Kong Island, baked in the sun, cooled off in that pointy building (Arts Centre? Culture Centre?). Took the other ferry back to Hong Kong Island (still $2.20) and took some pictures of the Hong Kong Saddledome. I know that isn't right at all, but it reminds me of Calgary's stadium, so that's what it is for now. It's the building where the ceremony for HK's handover to China took place. Very crowded.

Fourth day, went back to Causeway Bay with aunt to do some shopping. Well, window shopping mostly; SOGO very expensive. Got rained on, took refuge in another department store, got rained on again, ate at a Vietnamese place, got stepped on for the fourth time that day (I love the crowds), and went home. Major headache due to jetlag and rainy weather. Watched the new Korean television drama (babies switched at birth, parents and brother horrified). Slept some more.

Oh, that trip!

So hot. So tired. So bloody jetlagged. ^_^

Things I've Noticed:

• I feel like The Jolly Green Giant. I'm not that tall, 5' 8" or so, but here in Hong Kong, amidst masses of Chinese people, I can actually see over the crowds.
  
• There are signs everywhere. With three bus companies, bus stops are especially hard to see.
  
• Anyone under 30 looks like they've just stepped out of a health spa or something. That is, clean hair, clean skin, trendy clothes, expensive shoes. Jetsetters? I'm not sure I that's what it means.
  
• Lilo & Stitch is in heavy promotion here. And I lurve it. Stitch cereal, shirts (Bossini), posters, toys, etc. Cute.

Trip? What trip?

I almost forgot I was going to Hong Kong. Homing, I'm sorry I didn't update the site. There was just too much going on. If you want, I can email you instructions on how to FTP Dave's 'Sauga' article (it's already finished).

I hope I can keep myself occupied during the 18 hours in the air. Also that I can manage to keep my lunch, dinner, breakfast and second lunch down at the same time. Brought Super Headphones (TM), Bridget Jones' Diary, and The Two Towers to keep me busy.

Very apprehensive.

Wired

So busy. So wired. Need break.

After finishing my summer job (packing thousands upon thousands of bowls/cups), I though I could take a bit of a break before I left for Hong Kong... I was very, extremely wrong. My godparents both came to Toronto last Wednesday for my parents' silver anniversary on Saturday, so we went out for dinner (Chinese food) every night after work. This means HK style tea. Every night. For about a week. Not that I'm complaining, but you can only handle so much caffeine in your system at a time (Gasp! Really?)

Getting ready for the anniversary also kept me busy. My aunt and my auntie (i.e. Mom's best friend) were hell-bent on giving them an anniversary they wouldn't forget. First, the lunch was held at a pretty, small-townesque inn/event...place called The Doctor's House in a little town outside of Toronto Proper (GTA). PowerPoint presentation outlining parent's courtship, two pastors pretending to be my parents (complete with falsetto voices), sappy songs, okay food, and a humidex of 34 C.

Completely forgot about HK trip and university in September. Loads to do:

• pack for trip
  
• find contact numbers in HK
  
• get mom to print out Breakthrough letters at office
  
• mail in preregistration form
  
• remind dad to pay initial fees
  
• send frosh week registration form and fee
  
• complete QLINK registration
  
• get paycheck
  
• use paycheck to fund registrations
  
• hate registrations in general
  
• enjoy final moments of livable weather and drinkably water
  
• change hamster bedding