Wow

So much has happened since the last time I blogged. My SIM card ran out of money so if you were trying to call me...sorry! I just filled it up now so call away!

Thursday (10/1) was a momentous occasion - I bonded with my roomie! She showed me how to use the laundry facilities at my hostel. It's quite neat actually. There's a microchip on my CUHK student ID card and I can use a machine to input however much money I need to use the laundry machines (I put in HKD 100). Each washing machine and dryer has their specific computer system and you just insert the card that corresponds to the correct machine, press the button to start the machine, and then remove your card. NO MORE QUARTERS! I think VCU should have a system like this - it's very efficient, in my opinion.

HK is really efficient city actually. The mass transit system (and the subway system) is 100 times more effective (and cleaner) than that of New York. This is my best friend in HK - It's called an Octopus card. It has a microchip inside that stores money (similar to a debit card, but with no magnet on the back). You just swipe on the pad and it deducts money from the card and that's how you pay the fare to use the subway. I use it everywhere besides the MTR and KCR (Kowloon-Canton Railway); I use it at 7-11 and even the vending machines on campus. Nifty, huh?



I meant for the weekend to be a relaxing one spent at CU...but apparently that was not the case. Ann called me and asked if I wanted to go to Macau with some HK residents that have studied abroad ....sure. They do a lot of stuff with International students, so I guess that's why they're friendly towards Western people (teehee).

The ride to Macau USUALLY takes 1 hour...45 mins even. but of course, we decided to go to Macau on the foggiest day ever. It took us a total of 5 hours in traveling time from when we left CU to when we arrived at the ferry terminal in Macau. We arrived at night so of course, it was the sketchiest of the sketch walking the streets. Here are some highlights in no particular order:

Inside the Venetian. It's supposedly the biggest casino in the world. We each put in 100 and came out with 600 :-) Slots are not my thing...

HUGE Gold Lion in front of the MGM Grand. I think we should have stayed here for the night!

Inside the Venetian. Very pretty.

This is me in front of the Ruins of St. Paul. Very beautiful architecture!

This is actually INSIDE a bathroom stall. Usually...a sink is outside the stall, but I found it rather odd. and it was cramped....

Overview of Macau atop the Ruins of St. Paul

Street markets are the best in Asia. And Portuguese egg tarts are definitely better tasting than Hong Kong egg tarts!

The casinos are what Macau is known for.

I have a lot more to write...but no patience to write it. I am actually quite tired. Our ferry to Kowloon from Macau arrived at 7 pm and we had to take the KCR back to campus. Must-see places to visit in Macau/Taipai that we've been to include:

Senado Square (which is where our "hotel" was conveniently located near)
Ruins of St. Paul
Taipai village
"Food street" - aka Ruo de Cuhna
Macau Stadium
The Venetian
Various street markets


Oh, and Portuguese egg tarts are to die for

PS: the very first picture is in Taipai. Now I can say I rode a dragon :-)