Last Wednesday I had a really amazing experience. For the first time in my life it was really easy (well, compared to my other experiences) to get a visa. I only needed to hand in the application form, my student ID, my passport and the bankstatements of the last three months (which was slightly topped up only for this purpose;=). After three days I could go to the Exchange Square in Central to pick up my passport plus visa.

For those who have never been to Hong Kong: Central is the banking district of Hong Kong, with the highest skyscrapers (e.g. Bank of China Tower, IFC Tower,…) and the most expensive shopping malls. So it was also an opportunity for me to get into one of those expensive looking buildings ^^..
Everything looked really noble, the ground was polished so that you could see your reflection and most of the people there wore suits. I was very surprised, when I saw the red Christmas flowers which was the main decoration. And for the first time I realized, that Christmas and with it my departure was approaching in full speed. And so does the elevators of the skyscrapers: In 30 seconds it took us from the 3rd floor to the 42th floor. After another 3 minutes I could happily go back with my Japan visa in my handbag.

So now, after Moritz booked the flights, I’LL BE IN JAPAN during my 23rd birthday!!!! I still can’t believe it, but it surely will be one of my best experiences this year. I’ll tell you then.

Anh Thu

Last week we were witnesses of a phenomenon which took over our normal university life for more than a week: graduation. It started with some students who wore the graduation gowns and who took photos at the campus. I liked to watch them, how they were so happy to finally finished their studies and tried to preserve some nice memories from one of the most important stages of their life. But then their number started to grow rapidly, with them also their relatives and friends appeared. They were everywhere, carrying flowers and stuffed toys (even the boys), grinning and taking pictures — alone or with family and friends in nearly every possible permutations. It started around noon and continued until late in the night, even after the graduation ceremony (which lasted for three days and because of which the whole atrium was blocked for the other students) finished. I really admire them for their endurance.

Then, on Sunday, I was hiking on Lamma Island with Moritz and Lorraine. It was our second hiking trip since the beginning of the semester (the first one was in Sai Kung). Lamma Island is one of the big islands of Hong Kong, it’s very quite there — not like the noisy Hong Kong Island — and there’re many seafood restaurants. We started our tour with a breakfast in the congee restaurant where Moritz and I often went to when we were in Hong Kong last time. Then we took the tram from North Point to Central — the tram is still my favourite public transportation. With the ferry we got to Lamma Island and started our walk in Yung Shue Wan. Within one and a half hour you could come to Sok Kwu Wan. There were so many people on the “Family Trail”: families with their children, old people and even biker. I think it was really hard for the bikers to get over the steep passages. At the end of our hiking trip we went to the “Rainbow Restaurant” and had extreme good seafood — it was a little expensive though, but we could use the free shipping back to Central. And that was worth it.

My and Moritz’s Shenzhen trip had to be postponed to the coming Sunday. Hopefully Lyn will have time for us then. I’m looking forward to it. See you guys next time.

Anh Thu

Hi guys. After my midterms are done, I’ll have more time to write entries. I like to encourage you to write comments on how you like my writing. Feel free to critizise, ask or discuss.

How to do? Just click on the title of the entry you want to comment on and at the end of the article you can find the link “Make comment”.
Other comments you find at the right hand side of the website. There’re some very funny remarks.

To animate you to make comments, here is a little quiz: Find me (Anh Thu) on the picture below!

Of course only people who know me can participate. To give the others a chance, here is another one:

Do you know how it looks like if the intersection of bed and desk isn’t an emptyset? It’s like this:

And know: What’s the result, if it’s not an emptyset? See here.

I’m looking forward to see who’s the first ^^.

Anh Thu

After I completed my last test this morning, I now have more time for the blog =)

The last week was really a busy one. Besides studying for my exams I went to eat “sweet soup” (kind of desert here in Hong Kong — kind of complicated to explain, you have to try it) with Moritz and Lorraine. The waitress was very surprised that none of us could read the menu (which was only available in Chinese) as there were two very Chinese looking persons (me and Lorraine). Luckily Lorraine can speak a little Cantonese so she could explain her that we did our choice on basis of the pictures and that we were UST exchange-in students.

On Saturday I went to Tribeca, a club in Wan Chai. It was my first clubbing experience here…and in general T.T
I was really excited as I went there without Moritz. I was in a group of seven girls and five boys — all locals. And as always I wasn’t that much different from them so they thought I was kidding when I introduced myself as an exchange-in student from Germany ^^..
We had lot’s of fun this night…with every highlight you can imagine….and some even you couldn’t imagine. First highlight: Only girls with highheels can get in for free! Luckily I had my 5 cm highheels (well, it was sufficient for them). After several hours of dancing the music was stopped and the lights were turned on — police raid: “Please, show your Hong Kong ID!” (Proof of majority) Because Ebe didn’t tell me, I didn’t take my passport with me and I also didn’t have my driver’s licence with me. Fortunately, my MVV-card (public transportation card from Munich) was sufficient for the police. After 30 minutes the party could continue.

The outcome of that night: — lot’s of fun with nice people — swollen feet — some bruises (because I fell on the ground by missing my step and was pouring my whole drink over some unlucky guy) — several drunken people — some more some less

Our return trip wasn’t as enjoyable as the party. One of our’s really got drunk and was nearly unconcious, throwing up all the way. Another guy got drunk, too. He could still go, but I know that he didn’t really know what he did. I hope he got home by himself. After we brought Yen and Ebe to their rooms, I fell in my bed…tired but happy. I think maybe I’ll do this again ^^.~

Anh Thu

Last Friday was 31st October, it was Halloween. Ebe asked us to go to Disneyland with her and her friends and although we “Germans” are no folk who celebrate this event, we accepted her invitation — it was also an opportunity for Moritz to visit Disneyland as he has never been there before. His first comment was: “Dissneyland gives you the impression that you’re a kid.” Well, how do I put it….that’s exactly the aim and that’s why you can see women at the age of 40 wearing Minney-Mouse-ears ><…

So our group met at 4:45 pm at the Atrium to head to Lantau Island where Disneyland HK is (it has even an own MTR (Subway) line). I had to skip my Chinese Mandarin classes — although I didn’t want, but I thought social contacts were more important than to improve my poor Mandarin skills. In our group there was a bunny, Superman, Clark Kent, a female Cowboy, an American Indian, a Panda, us two and another girl, who also wasn’t disguised. It was so funny, we were laughing the whole way to Disneyland as the panda changed while we were in the full MTR and people were glancing at us while grinning and whispering.

Disneyland itself was very crowded and the topic was — of course — Halloween. The decoration, lights, music — in short: EVERYTHING — was saying: “Today is Halloween!”
The first thing we did was going to Space Mountain. But due to the popularity of Superman we managed to stop every three steps because people wanted to take photos with Superman. After this we watched the parade — this is always the best part for me. I had a very, very good view on the shoulders of Moritz ^^; and could shoot a nice video. I can tell you the two little kid down there were so jealous hehe.
After a short rest at a fast food restaurant with incredibly high prices (~ HKD 40 = 4,00 EUR per burger with a few French fries) we headed to the haunted house (well I think one of them). Due to this I couldn’t see the fireworks =(

Although Superman was the reason why we always had to wait — we were — waiting for his costume — waiting for him to change — waiting for him to take pictures — waiting for him because he got lost due to taking pictures THIS time he managed to convince the security girl to let us pass and she escorted us to the entrance where we could go straight into the maze without standing in the queue anymore. It saved us more than one hour! Other attractions we took were the enhenced 3D-cinema with auto controlled smell and water emission and the Small World (I can still hear the music…lalala lala….)

The trip to Lan Kwai Fong (party district) Moritz and I skipped. I think it wasn’t a bad idea, because some of our fellow students told us, that they couldn’t get through because of “a people’s jam” and other fellow students only managed to leave with big help and empty pockets T.T

The phenomenon of Halloween for me was Superman. I didn’t think that he was so popular among the locals (I mean not the real Superman, but our fellow). Well, I’ve to admit that he is very charming, polite and good looking for Asians (blond hair, tall). But I’d never thought that people would gather around him or queueing up or even shouting from afar: “I want a photo with you!” in order to take a photo with him. I think We could’ve earned so much if we would’ve charged them ><..

But too bad, that nobody asked our Clark Kent for a picture and also the panda wasn’t so popular as expected. All in all it was a very nice and funny first Halloween for me and I got to know some nice people, too. See ya ^^…

Anh Thu