Yesterday and today were our first days of actual classes and the entire group being together. Though hectic at times, everything has gone much smoother than I could have ever imagined! Hong Kong is beautifully innovative and surprisingly American. Of course I knew it was going to be similar, but I didn’t know it was going to be equally as English as Cantanese/Mandarin. 

Yesterday we re-visited Victoria’s Peak, but this time we took a different route, via bus instead of cable car. The two routes were extremely different and both offered a different perspective. One, a view of the intertwined jungle, mixed with residents and businesses. The other, a street view winding up a long long series of turns. 

  
After Victoria’s Peak, we went to the Ngong Ping Village, which hosts the monks of the Po Lin Monestary. The Ngong Ping Village is home to the Temple of the 10,000 Buddhas and the Giant Buddha, known as the Tian Tan Buddha. 

The Tian Tan Buddha weighs over 250 tons and encompasses over 34 meters in height. It can be seen for miles around, perched at the top of the mountain. His jolly face is made of gold, symbolizing the ideals of peace, wisdom, and happiness.   

     

Interestingly, a backwards shwatztica is placed in the center of Buddha’s chest. Despite our long negative connotation with this symbol, it was originally known to symbolize Buddha’s love spreading around the world, encompassing all. It wasn’t until WWII that this idea was morphed into how we know it today.   

 The Buddha sits in a lotus pose, with the right hand raised, symbolizing the ending of suffering. The left lays palm facing up, ensuring all wishes will be fulfilled. Fruits such as apples, bananas, and oranges are given to the various Buddhas every day to make sure Buddha is always surrounded by happiness and health. 

   
   

After the Monestary, we went to a market famous among locals. Small shops, restaurants, and fruits and flowers can be purchased in the historical Stanley Market. I purchased a small painting from one of the local artisans. Only $39 HKD ($5 USD). I wasn’t impressed with the other shops, but I did spot a fluffy Persian cat, snoozing in the marketplace. We also visited a small Buddhist Temple, where an alleged Tiger was killed in the village. I’ll let you decide if you think it was actually a tiger because I’m a little skeptical! 

 Corner-side of Stanley Market  

Persian Friend  

       

After a long day of adventures, we went back to the hotel to freshen up and get ready to venture into the mainland of China, to visit the city of Macau. Macau is similar to Las Vegas, except much more spread out. The process of getting from Hong Kong to Macau is extensive; a one hour ferry trip then a bus ride of 15 minutes to the casinos. We went to the Ventian. Even though it was really interesting to experience, Macau was NOTHING like Vegas in reality. The casinos were massive, but the activity and liveliness was absent. There were no bars, no grand restaurants, no strippers, no people!! The shops were closed, there was no music. Only gambling (minus the slot machines). I only lost $35 USD. 

  The only semi-noteworthy picture from Macau 
Day 3

Our third day in China was the first day for real business interactions. We visited the International Purchasing Office (IPO) for Academy Sports and Outdoors and Invest Hong Kong, which provides insights for foreign countries on how to successfully do business in Hong Kong. I really won’t bore anything with the details of the logistics or supply chain knowledge we obtained yesterday. So enjoy pictures from nightlife and cultural experiences later in the week. Day 4 will also be centered around the same activities, so nothing will be able to be posted until Day 5!

On Friday we go to the Nike Factory and then Saturday morning we go to Beijing, where the fun really begins! Mainland China has the majority of all social media outlets blocked, so I am unsure if I will be able to blog. If not, I will update when I’m home, tracking my adventures through the Great Wall and Beyond.