Lantau Island Fun

Went to Lantau Island last week to see the Big Buddha since I've been in Hong Kong for over four months now and still failed to have gone.

Outside Patrick Manson Student Residences

In the Cable Car on the way there. The wind was billowing like crazy!

"Skiing" in the snow village.

Resident Evil has nothing on these!

I am definitely getting a pair of these. KILLER ZOMBIE HEELS!

And they glow in the dark as well!

$55USD well spent at Iron Fist

Alternatively, there are these babies for $46 USD

What say you?

x

Leopard print makes me weak

After finishing my most brutal period on exchange ever (assessment is so over-rated) I decided to go shopping.

I went to H&M to see if there was anything left from the Lanvin collab but ended up spending way too much instead.

I got myself these amazing heels:

Just soooooo right now! $300HKD

A cute varsity jacket - $400HKD

and a cool russian fur hat a la Naomi Campbell! =). $130HKD.

I also spent a crazy amount on underwear and cute bras =).

The next few weeks are going to be so sad because they will fly past and eveyrone will be leaving :(. 

I still have a 6,000 word paper to write on Human Rights in China but in between I definitely plan on hitting the shops. Miu Miu + Prada, here I come!!

Oh, and my current beauty love: The Dior Cannage Color Collection- $50USD duty free from Ho Chi Minh Airport. 

Don't you just love how adorable it looks. It has the same cover as the Dior Bags.

And the colours are super nice- very glossy :)

x

J'adore Dior

Another sale I miss out on due to stupid uni.

Studying on exchange? That wasn't what i signed up for!

Only on today and tomorrow at Causeway Bay- 70% off!

Seriously? That's bags for like $200-300AUD, the cost of Mimco!

No wonder everyone is so well-dressed in Hong Kong.

x

Vivienne Westwood was having a sale!!

And all I got to do was study for my exams like a chump!!!!

Things were going for up to 90% off. Seriously, I refuse to go home to Australia. The land of over-priced fashion with zero variety. 

Come on down to the creeps!

$160USD from The Future Perfect

So creepy that it's cool!

Being a Dickhead's Cool

Love this sooo much. A bit cheeky ;)

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVmmYMwFj1I&feature=player_embedded&has_verified=1

Burberry

I want! Retailing at Lane Crawford (HK) 

H&M & Lanvin Collab!

Nothing is hotter than Lanvin right now. (At least New York and H&M definitely think so!)

November 23rd is marked down in my diary. The PM girls and I are going to stake this sale out a la Monica getting her wedding dress in that episode of Friends. <3

xx

Back in the +852

I'm back from my epic Vietnam/Cambodia trip (will post about that later) and am preparing for the complete shitstorm that will hit with assignments and essays (6000 word Human Rights Law essay? 5000 word Medical Law essay??? 15 minute Radio News Bulletin? 2 x 5000 word take-home law exams- seriously, university is such a downer).

But my daddy is also coming this weekend (yay- so I will be able to get some winter clothes off him).

Celebrated Halloween (why oh why is HK so cool?).

But now all I can think of is a special someone who, despite the fact that we can't be together, will always be in my heart..........<3

Flame Trees - by Cold Chisel.
----------------------------
Written by Steve Prestwich/Don Walker
From "Twentieth Century"

Kids out driving Saturday afternoon just pass me by
I'm just savouring familiar sights
We shared some history, this town and I
And I can't stop that long forgotton feeling of her
Time to book a room and stay tonight.
Number one is to find some friends to say "You're doing wel..."
After all this time you boys look just the same."
Number two is the happy hour at one of two hotels,
And settle in to play "Do you remember so and so?".
Number three is never say her name.
And Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town
There's no change, there's no pace,
Everything within it's place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around.
But Oh! Who needs that sentimental bullshit, anyway?
You know it takes more than just a memory to make me cry
And I'm happy just to sit here, at a table with old friends
And see which one of us can tell the biggest lies.
And there's a girl, she's falling in love, near where the pianola stands..
With a young local factory auto-worker, just holding hands
And I'm wondering if he'll go or if he'll stay.
Do you remember, nothing stopped us on the field in our day
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town.
There's no change, there's no pace,
Everything within it's place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around.
Oh the flame trees will blind the weary driver
And there's nothing else could set fire to this town.
There's no change, there's no pace,
Everything within it's place
Just makes it harder to believe that she won't be around.

Vietnam/Cambodia Here I come

Today was a productive day. I woke up and emailed the Dean of Law with my rant about the administrators in the law faculty and my dilemma. Hopefully he will fix that.

Then, I hurried off to my eyelash extension appointment in Causeway Bay. I was lucky enough to find a place that did them for $180HKD. (This was the most natural one too, the more glamorous you want them the more expensive they are.) Furthermore, eyelash extensions are way more expensive in HK than in China, like at least double the price.

I spent ages trying to find the actual salon in Causeway Bay because HK is just so packed and within one building theres like a 100 different offices and stores. I ended up arriving 20 minutes late even though I left like 40 minutes before my appointment.

I really like them, they are really natural and I think they were done better than the ones I got in Shanghai. This girl was a lot faster and more efficient. Furthermore, the glue did not seep into my eyes. I will see how long they last however.

On the way home I got lost and ended up (once again) at the Jill Stuart store. I simply adore Jill Stuart! Her cosmetics are just uber girly and make you fall in love. I could buy everything in that store. It's a slightly more sophisticated/expensive version of Anna Sui.

I bought the Jewel Crystal Eyes Palette in No 4 (Pink Cameo) ($330HKD). The colour pay-off is amazing! Furthermore, the colours are just so lovely. I wanted to buy a more etheral-pink palette but I know it just wouldn't suit my colouring as much. But I really envy all the girls who can pull it off. It's so fairy-like.

I also bought the loose powder in Natural 01 ($370HKD). I didn't want it to be sparkly. I just wanted a nice finishing powder. (And truthfully, I just adored the little case it came in.)

I also bought the Fruit Balm in 01 Tint ($120HKD). It's so adorable, I couldn't resist! Every girl simply must have one.

Oh and because I spent so much I qualified to get some Gift With Purchases so I also managed to get a "hydro-filler" and "softening lotion"- the bottles are so cute. I don't want to use any of it because it's just far too cute to touch!

I then rushed to uni to run my errands and to see the Travel nurse to get my malaria pills. (I somehow also managed to walk out with a Typhoid Injection- my arm is in so much pain still!).

Anyways, this is me for now, I need to go back to trying to finish my Medico-Legal Issue essay. Ew.

Going to Mongkok after class tomorrow to buy some last minute things for Vietnam. I am too excited.

xox

Jane

Update

So much has been going on and it has been so incredibly hectic with university work and of course the partying life of an exchange student that I really did not have any time to blog, let alone even take photos of how life has been going.

A few of the highlights

•  Friday 24th September: 
• I went to see the Hong Kong Ballet Company do a Contemporary Ballet Show called "New Moon"- it was very, very, very, very good! Loved it. Going with a whole bunch of girls was so right as well. The male dancers are just so sin-fully gorgeous. Also because it was contemporary it was much cooler, newer, more-"statement" than your average Ballet. I really enjoyed doing something more "cultural" too. Especially after we've spent nearly every night out on the town

Us outside the Cultural Centre (after the Ballet)
• After the Ballet, Andrea, Beth and I met up with Calum because we just weren't ready to call it a night and of course ended up back at LKF. We stumbled around looking for "Taves" (my dutch roommate Kelly went the week before and said it was crazy!). Eventually we managed to find it and went in. On Fridays, it is Ladies Night there so it meant there was an Open Bar til 4am (we could drink all house wine, basic spirits and beer for free)- for men they had to pay $300HKD (around $40AUD) to enjoy the same benefits. Needless to say, we got absolutely hammered. It was my loosest night ever. I don't even remember going to Club Pi and then home. All I know is, the next morning I was sicker than I've ever been in over a year. BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!

• Sunday, 26th September: Australian Film festival in Wan Chai

• Noby (exchange student from Adelaide, Australia), AJ (exchange Student from Sydney), Maddy and Jack (scottish) and Michelle (American) and I went to see the "Man from Snowy River". I literally spent the whole film laughing because nobody told me it was an old film so I was laughing hysterically at the crappy acting, bad camera effects/music, scripting etc. It was absolutely hilarious. I was so glad I went. Also, it would be something I'd always want to see when I was in Australia but would never get around to doing. I seriously love my life in Hong Kong

• Friday, 1st October: Hong Kong (China) National Day
• It was a public holiday and at night we went to Tsim Sha Tsui (kowloon island) to watch the fireworks display. Unfortunately, the group that I went with all arrived way too late to join the rest of the group who had secured a table for us at the uber-swanky Intercontinental Hong Kong. They got the best views of the fireworks ever (as can be seen below). But it was still good being out on the street- it was so packed! They shut down the subway and there was no way we could move from one area to the other. People started queuing since 3pm in the afternoon for a good spot (and we didn't arrive til 8pm). I loved how "into" it all the locals get; they all cheer really loudly and gasp and carry on like children. It really is adorable!

• Wednesday, 5 October: AJ's Birthday at the Happy Valley Races
• I got to go to the Happy Valley Races for the first time since racing season has been on and I loved it. It is so ex-pat central but! You seriously don't feel like you are in Hong Kong! 
• It's so exciting and it's far better than any races that I've ever been to.
• We were lucky to go while they were doing "Oktoberfest" so it was uber merry and festive. 
• We also got a free pint of beer on arrival just because we joined the Happy Valley Races group
• Calum and I even got our photographs taken for the Asia Lifestyle Magazine =D
• After the races, Calum and I went to Wan Chai since I'd never been. It seriously deserves it's reputation as the "seedy area"- that place is just brothel/stripper central. It is so different at night! During the day it looks like a normal place but at night all the strippers come out to play. However, it is still such a fun place to go (especially since Wednesday night is Ladies Night there so I drank for free everywhere). And because I just can't resist the allure of free sex on the beaches, cosmos, champagne etc I again got very merry. We also met up with Maddy and Michelle and had a great night. We went to Canegies (typically British pub where everyone ends up dancing on the top of the bar), The Doghouse (relaxed sports bar) and also The Canny Man (awesome scottish pub). So fun, so fun! Oh Wan Chai! 

Only in Hong Kong would you have the luscious grass juxtaposed with the amazing,sky-scraped sky-line.

Free Pints of Beer

Spot the Asian person? So not how you would imagine Hong Kong, right?

• Saturday, 9th October: UQ Alumni Cocktail Reception- Shangri-La Hotel
• This would have undoubtedly have been one of the funnest nights I've ever had. Easily the best night I've ever had that was uni-related. 
• UQ was doing it's centenary tour around Asia and London and holding cocktail receptions for the Alumni. The only reason why I decided to go to such an event (read: wanky due to pressure to network) was because it was held at the Shangri-La hotel. Seriously, there is no other way I would normally be able to afford to go there. The sheer opulence of it was amazing! Of course all the cars parked outside were of the most expensive variety!
• It was one of the best things to ever happen to me because I was able to get the Dean of University of Queensland's Law school to pretty much deal with a problem that has been plaguing me all exchange!! The administrator of the law faculty would not give me credits for all my subjects at UQ because she doesn't have any clue about her job and exchange! I could go on forever about how she was wrong but let's just leave it at that she was wrong. Fortunately for me, once i explained the situation to the Dean (Tim) he told me to send an email to him and he would sort it all out! It just shows how the world really works: it's not what you know, it's who you know! But anyways, that was reward enough for going to a uni-event.
• I met the Vice-Chancellor of UQ and all the various deputy vice-chancellors (including my Uncle who I had no idea would be there! Funny right!?).
• Beth, Marcel, Calum and I spent the whole night hob-nobbing, swigging the free alcohol, admiring the stunning view, eating the incredibly posh food and just having the best times of our lives.
• To really top of our night, at the end of the event as we were about to leave, we happened to see the Dean again and he told us he would get us a table at the Shangri-La and buy us ALL a round of drinks. Seriously, that stuff just never happens when you are stuck in Brisbane! I think Tim and are good ol' "mates" now! He is a real typical Aussie Larikin. I like him!
• After our drinks at the Shangri-La we decided to head to another posh place to end the night (since we were attired properly).
• BEST NIGHT EVER!
• I LOVE EXCHANGE

Our over-priced cocktails/drinks courtesy of the Dean.

Carving up the foyer of the Shangri-La 

With the coolest Dean of Law ever!

Oh and of course I've been shopping- I spent $2000HKD the other day on some clothes and various items in Mongkok. Seriously, going to dread going back to Australia where I won't be able to live like this.

VIETNAM + CAMBODIA THIS THURSDAY NIGHT I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST TIME IS FLYING!!!!!!

I dont want to go home.

But I do miss you all.

xx

Jane

Shopping in Mongkok No 2

Back to Mongkok for some more bargains since the girls wanted to go after they saw my last haul. We didn't really get to go for long as we didn't leave til 6.30 tonight and then we got hungry at like 9pm so it wasn't a crazy shopping trip.

That being said however I did manage to get a few items :).

I got these awesome wedge boots which are just sooooo right for winter. I am thinking of going back and getting them in grey too. They were $160HKD (so $25AUD).

My personal favourite were these two cuffs I got! So so Alexander Wang/CC Skye/Hermes/Burberry-esque! I got one black and silver studded one (it looks gold-ish in the photos) and one black and gold studded one. How cool is the zipper edge?

It looks so sick on as well! They were both only $20HKD EACH (so like $3AUD each!!!). It kind of makes me wonder why I even shop in Australia?

And I also got this Union Jack Bag- very limited edition Chanel! (Apparently, also really "topshop" too according to the British Girls.) But I'm sure Chanel would have done it first, only for "topshop" to rip it off a few months later. This was $100HKD ($14AUD). It also has the typical Chanel gold hardware+leather straps. Can't wait to rock this baby!

After shopping tonight, the girls and I all went to eat KFC in Hong Kong for the first time! It was pretty wicked! I love how it is more asian-ised. Instead of potato and gravy you can get rice with mushroom sauce. Also they have a lot more variety like cheesy fries! Mmmmm so yummy!

Then we also went back to one of the Student Flats for some pre-drinks (most people were going out) and some Beer Pong!

Love exchange!!


Anyways BIG NEWS! Today, after a whole day of um-ing and ah-ing and planning a group of us booked our tickets to go to Vietnam and Cambodia during reading week (mid-semester break). We will go from 14th of October to 26th of October (so yes, we may also skip some classes =p). I am so so so excited. There are six of us in total: Irfan (Malaysian but studying in London), Andreas (german), Marcin (English), Calum (Scottish), Emma (English) and Me! =D.  The return tickets only cost $2045HKD ($290AUD). How cheap is that? It reminds me how far away Australia really is from everything. Also Australia is so big. It would cost that to fly return from Brisbane to Melbourne (and that's all on the eastern coast of Australia). Sigh, so want to move to Asia or Europe!

But anyways we are going!!

Although I havn't even gone out tonight, it's still 3am and I'm still up. Gosh! Exchange is seriously sleep-depriving

xox

Jane

Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong

Yesterday was Mid-Autumn Festival. This is a big holiday in Chinese culture. It's all about the 团员 (tuan yuan- togetherness) of family. It's the festival where you all eat mooncakes, walk around with lanterns, 赏月 (shang yue- admire the moon) and think about your family overseas/away from you. 

The focus is on the moon because centuries ago, when lovers/family were far apart they could always come out and look at the moon and think about their loved ones who would also be looking at the very same moon and thinking about them. Furthermore the moon because of its roundness also denotes the continuity of family. It's really quite beautiful!

As I grow older I find that I really start to appreciate these things more and feel more in touch with my background/ethnicity.

Furthermore, this was the first Mid-Autumn festival where I have actually been away from my immediate family so it felt bittersweet to think about them. My dad is currently in China, I am in Hong Kong, my mum and brother are in Brisbane, Australia. Knowing that we would all be looking at the same moon even though we were oceans apart made that day feel even more special. 

Anyways, us girls at Patrick Manson also had our very own celebrations for Mid-Autumn Festival too =).

Beth and I got our very own lanterns to walk around with + mooncakes to share with the rest of the girls.

After the mooncake festivities we then went to Victoria Park (in Causeway Bay) to go to the L Lantern Carnivals) and also to see the Fire Dragon Dance.

It was so fun!

I had such a good night :)

Kelly (USA), Kat (Australia-Adelaide) and Me at the Lantern Carnivals. I'm wearing this adorable dress I got from Mongkok Markets for $70HKD ($10AUD).

The Custard and Black Sesame seed Hello Kitty Mooncakes.

Angel= Caramel + White Chocolate Chip, Devil= Chocolate (p.s. love how my camera can get the intricate details that my old one couldn't.)

Beth and I waiting for the bus to go to Victoria Park (look at our lanterns glow).

Beth and I roaming the streets of Causeway Bay.

Me with my Lantern

Photos seriously can't capture the whole atmosphere!

My wish on the "wishing well". So typically me, right? (I wish for an amazing year and a future full of Prada)

Kisses

Andrea, Tea and I

Such a fabulous night!!!!!

xox

Jane

Deepwater Bay Beach Day

The lovely Miss Sophia (Australian exchange student from Sydney) organised a beach day at Deepwater Bay last Sunday.

And of course, like all things related to exchange and Hong Kong, it was AMAZING!! I had so much fun!

Sunday is also the day where all the Filipino maids/help get off work so the beach was full of them. It was so festive as well. We had a BBQ at the beach that lasted all night. It was just such a nice chilled-out day- a great break from the crazy pace we have been going at in Hong Kong. The city literally never sleeps.

I go to bed at like 4am nearly every morning. (Who would have thought it?). Maybe because its uber easy to go out every night and no one has to worry about meeting up or transport we just do it at every opportunity.

Anyways, highlights of the beach day:
- Swimming to the buoys which you could stand on and then dive off (it was quite a hard swim for someone who hasn't properly swam in awhile!)
- trying to catch the fish in the bay
- listening to this Fillipino guy play his guitar and sing the songs we all know- i.e. Angel- Robbie Williams <3
- seeing the Fillipino maids all gather and laugh and play games
- diving off the buoy: watching Katy (Mexican exchange student) teach all the guys how to do backflips into the water. Watching them bellyflop.
-talking and laughing around the BBQs
- using my NEW digital camera
- swimming from 2pm-7pm (watching the sun set on the horizon as we swam)
- looking at the expensive yachts passing us by
- squealing in pleasure at the incredibly high-powered public showers at the end of the day after swimming in the dirty water. It felt so good! It was just one of those simple amusements that you have. (And it was so fun running around and using people's leftover shampoo- again- it was the simple pleasures)
-roasting marshmallows over the fire. Yum!
- and my PERSONAL FAVOURITE: making the lifeguards take me on their funny little paddle boats to shore because I was to lazy to swim back ^^. It was so fun. I really didnt think he would do it- but he let me and the lifeguards on the shore all helped me. I wish I had a photo :(

Here are some photos (some of the nicer ones are stolen from other people haha)

It was an overcast day. The beaches have nothing on Australia- but still- can't complain :)

Most of the group that managed to make it (despite hang overs from the previous night)

How pretty! This is a photo of what the life-guard sits on (he paddles it- so not great for emergency situations lol). And I got to ride on it! =D =D

The beach at night- imagine swimming with this all around you. Because that is what we did :)

The beach as the sun was going down. 

 

Eating the marshmallows 

Anyways i really need to run I need to get ready because in 30 minutes we are all heading to Victoria park to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival!

I even have my own lantern.

So excited

中秋节快乐 （Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!)

x Jane