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