omg this has to be the most random segment of my trip.

Okay, so now I'm back in HK, leeching free internet off a coffee shop in Times Square (okay, not leeching, it did say you need to buy a drink and I got one for 29hkd).

Before I get into the HK details...

More observations of China:

1. They like putting ramps next to flights of stairs.  Just so you can slip and die.  Okay okay, it's good for dragging wheeled stuff around, but it also doubles as an "express lane" when the stairs are full.
2. Everything is really tacky.  I can't explain it.  The tackiness is so thick you can almost cut it with a knife.  Mmm... so tasty... *licks tackiness off knife*

So my last 2 nights were spent partying it up with my good friend RC.  One night was spent drinking at a lounge, the other night was spent clubbing.  2 words for those nights: Oh snap.

My dad took me to Shenzhen for a day as per my request  My Lonely Planet guide book specifically says that you only go there if you're stuck between HK and China, and I'd have to agree.  The book also says that it's like a crappy version of China to people coming in from HK, and a crappy version of HK if you're coming in from China.  Couldn't have said it better myself.  Saw a beach, and a super TACKY *ding, word of the day* theme park called Window of the World.  They had all these miniature version of famous buildings such as the Eiffel Tower and the Easter Island statues.  They also had this show featuring dances (all danced by Chinese people of course, where are you going to find a white person in Shenzhen) from around the world.  I couldn't stop laughing at the Persian ones.  Ever see a whole bunch of Aladdins and Jasmines (like 30 of each type) dancing?  The USA one (Broadway imitiation) was also kind of TACKY *ding* but I guess it's not bad considering I bet nobody on that show has ever left China before.

Afterwards, at McDonald's, a bunch of those 24hour moon men in suits came dancing into the restaurant.  I have never seen so many FOB customers look terrorized.

Edward in Hong Kong~

My dad went with me to Hong Kong because we were meeting an old family friend for lunch.  Before that though, he took me to see his grandmother's (ie my great-grandmother's) grave, up on a mountain in Fanling.  We couldn't find the correct section so we had to walk up and down the road a few times.  Finally we found it, but omg I have never seen so many mosquitoes in my life.  Whenever I slapped one on my leg (squishing it), another 3-5 would land and bite my other leg!  While I took pictures, my dad was slapping both my legs.  Just took 2 pictures, 3 bows, and had to run out.  Afterwards I counted over 20+ nice big bumps on each leg, and about 10 on each arm.  All for 1 minute of remembrance.

As for lunch, my cousin was invited too, this was going to be interesting because I haven't seen her since 1992.  Hmm... same old, nothing special.  We didn't have that much to talk about at all, guess I didn't miss out much.  Afterwards I had my stinky tofu!  Yeh~

My dad also took me to see the movie walk in Tsim Cha Tsui.  Hm... I could only recognize a few names (Jackie Chan, Leung Chiu Wai, Andy Lau, and Stephen Chow).

At night my school friend took me to Lan Kwai Fong.  They were celebrating CANADA D'EH there.  Yes.  CANADA D'EH.  There were Canadian flags all over the street, just like in Hanoi, Vietnam!  There was even a UBC Alumni party there wtf.  So we partied it up and drank LKF beer (yeah, that exists too!?).  They were giving away free stuff.  Got a CANADA D'EH! cowboy hat, 2 Roots bracelets, a bunch of stickers, a fan, and a Roots whistle.  Yes, all for free, though you had to answer a trivia question for each item, which is stuff you learn in Elementary school in Canada.  The guy would give you a tough one though if he knew you were Canadian.  While Hongers would get "What is the capital of Canada?", locals would get "True or false, East Hastings is the dirtiest area on the face of the planet?"  Bahaha.

Then I met up with my friend VS.  I also met 15 of his lawyer friends.  They were friendly and stuff but all I wasn't in the mood to get hit on by a bunch of lawyer girls, all I could think about was how the hell I was going to get home (my mom's friends live in Sha Tin and they sleep at 0100!)  Drank a few shots (tequila and Jagermeister) and glasses of red wine, then had to head back.  Wow, HK drivers can drive fast if pushed.  Made it back in less than 15 minutes.

Today I went to Times Square to meet my other cousin + aunt, who I haven't seen since 1992.  Wow, this lunch was awkward.  You can totally tell we were all on different wavelengths, as there were these deadly silences throughout the entire meal.  Boy am I glad I don't need to stay with them.  Noticing a pattern here... guess one meal together every 10 years is enough.

The highlight of the day tonight was the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong SAR.  They had fireworks on display over HK Harbour!  Got to Tsim Sha Tsui early and got a good view of one side of the fireworks display (the centre section was reserved for VIPs) Blew off an entire roll of film.  Which brings me to the next point.  While people normally go ooh and ahh while watching fireworks, people in Hong Kong go wah, wah, WAH!  I was laughing so hard I could barely keep my camera level and still.

Today I went to Cafe De Coral (Dai Gar Lok) to get some curry corners (been waiting since that fateful day in 1996) and... they. TOOK. IT. OFF. THE. MENU!?  ARGH!  Now I cannot die complete... *sniff* 

2 days left...