Well, I'm back from China!
I was at an international forum for student leaders. It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life! It was five days in Hong Kong and five days in Beijing, all expenses paid. It was a free vacation disguised as a conference!
Hong Kong is one of the best shopping cities in the world. Besides the fact that there are no taxes and prices are a lot cheaper for electronics and fashion, it's also incredibly fun! The busiest centre in HK is a district called Mong Kok (which I kept pronouncing Man Kok, heheheh), where there are shops on top of shops on top of shops, and more people than I've ever seen! The entire city is the epitome of East Meets West, being very cosmopolitan, and with a super-fantastic nightlife. We partied in a district called Lang Foo Tzang, which is full of Western-style pubs and clubs. All the ex-patriates in the city hang out there. All this in hot and humid weather - it was like a second summer! :)
Beijing was also a blast, but for completely different reasons. It was a much bigger culture shock there ("what? I have to SQUAT?"), but no less thrilling. The opening ceremonies for the forum was in the Great Hall of the People, which is like the White House of China; the public usually isn't allowed to go inside, so that was a very special experience. We also got to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Wall, which was absolutely riveting and awe-inspiring. A visit to the Forbidden City was incredible; if the Great Wall is China's greatest architectural achievement, then the Forbidden City has got to be its second. It's hugely expansive and gasp-inducing.
To top it off, we were special guests at China's National Day celebrations in Tienanmen Square (which was rather haunting), and the celebrations turned out to be a huge party in the middle of the city, with singing and dancing and cultural performances involving thousands of people. Wow!
Now it's a bit surreal to be back in a classroom, catching up on two weeks' of missed work!
I missed my Bare family! I was listening to BARE on the plane, actually. So what has happened since I was gone? I haven't really been keeping up with the news - other than that gorgeous black & white picture of Michael Arden I've seen here and there. The thread has grown so unbelievably long since I left, it's impossible to go back and read it. I've heard rumours that BARE is postponed again; is it true?
BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner
HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."
Updated On: 10/9/04 at 09:51 PM
Yes, so you can write that check for an infinite amount of money to Brunettebabe or you can start being my slave...now. 
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