Macau

Hi, Mom! Today I decided to grab my passport and head out to Macau! Like Hong Kong, Macau is another territory separate but a part of China. You need to go through immigration to get there. I'm always a fan of more stamps in my passport, so I thought that was pretty cool!

I hopped on the ferry for an hour long ride, and then I finally arrived. Macau is known as the Vegas of Asia. With that being said, I took a shuttle from the ferry station straight to the Venecian Hotel...which is identical to the one in Las Vegas! Aunt Muffy and I got dinner at the Venecian in Vegas, and I wanted to compare them...they really were the same! It was pretty cool.

After killing time at the Venecian, I hopped on the bus to go see PANDAS! I was so excited...unfortunately, I got on the right bus, but the wrong direction...so I ended up wasting two hours of my day riding the bus the wrong way. I finally made it to see the pandas about 40 minutes before it was closing. I hurried in, and squealed with delight when I saw them! Oh my gosh, Mom! They were so cute! I fell in love. So, after the pandas...I kept following the trail...which I didn't realize most people were walking back where we came from instead of following the trail. I walked along the trail, and suddenly I found myself climbing stairs and walking pathways in the middle of the wilderness. I started freaking out 1. because the park was closing soon, 2. I really had to pee, 3. I thought I was going to fall down the steep stairs made from rocks, and 4. if it had been a movie, a kidnapper definitely would have been in there waiting for me. I kept walking, none of the signs were in English, so I had no idea where I was going. I kept chanting to myself over and over again, "I will not pee. I will not fall. I will not get kidnapped." Finally, I managed to come across the exit...and fortunately, I did not pee, I did not fall, and I did not get kidnapped. I walked back to the bus, and took it back to where all the casinos were.

I decided I would get some real, authentic, local Macanese food, so I went to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. All of the staff there were Filipino, and they were so excited about how I am going there in two days! I had the best waitress ever. Her name was Frency, and she was so adorable. She came over and sat with me for about 20 minutes, and we talked all about the Philippines. She told me that the area I'm going to has lots of beaches, which made me so excited. I need to be by the water right now. It's so calming, so comforting, and so freeing. I got a picture with Frency, and then we said our goodbyes. I headed back to the Venecian to catch a shuttle to the ferry terminal. I met a very nice lady from Portugal, named Ines, on the ferry. We talked the entire time, and the hour went by so quickly. I have been so fortunate to meet the nicest people along my journey. It makes everything so much more worthwhile.

I finally made it back to my hotel around 9:30. I am going to turn on a movie and knock out for the night. I'll post pictures tomorrow morning. I'm too tired to upload them now.

I miss you so much, Mom. Oh! Guess what...one year ago today I left for the Bahamas to start my journey with Semester at Sea. Can you believe it's already been a year? I have been so profoundly changed over the past year, and this journey of life, of exploration, of love, of loss, has been so unbelievably beautiful, and at times incredibly bittersweet. I am so fortunate for you to have been there through most of this past year with me to see the ball in motion. I will do my best to make you proud, Mama, and to never give up on my hopes and dreams. Thank you for giving me the wings to make me fly. I love you.

Hong Kong: Lantau Island

I have arrived in Hong Kong. My plan from the beginning was to stay with Victoria, but since she is away on a business trip, I had to find a new place to stay. I had no idea where I was going to go until I was already at the Shanghai airport making my connection from Beijing to Hong Kong. I managed to find a pretty cheap hotel for Hong Kong prices. I didn't want to stay in a hostel here because I wanted my own space with air conditioning and TV since I'll be living in the Philippines the rest of summer.

I am staying at a cute hotel called Mingle by the Park right in Hong Kong island. I booked a "lite" room, and wasn't sure what that entailed exactly. I arrived...and this room certainly is "lite." Fortunately, I find it absolutely adorable and perfect. I know most people would not agree. My hotel room is probably less than half the size of my dorm room at school. There is a little nook for my bed, a bathroom, and that is about it. You can find a picture of my room here. That is literally my entire room. There is a small little corner that you can't see in the picture with a cabinet, phone, and mini fridge, but otherwise that is it. I kind of love how tiny it is. It's my own little space.

The hotel is very conveniently located. The subway is a 5 min walk away, and there are lots of shops around. I found a perfect little bakery right down the street, and I have been going there every day to get bread for breakfast and dinner. It is unbelievably cheap and they have the best breads I've ever had.

I spent my first day in Hong Kong laying in bed in my hotel room watching TV and playing on the computer. I needed it. I had been out walking for hours in the sun every single day for weeks, and I finally hit my wall where I just needed to crash. It was great, and got me nice and rested for today!

I woke up this morning, and headed out to Lantau Island (not without stopping at the bread bakery on the way of course!). Upon arriving at the island I took a cable car up to the top of these mountains. It was so beautiful. I walked around the village, and made it to the main attraction: the world's largest Buddha! It was pretty incredible. I climbed all the way to the top. I seem to be visiting a lot of attractions that require climbing! I asked a stranger to take my picture in front of the Buddha (ironically...he just took a picture of me...the Buddha wasn't in the picture). Afterward he walked back to his friend, and I heard him go, "She is so beautiful. Look at her smile." It made me feel so incredibly good about myself. I sometimes struggle with my self image, and it is really affirming to hear a complete stranger say such nice things about me. It put me in a great mood for the rest of the day.

There was an incredibly beautiful Buddhist temple on the island, and I sat outside it on a bench for about twenty minutes just enjoying the peacefulness. It was really serene.

I found an Indian restaurant for lunch, which was no Ambar, but it was good, nonetheless. I got back on the cable car and headed back to my hotel. I was thinking about you a lot today, so on my way home I stopped at the 7 Eleven and picked up a Smirnoff Ice, the drink you and I always enjoyed together. I got in my bed, put Erin Brockovich on, and drank my Smirnoff Ice as a toast to you. It's interesting...they are made with vodka here instead of malt liquor like the ones in the US. Funny how things are different around the world.

It's almost midnight and I'm getting sleepy. I love you so much, Mama. Wish you were here to snuggle with me.

Pictures from Beijing, China