Sorry for the lack of updates. For starters, I was in Hong Kong 2 weeks ago and had a most hospitable host who organised everything for me while I was there. Thank you Karen! It was a nice time of catching up with friends who I have not met in ages. Funny though that although I haven't seen some of them in 5 years, it does not seem that long. What with social networking sites like Facebook and our much-loved MSN, the time gap that used to exist is slowly narrowing. Karen and Sherman treated me to a lovely dinner at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Central called, Lung King Heen. It is the only Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong to be awarded 3 Michelin Stars and so obviously eating there was a big deal for me. We had a most delectable dinner consisting of braised wagyu beef in a yummy broth, stir-fry vegetables and frogs legs. Doesn't sound like much but you have to taste it to know what I mean. The meal and certainly the company made it perfect. I also had time to catch up with some ex-college mates and former university friends. The weather in Hong Kong was also very nice, averaging 25 degrees with the right level of humidity. Ironically once I landed in Beijing after my trip, it began to snow and I had to drag my luggage in the snow-covered ground all the way to my dormitory. The stark contrast! While in Hong Kong, I went to all the tourist spots e.g. Victoria Peak, Aberdeen, Causeway Bay, Sai Kung, Stanley Market, Repulse Bay etc. Hong Kong sort of reminds me of Penang Island. Both ex-British colonies, both topographically similar and with near identical architectural details. What do you think?

I sat for my Mandarin examinations, 期中考试, this week and I feel they went pretty well. Funny though that I still place so much emphasis on studying, especially when I do not need the results or credits to enter university or anything along those lines. I guess the nerd in me still shines bright! However, I certainly did not study as hard as I usually would for a major exam because I knew that there was no point stressing myself. Also, studying Mandarin should be fun and to subject myself to hours upon hours of studying would be torture. My Mandarin is slowly improving and just in a space of about 2 months. I cannot wait to see where I will be by next June.