Day 2: Settling into HK

Arrived in HK, the ride was bumpy, and the weather was a scorcher. 

My flight QF029 arrived at 6:30pm, but by the time I figured out the whole immigration-passport-stamp-thingajig, bus service and octopus card, it was already 9:00pm.

(Octopus card is like the Aussie version of a Myki, except you don't touch off and you can use it as a credit card, as money is stored in the card the same way. Below is an example picture of what it looks like.)

Finding a bus ride to the hotel was a drainer, I was not expecting sooo many people. (Actually HK is a very busy place, overcrowded, and very noisy, so i should've expected it) Once we had reached our hotel, it was finally time to unwind and freshen up. 

Afterwards we (my father and his friend) took us to eat was supposedly "Cheap good food" for dinner, but let me tell you, it was nothing good about it. Basically it was just rice with duck fat-skin... i pretty much felt sick and though i could not survive another day. In addition, as we were paying for the food, we had to pay for additional tip fare for their "great service".. yea this was added automatically, this cheap food was not so cheap after all.

Luckily this was made up the following morning where I was taken to "Mu Dan Ting" Chinese restaurant. I was pretty happy with the food and was full afterwards. Mu Dan Ting is like a banquet or yumcha, but not the type of yumcha where the workers push around trolleys of steamed dimsum and hacao, each table was given a paper with a bunch of chinese writing on it, beside them were boxes in which we were to fill in how many orders to get, basically tick what you want or don't want to eat. I really liked the place and their services was really good, although it was a tad pricier, it was worth it!

(For lunch I was taken to another restaurant, just about a 10 minute walk from my dorm and the food... OMG it was bloody amazing and affordable, I ordered sizzling hokien stir-fry noodles w/ seafood = HKD57/AUS8.7, about what you would get in Melbourne)

 Then it was time to visit my dorm, I took the metro and bus to save myself from taxi fares (as they tend to rip you off as a tourist, plus it was quicker.) 

As I arrived at my destination, the dorm officers gave me my keys and I went to check out the place, to be honest it was not how i pictured it, it was far worst.

Its quite small, the AC is loud, and the kitchen is nothing like a kitchen, even tho theres a gas stove and sink, I rather make instant noodles or get take out every day, I don't know what to say about it, but I feel very out of my comfort zone, and don't get me started with the bathroom...

At the end of the day at least I have a place to stay. It may not be some kind of 5-star hotel, but it has a bed (which I have already shopped for covers and made it partly vibrant against my dull plain dorm) and basically the essentials that will allow me to get by my day.

There are so many things i wish to type here, but it will have to be another day. Its getting late and this humid-heat is making me sleepy. 

Good Night!

Things don't always go to plan...

Everyday, most people would go through the same routine: wake up, survive, go back to sleep.. repeat :)

However this constant action or behaviour we adapt is often interrupted by things such as going to school and receiving ridiculous amounts of homework which you will never use in the future, work, social gatherings or events, and accidents just to name a few. There is no doubt that we have all encountered at one point or another, its that things rarely actually go as planned. Unless you are a perfectionist and will go bonkers when things don't go your way... then again most people do complain when things don't go their way ;p

For instance, as a self taught artist I often look around my surroundings for inspiration to come up with my final piece, however lately i've been interested in portraits. Now finding a model to sketch is quite difficult, considering I take forever to finish a piece, I don't think that a model would be happy to be just sitting there posing for hours, thus why I am thankful for the internet to have provided me with a great number of sources. Such as this image of Fergie i found on google:

However, as much as i would like to draw exactly like the picture...

... In the end I'll always manage to find a way to change it...

For better or worst... 

I've come to learn that appreciating my achievements (so far) and pushing forward through the obstacles, does get you somewhere... even though you may not have planed it turn out that way. 

That being said it is important to overcome any frustrations, and just simply embrace it. Taking yourself too seriously is one of the biggest causes of burnout... the moment you will resent your work, yourself, and sometimes even life.

So while most of us put a lot of effort into each and every thing we put out in our day, we must remember that no one is perfect, that we all have our flaws and getting life right isn’t always easy... 

... and sometimes it’s just easier to be able to take a step back and to laugh at yourself!

REMEMBER: Negativity is contagious and will only serve to bring you down further. 

(This blog has been uploaded on iPhone)