Day 1 – Kiwi’s Airborne, En Route to Hong Kong

By Jessica Kadarmia

I’m ditching the winter blues for one blissful week and trading in beanies, heavy jackets, raincoats and scarves in favour of sunglasses, shorts, tee shirts and summer hats.  The itinerary for the tour is jam-packed with so many interesting sights to see and things to be explored.  I am most looking forward to visiting the Po Lin Monastery and seeing the iconic Giant Buddha, the catamaran ride to Macau and shopping until I drop at the many bustling markets across Hong Kong.  I cannot wait to meet the people and experience the rich culture, history and food that Hong Kong has to offer.  I feel so privileged that the people of Hong Kong would be so gracious in sharing their little part of the world with me for the next week.

Time has really whizzed by. It is hard to believe that this journey began only two short months ago when I found out that I was selected to go on this exciting tour to Hong Kong.  Fast forward and now it is the night before departure and it seems like I have a million and one things that still need doing! A last-minute load (or two) of laundry, a trip to the laundromat to dry said laundry, a supermarket venture and a quick catch up with friends and family.  Packing seems like such a chore and I am left wondering about the existence of those magic little elves I remember reading about as a child and wondering where they are when you need them! Unfortunately, wishful thinking will not get my bags packed so I had better get back to it!

Our group shot in Auckland, me in the middle above the sign – wearing a scarf no less!

I invite you to come along with us on the 2018 AUT Hong Kong Study Tour and “Embrace the World” as we embark on the trip of a lifetime.  Watch this space to be kept up to date as we make unforgettable memories and document our travels and experiences of Hong Kong along the way. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, haere ra, zàijiàn and goodbye, we’ll be back before you know it!

#hkaAUTembracetheworld
          

 

The journey begins before you leave

Thanks for joining us! We are 18 [excited] AUT Tourism, Hospitality, Event Management and Culinary Arts students who are about to embark on a week-long journey of Hong Kong.

We will be updating this blog daily with our travels, highlights and experiences.

I never travel without my diary one should always have something sensational to read. — Oscar Wilde

The exchange programme; “Embrace the World” was made possible with support from Hong Kong Airlines and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and gives AUT Tourism, Hospitality, Event Management and Culinary Arts students the chance to immerse in a new cultural experience, enriching their understanding of the tourism and hospitality industry.

We’ve been very busy planning an exciting itinerary for the week – and it’s busting at the seams! Which I’m sure some of us might be after indulging in some of Hong Kong’s local cuisine. Stay tuned for what delicacies we will be sampling – a trip to the night markets (planned for day two) is sure to reveal some weird and wonderful options. We’ve heard about the famous Birds Nest Soup – not sure if anyone is game enough to try it! Watch this space!

An interesting fact about Hong Kong is that it is the world’s most vertical city, with two hundred and ninety-three buildings higher than five hundred feet — sixty more than second-place New York City. A highlight for us all will definitely be the opportunity to see this impressive city’s skyline at night and watch the “A Symphony of Lights” show while on board a harbour cruise – set to take place on day six. Note – we might not be vertical as Hong Kong after the seven full-on days of travelling!

Well, it’s hard to mention all the highlights in one blog post, so those are just a couple of tasters as to what to expect from this blog. We look forward to you joining us on our journey!

#hkaAUTembracetheworld