First stop: Lamma Island

​We also had breakfast at the hotel in the morning. After breakfast, we were in for a day of hiking at Lamma Island. Due to miscommunication, I didn’t wear a swimsuit inside my hiking clothes, so I didn’t go for a swim. I didn’t really care since we would be heading to the hot springs in two days. We stopped for a swim first while others sat under the trees. After days of group activity, I felt congested and needed some alone time so I walked up to a restaurant and asked the girl if she knew a place I can borrow a bike. I found out there was but I would have to return the bike to the same place so I didn’t rent a bike after all. A few of us began hiking to the other side for our seafood lunch. The hike, unlike the hikes in Shenzhen, was nice with a slight breeze and an amazing view of the sea. The seafood dinner was also a plus!

Next stop: Panel discussion & Dinner/Ladies' Market

After the hike, we were brought back to the hotel to change into business attire for a panel discussion with a representative from HSBC and Tencent. I thought the discussion was interesting but I’ve heard better talks before; it was still nice to see people can still lead a nonstressful life although they work at top-notch companies. I decided to head back to the hotel to change my shoes as other students decided to leave from the company straight to the city. I met up with friends for dinner at a dimsum restaurant called Tim Ho Wan at the North Front. Even though the place was small, the food was delicious especially the steamed pork buns; I don’t know where in New York I can find something like those!

We decided to go back to the Ladies’ Market to buy things that we didn’t get yesterday. This time, I bought three decks of erotic cards, a portable phone case charger, and a few blouses for 20 HKD each (less than $3 USD). Afterwards, I told my friends that I wanted some alone time to myself so I would part with them in the metro.

I felt guilty but I really needed the time alone to reinvigorate my mood. I looked up places of good dessert spots and checking which stop was closest to Mongkok, I chose that.

Next stop: Heart's Dessert

I’m familiar with the name Sham Shui Po since I hear it often in Hong Kong dramas. But this would be the first time being there physically. After getting off the subway, I managed to find Heart’s Dessert after getting lost a few times even with Google Maps. I sat down and I felt eyes staring at me probably thinking it was weird for a girl to eat dessert by herself, perhaps she just broke up with her boyfriend. But I didn’t care --- I ordered a coconut custard dessert and enjoyed it and the time I had alone.

Last stop: Hong Kong Ding Ding

​After dessert to get back, I decided to take the tramway (or ding-ding) back. As I walked to the stop, I realized I was walking past the electronic street market my friends told me about that was in Sham Shui Po. Once I found the stop, I hopped on and tracked my stop on my phone. It was not crowded at all and it was peaceful with the “ding-ding” sound and the nice breeze. I realized I missed the stop but it was a short walk back to the hotel and I felt safe at night on the streets.

There is nothing more than a night of doing what I haven’t done before that made my experience in Hong Kong worth it.