Hong Kong
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14 Days in Vietnam
By Anna Belsham, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong After finishing up my studies in Hong Kong I took the opportunity to make the most of being in Southeast Asia and met up with two of my friends from home to spend two of the most magical weeks in Vietnam. It was one of the most amazing places I have travelled to, bursting with culture, breathtaking scenery and the most kind people I have ever come across. Hoi An: 3 Nights Accommodation: Fuse Hostel Old Town. Would highly recommend staying here, was super social with so many hostel activities and lovely staff that will help you to book things. In…
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An Impromptu Solo Day Trip to Macao
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 3 hours before we were meant to depart for Macao my friend called to let me know she was ill and would not make it. The ferry was booked, the tickets were non-refundable, and I had bought a Macao data pack and cleared my schedule. I felt sad for my friend who had invited me on this trip but could not go. We both agreed that I should go anyway and make the most of the day.
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Adjusting to Life in the UK
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong The inevitable end has arrived after a tumultuous and unforgettable year abroad. It is a shock to transition from an exciting and chaotic lifestyle to a stagnant one. Where my days were once filled with questions of where to explore next, they now consist of job hunting and pulling out winter jackets despite it being June. It’s not all bad though. I had seeing family and friends to look forward to and my first night sleeping on a mattress. A full fridge, tap water and space to walk on sidewalks (Hong Kong was like playing Mario Kart every time you needed…
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Exam Season at PolyU, Hong Kong
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong Exam season is always a stressful time, especially if it’s in a different country with different teaching styles and grading systems. Whilst the majority of other exchange students only faced a pass or fail outcome, my results contributed 20% to my degree and were to be later translated to the UK grading system equivalent. This only added more stress to the ambiguity of a different country’s exam style. But, like many of the host universities, PolyU was supportive and attentive to my worries. Workload Throughout the term time, lectures covered the content that will eventually be tested in the…
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The Best Easy Hikes in Hong Kong
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong My 3 must-do hike recommendations for those who want amazing views of Hong Kong without the need for experience. Dragons Back There are many different routes and finishing points for this one, we actually got a bit lost and had to do the last leg by minibus to reach our destination of Shek O Beach. It took around 4 hours but was not challenging to do (other than the heat!). https://www.hongkonghike.com/how-to-hike-dragons-back-hong-kong-most-famous-easy-hike Sheung Luk Waterfall From one of the best beaches in Hong Kong, Tai Long Wan in Sai Wan, this short hike leads you to a glistening waterfall. Simply…
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Review of PolyU Student Halls of Residence (Hung Hom)
By Anna Belsham, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong When deciding to do an exchange year one of my main concerns was going back to living in student halls, especially as most of the exchange options were shared rooms, which is unheard of in the UK. But I have ended up having a very positive experience and I would not let this put you off doing a study abroad, I think it is a great experience and very character building. Price: Hong Kong is known to be very expensive to live in, with extremely high renting prices. However, the price of PolyU halls is extremely cheap (in comparison to anywhere…
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14 Days in Japan
By Madeleine Dodd, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, Hong Kong With endless things to do and areas to explore, planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming. I’m going to share a day-by-day itinerary of what I did…and ate.
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Healthcare in HK
By Ellen Smith, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong One thing you don’t want to think about is should the worse happen what happens with hospitals? Luckily for you I’ve had to deal with both doctors appointments and hospital stays since being here so here’s how it works.
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Nearby Islands – Lamma and Lantau
By Ellen Smith, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong HK has a variety of islands close to it, with the main and most popular ones being Lamma Island and Lantau Island.
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Travelling from Hong Kong: Part 2
By Ellen Smith, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Student residence in Hong Kong
By Ellen Smith, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong One of the biggest struggles in studying abroad is ensuring you have accommodation and knowing where to live. At HKU, student accommodation is not guaranteed for exchange students however it is VERY likely so don’t stress about not having anywhere to live. Offers for accommodation tend to be released very late, I only heard around two weeks before I moved the details of my offer, so remember to be patient: no news is good news! There at many different residences at HKU that can be split into two categories: halls of residence and residential colleges. When applying for accommodation, you can…
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Travelling from Hong Kong
By Ellen Smith, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
