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No Guidebook for This: Diaries of a Black (African) Female Solo Traveler
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Decolonizing Solo Travel: Why Representation Matters When I would research different destinations to travel, almost all the blogs and travel guides I read were from a very similar perspective. These articles were written by mostly white, mostly Western points of view. Their advice, whilst useful, was only relatable to a point. When thinking about safety, I had the added task of researching the levels of racism in a place, something most people have never even thought of doing. As someone with an African passport, I had to apply for visas for countries most of my friends could just walk into. This…
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No Plans, Just Presence: Let Go of the Itinerary
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong ‘What’s on your bucket list for Hong Kong?’ Nothing. ‘Any must-see spots?’ No. I’ve finished my year abroad and I still don’t have a list (Please don’t click off the article yet, I’m not crazy). When I landed in Hong Kong, I had no idea what I was walking into, and that might’ve been the best thing I did for myself and for the places I visited.
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An Indoor Climate Crisis: Lessons in Cross-Cultural Understanding
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong I won the roommate lottery. From the day we met, my roommate remains one of the kindest and most brilliant people I’ve known. I remember the moment I met her and how grateful I felt to have her company and share a space with her. Here I was, halfway across the world about to share a room with a stranger for the next 9 months.
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To Hong Kong, With All My Heart: For the Friends
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong ‘You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place’ (Miriam Adeney)
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Best Food Spots Near PolyU Halls
By Anna Belsham, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong One of the biggest adjustments when moving to Hong Kong was having to eat out for most meals. In Hong Kong the groceries are super expensive and at PolyU halls there are limited kitchen facilities, so it works out cheaper to eat out for most meals. There are 1000s of restaurants in Hong Kong and it can be overwhelming, after living in halls for a year I found some great nearby places to eat that are not too expensive. Here are a list of my favorites:
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Surviving HKU: Classroom Culture Shock
By Zahra Sachikonye, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong ‘Ranked number 1 in Hong Kong by Times Higher Education ranking (2025), the University of Hong Kong is well-known for its high academic standards.’ This sentence may be received in two ways.
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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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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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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…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
