Li & Fung Internship

While Marie and I were in Hong Kong we interned at Li Fung. Li Fung is a supply chain company that started out with fireworks. Li Fung is a 105-year-old company with an annual turnover of $18.5 billion and employees 37,000 associates in 40 plus countries. 

Cutting sample fabric

During our internship we created a costco order summary excel sheet, a supplies excel sheet, entered fabric details into an excel sheet, prepared samples and cut fabric. Although the work at times was tedious I ended up learning a lot. My favorite part was learning how to put formulas in excel sheets. 


Marie and I also went to the Ladie's Market and Night Market to see what stuff they sold and how those markets could potentially hurt the fashion industry and Li & Fung. The Ladie's Market sold a lot of clothes and shoes for a lot cheaper. They had name brands like Kate Spade, Tori Burch, Ralph Lauren, etc. Although a lot of the items at the markets were fake, both markets were packed with people purchasing everything. 


I believe if more and more people start shopping at markets it could potentially hurt Li & Fung and major clothing industries. Although, because Li & Fung is one of the largest supply chain companies in the world it would take more than half of the population shipping at markets before it could hurt their business. 


During our time at our internship I was also able to practice my Chinese. Before I started speaking Chinese they employees would always tell me that I would be better than them. I found this interesting since I thought because they could speak Cantonese of course Mandarin would come easy for them! I still think they were just trying to make me feel more comfortable talking to them. Also a lot of them spoke back to me in English. 

ROCKSTAR

Me with the Cheg

Our last Saturday night (after seeing the Tian Tan Buddha) we went to our favorite restaurant... VA BENE! I have finally decided that Va Bene is the NEW Angelos.

When the waiter came over to take our order he immediately told me they were out of my favorite dish... baby clams over angel hair and olive oil. Then the chef came over and told me he wanted to make me happy and would cook me whatever I wanted. I told him my favorite dish was penne vodka but he could surprise me.

My SPECIAL dish!

He made me penne vodka with prawns. It was honestly my favorite dish, probably the best dish I have ever had! I even finished the entire dish, something I never do with a pasta dish.

The rest of the night was a great night! We listened to live music and watched Chinese street dancing.

I really am going to miss Hong Kong and I never thought I would say that I don't want to go "home" to Wofford!

Marie and I with the Chef

Oh and tonight I finally spoke Chinese with the taxi driver with my parents in the car. I always get so embarrassed with them listening. They were so impressed with me and were finally satisfied with the education they are paying for. Not that they weren't before but now that they saw me speak chinese for 30 minutes straight they are TOTALLY satisfied!

Tian Tan Buddha

Wofford Girls at the Tian Tan Buddha

Today we went to Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha. The Big Buddha was completed in 1993 and is located on Ngong Ping Lantau Island in Hong Kong. It is one of five large buddha statues in China.  The Tian Tan's Buddha had his right hand raised, representing the removal of affliction. His left hand rests on his lap in a gesture of giving dhana. Also the Buddha faces north, which is unique among the five big Buddha statues because all the others face south. 

There is also a monastery located at the Big Buddha sight. Lunch is served, however it is vegetarian as Buddhists do not eat any meat. 

We were originally going to go to the Tian Tan Buddha the Wednesday of the Chinese New Year holiday but because we thought it would be extra crowded we decided to go Saturday. THANK GOODNESS WE MADE THAT DECISION! On Wednesday the 5.8K long cable car up to the Big Buddha broke! Tourists were stuck in the cable cards for 90 minutes. I honestly think I would have had a panic attack. And my mom definitely would have, as she is afraid of heights!

Garden at the base of the Tian Tan Buddha

So today we decided to go to the Big Buddha and take the 45 minute bus up to the statue (the cable car was still closed for repair). We then walked up 240 steps to see the BIG Buddha up close. It was a remarkable experience.

Chinese New Year- 春节

春节快乐！Happy New Year! This year is the year of the DRAGON!

At the red envelope tree in our apartment complex

For the past week Marie and I have watched them set up for Chinese New Year along the promenade. Unfortunately we found out you could purchase tickets to watch the parade in the spectator stands too late :(. They went on sale on the 17th and were sold out on the 17th!

Chinese New Year in Hong Kong is a HUGE event. The first night (Monday) was the parade and the second night (Tuesday) was the firework show.

Marie and I ventured out around 5:30 Monday night to find the perfect spot for the parade. I guess we missed the memo if you don't have a ticket you should find your perfect spot at noon! Downtown Kowloon and the promenade were PACKED! We could hardly walk. We only stayed for a little bit of the parade and then headed home so we could escape the crowd. We figured if we had waited till the end we would have never made it home!

The second night we decided to hide from the crowds and watch the fireworks from my parents best friend Doug's apartment. Doug lives on the 17th floor of our apartment complex and has the perfect view for firework watching! The firework show started at 7:30. Around 6:30 the harbour became packed with boats to watch the show. The show lasted 23 minutes long and cost over a million dollars! Although the parade wasn't a great success, the firework show was awesome!

Victoria Peak 太平山

View from the Peak

Today Marie and I ventured to Victoria Peak! We have been waiting for the perfect day. For the past four days it has been raining!! Don't the Hong Kong Gods know its not supposed to rain on our Interim trip?

Good news... after four days of rain it was the clearest day I have ever seen in Hong Kong (ever being since December 16th). In other words... it was the PERFECT day to go to Victoria Peak!

Gorgeous ride back on the Star Ferry

Victoria Peak is the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island. It has an altitude of 552 meters (1,811 feet). As early as the 19th century the peak attracted European residents because of its panoramic view and great weather. These original residents reached their homes by sedan chairs,
 which were carried up and down the steep slope of Victoria Peak. In 1888 the Peak Tram opened. This is a train that now brings millions of tourist up to the famous Victoria Peak.

The Peak at Victoria Peak is famous for its spectacular views of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. We can actually see our apartment complex from the top!

After enjoying the marvelous views on this spectacular clear day we had lunch at Bubba Gump! Bubba Gump is a restaurant at the peak that overlooks Hong Kong Island and the harbour.

Aberdeen- The Floating Village

Sampan Boat Ride

Aberdeen is a village on the south shore of Hong Kong Island. Population is around 60,000. It is famous for its "floating village" or "fishing village" and floating seafood restaurant known as the "jumbo".

Today we went to Aberdeen with my parents. Since we got a late start my dad decided we should take a taxi. A taxi to the other side is NOT cheap. Especially when you know how cheap the Star Ferry and busses are.

Floating Village Life

When we got there we immediately took a sampan boat tour for 30 minutes around the floating village. We saw hundreds of house boats. My mom told me 20 years ago when her and my father came to Hong Kong, people who lived on their boats never went on dry land. They lived on the water 24/7. I can't imagine living on a boat my entire life and never stepping foot on dry land. CRAZY! It is cool that they have a boat "grocery store" and that they can make a living out on the water.

Drunken Prawns

After our tour we got dropped off at the Jumbo seafood restaurant. There we ordered suckling pig, drunken prawns, fish, shrimp fried rice, and crab and broccoli. The food was delicious, even the suckling pig! Prawns are still my favorite food in China.

Although a rainy day it was definitely a great day!

The Hair Raiser

View from the Cable Car

Today Marie and I went to Ocean Park. It is a theme park on Hong Kong Island. To get there we walked to the Star Ferry, took the Star Ferry over to Hong Kong Island and then took the express bus 260 to Ocean Park. Getting around Hong Kong with out a car is actually not very hard! I have grown to love public transportation.

The ticket for Ocean Park was only $35! A ticket to get into Six Flags in the states is around $60!

The Hair Raiser 

Ocean Park is a unique theme park. The side with the entrance is where the Pandas and Aquarium are located. To get to the other side you can either take the cable car or train. The cable car looks over Repulse Bay and has magnificent views. The train goes through the mountain! Marie and I decided to take the cable car over and the train back.

Abyss

When we got to the other side we did three different roller coasters: The Hair Raiser, Abyss and the dragon. The Abyss wasn't exactly a roller coaster... it went up extremely high into the sky overlooking Repulse Bay. Of course I didn't see much of the scenery with my eyes clothes!

Sleepy Panda

After we got our fill of roller coasters we took the train back to the entrance/exit side to see the pandas and aquarium. The "line" for the train wasn't very long but when the train doors opened everyone was pushing each other to get on. This isn't uncommon (pushing people in line to get to the front).

Jelly Fish

There were only 4 pandas at the panda exhibit. Three were sleeping and one was eating. And by eating I mean stuffing his face! We must have gone during nap time, but they sure were cute!