你好中国: Back to School / Cheung Chau Island

Well, it's official, school has started! All of my teachers seem really nice, and I'm looking forward to getting to know more people in my classes. All five of my courses consist of a group project, a midterm, and a final exam (worth 50% of my grade) Yikes! I'm sure I will be very stressed during finals week! haha Today, Saturday, I ventured to Cheung Chau Island. Cheung Chau Island was once a refuge for pirates, but it is now a fishing island where the rural Cantonese life can be seen. To get to the island I had to take a 1 hour ferry ride (the views were beautiful). Well on the island I went to the Pak Tai Temple which was built in 1783. The temple is dedicated to Pak Tai, Taoist god of the sea and "Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heaven." I posted pictures of the outside parts of the temple, but I wasn't allowed to take any of the inside (it was really cool though, very intricate details on the alters). I walked around the island for a few hours looking at shops, etc. The only modes of transportation on the island are bicycling or walking, so I chose to walk around and take in the rural atmosphere. I ate my favorite meal (so far) when on the island and had a gorgeous view of the bay while I ate. I've posted some pictures below from the island and ferry ride! Please excuse the food photos, but my Mom has taken an interest in the food I've been trying, so I have to keep posting those! Also, sorry about all the scenery photos, but it's just too beautiful to pass up! Side note: thanks to everyone who has been e-mailing, facebooking, and skyping me...it has really made my transition from US life to HK life much easier! Miss you all!!
FYI: If you click on the picture it will enlarge the image so you can see more details!

my food from the cafeteria

view from the ferry of HK Island

view from the ferry to Cheung Chau

View from the ferry

Cheung Chau Island (fishing boats)

Cheung Chau Island view

Pak Tai Temple

1,000 year old iron sword in temple. Found by local fishermen. (5 ft)

Pak Tai Temple

View from restaurant where I ate lunch

View from restaurant

my favorite meal so far!

Offering to family ancestors

view from Island

It's common for restaurants to have tanks of fish so that the customer can hand pick which fish they would like. Sorry it's not a close-up, but the fish were jumping out of the tanks! (and you know how I feel about fish)