Preparation for Inner Mongolia Trip

Yesterday, I had my final polymer chemistry lecture in campus. The next 2 lectures (scheduled 14th and 21st April) will be in HKU. As usual, the lecture ended with a quiz and most students struggled. I am done in 5mins and my conclusion is, if you have a strong organic background, it doesn't take long to figure out the monomer units and how to join them up in 2 steps.

Went to yum cha with Kelvin (a lab student) at Kowloon Bay today. He brought me to this restaurant opposite Telford Plaza (where he lives) and this is the first time I am having tea in a resdential area. However, it's not as good as I thought. Maybe my standard for yum cha is too high? Hmm can't help it ah coz I have tasted some the best in the region. ;)

Time flies. I am going to Inner Mongolia 2 days later. I have yet to pack!!! Sent Felix (the Canadian guy that I am going with) a rough itinerary and now, I am thinking of what to bring. Though it's just a short 7 days, the weather there is extreme and thus need to be more careful. I read from the news that northern China is experiencing sandstorm now :( Hope that it'll be over by the time we are there. The latest forecast of the temperature in Hohhot (capital of Inner Mongolia) is -3 degrees celsius (-8 degrees celsius including wind chill)!!! Wah, first time I am going to a place that is below 0 degrees celsius - how exciting. And then, I realized today that this is not the best time to visit the grassland as the grass will not be green during Spring. Duh!

Anyway, my journey is as follow (green arrow indicates trip by flight and blue arrow by train):


4th Apr 0835 flight to Hohhort, stopover at Wuhan.
7th Apr midnight train to Beijing.
10th Apr 1710 flight to Changsha and overnight train back to Shenzhen.

Anyway, this is the super heavy Titanium series Columbia jacket that I bought with a really good price (I own't divulge it!):

It is really heavy lor. When I wore it now, I feel really hot. It's wind-proof, water-proof and covers right up to the neck, with a head cover as well. In addition, it is double layer. Heard that it can protect you from -10 degree celsius. I'll see if it's true. :p

A no. of "first" in this trip:

1. First time experiencing sub-zero degree celsius
2. First time exceeding a latitude of 23 degress North (Guangzhou is the furthest North I have been to).
3. First time visiting the grassland
4. First time viisting the desert
5. First time visiting Beijing (and hence the Forbidden Palace, Great Wall etc.)
6. First time I am going somewhere that I have not much idea about (most, if not all along, I am bringing people to places that I have been to once upon a time).
7. More first time to come ...

It's so exciting. The exciting part is the unknown awaiting ahead of me. Felix once asked me why go to Inner Mongolia. I told him it's because I don't know much about the place.