China

Oriental Travel
19/F Keen Hung Commercial Building 80 Queens Road East, Wanchai HK

The office where I work is very small and consists of 4 people plus me. The owner Mr. Ngai who I have not met, Fred my supervisor, Noelle and Esther the ladies who hold down the fort and keep it together. The focus of this travel agency is to promote inbound travel to China. Which by 2010 will be the most visited country in the world surpassing the current leader, France. The target market is travelers from the U.S. and Canada. The work environment is wonderful and the views from the office are spectacular. Located in the heart of Wan Chai it is a short walk from the MTR station. Wan Chai (Little Bay) had a reputation during the vietnam war as the anything goes red light district, but today it is mainly a centre for shopping, business and more upscale entertainment. I have been given a refreshing amount of freedom to come up with the project that I will work on, and I have chosen eco-tourism in Hong Kong. The island of Hong Kong - total area 1,098sq km, 40% is protected country park, 40% rural land, 20% urban. With hundreds of peaks, the highest being 965m. 230 islands surrounded with clear jade water, coral, sea caves & arches and powder white beaches it definitely is worth marketing to other ecotourism lovers! So my idea is to come up with a guide and maybe a few different itineraries for Hong Kong's green areas so as to appeal to different travellers. It has been exhilarating so far, I have learned so much about this destination I can even boast knowing more background info than some expats who have lived here for a few years! Any creative ideas? Writing tips hints and suggestions are always welcome!
http://www.orientaltravel.com/

Ashton[u]

Attentive
Social butterfly
headstrong and successful
top cook
original
never a dull moment

Ashton Winkler is the kind of friend you want to have where ever you go. She's the type of friend who wakes up early to see the race and you at the finish line, the one who will take pictures in your greatest moment. She's the girl who remembers your birthday and even throws you a well planned out themed bash. She not just the life of the party but the one who knows all the owners of the places you've been dying to go in the city you've been dying to see. She exemplifies fun. Ashton is the girl who's there for you even from halfway across the world. Thanks Ashton.

China, it is a place like you've never imagined till you get here. Then it exceeds your expectations. You might hear it from others, but don't form your opinion till you get here. It's a place where you walk left and stand on the right. When you cross the street its where you first look left ALWAYS, then right. Where down starts on the left side and up starts on the right.
In Hong Kong the public transportation arrives on time every time. You begin to understand why it might be the next world power (or already is) by the mechanical way people work like mad from 9 am to 7 pm with hardly a break. You might just understand when you look to see that 80 percent of what you own says "Made in China". Here I can get any type of massage 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Instead of hurricanes there are typhoons and black rain, sometimes even an earthquake or two. Here in HK there is a large expatriate community and if your in Central or SoHo, can close your eyes and only hear english. My first week in China has been an intensive immersion into an amazing culture. Working with Oriental Travel I have learned so much about HK in this short week and being able to experience it first hand is mind blowing. I am happy and well, with good company, great food and a pretty awesome internship!