Day 02 03-09-2013 Tue Hong Kong

Our first destination was the HK History Museum, but it was closed, 

so we embarked on the day’s big trip, to the Big Buddha at Po Lin on Lantau Island. This was an MTR train journey and along the way the finer points of the rail network finally began to sink in. It’s a great system – the stations are light coloured and well lit. You feel well there and trains are frequent. 

On arriving at the terminus at Tung Chung, we queued for the bus to Po Lin.

Unfortunately the cable car (5.7 Km!!) had ceased operating for seasonal maintenance several delays earlier. No matter as the bus journey was exciting enough – the road is very steep in places, and goes around about half of the island.

It was raining lightly and windy when we arrived so we grabbed plastic raincoats and set off for the Buddha, which loomed overhead. From the base we could see it quite clearly. Conditions were not suitable for photography so I only took the minimum necessary to prove we had been there. 

 The steps, all 258, were easy to ascend and we were surprised and delighted to see the route was lined with Norfolk Island Pines. These are native to the Australian territory of Norfolk Island off north-eastern Australia. The Buddha is certainly large and the base perimeter is lined with fine statues. After touring the exhibits inside the Buddha wisdom dictated that we descend again. Once at the bottom the statue had become invisible. Po Lin is at an altitude of 500m and we were at that time literally in the clouds.

The lunch at the monastery was good, 

and we were pleased to queue again for the return bus journey. The driver of this bus was quite gung ho, racing down the steep slopes with gay abandon, but quite safely. On a god day this would have been a fabulous journey, especially if one could stop at some vantage points.

We returned to base, but almost immediately set out again for the Night Markets in Temple St off Jordan Rd. Lots of knick knacks. I had a mild interest in a tablet upgrade to a Samsung Note 8. At one stall they had some phones and tablets and the chap there directed us to their proper shop just steps away. I was told a price only slightly lower than in Sydney, so we made to leave, but then another offer was forthcoming. A little better, but still not enticing, so we made to leave again and walked a few steps, but lo, another final offer was interesting – AUD 300 vs 400 at home. We regretfully had to decline, but it was interesting to see what is possible here.

Training back to our neck of the woods we headed to Knutford St for dinner. Lots of establishments with a foreign flavour but we patronised the Birdcage – Chinese. Our meal was very good. Some things we had not had before: jellyfish and shark fin soup, both delicious. The huge Dutch white beer was very refreshing too.

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