what a big buddha

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January 15th 2008

Published: January 15th 2008

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patko

Ngong Ping Skyrail

Here we are heading into the clouds

TUESDAY: BIG BUDDHA LANTAU ISLAND:

Ratko wanted a late start today, same with Erin. We decided to not have breakfast at the hotel but go and have yum cha (they call it dim sum here) for breakfast. A bit unusual having dim sum for breakfast.
The one that was recommended was Maxims at Central. We arrived at 10.30 to find it didn't open til 11!
The food was beautiful, but once again nothing different to what we have in Chinatown.

Then our adventure began.
We started our journey to see the big buddha on Lantau Island. It was around a 40 minute train trip to Tung Chun - the end of the line on Lantau & one stop past the Disneyland change (I was tempted to get off here and go back to Disneyland).

We arrived at Tung Chun and got our first glimpse of the cable car that was to take us up into the clouds to Ngong Ping Village. I had my seasick bands on, have been taking the ginger & drops. I couldn't believe the heights it went to and how far. The trip took 25 minutes and covers around 6 kilometers, it was very

over the water -scarey

5.7 klms of cable car up to Buddha and the Monestary

foggy but still beautiful and serene. My stomach handled it pretty well.

Approaching the final mountain the buddha came into view. He has a commanding place on top of the mountain. He is the largest buddah in the world, some 26 mtrs high. There are 268 steps up to him & I made it about 2/3 of the way. It is apparently an amazing view from the top.

We then walked to the Po Lin Monnestry. This is a working Monnestry and is very beautiful and also very serene with very stong overtones of insense burning.

A quick walk around the village and back on the cable car to Tung Chun. It was a little windy and rocky this time. We had some locals try and have a conversation with us, which was fun.
We had a quick look at the huge outlet centre but couldn't stay as we had a reservation for dinner back in HK.

We have been waiting to go to this restaurant. It is called Cafe Too at the Island Shangri La Hotel and everything I have read about it was true. It wasn't cheap but the food available was a huge

our first view of Buddha

Still a long way away - how huge is it!

variety and very upmarket. Even the deserts were presented beautifully and crepes made in front of your eyes.

Back to the hotel to pack. We have a late check out today at 2pm. We have to catch the limo back to the aprport at 4.30. They will mind our bags and we are going to head off back to TST for last minute shopping. I have had a lot of fun buying things for everyone else but apart from a pair of joggers and a pair of ballet flats (and my disneyland jacket) have bought nothing for myself.

I am off to the jade market today to have a look. Ratko still wants to buy a phone.
Erin slept in so late yesterday she missed breakfast! She did her own thing, shopping in TST. It is so safe and easy to get around here.

I realised a few things yesterday about Hong Kong.
You rarely see anyone speaking on a mobile phone.
You rarely see anyone with ipod's in their ears.
You see very few children.
I realised how unbelievably clean this city is.

Well my next and last instalment will be from Winmalee tomorrow. We