Tung Chung is the
last MTR station to the west and that is where you get off to transfer to the
cable car going to Ngong Ping. You could take the bus if you are acrophobic or
simply strapped out of cash. You could also walk. I saw a trail going up the mountains
that you could follow, but that would take a lot of time and energy. The view
is fantastic up there, with waterfalls and cliffs everywhere. Add the breeze
and it’s almost heavenly.
I think it’s weird
that I still have mild acrophobia despite the different adventures I’ve had
involving heights. I guess having more high altitude thrills is the answer for
me to finally get rid of it. The cable car ride lasts for half an hour or so.
It gives you many aerial views of different areas like Lantau itself and the
airport, where you see planes taking off. The crystal cabins have glass floors,
which allow unrestricted view of where you would crash if the cable car
malfunctions, hee hee.
Once you reach the
cable car station at Ngong Ping, what welcomes you is a small village of shops
selling souvenirs. I honestly thought it would be some sort of cultural village
with indigenous people, but no. It’s a village of shops. You see the Giant
Buddha from afar and there is some sort of viewing deck with battle weapons on
display. You got it right: Photo-op. There is only one path leading to the exit
on the other side which would lead you to the Giant Buddha and to the Po Lin
Monastery.
You pass by a
Boddhi Tree near the entrance for tourists who take the bus. It says you could
make a wish. But you have to purchase something worth HK$150. Okay. Wow, Buddhism
and Capitalism just got married, and the Boddhi Tree is the coin bearer. I don’t
know how Buddhism works, but I made a wish anyway, for my uncle who passed away
last year, who we fondly call Tito Buddha. I hope you have found your peace.
Before you reach
the exit there is a display of cable cars from all over the world with a
description of their history. Exit the gate and you find yourself in a road.
Deciding where to go is easy because most of the tourist attractions are easily
visible. You then enter a big white archway. I don’t know what it is called but
it is similar to those big red gates in Japan that are not really gates because
they are open. They just sort of mark the entrance to a temple. This one is
white and the path to where it leads is lined up with different figures, which
look like guards from another realm. I think one of them is named Mahavira. The
description explains that they somehow represent the times of the day.
Interesting. You then reach some sort of circular terrace. To its left is
another one of those aforementioned gates leading to the Po Lin Monastery. To
the right are the steps going up to the Giant Buddha.
I just had a quick
tour of the monastery. Since I am not a Buddhist I no longer entered the main
hall. I didn’t want to accidentally so something improper. After snapping
pictures here and there I was done. They offer lunch meals for around HK$65,
vegetarian, I suppose. And then began my hike to the Giant Buddha. Do yourself
a favor, bring a bottle of water with you. It is an exhausting climb but the
view of the Giant Buddha getting closer will inspire you to go on. Upon reaching
the top you would see three more statues each to the left and to the right. I
have no idea who they are, unfortunately. Enjoy the view below. If you get
thirsty or hungry you could buy some snacks. If you are drenched in sweat you
could buy a souvenir shirt under HK$100. There is some sort of “cemetery”
inside where incense is lit for the dead, whose pictures are plastered on the
wall. No picture taking allowed for obvious reasons.
There is one more
tourist spot called the Path of Enlightenment. Oh no, I think I am totally
inventing names, haha! You get the gist. It is on the other side of the hill so
I didn’t go there anymore because I was already famished. After buying a bottle
of water I went back to the entrance and rode the cable car back to Tung Chung
Station, where a Citygate Outlet mall is waiting. I ate at Food Republic and
headed to Disneyland.
KOWLOON: 01 - GuangZhou Guest House
KOWLOON: 02 - Bright Lights, Busy Harbor
NEW TERRITORIES: 01 - Ngong Ping 360
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