HONG KONG 3

I had chosen to take this holiday to Hong Kong to have a rest and Carol told me it was only on the third day that I started to pick up pace. I wondered if perhaps she had started to slow down to match my steps. We were staying in central Kowloon near the Mong Kok subway which made travel for us convenient to many destinations. Our hotel had provided us with a booklet about the attractions of this region.

Hong Kong map and attractions.

We had remained at Mong Kok at Kowloon on Wednesday, visited the Stanley Market and Murray House on Hong Kong Island on Thursday. On Friday we decided to visit Lantau Island to view the Giant Buddha.

To reach Lantau Island we chose to take a ferry, then a public bus service that wound along a narrow road ever higher into the hills. At the end of the road we came to this modern monument.

Giant copper Buddha

Again like so many other tourist attractions within Hong Kong and mainland China the authorities have encouraged development surrounding a structure of ancient origin. This Buddha was only erected in 1993, but is the largest copper Buddha outside mainland China.

Why did they erect it? Perhaps because it overlooks the ancient Po Lin Monastery. Next a modern, planned town of shops and restaurants grew up at the bus terminal and a lengthy cable service was built to provide an alternative route up over the mountain from the Buddha and down over the hills towards the airport. Now a Wisdom Path linking the town, the Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery is under construction.

The modern town.

For those interested in Buddhist history and legends this town also has theatres, shops selling Buddhist souvenirs and an interesting artificial tree.

Artificial tree

This tree is called The Bodhi Tree (“The tree of Awakening”, also known as the Bo Tree). It is the tree under which Siddhartha meditated “Who am I and why am I here?”, eventually attaining Enlightenment and becoming Buddha. Signs say, If you want to know more about his path to Enlightenment don’t miss the multi-media attraction”Walking with Buddha”. It was a price we decided we did not want to pay and proceeded toward the Buddha.

While it was free to walk up to the ground floor of the statue, if one wished to climb further, one had to buy a ticket which also entitled one to a vegetarian lunch at the Po Lin Monastery. Carol and I bought tickets.

The Wisdom Path under construction.

We skirted the construction works involved in the Wisdom Park, which we were later able to view in considerable detail from the height of the Buddha.

The Wisdom Path from above.

First we had to climb the steps, starting beside the large pot.

Carol stands beside the large pot at the base of the stairs.

As usual when traveling one thing that will catch my eye are trees. So it was that I noted the planting of Norfolk Island Pines the full length of the stairs on both sides. These are well grown trees considering they were only planted about 1993.

Carol stands at the base of the Buddha.

We entered the upper section of the Buddha where cameras were not allowed and read the history of the erection of this statue, then descended down the stairs, followed the Wisdom Path through the great gates to the Po Lin Monastery. Here Carol photographed me rubbing the shiny head of the giant turtle – a sign of longevity.

Fay and turtle.

Again cameras were not allowed to be used in the restaurant of the Po Lin Monastery. This is obviously a good money earner for the monks, although we seldom saw them. The service in the crowded restaurant was provided by paid workers. It was a set menu of six vegetarian dishes. We enjoyed each one.

Then we walked back to the site shown in the first photo above of the Buddha and paid to take the skyline ride over the mountain and back down the far side of the island. I believe it could be the longest gondola trip I’ve ever taken as we were re-routed, without getting out, three times.

Our last view of the Buddha

Once we were over the mountain we could look down on the International airport. As the journey took a considerable length of time, we were able to observe several airplanes landing or taking off.

Descending past the International airport.

This skyline veered right below the hill in the above photograph taking us to a terminal near a railway station from which we began our return trip back to Kowloon.

Das Helwig Haus B&B owned by Eberhard and Fay Helwig is situated at Glen Aplin, near Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt of southern Queensland, Australia.

This is a region noted for summer stone-fruit, autumn apples and  Christmas in July dinners and a spring Remembrance Field of red Flanders poppies.

Fay has published a book called Wildflowers, wilderness and wine.