Monday 14 April 2008

Hong Kong - the 'Big Buddha', 'the Peak' and the 'Jumbo Floating Restaurant'

















Well - we had to leave the Intercontinental today. We are now staying in the Hong Kong Hostel with rock hard beds and a view over some Eastern European Communist-looking flats. At least it is very central. We are right in the middle of the shopping district on Hong Kong Island.


Today we traveled in the world's longest cable car up to Ngong Ping plateau to see the 'Big Buddha' and the Po Lin monastery. When we disembarked we entered what I can only describe as the Disney version of a Chinese Village complete with gift shops at the exits of the two main attractions. It was very cute, but full of chain stores like 7-11 and Starbucks. We paid to go to both attractions, 'A Monkey's Tale' and 'Walking with Buddha' because they were part of a special package deal. Much to Stephen's chagrin, 'A Monkey's Tale' turned out to be an animated cartoon with a lesson about greed and a few extra features like tissue pappr leaves fluttering down from the ceiling and some robotic monkeys popping their heads down from above in search of a glowing apple...It was kind of like 'The Bear Country Jamboree' except the monkeys coming down from the ceiling weren't quite up to the Disney standard. I enjoyed it, but it was better suited for children. Stephen's only response was to roll his eyes at me...


Next, we visited 'Walking with Buddha'. This was much better. Again it was animated and told the story of Buddha's life, but it was more serious and more professionally done. In the middle when Buddha left his kingdom we had to walk through a scary forest and were actually rained on with special misters....We entered another theater to see what Buddha went through until he achieved enlightenment. After that, we each received a rice paper leaf with one of his teachings. Stephen did agree that the teachings were good and we both had learned a bit more about Buddhism.


After visiting the attractions and escaping the souvenir shops we began the journey up the steps to see the 'Tian Tan Buddha' up close. It was enormous and the entire project took many years to complete. The monks first had to secure the land and then begin the slow process of construction. We wandered around the statue appreciating the nice mountain scenery and views of the South China Sea. Finally, after a picnic lunch, we headed over to look at the Po Lin monastery. It was beautifully painted hosted several golden Buddha statues. People were burning incense and bowing respectfully before the statues. Some people had actually walked the entire way along a winding stone trail instead of taking the world's longest cable car ride. It must have taken half the day to walk up!


We went back to Hong Kong and fought our way through the crowds of shoppers blinded by the neon lights of the stores. We went over to the Convention Center to watch the nightly light show, 'A Symphony of Lights'. It involves over 40 skyscrapers from both sides of Victoria Harbour. The light display is choreographed to music. It is the largest of its kind in the world. It is like the entire city participating in the Disney electrical light parade....Wow! I will add video when I return to Hong Kong. The computers here is China are too slow.


Here is Stephen's Hong Kong contribution with more on 'The Peak' and the 'Jumbo Floating Restaurant' in Aberdeen Harbour:


Hong Kong
Well it got better, lots of warm sunshine and spectacular light shows in the evening along the water. Also discovered that you could buy dim sum cheaply from the supermarket and eat it in the park for breakfast and watch the joggers run in their special running lanes. All very orderly. Often a bit gloomy during the day but very lively in the evenings under all the fluorescent lights.

More good things
Dim sum for breakfast - much improved over McDonalds
Music and laser display by the skyscrapers over the water every evening at 8pm
Chinese orchestra with lots of interesting instruments
Special cocktail in posh hotel overlooking the water - mainly because I got lost and couldn't find a pub, but it was a treat for the missus.

More bad things
Trying to dry socks with a hairdryer - ahving carried my little bottle of handwash around the world I have realised that this saving a few quid strategy is floored
Got lost again walking down the mountain to get to Aberdeen Harbour (Just as hopeless with Al and Johno in 2004)
Famous jumbo restaurant in Aberdeen Harbour was a rip off. Best bit was the ride home in the bus around the island.

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