My first adventure in Hong Kong

After a relaxing morning at my hotel, where I had a delicious breakfast, it was time to hit the street and explore

I must mention my hotel, Lanson Place Hotel, Causeway Bay. It is not the cheapest place to stay in Hong Kong but it would have to be one of the nicest (thank you Mark for recommending it).


So grabbing my camera bag I headed out, the first thing that you notice is the weather, it was only 9am and not yet hot but it was humid and it only got worse as the day went on. I was expecting it but it still hits you when you walk out into it.

I mentioned that in Hong Kong everything goes up... well that includes it buses and trams they are all double decker. The streets of Hong Kong are busy and there is a lot happening, walking along you come across a small shop selling live fish in containers on the footpath and then you turn the corner and there is a Mercedes dealership. It is an interesting place to just walk the streets.



The first of today's adventures has me on Lantau Island, the home of the airport, Hong Kong Disney and also the world's largest seated bronze Buddha. Ngong Ping the home of the Buddha was my destination.

To get to Ngong Ping you take the cable car, it was suggested to me by the ticket seller to take the Crystal Cabin option for an extra HK$50 as I would not have to wait as long.



A good suggestion and well worth the extra money as my queue was at least a quarter the length of the normal queue. I know that there are some people in my life that would struggle with this option though... not because of the extra money but because the Crystal Cabin gives you a wiew all around... you guessed right it has a glass floor.

The car travels above the mountains that I flew over on my way into Hong Kong and once again I am surprised at the way that nature surrounds the buildings. Everything is so lush and green and the view is amazing no matter what ever way you look... even down.

It is funny how somethings still surprise you even though you already know the facts, I have just told you that I was going to visit the world's largest seated bronze Buddha but my first sight of it from the cable car still surprised me... it is big.

Ngong Ping is a tourist village that leads to the Buddha and it is proud to be Hong Kong's first Zero plastic shopping village... that made me smile and reminded me of home.

After looking through the shops and a delicious lunch of chicken and cashew with steamed rice it was time to go see the Buddha.

On the road to Buddha, there are a few things that make you stop... the Bodhi Wishing Shrine is one of those places. The Bodhi Tree is the "Treee of Awakening", it is said it was the tree under shich Siddhartha meditated on "Who am

I and why am I here?". He eventually attained enlightment and became Buddha. The tree and nearby sign are covered with prayers and wishes from people hoping that the Bodhi Wishing Shrine will deliver blessing and happiness.

The entrance of Po Lin Monastery, which sits at the base of the Buddha, is a grand structure. The monastery was founded in 1906 as a religious retreat and I am sure anybody that stayed there would find a sense of peace

The climb was not easy but worthwhile, there is a sense of peace even with all the people around you, you realise that this is not just a tourism area but a place of worship when you see people standing there praying to Buddha.

The sheer size of the statue is very impressive, it weighs 250 tonnes and is perched at 34m high, as is the details but for me the statues that surround the Buddha offering sacrifies are truly beautiful.