5am wakeup. 6:20 up. Slept fairly well I think.
Went and got takeaway maccas for breakfast.
Maccas breakfast
At 10:00 we were out the door. We stopped in at 7-Eleven for some sandwiches and chocolate, then headed out on the train to Chai Wan.
In the corridors at Tin Hau station
From the train you walk up the hill and then through a cemetery on the side of a hill. A very steep hill. With a lot of stairs. A *lot* of stairs. A couple of hundred metres straight up. But the view was pretty good :)
The start of the big climb - in the cemetery up from Chai Wan station
We have to climb all the way to the top of this mountain!
Part way up, and already a great view
Ossarium at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery
Radio transmitters at the top of Mt Parker
Going up!
Nearly there!
At the top we stopped for a water break then we walked along the road for a while which was very flat and easy.
View along the road at the top of the hill
Zoomed in a bit
Then it was onto a track, which again was mostly flat and easy going. Except for the constant *stream* of people coming the other way. Busiest walk I've ever been on. I suppose it would have been quieter on a week day.
Marker indicating the way to the Dragon Back hike starting point
View south towards Red Hill
Then finally the start of the Dragon Back hike proper. You go up. And up :) But then you get to the ridge line, and that's where it gets really pretty. Spectacular views and a bit of up and downs as you go along the top. Just lovely and worth the effort. And we had an amazing day for it too which was great. And it was very windy on the ridge but we found a sheltered spot to eat our sandwiches.
Us at the start of the Dragon's Back hike
Looking along the Dragon's Back
View from the top of the Dragon's Back
Remote control glider
Local dude with his remote control glider
Stu holding the remote control glider
Looking back along the Dragon's Back
Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir
Looking across to Stanley
Shek O Country Club
Stu at the top of the Dragon's Back
Dragon's Back peak marker
Us at the top of the Dragon's Back
Starting to head back down. We're on our way down there to Shek O
Shek O village
Made it to the end of the Dragon's Back
Then we headed all the way back down. When we hit the road we caught a number 9 bus down into Shek O. We got changed and had a swim at the beach. I was a little (a lot) paranoid about all my stuff on the beach so didn't go out very far. But it was super refreshing.
Beach at Shek O
Stu body surfing at Shek O beach
After a swim we went had some very expensive beer at Copacabana and a fancy hot dog before catching a bus back to the train line.
Relaxing after our swim
Expensive hot dog
Shek O beach
Catching the bus back
Shek O from the bus
Sunset over Stanley
On the train back we messaged @Chrispycon to see what they were up to. We met up with Chris and then later Anne and Bronte for a drink at Oaky bar.
Chris and Stu enjoying beers at Oaky Bar
Then we wandered down to find some dinner. We went to Saigon, a Vietnamese place. We ordered a bunch of dishes to share which were all delicious. A great evening, probably better than just going back to the hotel and going to bed ;)