Day 3 - Friday 1 November - Lantau Island

Had another pretty good night's sleep.

I still marvel at the view from our room. We don't close the curtains at night. Across the harbour the major advertising lights on the buildings seem to turn off late at night, possibly around midnight.

Another morning, another sunrise!

The sweetie reads the South China Morning Post by the window

This morning we had another nice breakfast at the hotel. We also did a bit of research on Lantau Island. Well, as much as can be done with internet on a phone. We had a plan of attack but ended up changing it at the last minute to be the reverse order of what we'd originally planned.

So the trip ended up being quite a trek of various forms of public transport.

First up was a short train trip from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central.

On the train to Central

Then a walk from Central to the ferry piers.

Over Connaught Road Central

Walking from Central to the ferry terminal - all under cover

Central Pier building

Then a ferry from Pier 6 to Mui Wo. I don't know how long it took, but it was quite slow (we were overtaken by a flutterby at one point). For a whole dollar or so we upgraded ourselves to the "deluxe" section of the ferry, which had air conditioning and about three other people. We still can't get over how cheap the public transport is here.

This was the ferry we took to Lantau Island

West Kowloon buildings

Stonecutters Bridge

Black Kites in front of Stonecutters Bridge

Kau Yi Chau island

Silver Mine Bay, Lantau Island

Next was connecting bus #1 from Mui Wo bus terminal over to Tai O. This also took quite a while through lots of jungle and past some nice looking beaches.

Beach on Tong Fuk Miu Wan bay

Shek Pik Prison as we were driving across the Shek Pik dam/reservoir

All up it probably took us nearly three hours to get to Tai O, but it was relatively relaxing as it was somewhat air conditioned and we didn't have to walk far.

We had a bit of a wander around Tai O and had a look at all the dried fish for sale and the "stilt houses".

Tai O fishing village

Tai O Promenade

Dried seafood for sale in the markets in Tai O

Tai Chung Bridge in Tai O

Tai O fishing village

Fish drying in Tai O

Walking through the markets in Tai O

Then we caught the 1pm bus #21 up to Ngong Ping.

At Ngong Ping is a fairly big tourist attraction with a new (20 year old) giant buddha sitting at the top of a hill, next to Po Lin monastery (which was under renovation) and a whole series of shops. I walked up to the top of the giant buddha staircase. Stu didn't. An ice cream from the store at the top went down very well. Back down the hill I felt something brush past me. I looked down and there was a cow ?!? I was so surprised I didn't really even get a good photo of it!

Giant Buddha in Ngong Ping

Gate and Giant Buddha

Ngong Ping Piazza

Giant Buddha

Statues at Ngong Ping

Po Lin Monastery

This cow (bull??) brushed past me and kept on walking

Mega cigarettes?

Ngong Ping

After having a wander around, we headed over to the ropeway to take it down the hill to Tung Chung station. They don't take Octopus cards, so paid $188 for the two of us to go down.

The rope way ride was lovely. It was very hazy so photos weren't the best, but the view was good anyway, and there was a nice fresh breeze blowing through the gondola. Then we came over a hill and saw the airport. And it was amazing! The view of the airport from the rope way was nothing short of spectacular. Loved it.

Ngong Ping from the cable car

Chek Lap Kok Airport

Tung Chung from the cable car

Apartment buildings near Tung Chung

Finally arrived at the bottom and as we exited we saw the queue for going up. And it went on and on and on. And on and on. We totally *won* by doing the ropeway in reverse.

This was the queue at 2:45pm of people wanting to go up to Ngong Ping

Dig those crazy apartments

Hopped on a train (two trains actually) back to the hotel.

I popped out for some drinks and nibbles and we had those while admiring the view. I really really wished the old Kai Tak airport was still operational so I could watch the planes taking off!

What a horrible place to sit and have a beer!

Dusk and the lights are turning on

Oh yes, we didn't have lunch today - we had such a big breakfast we just weren't hungry. After it got dark, we headed out to find some dinner. We found a place on Cameron Road which had plastic food out the front, which reminded us a lot of Japan. Don't know what the place was called, as they didn't actually have an English translation of it. But had some very nice pork ribs and duck pieces and then some lobster which was ok but not spectacular.