Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery & Tai O Fishing Village - Lantau Island, China

Lantau Island, China – February 15

On previous visits we hadn’t gone to Lantau Island so that is what we planned for today. We grabbed the Metro from the hotel - Tuen Ma Line from East Tsim Sha Tsui to Nam Cheong Station then Tung Chung Line, which is one stop before Disney. 

We walked a few minutes to the Ngong Ping 360 cable car station and enjoyed a 25-minute soaring ride with spectacular views to Ngong Ping Village. This is one of the longest aerial cable car systems in Asia with fantastic views of Lantau Island including the North Lantau Country Park, Tung Chung Bay, and the Hong Kong International Airport. We lucked out with the weather today. It was sunnier and warmer. Yay!

Along the way to the Big Buddha, there are shops lined up, including souvenir shops, coffee shops, restaurants, and other antique shops. We poked around there for a while and continued past the 12 statues of the warriors of the Chinese Zodiac. (only took photos of a couple of them) The Big Buddha looms large and can be seen from many angles.

We started with the Po Lin Monastery. Many areas were closed off for worshipers only, so we didn’t really get to see much there.

We climbed the 268 steps to the Buddha. 

We grabbed some lunch at a place that looked busiest and grabbed some spring rolls and shrimp tempura. The gelato place next door was very good.

I went back and got a round colorful lace that I can frame to put with the ones I picked up in Budapest. 

We waited for the bus to the Tai O fishing village, about 12 minutes away, which was the last stop on the island, and it was a fun one. Unfortunately, we had poor timing as we arrived at the same time as several busloads of Chinese tourists, and it was a zoo. We followed along until they turned off and we went straight and walked to the end of the fishing village, and it was peaceful and quiet. We stopped for a cold drink, and it seemed the tourists had left so we walked back to the touristy section.

Tai O is one of the few remaining fishing villages in Hong Kong. They live in Stilt Houses and make their living fishing. There are also many eateries and street food stalls around Tai O. We looked for 'sa young' (a Cantonese-style doughnut) but never found them. There were plenty of tofu items and jumbo fish balls. These stops are always a fun thing to experience.

We then took a bus to the ferry station and grabbed a ferry back to Kowloon. Nice views especially in the better weather.

We stopped at the hotel before taking the Metro to the Temple Street Night Market. We walked all around the smallish market and then looked for a busy place to have dinner. The food was very good, so I guess there was a reason for the crowds. On the table there was a pitcher, and a roll of toilet paper. The waiter brought us an empty bowl. I had been watching a lady at another table pour the water into the bowl and proceed to wash the chopsticks and the other eating spoons and bowls. So, we did the same and the waiter came and took the pitcher and the bowl. I ordered sweet and sour ribs and Greg got sweet and sour chicken. Mine was good but hard to eat with the bones. In hindsight I should have just ordered sweet and sour pork.

I shopped for a Fortune Cat. (the waving arm Cat) Finally chose a small one. (limited space at home to put the crap I buy) On the way out we stopped at one of the food stalls and got a “pita”. Like a garlic naan which was tasty.

In the Metro station we stopped for a dessert at one of the cake shops. We picked up a couple of chocolate tarts that were awful. Dry and no taste. Ah well….

We stopped briefly to watch the laser show before calling it a night.

So, back to the hotel to get packed up for embarkation tomorrow.

Lantau Island https://photos.app.goo.gl/SmRhs5NT6jg2oe3X8

Can't believe I have filled another blog as it now is too painful (time consuming and slow) to add photos. So, here is the link to the new one: Retired Nomads Part 4

 https://agretirednomads4.blogspot.com/

Please let me know if there are any issues with the new one. I am trying to keep it the same format for searchability, so if it doesn't work the same let me know.