Ngong Hong Kong Pong Ping

Sunday 17th December 2006

Normally this time of year I feel all Christmasy, but it’s a biazare feeling sat at the other side of the world, crisp blue skies walking around in t shirt and drinking lots of bottled water, it doesn’t feel like Christmas despite the flashing Santa’s splatted onto the sides of the skyscrapers. I could have done with one less day in Hong Kong thinking about it but I can’t be bothered to ask to change my flight, so today I took the advice of a few others I had met and went up to Ngong Ping in the mountains. I was going to go by subway but I stumbled upon a bus stop which had buses running only on a sunday all the way up to the Monestary beyond Ngong Ping. A beautiful picturesque climb up the mountains and back down again to the other side of Lantau Island, it was well worth doing the not so touristy route. The big buddha at the top was awesome, though not quite as big as the big buddha in China. China just do everything bigger and better than Hong Kong I have decided. Walking around I discovered a few off the tourist route tracks which was refreshing after the 100’s of coaches that had decended upon the area. The village of Ngong Ping was very touristy, brand new by the looks of things including the 700th 7 11 shop where I treated myself to an ice cream for about 50p whilst watching some entertainment in the square. There was one way back down and that was to first go up then go down then go up again then go down again all by cable car. I worked out that most tourists get a return on the cable car but I am glad I didn’t do that as the queue at the other end was horrendous so going by bus saved me waiting an hour or so to get up there. The cable car ride was hairrasing enough as strong winds were blowing it from side to side. It was worth the views though, both over the big buddha mountains and later in the journey towards the airport. It must have been about a 15-20 minute trip. Not something for the faint hearted. Back at the hostel there was a cufuffle with the beds in the room, due to overbooking. Luckily I had my receipts so I wasn’t about to be turfed onto the streets, homeless. This place is definately not up to the hostel standard I had been used to in China. My main priorities however had been met; clean, hot showers, internet and ability to have a cup of tea.