Around The World w/Scott 2011: These are the days of My Life

Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery

OMG i did it again...I set off on my own and with a little help from my roommate who had attended the Buddha sighting the previous day provided the very simple directions. Hop on the MTR, just around the corner from my Wang Fang Hostel at Causeway Bay go to the end of the line (Central stop) hop off and meander which he did not share thru a few tunnels and moving sidewalks to the yellow Tung Chung line which begins at the Hong Kong stop and of course like all trains the lines name is always the destinations last stop. It is really quite easy once you become a train commuter which in all my years i have Not been. At the end of the line you get off as this train then return the same way it arrived in reverse; without derailments it is pretty simple. Once you get off you are thrown into a large building courtyard surrounded by shops, eateries and a huge water fountain that shoots water up in the air at intermittent times. Fun place for lunch and to while away an hour or so on the return. More on that fun later.

Fortunately for me the Ngonog Ping 360 Cable Car entrance is just across the courtyard, which is typical for a downtown office complex of buildings...not exactly just a few steps, but a leisurely stroll. It turned out to be a nice day, sun is out, blue sky, haze..the usual so far since I have been here. You can see the different buildings, mountain ranges, islands, boats in the harbour, but in a haze the pictures don't do the view justice. The cable car ride is an attraction in itself..per the guidebook...from Tung Chung to Po Lin is 5.7km (4 miles), 25 minutes journey which provides sweeping views across the North Lantau Country Park and in the distance South China. Just so you know the guide book does not do this journey justice. I highly recommend the glass bottom tram, the fun you have with your co-passengers was a great deal of setting the tone for the arrival and on the return I think we could have rocked the tram off it's rail we were shooting pictures form climbing on the rails so we could get all the fun see thru the floor shots. SUPER FUN!!!

Has it sunk in that this tram ride is close to half an hour. Have I mentioned my claustrophobic fear of heights...did I mention that I have a problem with motion sickness... well let me put your fears as i had to do mine to rest. On the way up I was with a couple of quiet people who will be excluded from my blog chatter as they were no fun at all. Too bad because there was a lovely Chinese family, younger parents and the cutest boy and girl, the boy maybe 5 or 6 and the girl maybe 8-9. The boy was a character, so excited to be going on the tram, eyes as big as saucers as the line got closer to our turn to board, the girl a little more hesitant but still filled with wonder that kids that age generate. I was with them, scared, worried if the mom or the dad would hold my hand if i got scared, would I loose my lunch ungracefully half way there, or worse scare the kids so bad that my fer would be read all over my face and just send them screaming into their parents arms for a disastrous half hour of wailing...them and me. Well just to say i did not read the detail in the guidebook prior to setting off on the adventure which I usually do not so that I can experience the event fresh, without expectations and not searching for just what is documented. So my first impression after working at an amusement park in my teens...yes I barely remember them but the good parts are never forgotten...we only bury the bad...I worked at Astroworld in Houston that has since been raised quite a few years ago when the real estate was good and now sits as empty land as they missed the boom by a few years..I digress...I worked on the tram as a passenger loader and back to my first impression of the HK sky tram i noticed that the thing was well quite a bit larger than the amusement park ride. The HK tram seated 8 and up to 12 were allowed in each cabin, my old tram only allowed 4 to sit. Once inside the fun began as we headed up to the first few towers I kinda caught in the corner of my eye that the cable seemed to take a left and continue for quite some time. Needless to say after about 3 towers you come to a boarding/disembarking station but you only slowed and there was not exit/entry but a precise turn to the left and another gradual/steep continued incline. This occurred yet again as you seem to top yet another mountain over the near the HK airport. We were actually watching the planes come in for landing and taking off....brilliant. Needless to say after the next few towers the actual ride came to a final station for exiting to the Big Buddha shrine and temple. this is the most amazing day trip. Aside from seeing the panoramic view of the city and surrounding countryside, you are over freeways, the ocean and mountainsides.

Once at the village there are all kinds of shows, shopping, cafes and of course the Big Buddha. Look and see.