March 16, 2012
Free day in Hong Kong. Lex, Nirav, Shridhar and I decided to take a trip to see the Big Buddha at the Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island. This would require transport on the subway from Hong Kong island west to Lantau Island. Then we would take a bus to the top of the mountain to see the Buddha. Normally, a cable car would be available to take us up the mountain, but it is closed for repairs.
We start our day at 8 am and head to StarBucks for breakfast in Hong Kong. Then we head to the subway station. The subways are VERY nice and clean. Ticket purchase is very easy and all automated. You simply enter your final destination, it tells you how much it will cost, you add money, and out pops your subway ticket!
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| Lex purchasing subway ticket |
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| Nirav, Lex and Sridhar on subway. Mind the gap! |
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| Bus ride to Big Buddha |
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| The Big Buddha |
After about 1.5 hours traveling, we arrived at the Big Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery. This is the largest Buddha in the world, made of bronze and weighing 250 tons. 260 steps up to the Buddha.
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| Bodhisattva statues |
Six Bodhisattva statues, saints who gave up their palace in heaven to help us mere mortals get a place ourselves, surround the Buddha with offerings. Spectacular view from the mountain top with the Buddha.
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| View of Po Lin monastery from Buddha |
On the way back we stopped at a large Chinese grocery store in to check it out. Lots of fresh vegetables and live fish.
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| Deep fried duck feet- hard to resist! |
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| Largest ginger and carrots in the world! |
Arrived back in Hong Kong and headed over to the Ladies Market to do some shopping. Shopping in Hong Kong is much more enjoyable than the markets in mainland China. All the products have prices and very little haggling is required. I bought several silk scarves and a silk table runner as cheap as in Beijing.
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| Ladies market in Hong Kong |
Back to the YMCA for a quick shower and then off with the group for our last group dinner and harbor cruise.
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| Hong Kong harbor cruise |
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| Andy- HA |
We had an extended river cruise in order to enjoy the light show in downtown Hong Kong. Ate dinner at a seafood restaurant on neighboring island. Then back to dock in Hong Kong where bus met us to take us back to the YMCA. This concluded our last day of the China adventure. Amazing what we did in just a single week!
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