Hong Kong Phooey - Part 2

Wednesday morning we were up relatively early.....well, early enough that we managed to ride the escalator down to the station, before it switched to going uphill!

We caught a train to Tung Chung on Lantau Island. The trains are very clean and modern, very long and very open, making good use of space. Luckily it wasn't that busy as there aren't that many seats!

When we arrived at the end of the line, we made our way across the square to Ngong Ping 360, a 5.7km long cable car ride to the Tian Tan Buddha. Crack was very excited, as he remembered the cable cars from the Blue Mountains. I was less excited when I looked down to see another glass bottom and a big drop beneath us! But I mainly looked out rather than down, and despite the haziness, there were still some lovely views. Not least of the International Airport, much to Crack's delight!

Here is our first glimpse of the enormous Buddha, perched on a hilltop!

When we got off the cable car, we first had to pass throughout the 'tourist village', a predictable mix of souvenirs and international food, with a few surprising touches! Like a Christmas Koala!?

And an enormous lucky cat!

But finally the destination loomed and we escaped the tourist trap!

From here it's only 9632kms to Big Ben!

 

We proceeded up a sculpture lined avenue that was also full of sleeping dogs! They all looked healthy but most of them were sleeping...I wondered if that was down to their diet, which, considering the Buddhists are vegetarian and it's forbidden to bring meat on site, presumably means they are (largely!?) vegetarian? Who knows....

At 10 storeys tall, the Tian Tan Buddha, 500m above sea level, is the world's tallest seated bronze Buddha statue. It was made by China Aerospace Science and Technology, the same people that build China's spaceships! Nevertheless, apparently it is not so big that you can't miss it, hence the very helpful signage!

There are 268 steps, and Crack climbed all the way up, and all the way down again!

The beautiful building on the right is the Po Lin Monastery.

The Buddha's right hand is lifted in a gesture symbolic of a vow to eliminate suffering. The left is on the thigh, signifying compassion. He sits in a lotus flower and is surrounded by six devas offering gifts symbolising charity, morality, patience, zeal, mediation and wisdom, all of which are necessary to enter nirvana. The Buddha himself weighs 250 metric tons!

Crack developed a very interesting method of descending the steps...something which only endeared him more to the local ladies, who loved him for his blonde hair and blue eyes! Click here to see Crack on the way down!

 

A beautiful and very peaceful place, very glad that we visited!

 

Next and final installment coming soon!