Day 50 - Hong Kong

10.09.09

If you come to Hong Kong, you have to take the cable car up the big Buddha on Lantau Island and that's what I'm about to do today, except the cable car is broken so it's a replacement bus service. The peak area is tourist commercialism central and comes complete with chain fast food restaurants and a coffee houses. The Buddha itself is quite impressive and sits on it's throne overlooking the monastery and the rest of the island. Once up there I have a quick walk around and then head back down to try and find the Lantau Island hostel. I know that there is one on the island and it's near the Buddha, the plan being to book in for a few nights and do some trekking around the islands and Hong Kong's beaches. On the way there I run into an ex Hong Kong police man called Guy who is also going to the hostel to look for details on a girl who went missing last year. Arriving at the hostel is something reminiscent of turning up at some haunted house or lunatic asylum, it definitely doesn't look in use, the grass is over grown, building looks like its in disrepair and the gates are locked and the two men inside seem reluctant to open them. After Guy explains who is and what he is doing the men open the gates and explain that the owner will be back at around 4pm, they also warn us about standing in the long grass due to snakes. Guy rightfully says that I shouldn't stay there and it doesn't look like it will be comfortable, I was thinking the same as it looked even dodgier than Chunking Mansions.


Guy mentioned that he will be walking back down to the town along the trails and it will take a few hours, but will pass by some nice scenery and monasteries. I decide to take the walk with him and we pass by a few monasteries where he talks to the monks in search of information about the girl, past some epic yellow and green spiders and some stormy weather. His daughter calls him and apparently a level 3 typhoon warning has been issued, although it only starts getting serious at around levels 6-8, so we are still fine. After the trek, he drives me to an old Chinese fort that doesn't see much tourism, but is quite interesting and we share a couple of beers. A tour of the northern area of Hong Kong and to the area where he lives in Sai Kung takes in some lovely scenery and then I make my way back to my own version of Shiftyking Mansions. Another good day, and another great person to add the list of people I've met so far.