Lantau and The Peak

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The Star Ferry is used by tourists and commuters alike,  I must have captured an out of service ferry as they are always packed to the gunwales.  Use for short hops from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island it also made a pleasant way to cruise to Lantau

Tian Tan aka The Big Buddha 1994

 Perched on Mount Muk Yue, at a height of 34 metres the worlds largest Buddha could be seen through the heavy mist long before the bus reached Po Lin.  By the time we got there the morning mist had cleared but looking up we saw the mountain mist closing in. 

The other images of the monastery and Tian Tan were taken in 1998 en route home from Bali

Po Lin ( Precious Lotus) Monastery

 

We intended staying overnight at the monastery in 1994 but the awful weather saw us taking the ferry back to the comparative luxury of the Salisbury 'Y'

The 268 step climb is worth the effort and at last we got a clear view of Tian Tin sitting on a lotus leaf

   

Six Devas offer flowers, incense, a lamp, ointment, fruit and music. Symbolising the six perfections of, generosity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation and wisdom

The raised right hand of the Buddha indicates compassion, The left hand with palm up indicates the giving of blessings and the symbol on the chest, possession of all virtue.  Sadly he is no longer the largest in the world,  as of 2011 that honour goes to the Big Buddha of Jilin Dun City
   

Fishing Village on the Island of Tai O

Tai O, Lantau's is largest settlement.   Here the Tanka boat dwellers have settled in converted boats and stilt houses built over a tidal creek.  Once a thriving port exporting salt and fish to mainland China, the locals now farm ducks, fish and make fish paste which accounts for the strong odour hanging over the  narrow winding streets.  Two women pulled the ferry boat back and forth across the creek by a rope

Older Women seem to be doing most of the work while their menfolk play mahjong

 

 

The Tai O ferry was replaced with a steel bridge in 1996 and a fire in 2000 destroyed many buildings in the town, fishing can no longer provide a sustainable income and the village is now mostly squatters huts and dilapidated stilt houses

Lantau has had major infrastructure projects.  Including the new International Airport with links to Hong Kong.  The addition of Hong Kong Disneyland, and the cable car to the cultural themed village of Ngong Ping, close by PoLin may or may not appeal to you.  However 50% of Lantau consists of national parks, with beautiful well marked tails.  There are campsites and youth hostels 

                                 Up or Down Along Across And Down
Hillside Escalator Link aka The Travelator

With the completion of the Tian Tin Buddha and the Travelator, 1994 was a big year for Hong Kong.   The latter made getting around got a lot easier.  Within minutes of leaving their office towers residents can be in their exclusive Mid-Levels homes.  We rode section after section, crossing roads before continuing to the next level.  Exiting we walked to the May Tram Terminus and continued up the Peak via the Peak Tramway.  Exchanging transport technology of the 1990's for that of the 1880's

The Peak Tramway is really a funicular railway, two cars with one driver are pulled and lowered by 5000' of steel cable.  Despite the dramatic incline there has never been an accident

At an elevation of 1,805' the night time panorama is unforgettable

Goodnight and Goodbye Hong Kong
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