We took the train to the tram stop, enjoying the buildings of the cityscape along the way. The tram has been around since the colonization days (Hong Kong was colonized by the British) and has been a popular tourist attraction ever since, and a lot more appealing to most than trying to hike up the steep hillside. Maybe if we were in a serious hiker mood, but we wanted to take it easy and enjoy being tourists.
There was only standing room by the time we got onto the tram, but I didn't mind, I could actually see out the windows better that way. The journey to the top was well worth it, but it ended in the middle of a multi-story mall in which the exit wasn't easy to find. We eventually made it out, though, and wandered over to the great look-out spot to see what the hullabaloo was all about.
As you can see, it was stunning. Pictures really couldn't do it justice. It was a little hazy, but my cousin told me that's pretty typical of Hong Kong due to the pollution, and that some days it could get so foggy you couldn't see the buildings across the street. We were also lucky on the timing of our visit, as we were told October is the perfect time - not smoldering hot and just after the major rainy season.
The city by night was just as incredible. I could have stayed up there forever, but alas, we needed to get our rest that night because we had a very full next day. We got up early to make our way over to a different island to visit the Big Buddha. It's exactly what it sounds like: an enormous bronze Buddha run by a monastery. The novelty of getting there was in the form of a long cable car ride.
Made for some more great views of the islands, skyscrapers, and surrounding water. After we got off the cars it was a bit of walk up to the Buddha, past many tourist-oriented souvenir shops and restaurants. One cool thing we passed was a series of statues depicting the great military generals, each representing a different animal of the Chinese zodiac. I took a picture of my year of the rooster.
It was a long flight of stairs up to the base of the Buddha, but we made it! Seeing a statue so massive up close and the views of countryside beyond were well worth it. It was mostly tour groups up there, but we did see a couple walking around the Buddha in prayer. Buddhism is so different in Hong Kong (a different sect than Theravada), it was interesting to compare and contrast with what I'd observed in Thailand.
We returned to the main island via cable car and train, looking back one more time to snap a picture of the Buddha from far away to give you a sense of scale.
Then we made our way to the other side of Hong Kong, taking a train and a bus to the village of Shek O to see a beach there. Our new friends told us that the Hong Kong is as much about the beautiful surrounding nature, where mountains meet water, as it is about the urban scene. I was so glad to be able to see that side of the area, again, we were there right at sunset and never wanted to leave.
Hong Kong was amazing and three days is no where near enough time to truly appreciate the city, but again, that just gives me all the more reason to come back! My cousin assured us we hit the "must-sees" and I really loved reconnecting with her and sharing stories about our mutual relatives. The next day was a very long day of travel by bus, plane, and taxi, but we ended up in Siem Reap - more stories to come!
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