A day on Lantau Island

After Dim Sum at Tim Ho Wan I went out to meet up with Alex and Tanja (The swedes I met in Sanya) to go explore Lantau Island, Hong Kong's largest Island. Lantau's biggest attraction is probably Hong Kong Disneyland, we didn't go there. We did go to the second biggest attraction of the island though, the Tian Tan Buddha. Weighing in at 250 tonnes and 34 metres tall, it is the largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world. Half the fun of getting to the Buddha is the cable car ride that you take to get up the mountain. After walking around the Buddha and adjacent monastery we head to Tai O. Tai O is a traditional fishing village with houses built on stilts over the water. It's nothing too special but it is enjoyable to walk around in, esepcially to take in the sunset. Following Tai O Alex and Tanja went to do a little shopping at the outlet mall in the Island (I believe it's the only one in HK) and Natalie (one of the dim sum people who joined us along for the day at Lantau) took me to Discovery Bay. She was under the influence that everynight at a certain time there were fireworks there. If there were we missed them, but we did get a great view of the city over the water from a beach. Discovery Bay does not allow cars on it's premises so to get around people use golf carts or public shuttles. There is also a ferry to Central, which is what we took to get home.

Haagen-Daas had this ice cream sandwich that both Alex and I really wanted to try. We didn't end up getting it, but it's going on my list of "to eat!"

In the Ferry car heading up the mountain.

Tanja and Alex.

Not what one usually thinks of when they think of Hong Kong.

This sign just made me crack up for some reason. I hope the stick figure just got a scare and didn't break a line.

Tian Tan Buddha in the distance.

Getting closer.

A stuffed monkey wrapped itself around me. I bought the male version for my 8month old nephew, but don't tell him and ruin the surprise. :)

almost there.

I'm pretty far from home right now.

WTF, I have to walk up ALL THESE STEPS!!! grrr

Hi Buddha!

He's waving at you!

At the Po Lin Monastery, I thought this little makeshift garden was pretty.

Buddhas inside the main temple at Po Lin

A little snack from the vegetarian canteen. Green tea with red beans, mango with sago and coconut "cakes" and cold tofu. The cakes were just ok but the tofu was very tasty.

Boats docked at Tai O as the sun starts to set.

Tai O fishing village.

Tai O and the mountains surrounding it.