Our final day in Hong Kong was very special as we journeyed via the experienced folks at Grayline Tours to the mystical Lantau Island. Although portions of the trip were accessible without the tour bus, the bus made it more pleasant and infinitely easier as parts of the Island are quite remote, and having the tour guide who was moving between translating in Mandarin and English for the 20 or so travelers was enjoyable and informative. We drove more than 40 minutes from Kowloon to Lantau, where the bus parked at the foot of the Island's cable cars, where we would travel for more than 1.5 miles across water, and up mountains, to see the bronze Buddha on the hill. Although the weather was not clear, the mist gave our travels a mystical feeling as we marveled at the green beauty of this island, after being in the city all week, the lushness of the growth, but it did not include big trees, and was certainly not developed other than a a cluster of big apartment buildings and the Novotel near the tramway entrance. Although the line was not long, we had paid a little bit extra to travel in a "crystal" car, which includes a plexi-glass open bottom so we could view all below us, and we got priority on the line.
When we arrived at the top of the mountain, we could see the Buddha patiently waiting for us and the others to visit, as he watched over his hillside below. To reach him, we walked through a small tourist village with gift shops and restaurants, as well as the ever-present Starbucks, about a quarter-mile to the foot of the Buddha's perch on the hill, where vendors were ready with the much-needed drinks and ice cream for the journey both up and down.
We slowly cautiously climbed the 268 steps to the summit, where we were met by the lotus ladies in waiting, statues, patiently holding court at the Buddha's feet.
To be continued so I can add additional photos.
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