I don’t have class until 5:30 on Tuesdays. I’ve decided to use these days to do some local Hong Kong sightseeing, as during Tuesday afternoons sights should be less crowded than on the weekends.
First Tuesday excursion: The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Sha Tin. Only one train stop away from the University, it’s a good quick trip.
In order to get to the Monastery itself, you must walk up a path of 400 steps- I had heard about this and braced myself for a workout- however upon arrival realized the step are wide and on a looong slope. Nothing I can’t handle after hiking around hilly campus all day, that’s for sure. The path is lined with hundreds of life-size gold statues of Buddha’s followers. They are all different; some more amusing than others, and being walking up that jungle path by myself was a neat experience. I was able to leisurely stroll up the steps, enjoying the shade, and stopping to look at whichever statues seemed interesting (when I wasn’t looking out for wild monkeys, of course).
The monastery itself is beautiful. It is on the top of a hill with gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside (although it was hazy), and has a pagoda, some large statues, and a vegetarian restaurant. Quite a complex. There is one GIANT room that gives the monastery its name. It is filled floor to ceiling with 1-foot tall Buddha statues. I can’t even describe how many statues there are –well I suppose I can, there are 10,000- and I was admittedly shocked at first. It’s pretty cool.
The whole place is very peaceful- the setting is beautiful and it is quiet, except for chirping birds. And it is so close to school, I think I may have to go back for lunch at the restaurant sometime. I just have to remember not to feed the monkeys.
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