Hi!
I am like boiling up here. It was so hot today but really clear which was great as I went over to Lantau Island to see the Tian Tan Buddah and Po Lin Monastery. I caught the bus in the morning and then the ferry across to Mui Mo on Lantau Island. I then caught a bus along the coast and then inland to the Po Lin Monastery. There I saw the Tain Tan (Giant) Buddah which is the largest seated outdoor bronze Buddah in the world. It is 26-metres high and can be reached by climbing the 268 steps up to it. Phew. But it was definetly worth it as the views were spectacular and the exhibition very good. I walked around the top for a bit and then made my way down again. A couple of minutes walk away is Po Lin Monastery. There were many people buring incense outide the building. After the entrance there was a large courtyard with a stage put up, possibly for Buddah's birthday on Monday. At the top of some steps was the a building with an amazing shrine in, all gold and spectacular. I wandered about a bit and then watched a show which included gymnastics, some incredible hullah-hooping and a changing face performer. It was all really good. I had bought a ticket which included lunch in the vegatarian restaurant so I went in and got lead to a table. I was presented first with some soup thing which had lumps of some vegetable in which were pretty good and some tea which tasted like grass. It became apparent really quickly that not being able to use chop-sticks was a big disadvantge. I then got some other dishes: one which looked like chicken but was probably tofu, some mushroom and other vegetable dish, and some white thing deep fried which was really yummy. I never did get my rice though and this other sweetcorn dish which didn't look very appetising. After that I walked down to Ngong Ping village. There were loads of touristy shops there but some other really cool ones like a shop completely dedicated to shop-sticks. I had a browse and then walked down to the cable car terminal. The cable car is definetly for people with a head for heights. It took me down over Lantau Island, which was very pituresque (until we got to the airport) and then down to Tung Chung. The trip was diffinetly worth the $56, just under 4 pounds! I then got the MTR (like the Metro) back to Hong Kong. By this time I deffinetly deserved a treat (I had navigated myself really well!) so I got a Ben and Jerrys ice-cream, chocolate fudge flavour, yum-my! I then caught the bus back to the Peak. Man, what a day! I took the dog for a walk and I plan on spending the rest of the evening watching TV and doing nothing (and deciding what to do tommorow!)
lots of love,
Helenxxx
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