June 7: Cloud Hopping, Big Buddha, Tacky Tourism and Crispy Duck...An Average Sunday

On Sunday CJ, Kevin, Dominic, Melinda and I went to Lantau Island to see the giant Tian Tan Buddha, the Po Lin Monastery and the Ngong Ping village – one of the most highly-rated cultural attractions in Hong Kong. (Thanks, HKTB)

Lantau Island is just a 45 minute MTR ride from Hong Kong, and when we arrived on the island we met up with Melinda’s friend John who was in Hong Kong for work. The only way to get to Ngong Ping from the MTR station is by a 25 minutes aerial cable car ride across the island, which was absolutely amazing – perhaps the best part of the trip. We followed the rolling ridges of the green mountains and soared high above the China Sea and inlet bays. As we neared Ngong Ping, we saw the Buddha emerge through the mist high up on a mountain top. Its presence was compelling, almost magical.

We landed in Ngong Ping Village – a wonderfully tacky setup obviously built for the sole purpose of tourism. In the “village” we ate bland Chinese dishes reminiscent of Westfield Montgomery food court fare and took advantage of the ample photo opportunities to stick-your-head-in-the-cardboard-cut-out. There was a Starbucks and five different gift shops which all presented the chance to buy any manner of branded junk as well as purchase the candid group photo taken as our cable car arrived in Ngong Ping (did we want that in a key chain or a commemorative photo frame?) However, for us, authenticity isn’t always a requirement…throw enough varnish and kitsch together and we’re happy either way.

From Ngong Ping we made our pilgrimage to the Tian Tan Buddha – the world’s tallest (112 feet) Buddha seated on a lotus throne atop Ngong Ping plateau. The giant Buddha is made of bronze and took over 10 years to create, unveiled in 1993 amid religious ceremonies and dedications. We climbed more than 250 steps to get to the Buddha and took approximately 100 photos on our way up. Upon reaching the Buddha, we took in the amazing view, high above the rest of the world, at eye-level with the mountaintops – it was so stunning and serene and peaceful. And if you’ve got my imagination/taste in entertainment, the scene (lush green mountains, deep bays, heavy mist) was reminiscent of Jurassic Park and LOST. I kept waiting to find Jacob in the belly of the Buddha, or see a T-Rex roar out of the tree line…maybe you had to be there?

After sharing a spiritual moment or two with the big guy, we visited the ornate gardens and shrines of the Po Lin Monastery at the base of the Buddha. Exhausted at the end of another long but unforgettable day, we got back in the cable car for the return trip, and it was just as exhilarating as the second time around…the MTR ride, however, lulled us all to sleep.

We met Mike for dinner at “American Restaurant” for the best crispy Beijing duck in Hong Kong…odd name choice, we know. It was great food (although we may have accidentally eaten a side dish of pigeon – and enjoyed it!) and great company and we surprised Mike with a birthday cake! The perfect end to another perfect day in Hong Kong…and at this point, I’ve come to expect nothing less.