Lantau Island Getaway
By Rosario Charie Albar
 The cable car ride from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping is a 5.7
km. stretch that dangles above the South China Sea and over rolling green hills
of the North Lantau Country Park. Hiking trails crisscross these hills and we
saw some hikers testing the precipitous slopes. Out of the fog and light rain we
had our first glimpse of the Tian Tan Buddha in the distance. It was a magical
moment.
 We got off at Ngong
Ping Village where our first stop was the Tea House. I love to drink tea but
have never done so in a tea ceremony. The ritual started with the cleansing of
tiny cups in a bowl of hot water. Then a spoonful of green tea (our choice) was
poured into a small pitcher filled with water heated to a temperature level that
brings out the best of the selected tea. Our hostess transferred the hot tea to
a filtered glass pitcher to remove any residue. She then filled all our cups.
And just as they do in wine tasting, she held her cup to her nose to better
appreciate its aroma. We followed suit. The first sip, she explained, is to
quench the thirst. The second cup is to leisurely savor the rich flavor
and the third is for sheer enjoyment.
 After
graduating from tea school we made our way toward Po Lin Monastery where we
started the climb up 200+ steps to the Giant Buddha seated on top of the hill.
It took 10 years to build the Buddha which measures 34 meters in height. There
is a commanding view of the surrounding mountains and the valley below from the
brow of the hill.
 Hong
Kong residents and our hosts, Kent and Wendy, had a special treat in mind when
they took us to the village of Tai O. The bus deposited us at the harbor and we
walked the short distance to the dried fish market. Tai O is well known for its
dried fish and seafood. As it was the Chinese New Year holidays, the
restaurant we chose was packed with families celebrating the Year of the Fire
Pig. Our hosts ordered local specialties like shrimps with extra thick shell
which were challenging to eat but quite juicy, deep fried bean curd sprinkled
with salt (the best tofu I’ve ever had), steamed Chinese broccoli, and a dish of
minced pork and squid topped with salted dried fish. It was incredibly good.
 After
lunch we strolled to the bridge and caught a boat out to sea to watch for white
dolphins. Our skipper took off at top speed and didn’t let up until we were in
open sea where we sat awhile to admire the rocky contours of the island and to
gasp in awe when white dolphins bobbed in the waters. Returning to the
village, we cruised through a community of stilted houses, with their laundry
hanging out to dry next to pots of colorful flowers and an occasional raised
dinghy. Tai O is dubbed as the “Venice of Hong Kong”.
Our bus driver gingerly negotiated the twisting highway
back to Tung Chung. Segments of the road are quite narrow so buses have to stop
at designated areas to let oncoming vehicles pass. It was late afternoon, I was
feeling relaxed and nodding off. I had succumbed to the healing balm of the
island.
* * *
How to get there: Take the MTR from Kowloon station to Tung
Chung. From Tung Chung you can either take Bus 23 to Ngong Ping or the cable
car. Follow the signs to the Skyrail Terminal. The cable car ride takes 20-25
minutes. Take Bus 2 to Tai O from Po Lin Monastery.
Where to stay in Hong Kong: Harbour Plaza Metropolis, 7
Metropolis Drive in Hung Hom. They have a complimentary shuttle to and from Tsim
Sha Tsui which is the hub for sightseeing, shopping and catching the ferry to
Hong Kong Island. Phone: (852) 3160-6888.
www.harbour-plaza.com/hpme
Images by Rosario Charie Albar
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