4 September 2012 - Po Lin Monastery (寶蓮禪寺)

Po Lin Monastery has always been part of our itinerary in all our trips to Hong Kong. Hubby and I simply adore its serenity and tranquility even after so many years. The big Buddha, sitting 34 metres high looks majestic and fascinating always.

Before the cable car was in operation, Hubby and I always take the bus up to the Monastery. Although it takes a slightly longer travelling time, we were able to catch an early bus up to the temple before the Buddha Statue opens its door to the public at 10:00am.

Its good to visit Po Lin Monastery on a weekday morning as we do not have to deal with the crowds. We had the luxury of time, space and freedom to roam around as we capture photos of the surrounding scenic spots.

Ten years ago, there were only a few stalls selling soya milk and soya bean curb. We vividly remembered our first time tasting the local soya bean curb from a granny and it was delightfully smooth and delicious!

Now, there are so many stalls selling 山水豆腐花 that we could not identify which stall is the one we have patronised years ago. Nevertheless, the children were happy with their cup of soya while Hubby and I continued our search. :)
 

Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛), the iconic landmark in Hong Kong. How could we miss taking our photoshots here! 

We were among the first visitors to climb the 260 + steps up to have a close up view of the big Buddha. While Denver & Gladys make a quick dash up, I was struggling to reach the top without panting too much. :p

We were at the TOP!

Great view overlooking the mountains and sea.

Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛)

Making our way down is definitely a breeze compared to climbing up.

I enjoyed taking pictures of the Big Buddha which looks mesmerizing at every angle.

Special thanks to Andy for taking this family photo for us.

More adventure coming up....

 

Places of Interest
Po Lin Monastery (寶蓮禪寺)
Address: Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, Outlying Islands
How to Get there: MTR, Tung Chung Station, Exit B.

take Ngong Ping Cable Car, (~25 minutes). Walk for around 10 minutes to the Monastery.

take New Lantao Bus 23 from Tung Chung Town Centre, (~45 minutes). Walk for eight minutes.

3rd June - Day 4 : After having a good night rest from our day trip to Macau, we are going to Po Lin Monastery (寶蓮禪寺) today. The weather is great and we enjoyed the scenic view of Hong Kong while taking the MTR ride to Lantau Island. Like Singapore, land is scarce and expensive in Hong Kong and hence you can see many high rise buildings.

Upon reaching Tung Chung MTR station (Exit B),  we took bus no. 23 to Ngong Ping. I believe the ride took about 45 to 50 mins to reach the top.  Even though it is not our first visit to the Po Lin Monastery, the majestic view of the seated Giant Buddha is still magnificent whether you view it from below or from the top.

I tried to count the number of steps as I make my climb up to the Buddha. Somehow, I always get distracted and lost count. According to wiki, visitors need to climb 268 steps to reach the Buddha. While the older folks are seen climbing these stairs continuously and without panting or perspiring,  I found myself taking short breaks and having difficulty making my way up. Hahaha..真没用. Poor Hubby had to carry Gladys all the way up and he felt so exhausted. :p

Nevertheless, the climb was worth it as we were rewarded with a panoramic scenic view. Breathing in the fresh air, looking at the misty sky as if I can touch the clouds and enjoying the morning breeze.

Making our way down is definitely a much easier task compared to going up. :) The only 'problem' is my legs are a bit wobbly by now. Hahaha. Nearby, there are some very old shops selling assorted souveniors, toys, fruits and food. We love to eat the 豆花 made by the locals which is extremely smooth and yummy.

We had a little walk through the Ngong Ping Village which is next to the cable car terminal. There are retail shops, dining options and a few attractions within village. (e.g. Monkey's Tale Theatre, Walking with Buddha etc).

Ngong Ping Skyrail

Earlier we took a bus ride up to Ngong Ping, now we are taking the cable-car ride down to Tung Chung. A final view at the Buddha and waving good bye.