|06-MAR-2016|  After a full night’s rest we’re ready to take on the day. Left the apartment around 8am bound for Central Station. We stopped at a local coffee chain for breakfast of pastry, juice and lattes. Good stuff – and apparently the local MC agrees as they had about 10 members sipping coffee on the outdoor patio overlooking the most ridiculously out-of-place looking Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Next up, the MTR to Tung Chung, the transfer point for the cable car to the summit of Lantau Island and the Tian Tan Buddha.

Train station was pretty busy for 9am on a Sunday.

Interesting thing about the subway trains – continuous cars.

The line for the cable car was cray-cray when we arrived at 10:30am (10am opening) but it moved and the alternatives were longer and much less scenic.

The cable car system is a 3.5 m bi-cable system and the 25 minute journey offers great views of the HK airport, the South China Sea, and North Lantau County Park. Roundtrip ticket: $23USD.  Wouldn’t get that bargain at home! There’s a hiking trail that runs under the cable car line on Lantau – 5.7 km, 450m total elevation change (up, down, up, down, etc.) – 3 hours. After seeing it – no thanks!

At the top, after navigating the gauntlet of tourist nonsense, we made our way to the Big Buddha – which includes 268 stairs. The Tian Tan Buddha is 112 feet high and made of bronze.

At the base are bronze statues of the Six Devas: generosity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom.

After noodles for lunch from a local street vendor we made our way back to HK.

On our way back through HK we noticed that the local parks were PACKED with groups of women today. They were picnicking, playing music, relaxing, chatting, etc.  Cool, but very unusual – very few men, or children.

Wandered through a weekend market when we hit our neighborhood. All kinds of food, knockoff clothing and electronics; everything you’d expect from a Chinese street market.

OK, you knew it was only a matter of time before a pizza showed up.

Picked up these beauties, and an fabulous Caprese salad, at The Point, a pizza and pasta restaurant a few blocks away on Tang Lung St.

Grabbed an Australian Cab-Shiraz from the nearby 7-11 and ate dinner at the little table in our apartment overlooking Lockhart Road. Actually watched a couple of guys set small fires on the sidewalk below. We suspect it’s related to a restaurant or something, but can’t tell from here. Entertaining though.

Interesting site from our morning walk. This building is shrouded in scaffolding made entirely of bamboo.

Some on Hong Kong’s famous architecture.  Everything is lit up a night with amazing neon but during the day you can really see the impressive construction, materials and style of the skyscrapers that are the city’s trademark.

 I think we’re headed across the harbor to Kowloon tomorrow for markets, record stores and the Moomin Cafe. Kowloon is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world.

Conveyances to include a ride on the historic Star Ferry Line!

Check in tomorrow for more adventures! 🙂