Christin and Jared in Hong Kong: Day 7

Hitting the highlights of Lantau Island was today's focus...

...but not before taking a break from all things Chinese at The Flying Pan, our favorite American+British breakfast diner...

On the lower section of Central's Old Bailey Street

Jared's "Ranchero Eggs Mucho"

Gray's Eggs Benedict

Gray's cinnamon roll

Katherine's "Full English"

Christin's over-easy eggs

A great start to a big day!

Following breakfast, we took the MTR to Tung Chung, Lantau Island's major satellite town...

Our first attraction was right outside the MTR station: the Ngong Ping 360 cable car...

The line was longer than I've seen before

...but it was worth the wait

The Tian Tan Buddha is visible just above Christin's head

The cable car dropped us off a the very touristy Ngong Ping village...

At the entrance to the village...

...where Christin was transformed into a tiny-faced, happy baby...

...and Jared into a staff-wielding, pouty monk

Once through Ngong Ping, we made our way up to the giant Tian Tan Buddha, though he may not look quite so giant in these photos...

Buddha is like a tiny balerina

"Come give mommy a big hug, Buddha!"

Buddha is so much fun!

Not too far from the giant Buddha is the Po Lin Monastery...

The temple was flooded with tourists...

...but everyone was very respectful

We worked our way back to the Ngong Ping bus terminus and took the next bus down to Tai O fishing village. Immediately after exiting the bus, we quickly boarded a small covered boat in the hopes of seeing Hong Kong's famed pink dolphins...

Off we go!

A tour through the not-quite-so-Venetian waterways of Tai O

...where egrets (and other water birds) are a common sight

In search of dolphins!

Sadly, the dolphins weren't to be found today, but the boat ride was a nice way to relax before hiking through the village...

Tai O's main market street

Stopping for some sweet "tofu flower" (豆腐花)

...which they both enjoyed (particularly the hot version)

Lantau is full of places that don't quite feel like Hong Kong (at least, not the day-to-day Hong Kong that Katherine and I are used to) and we had one more to visit before heading out: Discovery Bay (the expat-filled "non-Chinatown" of Hong Kong)...

Streets of villas (though high-rises do exist here too)

Everyone seems to own their own golf cart

The private beach is quite tranquil

...except perhaps for the game of flag (American) football going on in the back corner

Taking the ferry back to Central

By the time we returned to Hong Kong Island our tummies were craving some dinner, so we grabbed a cab to Sheung Wan and met Katherine at our favorite Singaporean laksa restaurant...

Katong!

We all had slight variants of this laksa

Mighty satisfying, but there was still room for...

McSweety dessert! Right across the street.

Katherine's milk pudding

Gray's frozen serradura (Macanese "sawdust" pudding)

Jared's coconut and mango drink

Christin's strawberry smoothie

Now we're really satisfied!

Christin and Jared in Hong Kong: Day 6

With yesterday's trip to Kowloon, we began the process of touring further and further away from home. Today it was time to see the New Territories for the first time...


But first: a very traditional Hong Kong breakfast!

At our favorite congee shop on High Street

Congee with beef, dried squid, peanuts, scallions, and fried cruller

"Crispy cow tongue" (fried sweet bread, no cows involved)

Fried sesame balls

Steamed sweet cake

Steamed rice roll wrapped around fried cruller

After breakfast, we were off to the Tin Shui Wai area of the New Territories on a double-decker bus...

Upper deck, front row!

The primary focus of today's journey was to see a bit of Hong Kong's natural beauty at the Wetland Park...


...but we needed to warm up a little in the Park's cafe before heading out...

Not quite the meal setting we're used to

鴛鴦 (a mix of coffee and Hong-Kong-style milk tea)

Hong-Kong-style milk tea

Having a chat with Pui Pui, Hong Kong's famous crocodile...

...who was hiding from the cold air

Birdwatching inside one of the many camouflaged huts

We saw lots and lots of grey herons and egrets (among other things)

The park is in the shadow of Tin Shui Wai, so you never forget where you are ;>

...but it is still full of some excellent natural sights

After touring the park, we went back to its cafe for a little lunch...

The menu was mostly Hong-Kong-style fast food

Christin's Chicken wings

Jared's meat sauce over rice (with a sunny-side-up egg)

Gray's baked pork chop rice (with tomato sauce)

Once our bellies were satisfied, we returned to the Island to see another park...

Hong Kong Park is surrounded by skyscrapers (like the Bank of China Tower, pictured here)

...but the greenery is a welcome change of pace for the heart of the city

Its large aviary houses plenty of unusual friends...

Since the Peak Tram station sits right beside Hong Kong Park, this was the perfect time to finally take them up to Victoria Peak...

The Peak Tram is always popular, but I don't think I've seen the station this packed before

Up we go!

Outside the Peak Tower

Now you see them...

Now you don't!

Taking time for a bit of shopping in the Peak Galleria

We started to get hungry while at the Peak, but it really isn't the best place to eat (mediocre food that is way overpriced). Instead, I took them to Causeway Bay for a taste of our favorite Indonesian restaurant...

We're extremely sad because this was the restaurant's last week of operation! :<

Stir-fried water spinach

Beef rendang

Gado gado

Coconut rice (with a few appetizers)

Chicken satay

Some yummy treats (free gifts to commemorate the closing of the restaurant)

We were pretty full after dinner, but there's always room for fat-and-sugar-free gelato sorbet at Mamma Mia's!

The sorbets use Splenda, but you really can't tell - they are delicious!

Top to bottom: mango, mangosteen, durian

Time to work our way back home after a full day!