Hong Kong Day 4: Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Citigate Outlets at Lantau Island & Esprit Outlet

Be sure to read these first:
Hong Kong Day 1: Airport Express, Thematic Lantern Exhibition & Heritage 1881
Hong Kong Day 2: Star Ferry, Man Mo Temple & Gage Street Market
Hong Kong Day 3: Ocean Park

We woke up the earliest on day 4, about 6.30am. Our plan for this day is to go to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha (tai fatt). Of all the days we can choose it had to be on this day?? Well, it was the foggiest day of all!!! You’ll see what I mean later.

Since it was so early (7.30am), most restaurants has not open. Luckily we found one at Hankow Road. Our breakfast at San Yuen Restaurant wasn’t a pleasant one. We get a shock of our life just as we were walking out of that restaurant. Hence I’m not going to share it at Messy Witchen.

The ham fried rice was incredibly good (has wok hei). Couple with a cup of nai cha and chili oil… HEAVEN! Couldn’t say the same for the porridge. It was so yucky! Too salty. The waiter who took our order was quite rude.


On our way out, we saw the cook climbed on the cooking area with his boots stepping on the chopping board. He was cleaning the window. We were like “Urgghhhh!!!” Can’t believe we just ate there. Ptui ptuiiiiiiii… hahaha

We took a taxi from YMCA to Tung Chung MTR (Lantau Island). Since we’ve taken the MTR to Disneyland before, I figured a change of scenery would be good. Our taxi fare from YMCA to Tung Chung MTR is HK$213.50 (RM84.76). Took 30 minutes to reached there.

After that we have a choice of going to Big Buddha by bus (bus #23), taxi or cable car. Again I choose the taxi. You can only take the red taxi from Hong Kong to Tung Chung. If you’re going anywhere in Lantau Island you need to take the blue taxi. No cable car for us as it was not worth it due to the fog. Can’t see anything. Besides the cable car is quite $$.

This picture above was taken while waiting for taxi at the taxi stand at Tung Chung Station. Just right in front is the bus station which will bring you to Big Buddha. Our taxi fare from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping is HK$148.00 (RM58.76). Time taken was about 38 minutes.

Bus #23 arrived just as we were departing the taxi stand. Guess what? Our taxi was quite slow and was only able to overtake the bus half way there. Besides the road to Ngong Ping is elevated, zig zag and only have 2 lanes. How come I didn’t realize Big Buddha is situated on the mountain?? Hahaha

The further we went up the mountain, the foggier it became. Scary!

Finally we reached Ngong Ping Village at 9.48am. Perfect timing as the Big Buddha is open at 10am. Do click at the above picture for a larger view of the Ngong Ping Village directory. Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery are located inside Ngong Ping Village. There are plenty of souvenir shops here.

Ngong Ping Village was basically empty! Can you see the thick fog?
It was also very very cold! Our hands were stucked in our jacket the whole time!

As we were walking towards the Big Buddha, light rain started to fall. Visibility became even poorer. I think the visibility is only 100m. I’ve never been in such situation before!

Before long, we reached the steps of the Big Buddha. I was asking “eh sure ke? I don’t see the Buddha.” Since it was so cold, we need more energy to go up. Every few steps, we would stop and huff and puff. Thought I wouldn’t made it to the top but without realizing I’ve reached the final step. Wohooo! I guess the fog kinda help in a way (as visibility is poor and I wasn’t able to see anything in front of me). On a clear day, I think I would just give up before I even started. Hahaha There are a total of 268 steps.

Magical! I’ve seen ‘Tian Tan’ Big Buddha in TV a lot but never in this way.

Was I disappointed with the view? Heck no. Though I did hope that the fog will lift a little so that I can see the Buddha’s face.

We surrounded the Big Buddha 3 times and pray 3 times.

Red door.

Lovely staircase handrail.

Deities.

Pretty flowers at the bottom steps of Big Buddha. There’s a shop there too. We bought several bracelets at that shop. These bracelets have been ‘kui gan’. Means hmmm prayed?

There were more visitors coming up now. Thank God we managed to avoid the crowd. Several of them prayed by kneeling from the bottom of the steps to the top. Wow.

Slowly we make our way to Po Lin Monastery. It was quite confusing as we can’t really see far. Finally we arrived!

The giant of all incenses! This picture couldn’t give you the ‘giant’ feel. Too bad.

This is the place to buy incense and souvenir. By this time, rain was pouring more heavily. We couldn’t feel our toes and fingertips! Several times I had to warm my hands at the burning flames of the oil bowl. After praying, we head to the main temple.

Just the side view of Po Lin Monastery. Can’t risk my camera in open rain. The interior of the temple is so beautiful.

The pink flower plant on the left is pussy willow.

Then we head to the vegetarian restaurant at Po Lin Monastery. I’ve read reviews that the vegetarian meal here is really good. Read my Po Lin Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant review at Messy Witchen. This is something you do not want to miss! After our hearty lunch, we went to the cafe to ‘tapau’ some vegetarian snacks. Yummy! (also review at Messy Witchen)

I wanted to visit Wisdom Path after that but had to cancel my plan. Reason: Cold and too foggy to see anything!

So we walked back to Ngong Ping Village and checked out the souvenir shops there. Went back to Tung Chung by bus #23 this time. Bus fare is HK$17.20 (RM6.83). Time taken to Tung Chung is the same as while heading up which is 40 minutes. We snored all the way man. Haha

This is Tung Chung MTR. Citigate Outlets is behind this station.

Citigate Outlets where bargains from top international brands are located, all-year round discount for past seasons items.

Bargains galore!

Okay I’ve finally visited the Esprit Outlet here. Didn’t buy anything though. Haha
I managed to grab an Armani jeans at only HK516.00 (RM205.00). And Body Shop shampoos and conditioners. Wah lau stuff selling at Body Shop here are crazily cheap!!! The Olive Shampoo and Olive Conditioner set went for HK$166.60 (RM66.10). Cheap or not? Banana Banane Shampoo and Conditioner set went for HK$89.00 (RM35.30). I would love to grab more but these are heavy items. Ouch! Btw for Couch fanatic, bags over here are not that cheap. That is if you compare with US Coach outlet. But of course how many people can go to USA right?

By the time we finished shopping it was 5pm. Since I’m lazy, we took taxi back to Tsim Sha Tsui. If we take the MTR, we have to take taxi too since the MTR will stop at Kowloon Station. And there’s no MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui from there. This time the fare is HK208.50 (RM82.77). I’m posting the prices so that you can compare and decide the right transportation for you. On the way back, the taxi driver phoned his compatriot to ask whether Tsim Sha Tsui area is jam so that he would consider taking another route if it is. Now that’s the way a good taxi driver works. 🙂

Rested about an hour in our room before heading out again for dinner and shopping. We walked all the way from YMCA to China Hong Kong City which is far… maybe 30 minutes or more. Destination: Esprit Outlet. On the first day when I arrived here I saw this Esprit Outlet from the bus. Had a feeling that the one at Hankow Road is no longer there. True enough. But first we need our dinner.

Dinner is at the food court in China Hong Kong City. The dishes are quite salty. But the rice is nice. It’s vegetable rice. Never eaten anything like this before.

This Esprit outlet is smaller compared to the one in Citigate Outlets. Same clothing from this 2 outlets but Citigate offers cheaper prices. So now you know ya. Nevertheless I managed to grab 2 tees at only HK69.00 per tee. That’s RM27.39! Hehehe

China Hong Kong City comprises of office buildings, a hotel, shopping centre and a ferry terminal (ferry to/from Macau and China). Now I understand why we were mistaken for ‘Tai Lok yan’ as this area (TST) is their place-to-hang out. There are other outlets in China Hong Kong City but we’re not interested. So off we went to nearby H&M (Silvercord) and bought some Hui Lau San (mango desserts) on our way back to the lodge. The Haiphong Road area is really happening.

I think I’ll go to Lantau Island again for the vegetarian meal, Wisdom Path and perhaps Tai-O next time.

That’s it for day 4. One more post to go.