Hong Kong: The Scenic View and Lantau Island

by - June 06, 2016

Hong Kong Lantau Island

It was such an awesome vacation! It was actually my second time in Hong Kong but this is the first time I've seen most of its attractions. Though of course, first times will always be the best. The last time I went there, I was with my father and to be honest, the streets somehow changed a little bit. 

Also, even though I already went there last 2012, all the pictures (yes all of it) were gone with the wind, and so I don't have any memorabilia with me except for an edited cover photo I had on my personal facebook page taken at HK Disneyland. It was lost together with all the files on my laptop before. 

The hard drive is still with me and I've tried to bring it to a recovery center, but to no avail, they can't seem to recover the files. And as we all know, hard drive recovery is not cheap.. I'm still not giving up though.. I believe one day, I can recover the files. Lol Sorry for the rants. 

Hong Kong, I think, is one of the cities I won't get tired seeing again and again. Let's face it, Hong Kong is not cheap compared to the other countries I've been to. There's something in it that makes you want to go back given the chance. I just never thought I'll come back sooner because I still wanted to discover other cities I've not yet seen. 

So when my mother said she wants to go to Hong Kong, my initial reaction was.. "HONG KONG??!!! Sa iba na lang!!" It's because I wanted to visit Singapore naman this time! But no regrets, just love. Hong Kong for the second time around was awesome. <3

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Looking for a place where we can eat breakfast while going to Ngong Ping 360. Ends up in Mcdo. :D

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Ticket Counters at Ngong Ping 360. The place is not crowded yet.

Hong Kong Lantau Island

For starters, let me clear that we're budget travelers. Hotels in HK ain't cheap. So being me assigned to all the planning (like always), I decided we're staying in an inn along Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui to maximize our budget on the tours we'll be doing. 

Isn't travelling seeing all the places you want to see instead of staying in the hotel? And fyi, hotel rooms in HK isn't that spacious (maybe except for the really high end hotels, 5 star maybe?), so what more the rooms in an inn. And always, if not Airbnb, I always book through Agoda. 

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Just imagine the views we're seeing while riding the cable car. Skyscrapers everywhere!

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island
The scenic view from the cable car ride.

Hong Kong Lantau Island

On our first day in Hong Kong, the weather is not that good. It's gloomy and it's raining from time to time. Our first stop was Lantau Island. And to get there, we took the cable car ride or also know as the Ngong Ping 360. Lantau Island is actually the largest island in Hong Kong, and although it's not that famous among tourists, there are a lot of things you can do here. 

We're only be doing a day trip here so our only agenda was the Po Lin Monastery and to see the Big Buddha up close. But like what I said, it was foggy and so the big Buddha wasn't that clear. The statue was covered in fog all through out but nonetheless, you can see how big it is. 

Never seen something like that when I was in Thailand.. Thailand was and is a religious country and mostly revolves around Buddhism. And even though it's into Buddhism, I didn't saw a Buddha as big as this when I was backpacking in Thailand.

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Stairs leading to the Big Buddha

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island

In order to see the Big Buddha up close, you have to go through a flight of stairs. Exercise na din! Lol. But really, kapagod!

Hong Kong Lantau Island

And this is clearest picture I could take on the Big Buddha because the fog is covering it all! Wasn't able to see the color and details of Buddha. so sad. :( But just look at how big it is!! Really huge it can already be a roof.

Hong Kong Lantau Island

God of War feels in this photo.

Hong Kong Lantau Island

And this is what you'll see upon exiting the cable car. This leads to the Ngong Ping village and the famous Big Buddha. 

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Popcorn anyone?!

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island

The entrance to the Wisdom Path leading to Po Lin monastery and the Big Buddha.

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Just look at the fog! Felt like we're walking around the streets of Japan. Haha! Liking the weather though because it wasn't hot. It's just challenging taking photos because the clarity was being compromised by the fog.

Hong Kong Lantau Island

All the tourists going down from the Big Buddha. Reminds me of the Lourdes Grotto in Baguio.

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Syempre picture muna! :D

Hong Kong Lantau Island
And more photos. Lol

Greek methology anyone? It also gave cool effects on the picture but I think it would be great if it was a bit sunny. 

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island
The entrance of Po Lin Monastery

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Our ride also on the cable car turned out to be a scary one instead of an exciting one because it was raining and the wind was against our direction making the cable car shake. The sound of the wind also didn't help because it felt like we're being trapped inside. But in the end, we arrived at Ngong Ping village safe and sound. 

Our ride going back to the city on the other hand was more chill because it wasn't windy anymore but it was still raining from time to time. 

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Selfie before the cable car ride. Before all the scary stuff. HAHA. And yes, nangitim ako! But for some reasons, I'm liking my medyo tan color. =)))

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Why does it feels like Christmas in this photo? 

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Beware of all the police teddy bears. Hehe

Hong Kong Lantau Island

By the way, all our tickets was booked through the Klook app. If you're not yet aware of Klook, Klook is an app that lets you book your tickets with discount and in advance. You've already booked your airfare, so what's next? Klook helps you save time and money by skipping the lines on attractions and tours while also giving you discounts on your booking. 

Works just like Agoda but on tickets instead. Sounds cool huh? Not mentioning they have a wide choices of ticket attractions to different places around the globe. And if you're travelling to Hong Kong, this is the best way to get your tickets! Take the experience from a first hand user of the app. :)

The roundtrip cable car ticket we booked through Klook also comes with a meal so it was also kind of tipid because food in Hong Kong is not cheap! Well, everything is not cheap given that their money value is heaps higher than ours. 

Hong Kong Lantau Island
Mandatory sister selfie. :)

Hong Kong Lantau Island

We spent the whole afternoon taking lots of photos and being amazed with the views. There are a lot of tourists too.. maybe because it's a weekend? The souvenir shops also are so cool.. Wanted to buy some stuff but you know.. in this kind of situations.. all you can do is CONTROL! haha! Everything is already budgeted so control! Lol. 

At around 3PM, we went back to the city and I suggested we go to Causeway bay to you know.. window shopping! haha. But the time we went there, it rained so hard we didn't had the chance to roam. Since it was also getting late and dark, we decided to call it a day and went back to the inn to retire for the day. 

It was soooooo tiring! My feet hurt so bad but this is how you do it in Hong Kong. Lol. No wonder there are many people who offers foot massage during night time. Mode of transpo here is mostly MTR, and walking is the way of life here. So you're feet better be ready for long walks when in HK. 

Hong Kong Lantau Island

Awkward selfie right there! HAHA.

First day in Hong Kong was fun. And it keeps getting more exciting on our next days. :)

This post is part of our 5 day trip in HK and Macau. If you like this post, you might also want to check this out:



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9 comments

  1. Maaya,

    Looks like you had a grand time in HK! And yes, everything there is expensive, lalo sa food! Hahaha, but there are the little restos that still serve excellent Cantonese Food.

    Ok din iyang pinuntahan ninyo na temple. It is really something no, to see the giant figures? Hihi.

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  2. If it was me who lost all the files and photos, I would really cry. All those memories :( That's why hopefully when I have an extra budget, I will definitely buy an external hard drive para ma backup ko! Hehehe

    Anyway, Hong Kong is actually #1 on my bucket list when I finally have my own passport. I am so poor I can't afford pa the processing fee for a passport especially that my baby is now in school. So many bills to pay pa. Huhu. Hopefully soon!

    xx, Ella | Wandering Ella

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  3. Your photos sort of stole the show! I kept looking each one of them for a while, especially the cable car and the buddha ones. I have been to HK once, and its great. The view of the skyscrapers looks majestic. Great post!

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  4. Anonymous6/10/2016

    Hongkong is one of the best places for any kind of travelers I guess: solo, friends or even family. Love its lively mood and the food are heavy temptations.

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  5. What a beautiful place! All I know about Macau is ruins and gambling. Glad you got to know other places! Cities don't enchant me but this just might

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  6. This looks amazing! Hong Kong is definitely on my bucket list. And you took such great pictures on the cable car. I also love the bright signs. Hong Kong seems to have everything.

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  7. I have included this in my bucket list for 2017. It's cheaper to visit Hong Kong compared to Boracay (according to Cebu Pacific) so this was my destination of choice for my next year's adventure. I'll definitely ride a cable car and go around the metro on foot to explore the shopping areas.

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  8. Ive been wanting to visit HK as well and shop and walk and eat. I always have this notion that anyone's HK tour wouldnt be complete without shopping.

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  9. Well, I must say your second visit is worth it after all. I am sure you guys had really enjoyed your stay there.

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