Hong Kong Tour (Day 2) – Lantau Island Tour (Part 3)

Here are additional things you might expect in Lantua Island, the Po Lin Monastery. I should not be writing any about Po Lin Monastery as unfortunate events. To enumerate them:

1. We can’t right the Ngong Pin Cable Car due to its annual maintenance.
2.  It was too hot and we don’t have any umbrella with us, something I can endure.
3.  Po Lin Monastery is under renovation.

It does suck but what else to do but enjoy whatever you can find during the tour. I’m hoping to see what Po Lin Monastery is going to be after renovation though. Something to look forward… J

Even there are some unwanted events going on, I still find some of these things amazing and hope you too:

The Monks

When I was in Thailand I saw some Monks wearing orange cloth around their body and a bald head. Here’s something different. I saw 3 monks during our tour and they wore gray Chinese man clothes but without the intricate golden designs. Just as play as gray.

I saw one wearing a conical hat or dǒulì in Chinese or salakot in Filipino. What made my day was the monk I saw was thumbing his mobile phone. Isn’t it cool?

The Buddhist/s

If we can find Buddha, we surely find some Buddhist and I adore how they show their faith. I even saw a couple who went up the Giant Buddha and they were saying prayers then stop, kneel, and then bend. After which I saw the couple roaming around the Big Buddha while praying. I’m of a different religion but I feel how serious and sacred it is to be that place.

There were also believers who light their incense as offering. For those who have some allergic reactions to the following essence such as cassia, sandalwood, styrax, cinnamon, etc. You might want to bring some antihistamines with you and take them before going to the site.

The Incense Holder

The humongous incense holder and jars were all over the place. This is something you expect mostly on temples and shrines.

The Gods

If you are in any monastery, temple, or shrine; expect to see statues of their Gods. These representations were of reminders to the believers of Buddha and their Gods.

                  

                  

                     

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Hong Kong (Day 2) – Religious Tour at Lantau, Hong Kong (Part 2)

To not keep you waiting, after walking the pathway of the Twelve Generals you will find a piazza in front of the Giant Buddha staircase. The piazza has ponds on around the first platform and they were planted with Lotus. We all know that Lotus is one symbol of Buddhism’s fortune which means rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment. There are 2 lotus flower colors that grow in the piazza, Pink which represents the history of Buddha and historical legends of Buddha and Violet which talks spirituality and mysticism.

In front of the piazza is the staircase to a remarkable Giant Buddha statue which is about 268 steps up the mountain top. If you wanted to enter the Giant Buddha's stomach you are allowed as long as you paid for HK$ 30 with free vegan dumpling and bottled water to go.

After going up, we went down another 268 steps while the sun is up and were all sweating and find our way to the Po Lin Monastery. It was an unlucky visit as the monastery is under renovation. Even though, I still took pictures inside the monastery and went in to feel the solemnity of the place. Incense fills the air as those who pray offer it to Buddha.

After the climbing and the capturing every moment we had at the Ngong Ping, we found ourselves enjoying some treats from the Vegetarian Deli restaurant near the monastery.

We went to the shop area but did not get any for souvenirs then head back to the bus terminus and lead to the Citygate Outlets for shopping. I personally did buy any. I can’t find any climacool from the Adidas outlet. I just took my time sitting on one of Pacific Coffee’s chair enjoying my ice cold café latte.

We did went to Mongkok to buy some giveaways <pasalubong time!> for our relatives and friends.

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