Day Three in HK! I went to Lantau Island, an island south of HK, to see the Tian Tan Buddha, which is also simply known as BIG BUDDHA. I took a cable car from HK to Ngong Ping village in Lantau, which took about 30min.
Up in the cable car looking back at HK Island
The cable car traveling to Lantau Island
On Lantau! That small bump on the hill on the left is the Buddha!
I rode in one of the cars with an adorable Asian family. They were chattering the whole time and the dad would yell out English words like "airport" when we passed by the Hong Kong airport, then nod and smile at me.
Once off the cable cars, I walked through the Ngong Ping Village, which to my understanding is recreation of an authentic Chinese village. It was cute, but then had things like Starbucks and 7 Eleven, which felt weird to me.
The Tian Tan Buddha is the largest outdoor, seated, bronze Buddha in the world! It is a very specific category. It is 110 feet tall and you need to climb 268 steps, which on a hot, humid summer day is quite a feat. I saw lots of people panting, sweating like monsters and having to stop multiple times on their way up - obviously I was not one of them.
I love this sign...
I think if you can't figure out how to get to the Buddha though, you're not worthy.
It can literally be seen from almost anywhere in this vicinity.
The Buddha is 12,968 km from New York...so far from home!
I wasn't joking about the 268 Steps
Me and Buddha!
At the top!
View from the top!
Buddha waving...
actually the hand placement means something...
right hand raised means removing affliction, left hand on knee means happiness
(your useless fact of the day, you're welcome!)
First building with incense burner outside
These two guys reminded me of Rich and Matt for some reason
Interior detail
The Big Temple
Interior of Big Temple
Interior of Big Temple
Detail of doors surrounding the Big Temple of three sides. Very intricate.
Exterior walkway around Big Temple
Dragon detail
Dragon detail 2
Most Asian shot of the day: Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and surrounding gardens
After seeing the Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery, I took a bus to a small fishing village on Lantau Island named Tai O. The town makes its living off of the fishing market there.
mmm...tasty
All of these are some form of dried seafood
So much to choose from
AH! SHARK SKIN!
Apparently I was not supposed to take a picture of this person's stand.
They are rumored to be really mean - I mean duh!
They skinned a freakin' shark, I'm sure they are not jolly people.
Cute little puffer fish turned into...well, I'm not sure what you do with these
Yeah, that man is cutting open a live eel on the street...what-of-it?!
Fresh seafood grilled on this cart. This old man was actually really adorable.
The houses in the village are really interesting - there are stilt houses that essentially sit half over the water and a type of original Chinese dwelling in which the first floor can be completely opened to the street and used for business with two floors above for the family's residence.
Stilt Houses
Stilt Houses
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