Tian Tan Buddha | Singapore Travel Photo Blog @ travelerfolio.com

First time using Animoto for video compilation of photos taken from Lantau island, Hong Kong. Animoto rocks!

Look at the long queue all the way from the town centre to Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal (東涌). It was a Monday morning so we didn’t expect to see so many visitors going to Lantau island (大屿山). The ticketing counters only open at 10:00 am on weekdays; luckily we were already in the line around 9:30 am. Set off early to the cable car terminal for shorter queues!

Basically, there are two types of cable cars: the Standard cabin and Crystal cabin that features glass bottom floor. We bought a pair of Standard cabin (round trip) tickets at HK$107/pax… and followed another QUEUE again to take the cable car to Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal for the main attraction of Lantau island – Tian Tan Big Buddha (天壇大佛), one of the five giant Buddha statues in China. I’ve seen the world’s largest giant Buddha in China too. Check out Leshan giant Buddha.

Enjoy a 25-min scenic ride from Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal to Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal. While gliding across Tung Chung Bay, you will catch glimpses of Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok island. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world.

A distant view of Hong Kong Int’l Airport from our cable car. The shot was taken using a 200mm zoom lens.

Ngong Ping 360 (昂坪360) cable cars.

While we can choose the easy way up to Ngong Ping Plateau via cable car, the tough ones can venture out on the 70-km Lantau Trail that weaves through the lush green forests of the island. It’s a strenuous hike that crosses over two of the highest summits on Lantau island. A Cantonese folk in our cable car even exclaimed that there are many snakes along the trail.

The ever-changing 360-degree panoramic view will keep you entertained throughout the 25-min cable car ride. Watch out for the waterfalls below you!

Soon, the magnificent gigantic Tian Tan Buddha statue looms into sight.

It’s amazing how they built the world’s largest outdoor bronze Buddha statue seated on the plateau.

Ngong Ping Village is just a few mins walk from Ngong Ping Cable Car Terminal. There are some attractions in this cultural themed village: Walking with Buddha (multimedia attraction), Monkey’s Tale Theatre and Ngong Ping Tea House. You can also have your lunch/snacks in this village. There is Starbucks too.

But hang on, if you want to try vegetarian food, walk further down to the popular vegetarian restaurant at Po Lin Monastery. You need to buy your meal ticket at the counter near the restaurant entrance. Basically, there are two sets of meal to choose: ordinary (HK$60/pax) or “deluxe” meal (HK$100/pax). This ticket also includes admission to the three halls right below the Tian Tan Buddha statue.

Our not-so-deluxe vegetarian meal for two persons. It comes with a pot of Chinese tea, 2 big deep fried spring rolls, lot of veggies, corns, mushrooms and soup… and a big pot of rice! :X This spread of dishes cost us around S$20 (HK$60 x 2). My rating for this lunch: 3.5/5. Quite a good meal for a hungry stomach!

Po Lin Monastery is located near Tian Tan Buddha.

Colourful prayer flags.

Tian Tan Buddha overlooks Po Lin Monastery.

To reach the Buddha statue, we have to climb 268 steps up the long flight of stairs. Still not too bad. It’s definitely worth the climb as the view from the top is simply awesome. Access to Tian Tan Buddha is free.

The giant bronze Tian Tan Buddha is seated with folded legs on the lotus throne. His raised right hand symbolises the removal of affliction and his left hand is a gesture of giving. The 34-metre tall Buddha statue was completed in 1993.

“The Offering of the Six Devas” surrounding Tian Tan Buddha.

A close-up view of the Tian Tan Buddha statue using a 200mm zoom lens.

Look at the pair of eyes!

An impressive view of the surrounding islands and South China Sea as seen from the platform after climbing 268 steps!

What a great day with clear blue skies! A view of the giant Buddha as seen from afar. It took us half a day quick tour around Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha in Ngong Ping on Lantau island.

The cable car will take you back to Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal. If you need retail therapy, head down to Citygate Outlets (premium outlets) near Tung Chung MTR Station for your favourite designer brands at bargain prices.

How to go to Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping, Lantau island? (Via cable car.)

By MTR: Alight at Tung Chung Station (東涌) and get out from Exit B for a short walk to Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal.

Operating hours of Ngong Ping 360 cable car service: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm on weekdays; 9:00 am – 6:30 pm on weekends & public holidays.

Want to go Cheung Chau 長洲?

Discover Hong Kong

For many Singaporeans, Hong Kong (香港) is one of the favourite destinations for first-time travellers by air. The reasons are:

Firstly, many of us watch Hong Kong movies, serial dramas, entertainments, listen to cantopops since very young, so apparently, many would love to see the city one day. And of course, a big reason for I am a Cantonese!

Secondly, Hong Kong is not too near, yet not too far away from Singapore by approximately 3.5hrs of flight journey. Many Singaporeans usually visit Hong Kong for about four to five days, perfectly right for a short retreat.

Thirdly, Hong Kong is also about food and shopping, just like Singapore! And generally, Singaporeans love to eat and shop!

Same goes with me, Hong Kong is the very first country for the very first time I was on board a plane. The city is easy and safe to travel around. In fact, both of us toured around Hong Kong on our own, and we enjoyed ourselves very much. We simply love the Cantonese Dim Sum, deserts, roasted meats, locally made Portugese egg tarts and many more! During that time, I used SLR camera… hmm… unless I were to scan all the photos one by one… and I wouldn’t do that!! Fortunately, I got some digital photos taken by my parents who visited Hong Kong this April, the period when the first typhoon in 2008, typhoon Neoguri, slammed into southern China!

Ocean Park Hong Kong (香港海洋公园) is ranked the 7th most popular amusement park in the world by Forbes in 2006. Based on the theme park attendance report in 2007, Ocean Park even has more visitors than Hong Kong Disneyland!

The real panda is sleeping, the fake pandas are watching you… Want to see lots of lively pandas in Sichuan Giant Panda Sancturary?

Colourful young performers out to entertain visitors…

Victoria’s Peak (太平山) is Hong Kong’s most conspicuous landmark and the highest point overlooking Kowloon and Hong Kong island.

An overcast day on Victoria Peak in April, and the very next day tyhoon Neoguri, the first of its kind in 2008, approached Western Guangdong, giving off a no. 3 strong wind signal! It’s said to be the earliest arrival of a typhoon since 1949! No wonder people have been saying that it’s a disastrous year for the 2008 Olympic host!

Apparently, typhoon Neoguri struck at the areas that my parents just departed. Once, they were fortunate enough to catch the last ferry from Southern China just before the strong wind approached and the port closed for the day, with hundreds of unhappy passengers stranded at the port! The last ferry that my parents boarded was practically tossing and bobbing in the rough sea. According them, the no.3 wind storm was so strong that they felt like they could be blown away! They had to put up a strong resistance to walk against the wind. What an experience!

Photo depicts strong winds at a harbour in Southern China, April 18 2008 ~ source taken from Xinhua news.

Update on Lantau island (June 2010): http://travelerfolio.com/lantau-island-tian-tan-big-buddha/

Lantau Island (烂头 | lantau literally means “ragged head” | 大屿山) is the largest island in Hong Kong. Tian Tan Buddha (天坛大佛) situated in Lantau island is the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.

Tian Tan Buddha is also one of the five large Buddha statues in China. It’s a popular tourist attraction.

River cruising.

You shoot me, I shoot you!

Let’s move on to mainland China. This beautiful waterfall is located in Knight Valley, OCT East resort in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. OCT East resort has three themeparks and Knight Valley is a newly opened park in 2008.

Big pumpkins! Never seen such big ones in my life before, although I have seen many giant pumpkins photos from the U.S.A during the autumn season.

This little pumpkin reminds me of Cinderella’s horse carriage, just before it was turned into one!

What are those little red houses? For butterflies?

This is the coolest toy of the day! This aircraft carrier Minsk (明思克號航母) is a decommissioned relic of the Soviet era. She was first bought by a Chinese company for scrap metal, but was then sold to an entertainment firm which turned it into a tourist attraction. However, this firm declared bankrupt last year, but fortunately, the military theme park continues to stay in business in Shenzhen.