Time for a day trip adventure to Lantau Island. – this is the largest island in Hong Kong and island the airport is located.

As a avid seeker of photo opportunities, I wanted to ensure I was able to capture shots of Big Buddha in Ngong Ping Village and Tai O – the quaint fishing village.

We booked a crystal car on the Ngong Ping cable car – (do this the night before when you know the weather is clear – we did this at our hotel).

We still had to stand in line but while there I did notice a very SHORT line for pre-purchase tickets with KLOOK (seemed to have a fast-track to the front of the line.) The car had a clear bottom so you could watch the view below. (If heights are a deal breaker, take a bus.)

I saw a walking path so hiking up is another option, it is certainly not mine!

If possible, sit on the side facing Hong Kong as you will be able to grab a glimpse of Big Buddha. If you are on the other side, check out the new bridge that will eventually link HK to Macau, the gambling capital of China.

As you approach the end of the line, you can see this Buddha dominating the hilltop. I am super excited.

The cable car ride takes about 25 minutes and travels over lots of water and above rolling hills. You can travel here by bus however, if you know me. Point "a" to "b" fast please.

When you depart, you will find yourself in a quaint village much like Banff, Canada, but Asian style. This village is call Ngong Ping Village, go figure. Knowing I would be climbing I stopped at Starbucks - yes I did mention it was like Banff right?? So, yes, tourist location it is! I grabbed an iced nonfat latte to go.

As this is a full day trip for us, consider purchasing tickets for a lunch at the Po Lin Monastery. I wish I had!!!

You can purchase VIP or regular dining. This is a vegan meal. The booth to purchase is at the base of the staisr heading up to the big Buddha. Check with your hotel, they can book for you.

Our plan was to head to Tai-O to eat, so we passed. In hindsight, I wish we had eaten here.

TIP for the day. EAT at Po Lin Monastery, grab a snack here or bring something to eat if you are continuing on to Tai O.

Big Buddha sits among lotus leaves and is surrounded by statues offering gifts.

FYI - this statue facing NORTH - this is not customary as they usually face east to the rising sun.

This majestic Buddha is 34M high and is reached AFTER you climb 268 steps. Yes, I counted each and everyone of them. It is estimated to cost $60 million and believed to be created with 250 metric tons of metal.

It really is a sight to be seen. The real name is Tian Tan Buddha.

Words and pictures do NO justice.

After climbing to top, make sure you enjoy the view, it is as beautiful as Buddha himself. The countryside is stunning with rolling hills and the ocean and blue sky a perfect backdrop.

We spent couple hours touring around this area.

I had considered walking "Wisdom Path" however as the language on these 38 wooden monuments is not in English, I thought a bit of a waste of my time.

You could however check out Po Lin Monastery which was built in 1906 by 3 Monks. Inside you will find 3 statues of Buddhas. They representing past, present and future lives.

Next stop Tai O.

We hopped a bus. (BTW, the bus stop is hidden. You will find it tuck behind the shops to the left as you head back towards the village, It is not marked well)

Goodbye Big Buddha.

After a short 15 minutes bus ride we arrive at Tai O and the O stands for OMG. I have been saying this alot on this trip.

Photography paradise. Time to pull out my 35mm and tuck behind the lens.

Where to start?

So glad I ventured here!

Tai O - the village time forgot

The minute I step off the bus, I am stunned by my surroundings. I have a ear to ear grin. this is going to be a fun adventure I can tell already.

The entire town is based on fishing and tourism. We had plans on eating here but with the smell of drying fish, a smell lingers in the area and I have now determined I am no longer hungry.

I know I will not starve. Should have ate at the Big Buddha! Just saying!!!

Small kiosks are plentiful, and anything from the water is game. There are stalls with ladies cooking fish balls that are on wood skewers in many places and it seemed to be the dish of choice, just not mine. One place that almost had me eating was fresh oysters heated on a grill. How could you go bad with that? Tempting as it was I moved on.

The town is very run down and it seems the world has forgotten Tai O. We pass homes built from steel. Obviously this was done to preserve what they can against the wild weather and harsh seas. Remember this is Typhoon area. We continue walking through town.

Our destination is to make our way to the Old Police Headquarters. Not because of a security issue, instead we are heading there so we can stop for a drink and maybe a small bite.

We walk for about 15 minutes through slumb like areas on unstable, eroding land that is taped off with yellow caution tape and government notices. Oddly, the further we walk, the cleaner the area becomes.

Soon we are on a pristine boardwalk. Someone has invested some $$$ in this direction. We hustled to find the station which is now converted to a hotel. We meandered up a paved walkway and proceeded inside. Tea is about the only thing they seemed to be serving at the time we arrived. Darn, I was looking forward to a cold brew on this HOT day. Oh well. (Tip: I am not sure I would stay at this location as there really is NOT much to do here and obviously the dining out is, SLIM!)

We passed large low profile baskets filled with a reddish brown paste sitting in the hot sun fermenting. The fellow who was cutting these into blocks mentioned that it was Shrimp paste. The smaell is horid.

Have you ever had rotting fish smell? Well now you know they smell. Dare a say STENCH! YUCK!!! OK, Not sure when (if ever) I will make this purchase for my kitchen.

The tide is out while we are here which allows us to see the footing to these makeshift homes.

Out in the mud I see a woman using a pick to lift rocks and find something. I am not sure what she is searching for but it did not appear to be the day for a good harvest. She picked around for a few minutes and then moved her tray. I found it very interesting and if you know what she is hunting for. Please let me know in the comment area. I am very curious.

Don was getting hungry and grumpy. We walked up the main path up the river and managed to find a little booth making egg waffle.

How could you go wrong with milk, flour and eggs. Crisp on the outside it was just what we needed and tasty it was.

So there you have it. I did risk a street food vendor and I survived!

I could have spend a few more hours here and head farther up the valley, but I will leave that adventure for someone else.

Time for us to say goodbye to Tai O. I loved the village and would definitely recommend a visit. Especial if you like to get off the beaten path.

We now hop a bus to Mui Wo. The plan was to do an entire circuit of Lantau Island. It has been a very relaxing day and we are in no rush. We pass beautiful beaches and prisons. this island has a little bit of everything.

We finally arrived in Mui Wo. This was the location of a silver mine and remnants of the mine still remain with a few watchtowers that use to protect the town from pirates. Lucky for us pirates vacated this location in the 1930 and today this town is known for Silvermine Bay Beach.

On a weekend in summer I am sure the shores would be filled with urban dwellers fleeing the concrete jungle they live in.

There is an extensive bike path through the town and with the massive bike stand, I believe many people living here commute to the city for their paycheques.

There are many smaller hotels and eating places in the area with picnic sites to enjoy. This would be a great place for a day trip with children.

In the distance we see a glimpse of Hong Kong.

We hopped a high speed ferry and headed back to our home away from home. Don is very amused with the HUGE USA Aircraft carrier that is in port.

Times are very turbulent now as North Korea is stretching it military muscle shooting off missiles toward Japan. I almost didn't make this trip because of this. Thankfully and escalation on that front did not transpire. WHEW!

Our time in the Honk Kong area is coming to a close and we are ready to get ready for the next instalment of our Asian trip. NEXT STOP. THE Great Wall of China.

So there you have it. Honk Kong area in 8 days. (FYI - If I was to redo this trip I would recommend 7 days to hit highlights)

4-5 days in the city area and a couple days on road trip tours. We had a blast.

Hong Kong, Done and Done! Off the bucket list. NEXT....

Lantau Island - BIG Buddha and Tai O

Tai O - the village time forgot