Travel Log: Under the Pale Grey Sky (Day 2)

Previous Day: Touchdown & Local Foodsss

Destination: Hong Kong & Macao

Duration: 9 Days 8 Night (Nov 24~Dec 02, 2018)

Day 2: A Freezing Day at Lantau Island

Our plan today was to take the Ngong Ping Cable Car to Lantau Island before making a stop at Tai O Village. Since we started late in the day, we bought some buns & egg tarts from Breaktalk Bakery downstairs of our hostel before waiting for our bus E23 at a bus station within 100m from our hostel. We started eating the buns at bus station and we were totally shocked at how nice the ‘luncheon meat bun’ was!!! In fact, it became our ‘must-have’ daily food when we were there! *facepalm*

Waiting for the Bus...

Our Breakfast

It was drizzling when we got on the bus and the weather remained gloomy during our 1 hour ride. We were supposed to disembark at “Tung Chung Crescent” but we missed the stop because it was so close to the previous station (Tung Chung Fire Station) until we thought it was a traffic light stop even though there was an announcement. *sigh* There was another group on the bus which missed the stop just like us as well. We quickly press the bell for the next stop but unfortunately the next stop was significantly further away. It was a 20mins walk from this stop to the cable car station.

Raining...

Missed our stop!!! UGH!!!...

Long Walk...

The queues at the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal was quite confusing and we had to ask around to get to the correct queue. This time we pre-bought the 1 way crystal cabin ticket through Klook (thanks to their Black Friday+Cyber Monday Sales!). There was a designated counter for Klook and we managed to redeem our physical ticket without issue in less time than the normal queue. There was yet another queue to get on the cable car and all this time hb was concentrating on Klook website with his handphone to get the buy 2 free 2 HK Disneyland ticket promotion. It seemed like luck was on our side as he got the deal successfully just before we got on to the crystal cabin cable car.

Some Touristy Picture

The Klook Counter

Our Crystal Cabin Band...

Yay! We got it!

The view from the Crystal cabin was indeed breathtaking but the rain seemed to get heavier during the ride. There was a heavy rain by the time we reached our destination – not to mention the weather were freezing cold. We never expected it would be that cold so we didn’t bring any jacket. We ended up buying rain poncho from the shop to continue our journey. It was a chaotic situation as everyone was cramped in the small shop to avoid the rain...

Sammy: Don't drop me to the sea!!!

Still 'clear' sky...

Hiking Trails at the bottom...

Started to get Misty...

Raining!!!!

We were lucky to find a seat at a shaded area at the souvenir shop and we kept contemplating on whether to do or not to go. The rain didn't border us that much but the problem here was the freezing wind! We finally took a deep breath to run into the cold to explore the village. We found out much later that it was only 2 degree Celcius that day at Lantau Island - imagine us without any jacket... *cold sweat*

The Customary Picture with Cable Car

Oh we need a lot of luck!!!

This seems like a hot spot as everyone was taking pictures here...

Cold & Wet.. 

Getting some hot drink from 7-11

We bought some curry fishball to warm our stomach before continue to climb on the stairs to the big Buddha. We ended up hiding inside the big Buddha most of the time as it was windy and heavy raining outside. Since we had nothing much to do inside, we ended up looking at the crystal bracelets and buying some. *facepalm*

Lil one encounters her friend... 

We need some hot foods!

Curry Fishballs & Tea Eggs!

Climbing up to the Big Buddha

We got free entrance to the 2nd & 3rd floor to take a look at the relic

Super Windy outside!!!

End up with Bracelets...

Time to go...

After a long time, we finally braced ourselves to leave the big Buddha – even the stairs were flooded with non-stop pouring rain that time. We’d decided to skip the wisdom path as the lady at the crystal counter told us there would be even windier up there. There were significantly less tourists by the time we left to get the bus to Tai O Village.

Even the stairs are flooded

Significant less people now...

The Pacman Ghost & the Dog...

The Poh Lin Monastery

The Big Buddha at the back is hiding behind fog...

Finally it appears!

It's a good time to take picture when there is no one else there.. =P

More Curry Fishballs!

Waiting for the Bus to Tai O Village...

When we reached the Tai O Bus Terminal, there were long queues of people to get on bus to leave Tai O... Frankly speaking we had no idea what to do in Tai O other than taking pictures of the wooden bridges and stilt houses. The sky was getting dark and there were hardly any stalls opening. We were told by the locals saying they closed early due to the bad weather. 

We are here.. when everyone was leaving..

So i guess we should take pictures of wooden bridge.. =P

The Channel between the houses..

Just like Hong Kong movies...

This is supposed to be a 'landmark' on the map.. =P

A Jetty!!!

Local Delicacy... it's like cream puff...

More Wooden Bridge!

The Stilt Houses

Gloomy Weather....

Another Landmark

We ended up at a very old style eatery with traditional Tai O food with very friendly owners. The owners kept telling us how they were affected by the flood few months ago and ended up having limited menu at the moment.

This is basically deep dried seafoods with shells. You are supposed to eat everything with the shells... Hmm.. not for someone with teeth braces....

Seafood Soup with Glutinous bites.. the soup was great in cold weather but not a fan of the glutinous bites.

Chinese Pizza!!! LOL

The Eatery

We ended up taking another bus & MRT to get back to hostel and I must say the bus ride from Tai O to the Tung Chung Cable Car terminal were horrible with all the turns – definitely not for someone with motion sickness. *puke* Once we reached the station, it was a choice of either MRT or another bus, we simply couldn’t stomach another bus ride anymore so we’d decided on the MRT. The whole Bus+MRT journey took 2 hours+ before we finally reached our hostel after a long freezing day.

I have to go into Breadtalk to get the luncheon meat bun for supper!!!