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Hong Kong, The Islands, Nov. 2019

Cheung Chau, Lan Tau and Tai O

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This is the island of Cheung Chau.

The island of Hong Kong was ceded to the British in 1842. The Colony was enlarged slightly in 1860, when a small section of what is now Kowloon was also ceded.

In 1898, a 99 year lease was granted which included the New Territories and many islands surrounding the old British Colony.

Cheung Chau Island was part of that concession.

There are no cars allowed on Cheung Chau. This is an electric buggy which serves as a refuse collector.

With no heavy traffic on the island, walking is an enjoyable past-time.

Cheung Chau is nicknamed Dumbell Island. The main strip is a narrow piece of land, and there are two large "knobs" of land on either end.

On this trip, I decided to explore the Northern "knob" of Cheung Chau. Both ends of the island are quite hilly.

This is a path leading up to one of the peaks.
I was amused by this "security gate".

Somehow, I don't think that it will hinder would-be trespassers!

This is the Yuk Hui Temple in Cheung Chau. It is on the Northern end of the narrow, built-up strip of the island.
The main waterfront in Cheung Chau.
Cheug Chau has a large harbour, which is protected by long sea walls.
Dried fish for sale on the waterfront on Cheung Chau Island.
Lan Tau is the largest island within the territory of Hong Kong. Its most famous attraction is the large statue of the Tian Tan Buddha in the village of Ngong Ping.

The village of Ngong Ping is also home to the Po Lin Monastery, and is the terminus of the cable car from Tung Chung.

The feral cows of Ngong Ping are tame and friendly. I was told that these cows were once part of a dairy farm on Lan Tau.
The long flight of steps towards the Big Buddha takes you up to a terrace with good views of Lan Tau.
Apparently, these are very old gates which were built long before the Big Buddha was erected.
This handsome monk would look good in a Kung Fu movie! Or perhaps as an understudy for Yul Brynner...
The Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping.
Just off the Western coast of Lan Tau Island, there is a small island called Tai O. It is famous for its fishermen's houses built on stilts.
In the top left corner of this photo, you can see part of the bridge which now connects Tai O to Lan Tau.

Before that bridge was built, there used to be a quaint ferry service from the steps below. Local women would use a rope to pull their little boat from one set of steps to the other, transporting their happy passengers to and fro.

There are lots of restaurants on Tai O, and this one is on the terrace of a traditional stilt house.
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