The average stay of a tourist to Hong Kong is three days. 99% of tourists indulge in shopping and spend their time bumping into people on Nathan Road where every second person they say "Whoops, sorry" to will ask them if they want a suit made or a copy watch. After the statutory three days they will leave and be still under the impression that we exist in a hub around Kowloon and Central consisting of an ever thronging crowd that drifts in unison under the shade of unfeasibly tall high rise buildings. But they would be wrong.
Last weekend I decided to have an adventure into Central. This is about one hour away from my house in the green and pleasant New Territories. This involved sailing across the increasingly narrow Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui on the famously cheap Star Ferry to the new and controversial pier (which I thought was very smart if I dare say so) and then heading up towards Queens Road. I am a country girl, the sheer volume of people on the streets is exhausting and it wasn't long before I was hankering for home but not until I had made a purchase from H&M and indulged in a sushi lunch just off the escalator.
The next day I set off in the opposite direction towards Sai Kung Country Park. I took a number 94 bus from Sai Kung to Wong Shek Pier where I then boarded an old but nippy speed boat to Chek Keng and walked over the hills towards a beautiful beach. Dai Lang Wan (English translation Big Wave Bay) is not accessible by road, if you want to get there you can get a helicopter but that is a bit pricey or you have to walk and if you are a committed surfer you need to carry your board with you. Some days the effort may prove disappointing as those big waves are just not big enough, but last weekend the surf was up. Have a look at the photographs if you don't beleive me. The effort of the hike is cushioned by a few daipaidongs where I was able to order a beer and a plate of fried rice.
Later that day the local news had reports about how dangerous the surf was that and the life guards were complaining that they had had to rescue far too many people.
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