Monday, April 21, 2014

Taiwai to Wong Tai Sin

Duration: 
(7.5 kilometers)
3 hours

Difficulty: 5/10. 613m climb. Quite easy

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Water needs: 1 liter

Appreciation: 8/10 great views of the city of a clear day. Optionally, spend some time exploring the Wong Tai Sin temple, one of the most popular temple in Hong Kong

Transportation: Tai Wai MTR Exit A. Return from Wong Tai Sin MTR

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/484004627
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Beginning of the Garmin map is a bit wonky due to the lack of satellite line of sight. Follow the blue line on the map instead and instructions below for the first kilometer. 
Head left, right off Exit A. Turn the corner to the left.
At the roundabout, take the stairs up, first left, then right, as per map above...
You will be following the highway, on the left-hand side of it

Keep going straight. You'll be going under the overpass.
Again here, Garmin gets a little bit confused. Follow the blue path.
Crossing the little on-ramp road.
Then crossing the road, going under the tunnel...
... and climbing the stairs on your right, right after the tunnel. Can't miss the Lion Rock Country Park sign!
From that point on until you reach Amah rock, follow the signs towards it
Amah rock. From that point on, keep going, following indications for Lion Rock until you arrive at the Reunification Pavilion  
At the  Reunification Pavilion, go up towards Lion Rock.
From this point on, you should be able to rely on the Garmin map. It will lead you all the way to Wong Tai Sin. 


Friday, April 18, 2014

Man Cheung Po's infinity pool (萬丈布)

Duration: 
(4 kilometers)
1 hour

Difficulty: 3/10. 140m climb. Easy peasy...

Cel phone coverage: None.

Water needs: 0.5 liter

Appreciation: 9/10 for the infinity pool for a swim in the middle of summer

Transportation: Take bus 11 from Tung Chung to Tai O, and back. On weekends and holidays, there might be tons of people, then, you can take the ferry to Mui Wo, take bus 1 to Tai O and back.

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/481954409
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If you go before 9am, head to Tung Chung, otherwise, ferry to Mui Wo and take bus #1 to Tai-O. You'll thank me for that...
Anyhow, for the early risers, when in Tung Chung, exit @ 'B'. Then go straight.

You should find bus stop 11 behind the bus terminus. About 45 minutes to Tai-O

Right behind the Tai-O bus terminus, there's a pier. Go there and just follow it around...

... to the little village and then to the right, along the shore for about 10 minutes

Follow the shore...

Follow the indications towards Man Cheung Po. Still following the shoreline at this point

Here, you still follow the Man Cheung Po sign, leaving the shoreline and climbing a bit

About 2.4 km into the hike (35 minutes), you'll reach this point...

... do NOT follow the Man Cheung Po signs at this point, just keep going on the path. Not the stairs, the path. You could take the stairs... but that would be wrong... So path it is, right?
(The concrete thing on the ground. Ok ok, just making sure, I'll just shut-up now)
(path...)

About another 8-10 minutes walk later, you'll reach a second set of stairs; those are good. Take them. They will lead you straight to the infinity pool.

Blue house. You're not lost

Pool in sight

There you are! Enjoy the waterfall and the infinity pool. Well, actually, it's a catch basin and you are technically not supposed to be or swim there... technically...

Pwetty...


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Please, don't litter!

Hiking is about communion with nature. So please pickup after yourself. There's no excuse to leave plastic bags, water bottles or any rubbish on or around the trails; if you managed to bring it, you can manage to bring it back!