hong kong: tian tan buddha

Because our guided tour will not yet start until the second day of stay in Hong Kong, I decided that we first make a trip to Ngong Ping Village while we were on our own. Since I was the one who booked this trip (who else) blindly for my parents (I booked them without them knowing, not as a surprise, but because I had to catch an airfare promo quickly haha), I racked my brain on the whole planning stage.

It was my first out-of-country trip with the two of them, so the pressure to keep things on the itinerary tidy was ON. And to make it a bit easier for me, I booked the cable car trip online, days before our departure. Thanks to my traveling gods and angels, I have managed to bring us from the hotel to the MTR, to the cable car, and finally to this village smoothly (you can see here that I can't help but to feed the pressure of making my parents see that they have nurtured an awkward but decent [still questionable] human being who can travel outside the comforts of her own country.).

One of the Offering of Six Devas

One thing that I've liked about Hong Kong, as most people did I guess, is you can have the best of both worlds -- the bustling side, and the calm side. These sides, and the transition between them were both apparent in our MTR ride from our hotel in Yau Ma Tei to Tung Chung station, which is the end point of the orange line.

We went on the 268-step climb to the Tian Tan Buddha (aka Giant Buddha) slowly -- because I did not see any other option than doing so haha (a wobbly non-athletic person can come up with many excuses as you know), and also because the trees and plants on the way to and from the top are also worth the attention as the giant destination was.

The Po Lin Monastery viewed from the steps of Tian Tan Buddha

go cook yourself

the sunday currently vol. 3

Currently...

Reading

I began March with David Nicholls' Starter for Ten, which, by the feel of it, is probably not going to stick with me for the rest of the month. So I decided to start The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, which I just picked up yesterday despite having four other books in my reading queue. I feel ashamed for being this way, but sometimes, it really just depends on your reading category mood.

Writing
is still as elusive as it was to me 10 years ago. I usually laugh at myself and ask if I will ever find my writing voice, and why am I so persistent for thinking that it exists somewhere, to begin with.

Listening
to the whirring sound of the electric fan, barking of the dogs and roaring motors of tricycles in the street.

Thinking

I have been thinking a lot about almost everything recently. From should I sell some of my film cameras? To how far long should I hang on to my day job? To how do I squeeze in photography in a daily basis and what should be my strategy? The things I ask myself should bother me, because it only does involve me. Phew.

Smelling
the black, thick, grease dripping from the engine, waiting to be set in motion for another Monday morning.

Wishing
I wish I do have the same urgency when I am trying to figure out things in my life as to how I can help other people with what I have already figured out for myself. Basically, just to be less engrossed on the details of my own life and really realize that the world is HUGE and there are far more important things that needs to be overanalyzed.

Hoping
to be more present and be mindful, especially with my relationships to people.

Wearing
Oversized shirt and boxers.

Loving
My bestfriend gave me a Mighty Bright book light which will change and add up to the whole reading experience! ♥

Wanting
more quiet, free time to actually write (and not just mind-scribbling all the thoughts on a train ride). Also, to shoot more, if not exclusively with, black and white film.

Needing
Long days and nights of mind-boggling, life-figuring, conversations.

Feeling
Tenderly :)

Clicking
Agoda smart deals :D

The Sunday Currently blog link-up

hong kong: ngong ping village

hong kong: ngong ping 360