It's a lovely warm Saturday morning , the twirds are bittering and the shun is sining so the obvious thing to do is get out there and exercise those legs. Thus a little doggy-led tramp took us from home to the gate at Pak Tam Chung. Of course, it didn't start off like that. Half-way there (at the bus stop at Pak Tam Au) the Memsahib turns to me and complains that we've (meaning "I've") already changed the destination of the walk three times. Hmmm: she might just have a point...
Getting over the hump
Between the paradise that is Ko Tong Ha Yeung and the-rest-of-the-world where ye mortals dwell is the big ole hill crowned with municipal toilets that perhaps has the Best Views in all of Hong Kong (down Long Harbour to Tap Mun Island and China in the distance). This is the point where the Maclehose Trail #2 ends and #3 begins the awful stepped ascent of Ngai She Shek Shan which ends at the peak of Ngam Tau Shan. Most people get off the bus and either turn left or right here, but if you go a little way down the hill back in the direction of Sai Kung a hidden gem of a path opens up on your left. One of my favourite walks, this shady track will take you on its winding course back to Pak Tam Chung away from the road and clear from all man-made noise.
Did you know there were over 200 varieties of bauhinia?
Descending the rocky path some beautiful vistas open up: deep green valleys full of nothing but cicada-filled trees, darkened bamboo glades that conceal babbling brooks, broken-limbed red pines strutting out onto exposed ridges. It caused the Memsahib to remark,
"This could be anywhere: Spain -anywhere in the world!"
Observe This!
On the right can be spotted the white round dome of the Lady Maclehose Holiday Village iObservatory (did you even know there was one?). On a good night I reckon that from here I could get a good view of the rings around Uranus.
Just before Pak Tam Chung is the river crossing to Sheung Yiu (folk museum) village. It's a great little walk which begins and ends besides a café-cum-dai pai dong right next to the Wong Fuk Hing bridge where none other than Bruce Lee fought in Unicorn Fist!
This is one of my favourite spots in the world. The old guy that runs this place doesn't speak a word of English, but makes sure the beers are served cold, in frozen metal mugs and that as you sit taking in an evening by the river the Tsingtao is left with you in ice containers -blocks of ice with an aperture for the chilly bottle. Bliss!
Jumping Squid
Finally, at Pak Tam Chung we walk through the barrier and get a green taxi home. A hot slathery Squiddly decides now's the time to sit with the slightly nervous taxi driver and attempts a clamber over the front seat leaving dirty paw prints everywhere. Good doggy!
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