Weekend lolls around, time to venture around. With the weather warming up and the sun returning to the Hong Kong skies, it was a good time to take a day-trip out into the Geopark area by boat. Unknown to a lot of people (well, unknown until the news coverage about the Geopark a couple of years back), Hong Kong has a plethora of geological formations that are just as incredible as those you see overseas.
Less musings from me on this post, mostly photos and captions of the Ninepin Group (果洲群島) we went to:
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| Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city for a day |
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| The boat we took. The tour guide was sitting at the very front, and it was difficult to hear what was being said given the din of the other passengers and the sound of the boat engine. But it was a Cantonese tour, so despite my aptitude with everyday Cantonese (ordering stuff in restaurants, asking for directions to the loo, etc.), I wouldn't have understood the complex terminologies being used. |
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| We were supposed to hop onto the Ninepin Group for a bit of exploration by foot, but the waves were too strong for the smaller boat to get the passengers safely onto that rocky outcrop. Our group went back for a second attempt in the afternoon, hoping that the change in tides would bring about better conditions; but alas, it was not meant to be. A boat staff member that clambered onto the island had difficulties trying to get off it afterwards. |
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| But can still admire the columnar joints from afar! Their hexagonal shape aren't noticeable from this angle, but if you managed to get onto the island and take a look from above, it would be evident. The presence of columnar joints means that Hong Kong used to be a site of volcanic activity, though the craters from such a past are not visible today (the prof I talked to said the crater would have measured 20km in size.) |
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| An arch in the area (alliteration!) I'm personally stoked to see this in Hong Kong, since we've learned about these formations back in school but never had a chance to see one locally. |
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The smaller boat ferried passengers close to the arch; the waves were very turbulent and occasionally splashed onto some of us. Best not to wear your favourite garbs on days like this. The smaller boat intended to take us through the arch, but the waves were just too strong.
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| After checking out the Ninepin Group from a distance, we went onto Tung Lung Chau (東龍洲) for a bit of food and a mini-hike up one of their strangely named hills that infers to a 'female chicken/hen'. (I've tried looking for a bit more information about how this name came about, but no luck so far.) Am not a big fan of outdoor activities, and hiking ranks low on my list of 'to do' things, but even I thought it was a worthwhile walk. |
The Geopark tour we went on was a specially-arranged one, but you can head to the Sai Kung piers during the weekends and catch a boat that will take you onto the waters. Browse around first for the better deal, and ask as many questions at the counters before joining. The fees for these will vary (at least 80HKD upwards for about two/four hours.)
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Detour:
No day tour by boat is complete without heading off for lunch on an island. They can be tourist traps, cheesy with their decor, and not the poshest places to have a meal, but it is all part of the experience. Here are some snaps of that:
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| The restaurant was called 'Seafood Island' (海鮮島); not being discreet about the sort of dishes they specialize in. Expect to see big tables for twelve, plastic table covers, small toilets, and a pretty loud dining environment. But if you're on a group tour, you don't exactly expect peace and quiet to begin with... |
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| The island we were on during lunchtime. There is a very small Tin Hau (天后, also known as Mazu in other cultures) temple to the very left of the settled area. Tin Hau temples are common in this area because of the fishing heritage in the area. |
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| Fishing boats docked around the waters |
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| Everyday items in the fishing village. This was an old lady's kitchen area, and she produces her own dried shrimp (蝦米) there. The dried shrimp was a bit pricey, but she also sells other sorts of tasty desserts, such as... |
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| ...this tasty thing. They are called Cha Guo (茶果), which comes in a variety of forms, flavours, and fillings. This one was served on a leaf, and you buy them as a whole (I was sharing with a friend, hence the lady cut it in half for us.) The inside of this one was filled with shredded radish, dried shrimp, and a bit of mushroom. It tasted mildly salty, but it was delicious. |
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| Old fashioned grinder, don't see many of these anymore |
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