TIPS on Transportation to TAI O @ Hong Kong (BY FERRY)

My favourite dessert : Ice bean curd pudding -- with stilt house scene. 

(The two bottles are syrup and sugar. Syrup is for ice pudding whereas sugar is for hot one)

                                                   

<<After I upload some videos here, I find that the mobile version does not support to see

the videos and only my PC / MAC can see videos...sorry guys. You may find the videos are missing through mobile watching>>

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to my blog. 

I am so excited to share with you guys again the transportation to TAI O by ferry service. This is really the option you guys cannot miss. 

In part 1, I have introduced 2 modes of transportation to TAI O. I am now going to talk the third mode, which is ferry service directly to TAI O from Tung Chung. To ensure the content here I deliver is trustworthy, I have experienced the whole trip and of course taken some photos and short videos for you guys. 

                                           

The above video is to show you guys the 360 degree scene at TAI O PIER. The stilt houses form the centre of TAI O. The high mountain area is called Yi O, where some organic farms are there. Those organic farm products are sold in a shop located in Kat Hing Street, TAI O.

The ferry is leaving the pier

This is the return trip from TAI O to Tung Chung. Surprisingly, this is a wonderful experience.

During the trip, I sat on the upper deck which is open to nature. By ferry, I can see the whole scene of TAI O and this is not possible for other transportation modes. If you are lucky, you can even see white dolphin near the bay of TAI O. 

Driving quite fast

wow...it is airport

Cable Car (Ngong Ping 360)

Cable Car Terminal in Tung Chung

Cable Car

Bus Stop Terminal - Bus Route to TAI O
(Next to Cable Car Terminal)

Many perks you have if you choose ferry:

- see the scene of airport

- see the long bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and China (now under construction)

- beautiful sea view with clear horizon

- possibility to see wild white dolphins near the bay of TAI O

- see GENERAL ROCK near the bay of TAI O (the sight-seeing attraction of TAI O, that is a     
  rock looks like a Military General from a distance)

- see the sub-tropical landscape...the combination of mountain, sea, island and fishing 
  village, sunshine, breeze etc.

TIPS about the ferry trip:

- Choose the corner seats at the back side of upper deck of the ferry. This is to ensure you 
   have open area for photoing. Besides, the back side is more steady during the trip. 

- Choose non-peak hours, for example, afternoon trip on Monday to Friday 

Hope you guys find my tips helpful.  

See you next blog.

(Next blog I am considering to talk something about food in TAI O. So stay tuned..)

TIPS on transportation to TAI O, Hong Kong (part 1)

Fresh squids dipped into sauce 🐙, cooked by secret recipe in a food deli, TAI O.
(I tried once, extremely delicious. People queue up to try👍)

Dear Friends,

Welcome to my blog again, this article may talk about the transportation to TAI O, and the most importance...I will give you some tips about it...wow...it's great...! LET'S GO...!

Let's start from Central, HK Island. You have at least 3 choices of how to go TAI O (Well...you always have a choice..right?). 
(All 3 choices I mention here have been tried myself😎)

#1 choice:

Go to TUNG CHUNG MTR station by MTR from Central. 

Next is to go to the Bus Stop Terminal and take the Bus Route No.11🚌 . The bus terminal is located next to NGON PING 360 (the cable car terminal) with about 5 min walk from MTR station. It takes 50 min to reach TAI O from Bus Stop Terminal. 


TIPS #1: Try to sit the window seat in right hand side of the bus.

The 2 photos (below) were taken by my smartphone when I sat the window seat in right side. The left side is only the hill slope. (of course, you should sit the left side in the return trip, to capture the sunset scene)

If the window seats have been occupied, you may wait for next bus (if you are not in hurry). This is the only chance you can capture the beautiful sea view along the bus route, as sitting in the middle or left side has nothing you can do...(except selfie...😉)

                        








TIPS #2:   Go to toilet (washroom) BEFORE you take the bus.

As I said, it takes 50 min to go there...well, it is true only if there is no traffic jam / nothing happens along the road. So far I didn't see any public toilet in the mountain area.  Remember, the bus may not stop for you because of this reason. 



#2 choice:

Alternatively, you may go MUI WO - Lantau Island from Central. Next is to take Bus Route No.1 from MUI WO, to TAI O. It takes 40 min by fast ferry service to MUI WO. After arrival, you can see the Bus Terminal once you walk out from MUI WO PIER, and then choose Bus Route No.1 which is directly to TAI O. The Bus takes around 30 min to TAI O. 

STEP 1= Central Pier, Hong Kong Island

STEP 2 = Choose Pier No.6

STEP 3 = Arrive MUI WO Pier

STEP 4 = Take the Bus Route No.1

TIPS#3 : Try to sit the window seat in the ferry, so you can take photo to capture Victoria Harbour scene. The fast ferry is equipped with air-conditioning and the seats are so comfortable that you can simply sit back and relax throughout the ferry trip.

Victoria Harbour (in rainy day)

Victoria Harbour (in rainy day)

Victoria Harbour

Inside the ferry (with air-conditioning)

#3 choice:

Finally, you may choose the ferry service from TUNG CHUNG to TAI O. Since the scene is
so beautiful, I would like to upload those video and photos in next blog.....so stay tuned..!!

Kwan Tai Temple @ TAI O

Official Description outside KWAN TAI Temple

Dear Friends,

Today, a big party for KWAN TAI Temple takes place in TAI O, Hong Kong. I have taken some photos for you guys. KWAN TAI Temple is located in KWAN TAI square, the centre of TAI O village. In TAI O, big party usually means a combined event including dinner with families, karaoke and mini concert etc. 

Who is KWAN TAI (Kwan Yu)? He is a very famous hero in Three Kingdom period of China (1800 years ago). In Chinese society, everyone know him. You guys may try to ask your Chinese friends, I am sure all Chinese know him. The popularity of Kwan Yu's story is not only confined to the temple or annual ceremony, but also extend to movie and gaming industries. 

Search "Three Kingdom" in google, you may find a lot of games about Three Kingdom and Kwan Yu. Being the God of War, Kwan Yu always plays a very strong General among the warriors in games. That's why even the kids and teenagers they know Kwan Yu very well. 

Beside games, Kwan Yu and Three Kingdom's story also are the themes of several Movies, for example, "The Loss Bladesman (2011)", portrayed by Donnie Yen who is the famous kung fu movie star in Hong Kong. 

Probably because of the long historic stories, high popularity of movies and games, KWAN YU becomes a famous hero in Chinese society across the generations and regions in both China / overseas Chinese society. 

Dinner and Mini Concert start opposite the
KWAN TAI Temple

Full of villagers

Entrance of KWAN TAI Temple

Entrance of KWAN TAI Temple

Ready for dinner and mini concert, just outside KWAN TAI
Temple

Mini concert invites various Hong Kong famous singers

Banner of ceremony and mini concert

Flags for KWAN TAI ceremony 

Introducing TAI O. Hong Kong (updated on 22 July, 2016)

                                         

Sunrise @ TAI O

Dear Friends,


                                                WELCOME TO MY BLOG 

I am so glad to see you here and share my living experience in TAI O. Living in Tai O is interesting. Lots of cultural events / heritage / people they are waiting for you to explore. By exploring a place / people, you will be inspired !! That make you have a different perception, or even bring you to a new horizon. Sounds great, right?

                                    Travelling is a way to explore yourself. 

                                                           I LOVE TAI O

Simply because of this passion, I create this blog to meet you guys here to share it. If you guys are passionate and full of curiosity to the world as well, I am so proud to meet you here.  

Perhaps, some of you guys have visited TAI O for several times, or TAI O is new to you, anyway my blog hopefully can give some tips about TAI O, and inspiring you as well. 

                                                              WHERE IS TAI O?

Where is TAI O? TAI O is located in west coast of Lantau Island of Hong Kong. It is a fishing village since Ming Dynasty (around 500 years ago). Fishing, salt making, making shrimp paste and salted fish used to be the main business activities. Nowadays, shrimp paste and salted fish are still available as souvenirs for tourists. Fishermen are getting old now, though some of them are still active in fishing.    

TAI O is characterised by stilt houses along the seaside. That's why it is also known as "Eastern Venice". 

You may go there by bus (from Tung Chung MTR station) or by ferry (from Tuen Mun), but the sad is that private car is not allowed unless you get special permission.

Though the transportation of TAI O is not so convenient, it probably is one of the reasons to allow TAI O to retain its tradition. 


                                         HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN TAI O?

In the past decades, young people went to urban to work. Only old people stay in TAI O. They usually operate a shop to sell some traditional stuff, e.g salted fish, dried  duck egg, CHA KWO (a kind of TAI O dessert) to earn their living. Fortunately, TAI O is positioned as a tourist attraction by Hong Kong Government recently, and thus more conservation and revitalisation policies have been introduced in the past 8 - 10 years. Some young people are now willing to stay / return to TAI O as they see more tourists visit there. 


                                                STREET SNACKS / RESTAURANTS

If you like street snacks, TAI O won't disappoint you. Egg waffle (cooked by charcoal), grill squid, giant fish ball,  various kind of Chinese desserts can be found in the street. You just cannot stop eating...Well, if you prefer High class restaurant in hotel and local seafood restaurants, they are also available for your choices. By my observation, almost 50% kind of street snacks of HK can be found in this small fish village.


                                                     FESTIVALS

Tuen Ng Dragon Boat Water Parade, is the most important festival in TAI O. Well...don't think this is again the dragon boat racing like in other districts, it is more than just the boat racing.  In TAI O, this is a ceremony to bless villagers and fishermen so that hopefully they can enjoy safety and peace in the coming year. In the past, fishing was just like an adventure. Fishermen went out to the ocean for fishing, by primitive boat and tools. Safely back to home is always the primary concern for fishermen. 

I attended this ceremony last month and was recalled that our ancestors had to fight against the rain storm, in order to earn the living for families. Heroes....!!

Because of such meaningful ceremony, Tuen Ng Dragon Boat Water Parade has been recognised as "the third batch of China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage items" since 2011. 

Nowadays, this festival has became the hot tourist attraction.


                                                        TEMPLES

Being a traditional fishing village, temple is common in TAI O. 

I select four major temples in TAI O. They are KWAN TAI Temple, YEUNG HAU Temple, GUAN YIN Temple and HUNG SHING Temple. Apart from these four, there are some others . However, in my future blogs, I tend to focus on these BIG four temples as they are the most popular deities. 

On this Saturday (23 July), is the celebration of KWAN TAI Temple in TAI O, it will be another tourist attraction. Let me take some photos for you guys. So stay tuned...

Ready for KWAN TAI celebration

Flags to celebrate KWAN TAI 

Please visit this blog regularly (every two weeks), as I am still updating the blogs here to enhance your travelling experience. 

Sunrise @ OLD PIER STREET

All are photographers

   

 
 

Shrimp paste and dried seafood

Boat racing during Festival and the Stilt House in the sea

                                                                                               

 

Pork Chop Noodle 🍲@ Wing On Street
(with air condition !!)

A Romantic Legend & A Romantic Place

Seeing sunset with your beloved @ TAI O

Dear Friends,

Welcome back to my blog. Today is "Chinese Valentine Day" (according to Chinese calendar). 
My best wishes to all lovers in the world.

Someone describes it as "the Festival of Star-Crossed Lovers".

What is the legend of this "Festival of Star-Crossed Lovers"? It is about a long distance relationship. According to the legend, the Weaving Maid - the seventh daughter of the Emperor of Heaven, fell in love with an orphaned cowherd. The Emperor disapproved of their relationship. The girl and the boy were forced to stay at star Vega and the star Altair respectively. Only on seventh day of seventh month (Chinese calendar), the couple could be met on the magpie bridge over the Milky Way.

Today, many couples they are still forced to stay in different location / countries due to their job requirements. Long distance relationship is still romantic..right?

Well, I am not sure whether long distance relationship is romantic. But I am sure that in TAI O @ Hong Kong, there is a boutique hotel which is surely a romantic place for lovers.

This hotel used to be a marine police station since 1902. In 2012, the police station had been revitalised as a boutique hotel. The building is full of British Colonial elements such as French windows, granite steps, wooden case windows etc. 

The Main Building of the hotel

Entrance of the Hotel

The hotel opens to the public for visiting till 6pm everyday. In weekend, lots of tourists come to the hotel to take photo. It is recognised as the most romantic place in TAI O. Will you come with your beloved to visit the most romantic place?

LOVE, is a Romantic Story...&
FOREVER in a Romantic Place..