Hong Kong > The Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple

I start the day with an extensive breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, I walk with a small group to the Wong Tai Sin temple. It’s about a three-quarter-hour walk. Especially at the larger roads, it’s sometimes a bit tricky to figure out how to cross. Sometimes there is a pedestrian bridge, sometimes an underpass. When we get close to the temple, we follow the local flow of people who come through the shopping mall next to the temple. The Wong Tai Sin temple is the largest temple complex in Hong Kong. In the Taoist temple, the god Wong Tai Sin is worshiped. Inside, believers pray and people light incense sticks. People also shake a small drum filled with bamboo sticks until one stick falls out. The number on that stick is said to predict the future. Behind the temple lies a beautifully landscaped garden with water features. It’s oppressively warm this morning, even warmer than yesterday. In an air-conditioned shopping mall, I order a coffee. Then we take the metro to the monastery with the 10,000 Buddhas. For this, we have to get off at Sha Tin metro station. We don’t realize that we got off at Sha Tin Wan station instead.

Hong Kong - The path to the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Hong Kong

The original station lies on a different metro line. Because of this mistake, the walk to the monastery is a bit longer. The monastery is in the mountains. The path leading there is flanked on both sides by golden, man-high statues. A remarkable entrance. When we arrive at the monastery, I see ten thousand small Buddha statues inside the main temple. A beautiful sight. In front of the temple stands a nine-story tall red pagoda. The temple and pagoda were built in the 1950s with funds from a wealthy businessman. It is now one o’clock. Near the monastery, we see no suitable place for lunch. We take the metro—this time from Sha Tin station—to Victoria Harbour. There are plenty of restaurants here. In a busy restaurant, there is only one table available. I ask the young man at the table next to me what he’s eating. Laughing, he points to the fried noodles with meat on the menu. I think I’ve seen enough of Hong Kong over the past two days. I end my visit to the city with a walk back to the hotel. From Victoria Harbour, I follow the promenade along the water. Sometimes the promenade is interrupted by buildings. By following the people walking ahead of me, I easily find the next stretch of the promenade. I also follow them through a shopping mall. This is presumably the shortest route. After about an hour’s walk, I come near the new Kia Tak stadium. This stadium and the surrounding sports park are located on the site of the former airport.

Hong Kong - Farewell to Hong Kong with a view of Hong Kong Island’s skyline

The airport used to be in the middle of the city. Since 1998, the airport has been located outside the city on Lantau Island. At the hotel, I take a shower, change for the flight, and wait in the lobby until departure. One hour before the scheduled departure time, the bus arrives. The luggage is quickly loaded. Once everyone is on the bus, we drive to the airport. It is rush hour in the city. Still, the driver manages to navigate the bus fairly quickly through traffic. All in all, it takes about an hour before we arrive at the airport. The moment to say goodbye to Frank arrives. Afterwards, I go to the check-in counters. There is a very long queue at the KLM desks. It seems they have just started checking in. Extra counters are quickly opened. For some unclear reason, we are not directed to the baggage drop-off but to the service desk to check in. This line is much shorter, but in front of us are travelers with large and overweight suitcases. Their luggage sometimes needs to be rearranged first. Shortly after, I can check in myself. I also pass through security and customs. At 10:45 p.m., flight KL 888 takes off for Amsterdam. A flight of over 13 hours.