A hike in Hong Kong's second largest country park (photo-essay)

For many people, the words "hike" and "Hong Kong" tend to conjure up images and thoughts of hiking either on Lantau Island or in Sai Kung. This is understandable on account of there being many trails through often quite breathtakingly splendid countryside in those two parts of the Big Lychee.

At the same time, Hong Kong does have many other country parks besides the four that, taken together, cover large swathes of Lantau and Sai Kung. And contrary to what many people tend to assume, the second largest of Hong Kong's 24 country parks actually is not a Lantau or Sai Kung one but, instead, Tai Lam Country Park out in the western New Territories.

As it so happens, I was introduced to Tai Lam Country Park on what was only my third hike after moving to Asia's World City back in 2007. Since then, I've been back a number of times -- the most recent being four Sundays ago -- and have to say that each hike in that area has yielded its own rewards -- be it in cool insect sightings, scenic vistas, interesting traces of an older way of life or some other noteworthy sights that help make the hiking experience be a memorable one...

This hike to Tai Tong started after my regular hiking companion
and I got off the bus at Hong Kong's highest bus stop -- 

i.e., the one along Route Twisk marked "Country Park"

 Intricate, dense webs spun by spiders that I've subsequently
discovered live in holes and are no where as large as  

the giant Golden Orb Weavers I've seen on other hikes

As this view of Tai Mo Shan shows (including
with just a week previously),
it was a pretty clear day that day :)

This shady all-paved path hike may be shunned as
"too civilized" and easy by some people but I reckon
that its 12 kilometer length shouldn't be sniffed at

One Sunday after passing by the abandoned school
at Lin Fa Shan, we came across the site of
the now also abandoned Tin Fu Tsuen School

I wonder when learning last took place in this space
that now is slowly but surely being reclaimed by nature?
 Alternatively, the nearby Outdoor Adventurous Training Centre
that caters to war gamers sounded as well as looked like
one Tin Fu Tsai area establishment that was still thriving

The rest area at the Kat Hing Bridge end of Tai Lam

Chung Reservoir makes for a nice place to pause
and idle a bit at midway through a hike

To be continued after a pause... :)