Many moons ago now, I went on that which I've come to think of as "the hike from hell" -- an arduous excursion that had me seriously wondering at one point whether I'd need to call on Hong Kong's helicopter rescue service for help! Happily, that experience didn't put me off hiking in Hong Kong altogether. And close to three years later, I decided to go along the Ma On Shan Country Trail with my now regular hiking companion -- with the full realization that one third of this official trail would involve my re-visiting sections that I had previously ventured along on that scary "hell hike".
One reason for doing so stemmed from my recalling that parts of that hike really did go through very lovely countryside indeed. Another was that, feeling quite a bit fitter now as well as more experienced than when I went on what was only my seventeenth hike in the Big Lychee, I figured that going back to this area would help me exorcise some demons as well as provide me with a good sense of my fitness levels now versus then.
As it turned out, this later hike proved to be a pretty pleasant one indeed. And even while the (only) 4.5 kilometer long Ma On Shan Country Trail did feel on the short side, this hike did yield a number of interesting sights as well as splendid views on the day during which we were so happy to be outdoors and making the most of pleasant weather and beautiful blue skies. :)
We hiked the Ma On Shan Country Trail in reverse --
and consequently began by climbing up several steps
Before too long, the steps up the hill disappearedand consequently began by climbing up several steps
-- and beautiful vistas opened up to be viewed
The views inland included ones of Pyramid Hill --one of those Hong Kong peaks I aspire to get up
some day... just not that particular day!
View of Sai Kung from the edge of the Ngong Ping plateau located in Ma On Shan Country Park
(as opposed to on Lantau Island)
View from Ngong Ping plateau of Pyramid Hill and saddle-shaped Ma On Shan
The descent from the plateau down towards the oldmining settlement of Ma On Shan Tsuen and Ma On Shan
new town was surprisingly quick and easy
An unexpected "find" on this hike -- a building that played a memorable role in the 2009 Milkyway
Image movie, Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms! :b
Also spotted at the tail end of this hike: entrancesto the now disused iron mine at Ma On Shan
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