From the South Lantau Country Trail to Pui O (photo-essay)

In many hikes I've been on here in Hong Kong, one or two things about each of them will stand out and stay in the memory.  In the case of the late spring hike that began with my hiking companion and I going along the section of the South Lantau Country Trail west of Pak Kung Au, they were the steep descent down over 250 meters over the last kilometer or so of it and the part of the trail that passed an area where there were so many cicadas making such loud noises that it felt like their incessant humming was causing our ear drums to vibrate really uncomfortably!

I wish I could have recorded those loud cicada sounds -- but you'll just have to take my word for it about them.  Alternatively, here's beginning this photo-essay with one more view of the steep descent -- and a couple close-up shots of at least one of those noisy cicadas that were far easier to hear than actually spot, never mind photograph... ;b

As someone who suffers a bit from acrophobia, 

this steep section of the trail was 

one I had to take my time descending

A close up shot of an insect that's much smaller than one is likely to 

think it is upon hearing the loud sounds it's capable of making!

 The same type of insect viewed from a different angle

 View of Tong Fuk village and surrounding area

from the Lantau Trail's flat and easy Section 10 

 Running along a catchwater, this flat and concreted

trail nonetheless isn't without some nice views 

 Something that few people in the buses passing overhead

realize: part of the trail also happens to run under Tung Chung Road, 

the one roadway that connects north and south Lantau! :b

View near the end of the hike that includes parts of Pui O 

village and the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula's 303 meter high Lo Yan Shan

One of Lantau's many feral water buffaloes at ease

near our hike's end at Pui O -- and for those who 

didn't realize, yes, this really is Hong Kong :)