Along Po Toi's Rugged Trail

On my previous visit to Po Toi, the steps in this photo

were not visible to view due to the path being overgrown!

This time around, my hiking buddy and I had few problems

spotting the trail -- and the metal poles and signs that 

were placed along every 100 meters or so of it

And how glad we were to be able to follow this 

officially designated "Rugged Trail" as it offered up 

splendid views like this one :)

On a warm November day back in 2009, my then regular hiking companion -- who has since moved back to Canada *sob!* -- and I paid a visit to Hong Kong's southernmost island. My 61st Hong Kong hike was a really nice one which yielded cool sightings including of an amazing turtle rock formation and *ahem* dragonflies going at it, involved a satisfying climb up Po Toi's 2nd highest hill and concluded with a visit to a Tin Hau temple that was mentioned in John Le Carre's The Honourable Schoolboy. 

It did not, however, include a trek along the rocky island's Route No. 3 (Rugged Trail) because although we saw a sign pointing to it at one stage during our hike, we had problems making out the trail because its path was so overgrown that day. So imagine my surprise when my current hiking buddy and I reached that same point during our hike earlier today to find that we could easily see the path -- and even steps along it -- in that previously overgrown spot!

Maybe some trail maintenance work has been done between my first and second visits to Po Toi.  Or maybe it's a case of vegetation being way thicker on the ground in winter versus early fall. In any case, I welcomed the opportunity to try out a different hiking route and so off along the Rugged Trail my hiking buddy and I promptly went!

Prior to embarking on the Rugged Trail, I did know beforehand that it'd end up near the island's Tin Hau temple.  But little did I realize how nice a trek it would be along this trail.
For one thing, it did lead us to some scenic spots from where we got great views of the southwestern section of Po Toi and the surrounding area. 

For another, unlike the paved trail further south that led up to a lighthouse and along which one passed by turtle, monk's and Buddha's palm rocks, it was not crawling with other trampers this afternoon.  In fact, from when we veered onto the Rugged Trail all the way until we got to the Tin Hau temple, we didn't see even one other person -- and when one is seeking quiet as well as scenic beauty when out hiking, that really was a wonderful thing indeed! :)