To and on Hong Kong's most remote island (Photo-essay)

I realize it's New Year's Eve but rather post something to specially mark that occasion, I'm going to go ahead and do my usual Tuesday thang: i.e., put up a hiking photo-essay.  

One reason is that I'm so far behind in chronicling my hikes via photo-essays that it's bordering on the ridiculous.  (To give you an idea how long ago I went on this particular hike, click here.)  But the less mundane reason is that the excursion to Tung Ping Chau really was pretty special -- and one I had wanted to go on for a long time but hadn't until that particular day on account of Hong Kong's most remote island not being all that conveniently reached.

Located in Mirs Bay, this small (only 1.6 square kilometers) island is the most easterly and northern section of Hong Kong. The Big Lychee's only sizable island made up of sedimentary rock that's the youngest in the territory, it's known for having interesting geological formations and is a part of the Hong Kong Geopark.  So, yes, memories of the geology classes I took at Beloit and the cool professors who taught them did come back flooding back during my visit to Tung Ping Chau... ;b)   

It was early in the morning -- and the sky was scarily overcast, 

with dark clouds -- when I made my way to catch the only  

ferry on the day to Tung Ping Chau from Ma Liu Shui

 After my party saw how long the queue for the ferry was, 

we felt pretty glad that we had gotten to the pier 

super early (and thus were able to make it to the island, 

unlike many of the folks in the above photo!)

Along the ride out to Tung Ping Chau, we got to view 

sights such as the east dam of Plover Cove Reservoir

Once home to a 3,000 strong fishing and farming community,

the island now is said to no longer have any permanent residents

 The island's Tin Hau Temple still looks well maintained

inside as well as outside though

Still, it's natural -- rather than cultural -- heritage

that is Tung Ping Chau's main draw

And in particular, it's the shale that's 

the prime, eye-catching attraction

Honestly, you ain't seen nuthin' yet -- and by the way,

that's mainland China in the not so far distance! ;b

To be continued -- and I promise that it won't be just geology (though it's true that there will be a lot of it too)! ;b