A Lantau hike that largely took place outside the country parks (Photo-essay)

Hong Kong is presently home to 24 country parks and 11 designated Special Areas, and it stands to reasons that most of the territory's hiking trails are located within them.  Every so often, however, one will find oneself hiking in countryside that's actually neither country park nor designated Special Area (with one example being Po Toi and another being Cheung Chau).  

In addition, there are those hiking trails with sections partly inside a country park and other sections that are not.  One of the more popular of these is that which takes one from Discovery Bay to Mui Wo via the Trappist Monastery -- a route that's almost entirely paved and fairly easy going but nonetheless quite interesting and consequently one that I have gone on a few times now, including with a friend who I've only managed to drag out on hikes just twice thus far! ;b

I've actually left Discovery Bay via that intimidating trail up Lo Fu Tau

but this time around, we opted for a considerably easier hike! ;)

This easier route begins at sea level by Nim Shue Wan

Nim Shue Wan's a location some shiny bugs seem to find romantic ;b

It would be easy to assume that the monastery in question

is Buddhist, given that this is Hong Kong after all --

but it's actually Catholic, Trappist to be more exact! ;b

In between Nim Shue Wan village and the Trappist Haven Monastery

lies an organic farm where one can buy vegetables if so inclined

The next time I'm over in Peng Chau, I should check to see if

the Trappist Monastery on neighboring Lantau's visible from there ;)

This wild looking section of the hike is one of the 

rare parts located within a country park

 Not far away and down the hill lies civilization in the form 

of Mui Wo, a place with some really good places to eat! :b