Overland to Sham Chung but out by boat (Photo-essay)

As regular visitors to this blog know, I get a big kick out of spotting interesting critters while out hiking in Hong Kong.  And over the years, I've come to know to look forward to re-visiting certain sections of the Big Lychee where I'm pretty much guaranteed to do such every so often, including up on Victoria Peak and a section of trail near the Sai Kung peninsula village of Pak Sha O which can seem like a veritable bug highway.  

Another part of Hong Kong where I've come across a number of cool-looking creatures (including the first lantern bug I ever came across) is the remote as well as scenic village of Sham Chung.  And while my first visit there came by way of one of the lengthiest hikes I had hitherto gone on, I've since been able to time my excursions there to make it so that I can catch a kaito out from there to Wong Shek Pier (where a couple of reliable bus options exist to take one back to Sai Kung town and further into urban Hong Kong).

Consequently, a visit to Sham Chung is something that I've come to look forward to doing in the summer: what with the very doable hike there promising plenty of critter spottings (even when one's got insect repellant on!) along with a picturesque destination, and a bonus kaito ride that's particularly pleasant when a nice breeze is whipped up during the boat trip which also yields plenty of grand views of parts of Hong Kong which few people see, never mind venture to...  

One of the more unusual caterpillars I spotted on the hike

-- and, actually, in Hong Kong thus far! ;) 

 

 What do you reckon: is it a caterpillar-like snail

or a snail-like caterpillar in the above picture? :O

After this point in the hike, it's all downhill -- literally 

but not as far as the enjoyment quotient is concerned ;b

Critters continue to abound along the way, including

delicate looking ones like this damselfly 

 

 Sham Chung is home to a rare Hong Kong building

which dates all the way back to 1936! 

 

Enjoying some quiet downtime on Sham Chung pier

while waiting for the kaito to arrive 

 

Being out in nature makes one realize how small 

a part of the world humanity actually is

 

While I plan to hike up Ma On Shan one of these days, I'm content 

to just view Sharp Peak from a boat or generally low ground... ;S