Hiking in a quiet, out-of-the-way part of Hong Kong (Photo-essay)

As hiking becomes an increasingly popular activity in Hong Kong, it's become rarer and rarer to feel like you've got the trail to yourself.  As I've found to some surprise though, it's still actually possible; this especially if you venture along a hike route that's not a part of any of the territory's famous four "long" trails (i.e., the Maclehose, Wilson, Lantau and -- especially -- Hong Kong Trails).

Take, for example, a section of a trail on Lantau Island that's not a part of the Lantau Trail which a friend and I chose to hike along one Sunday afternoon a while back, during which we didn't see another single person!  Part of the unpopularity of this trail on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula stems from its trailhead not being near any bus stop, minibus stop or MTR station.  And while one can catch a ferry from or to a public pier located on the eastern side of the peninsula, the limited service makes it so that you have to time it right; otherwise, you're faced with a rather draining trudge back to civilization!    

As it so happened, we got to the pier too late to catch the ferry we were hoping we'd be in time to take us out of the peninsula that afternoon because we had spent so much more time stopping to admire the stunningly quiet scenic views to be found along our hike.  Consequently, we had no choice but to walk all the way back to Pui O.  But even though my pedometer showed that I ended up walking over 25,000 steps that day, I still will maintain that all that (extra) effort  actually felt worth it -- and I'm trusting that my hiking companion that day felt similarly! ;b      

Looking out onto a peaceful scene at 

the southern edge of Pui O beach

 

Yes, there really are parts of Hong Kong that are 

on the distinctly rural side and bereft of crowds! ;b

My secondary school art teacher was so right when

she told us that the sea isn't just one shade of blue...

 

 So far away was that Macau ferry that we could see

but not hear it speeding along to its destination

 

Back in the 1970s, the Sea Ranch development came about

because it was thought there'd be a market out there for people 

to live in splendid isolation on Chi Ma Wan Peninsula...

 

On the water's edge at Shap Long Irrigation Reservoir

 

The pier, with its lights on, located near two now disused

correctional institutions, and from where we'd have 

caught the ferry if we had been on time! ;S

 

Lights on and tide in at Pui O on our way back there!