I Heart Hong Kong

People have always recommended having high tea inside the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel. I went close to the Christmas holidays, so the line for high tea was pretty long. It’s deceiving when you walk in and see no waiting for the busy Peninsula, but the long line is actually hidden off to the side behind some decorative shrubs from the main dining area, so make sure you ask where the line starts.

We probably waited for about 40 minutes to get a table, but once you sit down, there is no need for big fancy hats and white gloves, as you automatically feel special, from being tucked into your seat to the fancy gold-trimmed dishware. The wait staff was fast and knowledgeable, though towards the end, it was a little hard to flag him down for the bill.

The menu had a fair variety of teas and coffee. There were choices of scones and other sweets, as well as finger sandwiches and salads. We opted for a combination of both sweet and savory. We each had our own kettle of hot water for our tea. It was definitely a nice, simple treat after walking and shopping the length of Nathan Road.

After the death defying ride up the winding steep road with the local bus service, we were glad to make it alive to the monastery. Nevertheless, it felt amazing to be out of the city for the day

It’s amazing that this place exists so close to the craziness of Hong Kong island. There is nature all around. As we head for the entrance to the mountain top, we had a choice with (60HK) or without a vegetarian meal (30HK) after the monastery. We chose the first since we didn't really pack any sort of lunch. The 200+ stairs was steep but once when you get to the top it’s amazingly peaceful and the lush greenery is breathtaking. The huge copper statue of Tian Tan Buddha is known to be one of the largest in the world. It sits on the top of Muyushan Mountain. Inside the Buddha structure are old relics but picture taking is forbidden. Around the base of the Buddha sit the votive servants. After climbing back down, we went to the dining hall where they served a vegetarian meal that could have fed a family of four. We tried everything but couldn't finish it.

One thing uninviting were the bathrooms, but when nature calls, you gotta go. Instead of stalls covering from your ankle up, it was walled from the floor to your shoulder. So you see your neighbors while doing your business. And of course the urine smell was strong. It’s due to the just-stand-over-the-hole system. I could have keeled over from holding my breath for so long.