Today’s activities were some of the first we planned when we knew we’d be coming to Hong Kong.  We wanted to visit the Tian Tan Buddha and eat food in the vegetarian restaurant run by the monks of the Po Lin Monastery.  We were already looking forward to this immensely, but even more so when we discovered the best way to get to Ngong Ping village was by cable car.  Honestly, I don’t know why anyone would go any other way.

Having passed up and over mountains and valleys, 25 stunning minutes later we arrived. Since we arrived before the crowds that came later we had Ngong Ping practically to ourselves, so it was a pleasant walk to the Buddha.

At 35 feet tall, he’s apparently the largest outdoor sitting bronze Buddha in the world.  And the 268 steps you climb with his peaceful gaze upon you are totally worth it.

It really is a very peaceful and beautiful place to be.  The museum underneath the statue had many ancient Buddhist texts, along with a revered bone relic.  It left us feeling particularly tranquil, so it was the perfect time to head to the nearby Po Lin Monastery.

We headed to the restaurant for our vegetarian feast.  And what a feast it was: mixed mushroom soup, deep fried spring roll (some of the best I’ve ever had), black mushrooms with vegetables, fresh bean curd sheet with lemon sauce (oh so good), and fresh lily bulbs with vegetables (seriously fresh and crisp), all served with steamed rice and Jasmine tea.

The food was really good, and we satisfied our tummies along with our souls.  It’s been an absolutely wonderful day so far.  As we head off to the Temple Street Night Market, we’ll leave you with just one more photo.  Rar.