Tourist traps, Big Buddha

I fell into a tourist trap this morning. Hard. All of the guidebooks mention that Luk Yu Teahouse is something not to be missed, so after crossing the harbour on the Star Ferry, I climbed the steep roads of Central in search of breakfast. My first warning sign was the guy opening the door. A dim sum place with a doorman!? One of the guides said to go upstairs where the regulars sit, so up I went. There was nothing charming or quaint about the room. Sure it was old-fashioned but I didn't see a lot of ornate decoration or old paintings or other knick-knacks. It was full of wide-eyed tourists who undoubtedly read the same reviews I did. Three, badly prepared plates of dim sum cost me $105HKD.

Just around the next corner was another stop on my checklist, Tai Cheong Bakery, for egg tarts. The shop was a lot smaller and rundown than I imagined, considering that this new location is less than a year old. Of course, retail rents in Hong Kong are around $200,000HKD per month. Before I could eat my warm-from-the-oven pastries, I dropped them on the ground. They were still in their bag, but they had crumbled into an unsightly mess, so no photos. The tarts were amazing. I hope to make it back before I leave.

After a whirlwind dash to the 43rd floor of the Bank of China Tower, I met up with my uncle to head to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha. The bus ride from Tung Chung station is nausea-inducing: windy, steep roads with sudden stops to let oncoming traffic pass. Once there, the giant bronze statue is something to behold. You can't help but be in awe as you look upwards while climbing the steps. The Buddha sits on a building that houses a museum that contains calligraphy, paintings and even a "relic", a piece of Buddha's body.

Even out here, there are cellphone antennas on the hillside.

The Po Lin Monastery nearby serves up vegetarian meals including some dim sum sweets which we ate in a nearby shaded area. We were lucky that the weather was sunny and clear. The hilltop is often shrouded in fog and unlucky tourists on a fixed schedule often miss out.