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Day 16
We're a few minutes late to meet dad and a male friend in Ma On Shan for the #681 to Central Ferries. It stops just past the HK Express station that will take your luggage to the airport for you and then you are free to spend the day as you wish if you have a late flight. The bus terminus is under the Four Seasons Hotel and by the tall IFC (International Finance Centre). The ferries run every 30mins Mon-Fri approx $12 single(£1) for the 55min ferry ride. The 'fast' ferry takes 40mins. There are good views of Hong Kong Island side and Lamma island (recognisable by the 3 tall chimneys for the coal station that supplies most of HK's power). The toilets are pretty good for a ferry, there are drink vending machines and you can stand/ sit out the back for a 'better' view amongst the fumes.
Lots of the bigger fishing vessels are moored up in Cheung Chau's typhoon shelter as it is the 2 month fishing prohibition period.
We disembark and the main street is crowded with parked bicycles, parasols providing shelter to shops and restaurants, the mini ambulance which doubles up as fire services and daytrippers/holiday makers. There are no cars on the island but there are plenty of B&Bs and kiosks with photo brochures to chose from. Our 1st stop is the mini McDonalds that has everything but thickshakes. It's 32c so the aircon is welcome. The tv is on and dad tells us Big Ben is being renamed Queen Elizabeth!
We go our seperate ways as dad is not up for the pirate's cave. We head into the main square and follow the signs to Tung Wan Beach, only about 200m away, a lovely stretch of 800m fine sand. Su-Yin is annoyed, as this would have been a lovely spot for sun bathing but we don't have our beach gear; you could buy everything here; bikinis, towels, beachmats, hats, bucket n'spades, the lot. No sharks spotted today and there's a lifeguard on duty. We walk a little further on to Kwun Yam Wan Beach which is virtually deserted and houses the windsurf centre. This must be where Hong Kong's only gold medallist must have practiced. There's a great bar overlooking the beach with sails as roof shelter and wooden sailboards for tables, right next to the helicopter launch pad. We relax with iced tea whilst watching a group of Westerners go surfing/paddle boating, and prepare for action at the helipad, as the toy ambulance pulls up. Like a scene from Hilltop Hospital, Miss Kitty with her parasol and surgical mask walks the perimeter fence. The helicopter prepares to land but the surfers are too close. We prepare for the downdraft. A walking wounded elderly man gets on board with his ear defenders, and off he goes. How exciting. Hope he is ok.
Less exciting is our little walk back in the heat. There are maps/signs everywhere and a few little steep climbs, but it's all on concrete paths. We nearly get taken out by a cyclist whizzing downhill who shouts out "sorry!". Again I could spend a bit longer exploring, getting to all the vantage points, just one more temple, we missed the 3 thousand year carving and 800 year old sword fished out of the sea, and the pirate's cave. Another time perhaps.
Back on the 1615 ferry we opt for deluxe class with aircon for an extra $7 (60p). Well worth it as it is baking on deck. Red shoulders to prove it.
Back at IFC, the shirted and suited commuters are heading out of the mall to catch the ferries home.
There's a 'Rogers Stirk Harbour+Partners - From the house to the city' exhibtion at the mall. I read an article on " legendary British modernist architect Lord Richard Rogers" in Time Out HK. An impressive cv; London's Lloyd's Building, Madrid's Barajas Airport, Paris' Centre Georges Pompidou, The Dome plus projects in Sydney, China and ongoing projects here in Hong Kong.
Back on #681 and Fairwood for fast Chinese Food. One of these days we'll get exactly what we thought we'd ordered!
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