Skyscrapers, lights, and a very big Buddha

I spent Thursday exploring the city. Near to where I am staying in Tsim Sha Tsui is an upscale area full of designer stores and fancy malls (and interesting statues)

Nathan Road (on which I am staying) is full of photography stores, malls, jewelers and men on the street trying to sell me "fake watches and purses" (at least they are honest about it). It seems everywhere I turn there is a store, a restaurant or someone trying to sell me something. Like no other city I've visited, Hong Kong is replete with places to spend one's money.

It's also full of buildings (to house and provide office space for the seven million people who live here). There are more skyscrapers in this city than any other in the world. And due to the limited area on Hong Kong Island (on which many of the citizens live and work) the buildings are packed as close as possible.

Yesterday, I went to visit the Big Buddha which was only completed in 1993 - I figured much earlier. The statue is situated on Lantau Island in the tiny village of Ngong Ping (although to be honest, the village moreso seemed to be a clustering of tourist shops). Apparently this is the largest Buddha statue in the world. As I have never before seen a Buddha statue in person, I have nothing to compare it to, but I found it to be quite spectacular. Although full of tourists, the whole area seemed quite peaceful. It was compelling watching the followers pray to Buddha and light incense in offering. In many ways it was quite similar to how Christians worship.

From Ngong Ping I took a bus down to the village of Mui Wo. I strolled along the beach, at first enjoying watching the locals fish, children play and the tourists tan.

But then, with my feet in the water, I slowly realized that what I at first thought were bits of seaweed, was instead garbage. Empty chip bags, papers and hotel soap wrappers. And then a few steps later, a used syringe and needle. With that I quickly put on my shoes and walked over to take the ferry back to Hong Kong Island.

There, I took a funicular up to The Peak, a viewpoint overlooking Hong Kong. As I rode up, the buildings appeared to be sticking out at 45 degree angles to the window of our tram, so steep was the ascent. Sadly, the funicular was travelling too fast to get a good shot.

The view on top was amazing, especially at night with the buildings all lit up. This city must not be terribly concerned with conserving energy, and the environmentally-minded side of me cringes at all the unnecessary lights. But, I cannot deny that the site is spectacular and wouldn't be the same if the city was darkened.

Today I am off to Macao, most notably known as a gambling mecca for Asia, but also a unique area to explore, and a separate "Special Administrative Region of China."