Cheung Chau Island

Well I finally made it to another island. This was something I had really been wanting to do, but was waiting for the weather to improve. It seems like overnight it became Spring. Winter only lasts about 6 - 8 weeks in Hong Kong so now I am sitting with my windows open and enjoying the air. I hesitate to call it “fresh air” since pollution is a real concern here, but I do believe that is another blog entirely. 


I signed up to do a walking tour of Cheung Chau Island with the AWA. I met ten other ladies at Pier 5 in the morning and we boarded the ferry. It was rather hazy when we left, but the possibility of a nice day was apparent. The sun just needed to get stronger and burn things off.  


Our 50 minute ferry ride provided great views of many other small islands. Hong Kong consists of 238, mostly uninhabited, islands. We passed cruise ships, container ships, fishing vessels and other ferries. The ride was smooth and exceptionally easy. Even those with squeamish stomachs would be fine.


Cheung Chau Island is sometimes called Pirate Island because of the infamous pirate Cheung Po Tsai who hid out there. Tales say that he hid his loot in a cave on the southwest end of the island (although it's yet to be found.) The island is also called Dumbbell Island because it is narrow in the middle and wider on each end somewhat resembling a dumbbell. I much prefer Pirate Island for the glamour and mystery it conjures up.


As we approached Cheung Chau the sight of the many fishing boats and junks was exciting. The harbor was filled with junks nestled side by side so inhabitants can step from one boat to another. China has fisher people who are born and raised on boats. They eat, sleep and bath on their boat. They never get off except to go to market. Some even have dogs, but I’m not sure how that works. I’ll let your imagination go wild with that one.


We disembarked on the waterfront which was lined with open air stalls selling everything - vegetables, seafood, sandals and seashells. One stall was even selling dried puffer fish. I’m not sure where the shells came from because the beaches in China tend to be dirty and rather polluted. Yes, definitely not the best places to swim although they are very crowded during the summer. Plus there are many shark attacks, some resulting in deaths, in China each year. That is why public beaches have wire mesh safety netting surrounding the swimming areas.


Another fascinating aspect of the island is that it has no cars. Row upon row of bicycles lined the street. People were riding everywhere. As we strolled along the praya I stopped for the most spectacular sight. An elderly woman, wearing a straw hat, was riding an incredibly old and rusty bicycle with training wheels. She looked straight ahead and pedaled. I had to jump out of her way as I stood slack jawed watching her. That would have been a priceless photograph, but the memory will be forever etched in mind. 


Now I must admit that equally surprising was the McDonald’s right on the waterfront. No cars, but a McDonald’s? How does that work? Where does the meat come from? Or maybe I don’t really want to know. 


We continued on and began walking through a charming neighborhood with laundry hanging from the balconies and plants in the windows. No matter where you go in China there is laundry hanging from windows and balconies. In the center of the neighborhood was a basketball court and next to it a large, beautiful temple. The dichotomy in Hong Kong is always eye catching and intriguing. 


The group walked along the beach and up a path lined with lush foliage to several exquisite temples. I was able to take photos in the temples which is normally forbidden. At the altars in the temples people leave fruit and flowers and burn incense for the gods when asking them for blessings. In one of the temples was a bird munching happily on the fruit. I wondered what sort of life the gods had in store for him!


Our walk continued through the center of the island until we came back to the praya. The eleven of us found tables at an outdoor restaurant on the waterfront where we settled in for tea and lunch. We ordered lots of seafood, vegetables and rice. None of us were shy about eating and sharing our delicious dishes. It’s amazing how much a group of hungry women can consume. 


After lunch we strolled the praya taking in the sights of the market and enjoying the beautiful day that had developed. The sunshine, companionship and colorful sights made us board the fast ferry back to HK Island with smiles and new friends. In thirty minutes it was back to the island I now call home.