让耳朵去听歌 (一)

Slow Ferry to Cheung Chau

佷喜欢长洲岛.
连蜜月我们也先到那儿去玩.
海声, 船声, 脚步声, 无忧无虑地听.
不知不觉它已经是我们去香港常去的地方.


This time, a bit different. We still travel but we did not do a backpacking trip (To prepare for the 3-week backpack). We went on a tour, relaxing tour with a luggage bag for shopping.

Cheung Chau is also a bit different. There seemed to be a celebration going on but not the bun festival. There were evening opera shows celebrating the festival. The crowd loved it, also the foreigners who passed by.

比较多声音.
比较热闹.
佷喜欢, 佷喜欢你的声音, 陪伴左右.
有空再来, 让耳朵去听歌......

长洲不算长 - Part 4

Trishaw ride @ Cheung Chau 

I really cant believe it that I could not balance myself on the trishaw at Cheung Chau Island ;O.  We saw these trishaws during our first visit to Cheung Chau in 2008 and this time round I decided to ferry my dear. I rem she "complaining" that I didnt ferry her while other male travellers did ferry their dear ones around the island.

We selected a shop by the sea - in fact - all the shops renting the trishaw were by the sea. It costed about HK30 per hour and the stall owner asked me to try cycle first. I could not believe it that I could not balance the trishaw. After several attempts, the owner suggested for my dear to try and she did it without difficulty. Now we understood why sometimes we did see female riders while the males were seated in the trishaw.  The "ego" me of cos wont give up so we decided to try out in the streets further up that wont "injure" anyone when I took the wheels.  I nearly bumped into the gates or benches or trees during the first few trials...and of cos, my dear was so happee that she could master it without any sweat while I sweat....

It was fun though despite losing face. Actually, I didnt realise I was a "man of pride" - like to "perfect" things. I started to learn more about myself through my dear. Even for this trishaw episode, I could sense my "never give up" kind of spirit. Perhaps, even in tough times, we can persevere becos of such inborn spirit in us, pushing us to go on. Or maybe it was just my ego - pushing me to try my best to ride a trishaw to prove a point... I admit that riding a trishaw is really not as easy as riding a bicycle. Well, it was fun experience and at least the trishaw story would be part of the fun and sweet memory that we have.  We certainly not only left our footprints on the trails in Cheung Chau, but also trishaw marks on the island. Well, next time will try again. Maybe book for 2 hours and we can go further up and round the island...

长洲不算长, 但骑三轮车也不容易.

长洲不算长 - Part 3

After a fun time resting and playing at a playground at the island, the trail continued and we passed by some rocky formation. Very nice feeling and we saw a couple seated at one of the boulders. Well, as photographers with the tripod, we quickly set up the equipment and I had to dash across to the boulder to prepare for the timed shots. As the path was "rocky", I nearly "fell" if not for dear to hold onto me Xp. Hee, the fishing guy and the boatman nearby might be wondering what were we doing and what so great about the scene - running to and fro and posing for pictures. It was really our desire to take photos together.

Dear commented a few times that I didnt take enuff photographs this trip. Hee, her words still ring in my ears. Cheung Chau Island actually has another unique and colourful form of advertisement. There were even wedding notices put up high high at the street where everyone would get to see. I wondered how grand would the wedding be - since everyone should know one another in the island?

Just a thought for us - we wondered if we were to grow up on the island, would we have the opportunity to put up such notices as well? I wondered if this was indeed a tradition - an old tradition - practised by the islanders only. There were also other interesting notices or ads - some talked about promotional makan.  Very colorful and interesting.

Some things I like best about travelling is to understand or get to know the local customs and tradition. Rather than go around shopping, it is fun for me and my dear to feel and if possible even taste the "life" of local islanders.  In fact, we followed "blindly" some locals who stood at the pier for bumboats which will ferry them to their boats. We got the attention of one boatman when we purposely stood at the pier - we got a bit paisay when the boatman shouted to us in cantonese, asking us if we were to take his boat.... to where? I didnt know.... But it was sure the mischievous part of me... Oops.

长洲不算长, 但乐趣却不少, 好希望时间能停一下, 让累了的人有时间放慢脚步, 听听十二月的长洲海风. 

长洲不算长 - Part 2

We woke up early to start our trekking on the island. We were still stuck initially without any local map but bingo - the BB house we stayed got a very nice colored map. My dear has earlier done some homework and we would explore the mini great wall trail this time cos the other side of the island might have strong waves and wind during winter season. The morning breakfast was nice and enuff to pump the necessary energy for us to start our trail. We passed the expensive hotel on the island and also passed the helicopter pad. There were directional signs along the way so easy to trek. However, it was different from the Dragon Trail where there were many markings along the trek telling you each kilometre you have conquered :P. 

Very interestingly, there were many rock formations along the trail. More than those indicated on the colorful map. There were local signboards, describing in poems different rock formation. Famous ones included "human head" rock, "vase" rock and "elephant" rock. I could not figure out one rock that resembled a cat crouching ~ so decided to take a photo to ask my dear to "interpret" for me.
长洲不算长, 但乐趣却不少. The mini great wall was quite well-maintained. Easy to walk and it should take much efforts to construct it. Wonder why was it constructed? We were the only couple trekking at that point of time - me forgot to bring a whistle in case of emergency =S. I used to attach one on my backpack (just like army days) - dunno why forgot to bring this time round. Nevermind, I got my heavy 3kg tripod with me - enuff to fend off any snakes or dogs I supposed :P.

The trail was really manageable. We took our pace and explored different parts of the trail. Sometimes, we got more adventurous and went to take some shots near some cliffs. Sometimes, we passed by old buildings and quickly scurried off - cos got fierce dogs barking at us. Along the trails, we did bump into some people - a family, a group of students and two guys. I like walking in cool cool weather - not much sweat. But must be careful though as it could be quite cold if it rained. Thank God for us that it was perfect weather as compared to previous day.

We passed by some local landed property along the way. Some looked deserted while others were very well-maintained. Likely that some Kowlooners bought the land here and would visit the island for holidays. WoW - if our Pulau Ubin could be developed like that, it would help many locals revive childhood fun and peaceful getaway? We reached a playground where we could hear some camping activities (Salvation Army)nearby. Hee, it was good to hear some noises so that we would not be lost in the forests mah :P.

We played some "wedding shots" at the playground and maybe we would select some to show our guests. Maybe. My dear too "yaya" for some shots le :P. I saw someone jogging along the way and I wonder if I would follow his jogging routine if I were to stay in Cheung Chau? Hard to say. Too lazy me but I do like to lead a healthy lifestyle. Actually, there is no need to wake up early in the morning to watch sunrise or watch fishermen loading and unloading their harvests into the Cheung Chau Market. 只要有你, 一起畅游, 一起漫步, 也一样好玩. 长洲不算长, 但乐趣却不少.

长洲不算长 - Part 1

We expected the weather to be cooler in Cheung Chau compared to Kowloon. Really, it is a fishing village and an island. Without the shelter of tall buildings, it was really cooling on the first night @ the island. It was also raining when we went for dinner and many shops had to close early due to the change in weather. But, definitely no "typhoon", not like Taiwan in 2008 Xp.

Seafood @ Cheung Chau (Opp cake shop)

We searched around looking for hot claypot to warm ourselves and we decided to try those stalls with more people. More people likely to imply better food :P. We were allocated a BIG ROUND table - other tables were full with big big grp. I recalled there was an elderly ah ma seated in the table besides us - asking and reminding the young ones to study hard and work in civil service. Hmmm....could not rem when I last heard such advice in cantonese liao...long long time ago.
Dear dear likes to eat "shh shh prawns" so we ordered a plate. I thought they would come in big ones so I asked an innocent qn how many would we be expecting. No wonder the waiter didnt say much as we were served with smaller versions one. Ouch, quite hard to peel but at least we still managed to finish the "shh shh prawns" :P.  At least, the place kept us warm during the rainy period.
We wanted to order claypot toufu but dunno why we ordered the wrong ones. We got toufu soup with other ingredients - not bad though for the cold weather. I rem the last round when we were in Cheung Chau - we didnt try many of the food. So, this time round, we, or at least me, wanted to have a feast! Hee.
I am not a good fish eater - not a born Garfield. So, could not really feast on fish :P. I like to peel and de-shell for dear, so that she could eat it without using her hands. However, she is always much skilful than me. In fact, her family or my family-in-laws are all good sea food eaters, I am no match for them. So, rather than being a "hindrance", I will wait patiently to be served instead :P. No choice, cos not a Garfield lah.