Ap-Lei Chau: After taking the mid-term exam for my personal finance class, my classmates and I went to Ap-Lei Chau together. It was on a Saturday, with drizzles during the early morning. To get to Ap-Lei Chau from the City University of Hong Kong, we needed to take the East Rail Line bound for Admiralty. Once we arrived at Admiralty Station, we transferred to the South Island Line and eventually got off at the Lei Tung Station. The first thing that came into my sight was the groups of volunteers holding signs and flags promoting the candidates for the Hong Kong District Council elections. Similar scenes also occurred at other more suburban subway stations that I went to. We first went to a Chinese restaurant to have lunch together. As shown in the picture below, we ordered sweet and sour pork with bell peppers and onions, fried rice, green peas, scrambled eggs, etc. They tasted very delicious.
Once we rested enough and regained enough energy, we headed straight to the famous Ap-Lei Chau to Ap-Lei Pai hike. The picture shown on the About Page of my website is the group photo we took on the mountaintop of Mount Johnston, which was a part of the hike. The hike was moderately challenging since parts of the trail required ropes and could become very steep with little to no place to use as support. The entire hike (round-trip) took about three to four hours as we exercised extra caution. Nevertheless, the view was magnificent, as we could see the pristine sea with cargo ships passing by, the nearby residential area, and the well-known Ocean Park. The view could have become more beautiful if the weather were to be in perfectly sunny condition.
Tai Lam Chung Reservoir Trail: The trip to Tai Lam Chung Reservoir and Golden Beach was with local and exchange students. First, we took the subway separately from CityU to Yuen Long, unexpectedly taking over an hour. Then, we took the bus together and went to the entrance of the hike. Sam, the group leader representing the College of Business at CityU, scouted the route alone weeks before the group trip to ensure everything would be safe. The weather was chilly in the morning but gradually warmer at noon and in the afternoon. Along the way, we saw and cheered for a group of elementary and middle school track athletes from different schools holding a cross-country competition. Seeing their young faces and dedication to winning made me realize I have grown up and am no longer a child or teenager. Then, after another hour or so of climbing up the stairs, we finally got to the viewpoint on the mountaintop - our destination! The sky was crystally blue and clear, and so was the lake underneath. The greenery and the lake surface reflected sparkles of gold from the sunlight. The view was flawless, and I felt as if I were in paradise.
Golden Beach: Next, once we descended to the ground, we made our way to the Golden Beach. Golden Beach got its name from the magnificent sunset at twilight time. We arrived at a nearby yacht club around 3 PM and headed to a Japanese restaurant inside the club to eat lunch. Some of us, after lunch, also went to McDonald's to grab an ice cream. Once fully ready, we dashed to the beach to arrive in time for the sunset. The Golden Beach was long and wide with a few human presence. We sat together and watched silently as the glittering water rippled gently, the children playing with one another in the water, and the sun slowly setting to the west. Though it was short, I still felt relaxed and content, and coming to Golden Beach was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
Western Kowloon Promenade: Western Kowloon Promenade is a recreational area near the entrance of the Victoria Harbor. It includes the M+ Art Museum, the Palace Museum, and the promenade. The first time I came here, I came late and could only see the M+ Art Museum. The second time I arrived, I came early and directly for the sunset and sat along the bench for hours to enjoy some peaceful time by myself and watching the golden sunset. Tourists and professional photographers also came for the spectacular view, while a few joggers were actively training around the promenade. Some of the sunset pictures in my Portfolio Page come from my experiences at the promenade. The third time I came, I toured the Palace Museum. I took advantage of the student discount and got a ticket that granted admission to all the art galleries. Some Chinese-styled ceramics, manuscripts written in Chinese calligraphy, and paintings and artifacts (especially the ones from San Xing Dui) were eye-opening and educational. I also read their descriptions to understand their background and history.
