Sai Wan Beach, Hong Kong

     Sai Wan (西灣; lit. "West Bay") is a beach in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. To distinguish it from other bays and beaches of the same name, it is commonly known as Tai Long Sai Wan, as it is one of the four beaches of Tai Long Wan. It came first in the Hong Kong Best 10 Scenic Sites Election in 2006.^[1] However, in 2010 the beach is said to be in jeopardy after a nearby plot of greenery was cleared to make way for development (wikipedia).

     

Sai Wan Beach, Sai Kung

   

    Yes,,it was my idea to go there, because my friend is a beach lover, while me, such a mountain climber. so, I was thinking of going to the beach and hiking at the same time,well, I killed two birds with one stone, yayyy! I started with searching for the best beaches in Hong Kong on internet, found an interesting article, and finally I chose Sai Wan beach as our destination (especially, cz there's a waterfall and we can do cliffjumping too there!)

     It was around 12 p.m. when we reached Sai Kung, walked around and around to find the 29R bus stop. Thought,it must be a big bus,not a minibus. But we couldn't find it,so we went to the minibus terminus. again, we stuck with the same result. Ahh, the sun was shinning so bright, it was really hot that day. Desperately, almost dehydrated, we walked to the travel agency office asking the directions to get to 29R bus stop. Okay, that lady told us to find the Park n Shop supermarket, "keep walking, then turn left,u'll see Mc.Donald, the 29R bus stop is right in front of it".We thanked her and left.

     We found Mc. Donald, but not the bus stop! We were wandering on that street like two crazy guys trying to find the lost money. I almost gave up, told my friend to just cancel the trip.But wait,,,i saw there was a sign, a very small sign, and it was covered by crowd of people. Waaahhh, I pointed at it and screaming, "omg!!!dat's it!! 29R bus stop is over there!!"Haha and yeah,,, it was exactly right in front of the Mc. Donald. Yaay! We waited for only ten minutes until the bus finally arrived.

     It was a medium bus, haha,, with 28 seats. From Sai Kung to Sai Wan Pavilion, it took only 20 minutes. We were a little bit confused deciding which way that we should take. finally we asked a woman there, and she said, both trails were heading to the beach. So we chose the right side to "Sai Wan Village".We needed an hour hiking to reach the beach, because we stopped many times to take pictures. The views were so beautiful from there, with the wind and fresh air. It was a really nice day for hiking.

Breath taking views jn  Tai Long Wan, Sai Kung

     

     When we finally reached the village, there was a cattle welcomed us. I wasn't expecting to see them in a village, live together with the people actually.So haha, my first reaction,,,what else?? Yeah, as always,"omg, a cattle!!!" I screamed and enthusiastically ran into them. They really looked so friendly:) Some of them were eating the flowers, without being distracted by the visitors.

Lunch time for the cattle :)

    

      There were so many people on the beach when we arrived. Haha , until suddenly it was started raining, and people walked away, leaving.

Sai Wan Beach

  

      Because we wanted to find the waterfall, we didn't spend too long in that beach. We went to the next beach then, a beach with big waves. It was the Tai Long Wan Beach. But  my friend reminded me about the last bus to Sai Kung was at 5.30 p.m.  And it was already 4 p.m. "I can make it in 30 mins", I said. So we played on that beach until 5p.m. and ran away back to the Sai Wan Pavilion. Haha, we walked so fast, passing everyone like a marathon. Because my friend always said "Last seat,,last bus!!" so I walked faster and faster, and yeah,,we did it, less than half an hour.

      Even though we didn't see the waterfall, no cliff jumping too, but I was so  happy. At least we made our way to the beach;) and I'm sure that we're gonna go there again, next time, to find the waterfall.

   

   
   
     

Celebrating Eid Mubarak in Hong Kong

     Happy Eid Mubarak!!! Yayyy!! Minal Aidin Walfaidzin:)

     After finished a holy fasting month, finally, we, all Muslim in the world, could celebrating Eid Mubarak on Friday, 17 July 2015, it was yesterday. Ahh but not here, in Hong kong, we still had to fasting on that day. Some of my friends, relatives also, they asked me why was it different here, one of them even surprisingly asked me, "Heyy, do u use the different calendar there?" I said I only knew that The Consulate General of Indonesia in Hong Kong has determined that Eid is on Saturday, 18 July 2015. So, the morning prayers also would be held on Saturday, in some points in Hong Kong.There are in Tsim Sha Tsui Mosque (for Kowloon area), Yuen Long or maybe in Taipo (for New Territories) and at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay (for Hong Kong Island).

     I told my friend that I couldn't sleep the night before, was too excited or too much caffeine, I'm not sure. So he called me, and we talked until we fell asleep. I was thinking of waking up very early in the morning, because from what I read on my school website,my teacher, told us to get there at 7am. But I went out after 7 this morning, so I guessed it was a very late starting!

     I ran to the MTR station, seeing many girls wearing hijab. I told myself,,"Heyy, easy, ur not gonna be late", I was slowing down my steps then. While waiting for the train, I started to conversing  with the first girl who smiled at me. But they continued talking in a group on the train. I didn't pay attention to them, so I was only smiling not knowing what n how to respond. When I was getting bored, I saw someone, a girl, with a birthmark on her lip, right in front of me. It was just few seconds, suddenly she looked at me,and I, called her, "Heyy,it's youuuu!! Long time no see la." I even scared some girls beside me,haha (because I inadvertently shouting).Wahhhh, just now, here, at home!!I remember, I forgot to ask her name!(please forgive me,as it's still Eid :p) So that girl, is my old friend, we met in Macau last year. It's been more than half year I didn't see her.Then we talked and talked along the way to the Victoria Park. What a surprise:)

So that's her!! My old friend:)

    We walked to the entrance, Gate A, it was already closed;( Continued walking to the Gate B,was the same. Haha, my friend, she insisted, so the security guards, they rejected us, and commanded us to just go to the next gate.Finally!!!! We could get into the park through the Gate C,yayyy!!!

So many people!

     My friend was on the phone, looking for her the other friends who had come earlier. I said, ahhh, it's okay,,am gonna take some pictures and come back to her.But noooooowaaay! I lost her! I walked n walked trying to find her, but well,,i failed! Too many girls wearing red clothes there, so I gave up.

Eid prayers at Victoria Park, Causeway Bay

Haha,, too cute!! Because selfie plague is everywhere:D

     I met another friend too, but we aren't so close, so I left her in the toilet,haha. I was wandering around, to find a space for me only. Finally I sat and preparing myself for the Eid prayers when suddenly someone touched my shoulder,"Excuse me,,,can I sit beside u:)" Haha,,I said,,"Of course la" We talked alot, I called her sister at the beginning,but then she asked me to just call her 'Aunty Nah' She has been working in HK for 8 years she said, and now she lives in Taikoo. She comes from Malang, East Java, it's not so far from my city, Madiun, so yeah we have the same dialect.

She's Aunty Nah, pretty cute, eh? :)

     I also talked with the other girls (or aunties), one of them said that she just came on Tuesday and will leave tomorrow. She's here because of her project,she's handling a company with 11 employees. "What a lucky lady,heyy aunty, u can go wherever you want like having a long holiday" I interrupted her. Haha we laughed together. I like to meet new people in my life, like,,, I always want to learn something new from them, their experiences, their stories, good or bad, so I was a little bit  excited, and asked too much , I guess.The Eid prayers started at 9am, continued with a sermon and some lectures about Ramadan. I couldn't stay longer because I had to get home before 10am! So I didn't listen to the priest and left at 9.20am. So happy! And,,,again,,,happy Eid Mubarak, all!!

Top 10 Cool Buddha Statues,Heyy, Let's Vote!!

     Still about my visit to Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Shatin, Hong Kong.So, me and my friend, we decided to find which one is the coolest Buddha:) Heyy, help us, by voting for them! Haha, ok here we go!

I don't know the best name for him,but I think he's a Happy Budhha :D

     

A lovely grandpa, I guess:)

   

Long Right Hand Buddha

   

I think he's a river crosser  Buddha (with very nice legs)

   

three in one Buddha (in red hair)

   

A Tired Buddha

 

small hands in eyes but still cool Buddha

   

A wise hot Buddha

   

bff  Buddha, they've been gossiping since morning!

   

I love his wide smile, he's my fav!! :D 

   

   

         Because it was so hot,so we didn't stay too long in the main temple. And also I didn't know that there's a mummy,the founder of Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery,in the main temple too!! Wahhh,, so we missed it:(

Mini version of  Buddha statues in the main temple

     We decided to see the upper portion of the monastery then back to the Pagoda again. In the upper part, I saw  sleeping Buddha in front of the Giant Kun Yam. The White Big Kun Yam is located in front of fake waterfall. I remember there's a statue on the left side, a guy playing chinese instrument for the Kun Yam. In front of them, also on the left side, there's a small temple, with a statue in the center. Under the bridge, there's a pond, with so many colorful fish swimming around, in the lower pond, I saw some turtles were sunbathing, while their babies were in the corner, hiding:) 

A Sleeping Buddha Statue

Giant Kun Yam in the upper portion of  Monastery

    

      It was a good day, I really wanted to spend the whole day in that place actually. But we had to continue our journey. Okay, I followed my friend, because it was his idea to choose different way. Oh well, I was a little bit curious too, so yeah I finally agreed. Running down the stairs, my friend suddenly stopped and asked the direction to a girl that we met. She smiled and said nothing then leaving us. Haha! I could see a village, on the left side, and few houses near the jungle on the right side. 

     "So,,,bee farm or bookstore heyy?" I was busy taking pictures at that moment, when my friend offered me to go to the bookstore in the middle of the jungle. I thought he was joking about the bookstore. "Excuse me? a booksto....

Before I could finish my sentence, I saw a sign next to him,,yeah a bookstore! So we went to the bee farm first. Actually it was not a bee farm, or okay, it was, but a very small one.

Bee farm in Pai Tau Village

     

        Haha!!Yay!!Bees!!Cool!! I enthusiastically ran to them, haha, like I was trying to catch a train:p 

I saw there were two tables for those bees, enjoying their lunch. I forgot about my friend (oops,,sorry banana boy,don't lose your cool!:p) He was standing there, outside the bee farm, under the tree, n patiently waiting for me. Awwww, bleaaargh!!xoxo 

        I just wanna take some pictures and then go! told myself. But suddenly an uncle,the owner of that farm,he came to me asking,"Ahhh,, so u wanna see those bees,don't you?" I smiled and said yes. There were bees everywhere, flying around me, I even saw some wasps joining the bees for free lunch! Hahaha. So happy to see them enjoying their food. But then I remembered about my friend!! I left  that bee farm to find him, and he was still there,on the street under the tree:p. I almost forgot about the bookstore, if he didn't remind me. Haha, thank you, thank you! 

        It was just a house, looked like an empty one, because so quiet, thought it was closed on that day! We were getting closer, and I saw the wooden door was open!:) Full of curiosity, a little hope, and I was thinking of using my energy to just break it, my hand almost reached the door. I took a deep breath...and...

" Hello!! Welcome to my bookstore, I'm gonna show you something about....bla bla bla...

An old man, suddenly opened the door for us, like he was expecting of our visit.  A little bit shocked, I looked at my friend, and he stared at me, we said nothing, but then just following that old man.

Heyy,,what did that old man say to us?:)

He shared cool stuffs,,with both of us,,,but what was it? A cool stuff from an old man living in the middle of the jungle, n calling his home as a bookstore? Haha,,I think it's too long, my story:p See you on the next post! :D

   

    

      

      

Exploring Hong Kong,yayy,,Let's Go!!:D

     It s a public holiday in Hong Kong, 1st of July in every year, you know, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day. So yeah, I had a day off on that day, was just two days ago actually:) I planned to visit Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Shatin, and I made a good preparation for it. A very long exciting night, I couldn't sleep! The same feeling like having the very first day in school in the next morning! Awwww,Haha! Texting my friend, and we talked about the stuffs that we have to bring for tomorrow. Okay, finally I fell asleep not sure what time, but it was almost dawn! I woke up in the early morning, even though I'm not a morning person, but whenever I'm full of excitement in my system, trust me!!! There's no one can stop me!:D Feeling so free, so alive, and so high! Yay!

     My appointment was at 9am, in Prince Edward MTR Station. It's an interchange station, so we could jump to Kwun Tong Line, then jumped again at Kowloon Tong Station. I was a little bit confused between Kwun Tong and Kowloon Tong Station, hahaha. It was only two stations from Prince Edward. Reached the Kowloon Tong station, we took East Rail Line MTR to Shatin, was also only two stations more:) 

     From Shatin MTR Station, choose exit B:) You will see a bus terminal right in front of you. If you're not sure where will you go, find a map on the left wall beside you, a very big map. or just go to the left side and walk along the bridge. 

     It was quite confusing, haha to find the entrance of Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. We walked to the private road, and turned back because we didn't see any signs. then we took another road, and we saw an entrance of a temple, yay!!! Nah nah nah! Don't get fooled! A temple besides the Shatin Government Offices, that's not the entrance of Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. Haha! I saw a path, on the left side of that temple, and I yelled happily calling my friend, because I was so sure, I found the right path! But when we came closer, n looked carefully,it said *u cannot go to the ten thousand Buddhas thru this path* And you know what? My friend laughed so very hard at me,well, it made me laughing too( hidden laughter heyy!) I left my friend, and ran to the uncle in a small store across the road, asked him to show me the right way. He pointed at a small road between the temple and Shatin Government Offices Building, on right side of the temple. Smilingly, I thanked him and left. And yeah,there was a sign there,said *to ten thousand Buddhas Monastery* But it was a very small sign laa! Oh well, at least we finally found it, the right way! Yay!

     As a one of the famous monasteries in Hong Kong, I was expecting to see an entrance, I mean like a gate, maybe? Or anything! That's why I unbelievably yelled (again?) to my friend when I saw golden Buddhas in front of me "Omg,that's it! Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, we are here!!!" I ran to the first statue, and there was no gate, no fences, just two big bins, and some bricks there. Ahhh,,I saw a green gate, was opened by a woman carrying her son, But not a gate to the Monastery, but who cares! Let's say Hi to all the Buddhas there!

This is the entrance to the Monastery

     It was a sunny day, with the summersun burning us, we were sweating like crazy! But it was really worth it:)  My friend even confidently said,," Ahh,, see,,I'm gonna take picture of every single of you, heyy Buddhas!!" I laughed like a winner this time,saying "Haha,heyy, there are more than 12k statues here!" He looked at me and said "Wahooo,r u kidding me?" I winked at him and continued walking.

A cute lady was so focus counting the statues in Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

     Heyy it's just the beginning, I know:p And I have so many pictures of those Buddhas with the different postures. Wanna share them all with you actually, but I have to sleep now. It's almost 4am here. And also we met a wise old man in the middle of the jungle. Sounds weird? Nah,he's such an artist, with his principles of life. So yeah, gonna tell on my next post,,,see you!:)

#tenthousandbuddhasmonastery

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

     The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a famous Buddhist monastery in Hong Kong, located on the mountain behind Shatin Pai TauVillage nearby the KCR Shatin Railway Station. It was founded from 1949 by the Reverend Yuet Kai and completed in 1957. The monastery is divided into upper and lower portions and occupied over eight hectares. It consisted of five temples, four pavilions, one pagoda and one veranda.

9-storey pagoda in Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

     Main buildings of the monastery is the Ten Thousand Buddhas in which over 12,800 pieces of exquisite Buddha statues, each with different posture were placed on the walls. Moreover, the immortal body of  Rev. Yuet Kai is  situated in the central portion and let the people worship. At the opposite side of the temple is the 9-storey Pagoda, which was selected as the symbol of hong ong printed on the HK$ 100 banknote. Between the temple and and the pagoda is theVitasoda - Kwun Yam Pavilion ,and the 18 arhans are situated at both sides of veranda. Besides, the Manjusri and Samantabhadra Pavilions can be seen at the lower portion.

     At the upper portion there are Temple of The God of Heaven, the Candi Buddha Temple, the Kwun Yam Temple and the Temple of the Nei Tor (Amita) Buddha. Each temple all laced different statues of Buddha for people to worship. 

     

History:

     Reverend Yuet Kai roamed to Hong Kong in 1933. At the  beginning, he preached Buddhism in local monastery and many people followed him. Some years later, he planned to establish a Buddhism college when he accepted an estate that presented by a pious Buddhist who also a rich merchant. But finally he decided to found a monastery on this estate. 

     Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery was constructed beginning in 1949. At that rough time, Reverend Yuet Kai, despite of his old age carried the building materials personally from the foot mountain together with his diciples to build thids moastery. It spent eight years to complete all buildings and another ten years to finish te all more than 12,000 Buddha's statues. Consequently, the Monastery ecame one of the most popular monasteries in Hong Kong.

Kwun Yam Pavilion in Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

     The biggest recoderation after built started in 1982. At this time, the Vitasoda - Kwun Yam Pavilion, the 18 Arhan Verandas were rebuilt, and all the statues, including Buddha, Vitasoda, Kwun Yam and Arhan were repainted or coated by pure gold. 

     In 1997, a seriously landslip occurred in the monastery due to the stormy rain that destroyed some buildings of the monastery including both upper and lower portions, with among Temple of The God of Heaven and Temple of Kwun Yam were heavily destructed. The lower portion reopened to worshippers and tourists after nearly two years reconstruction. However, the upper portion still close for further remedial work.

     Today, the present abbot of the Monastery, Mr. Ng Sing Tat,is carrying out a new project to glorify the monastery by making 500 gilded Arhan statues with the size as big as human. Once the project completed, the gilded Arhan statue group placed outside would be an unique Buddhist scene around the world.

Founder: 

      Reverend Yuet Kai, the founder of the monastery, was a saga. He was not only a skilled player of Lyre, but also a talent poet. He was born in a wealth family and then studied philosophy in a famous university in China. At his age of 19, he determined to embrace Buddha to consecrate his own life to Buddhism, he flamed his small and the next fingers on left hand, and cut down a piece flesh as big as a palm from his chest to light forty-eight oil lamps in front of Buddha for his aspirations; first, never seeking the luxury living, second, reading and studying all Buddhism scriptures and the third, disseminating Buddhism to people and benefiting them. And he had achieved all what he wished.

     Reverend Yuet Kai passed away in 24th April (23th March in Chinese Calendar) 1965 at his age 87. After eight months of burying, his disciples followed his will to take his body out from the coffin, unbelievable Reverend Yuet Kai himself anticipation before death, the body did not change at all. Then the disciples coated the body with Chinese lacquer and gold leaves. U to now, the immortal body of Reverend Yuet Kai has still been preserved perfectly and placed in front of the altar in the main temple for people to worship.

Opening hours:

    9:00 am. - 5:00 pm. everyday

   (except the heavy raining day or with over typhoon signal No.8 or above is hanged)

Contact:

     Tel: (852) 2691 1067

     Fax: (852) 2607 3163

     Web-site: www.10kbuddhas.org

     e-mail: contact@10kbuddhas.org

     Address: 221 Pai Tau Village, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China

     Mail: P.O. Box 12 Shatin Rural Committee Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China