Intrepid Sightseeing

Today is sunny with smog, warm and quiet except for construction and birdsong - the complete opposite of last Saturday. Last Friday started the wind a-blowing and after a play at the Fringe (in which we knew two of the principal actors) we hung out on the rooftop bar in the most delicious wind. It felt warm and moist as breath on the skin, but so enormous. The rooftop was closed because of the approaching typhoon and all the tables and chairs were roped down, but we stood there and drank in the wind.

Shannon arrived as the wind strengthened, and Saturday morning was blowing and raining like, well, like the front edge of a typhoon. The T3 flag was "hoisted." (See http://www.hko.gov.hk/informtc/tcsignal.htm for an explanation of the signals. The short version is T1 - typhoon might be coming; T3 - tie everything down and watch signals; T-8 - stay indoors, schools are cancelled, tape your windows; T-9, T-10 - hope for the best and stay away from rooms with windows. Warning flags are so exciting! I just wish they still fired the typhoon gun over the harbor.) It was T-3, but Shannon's primary sightseeing goal was to go to the Big Buddha, so what could we do? We went. The big Buddha is at the top of the mountain and is as unprotected as anyone would imagine.

There were a lot fewer tour groups climbing the stairs than when we went on Easter Sunday. And the cable car up was closed. The kids and I retreated quickly to the vegetarian restaurant at the monastery, which is well-reviewed, but a huge disappointment. At least we had tons of hot tea until it was time to stand at the bus stop waiting for the next a/c coach to take us back down the mountain. Huge boxes flew by as we cowered behind posts and held our 7-11 hooded garbage bags down.

Here are two pictures illustrating the various opinions of the adventure:










We made it back, recovered our equanimity with ice cream and cocoa and ventured out again for dinner. By now there were thunderstorm and black rain warnings posted. We prepared ourselves with rolled up pant legs, the beloved garbage bags and loads of resolve. After all that, when we left the air conditioned restaurant, the rain and wind had stopped. Sunday was mild and calm. Just right for those less intrepid.