Thursday, July 5, 2018

Visit to Island of Cheung Chau

It was a dream come true for me to visit an island of fishing villagers around Hong Kong's 261 islands. I had only lived at my sister's house in Lantau Island back in the late 1980s. That was before the new Tsing Ma Bridge was built to link the new Chek Lap Kok Airport after the closure of Kai Tak Airport in 1997. Those days I had to commute daily by speed boats from her home at Discovery Bay in Lantau Island to Hong Kong daily. Whenever it rained heavily, all the residents would be left stranded at the pier at Hong Kong Island as the seas were rough with choppy & dangerous waves.




The weather was really good and little warm. Their weather reports lied that it would rain everyday but it didn't as God was kind for me to enjoy the holidays.  We took the MTR train until Central in Hong Kong. Walked briefly to the Pier 5 and passed the panoramic view of the high rise buildings. It started to get hot inside the crowded boat ferry and I was well prepared with a paper fan. I was truly the only 'aunty' with the paper fan in the whole 2 decked boat!!! Everyone jealously stared at this 'aunty' from Malaysia while sweating profusely as there was no air con in the cheapo boat we took. You need to pay more for the other luxury boat with air con which we boarded on the return journey.

The boat was huge and comfortable except that there was no air cond. The journey from Pier 5 took 55 minutes to reach the pier at Cheung Chau. We passed many islands along the way including Lantau Island, Tsing Yi, Lamma Island and many others.  



The big ferry boat berthed at the pier and it was fun all the way. There was a big crowd as it was a Sunday which happens to be the eve of their Annual Dragon Boat Race and Bak Chang Dumpling Festival. It was sunny hot and we bought frozen fruits to eat. It was so delicious to enjoy the frozen watermelon and pineapple! Try to make them at home.



It is a famous fishing village and you could see live fishes being sold at the markets. Lots of fresh seafood everywhere on this island. Can someone please tell me how to eat sun dried starfishes?? They are selling like hot cakes there.




We saw several dragon boats having their last minute practices before the finals the next day.




It is truly a very relaxing place away from the hustle bustle city life in Hong Kong. We love this island so much that we planned to stay there for 1-2 nights on our future trips.




This famous swimming & picnic spot in Cheung Chau has been filmed thousands of times in the TVB dramas & HKG movies. I had to do what the locals do and stripped my clothes off to jump inside the sea! All my HKG friends and relatives were stunned in disbelief to hear that I really went swimming there as they had never swam there all their lives! 




We had lunch and dinner there with beer to celebrate. The food was very delicious and tasty. I am not able to write out what I ate and exactly how the juices oozed out of my mouth as I am no foodie blogger like others. I could only advise you to visit Cheung Chau for day trips.


Next post: The visit to the famous pirate Cheong Po Tsai's cave in Cheung Chau.




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47 comments:

  1. Wow.. I never been to Cheong Chau though HK dramas always show this island... must go one day if got chance!

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    1. Why would you want to visit HKG again when you could better use the time to explore new countries? I would do that too unless my trips coincided with my wife's work. Visit China! I would visit there over and over again. LOL

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  2. The picture of you holding the fan, you look like a superstar, kaka...

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    1. Me a superstar??? Which one?? Chow Yuen Fatt??

      Thank you for being my fan.

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  3. hee..hee... I see you hiding behind your wifey! I didn't know we can freeze fruits like that to enjoy. I must try it.

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    1. I hope you will try to freeze them. I couldn't believe that the frozen watermelon tasted so good & refreshing under the scorching sun. I might do experiments by dipping with honey water before popping into the freezer.

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  4. Only know this island from Hong Kong dramas. Haha.

    Lol on your paper fan and aunty-ness. Never mind. At least the locals knew you aren't a local. Haha.

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    1. I was like you who watched the TV and seeing the actual Tung Wan Beach brought me smiles!

      I realised that nobody carries this ancient paper fan anymore! I got them free from taoist funerals for my attendance. Nowadays people prefer to carry the battery operated fans which is cooler.

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  5. you are so smart to bring paper fan. the frozen ic looks so refreshing. next time u must stay in cheong chau cos there are many haunted places there so u will get to talk to spirits and tell us ghosts stories here.

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    1. I met our HKG cousin in KL who warned us about the freak weather and early heatwave that hit the Hong Kong islands. So I armed myself with caps, paper fans, slippers and singlets. I had suffered terrible summers in HKG last year.

      I really didn't know there are haunted houses there. I googled so many news and was shocked to read the horror stories & deaths. I even passed that Bella Vista too. I will look forward to visit and stay there in future so that I can chit chat with 'them'. LOLOL

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  6. haha....u r naked in one of those photos above? never been to Cheung Chau...coz it seems to me like another beach. Mayb I should go there one day..

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    1. Ssssh! That wasn't a nudist beach and I was wearing my swimming trunks wokay.

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  7. R rated! Lucky the important parts are covered in the photo, LOL! I like the first photo (the Welcome to Cheung Chau one), it looks like a postcard, actually all the photos are nicely taken lah. I only been to Lantau Island to visit the Big Buddha on my trip to HK. Seems like a wonderful day trip to Cheung Chau.

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    1. I didn't expect my photo to turn out that way at the beach. It should be G rated! ha ha...
      The island is so small yet it could be interesting to ride bicycles around to relax our minds. Mun says it has haunted houses which I will explore in future.

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  8. Ah-----looks like a great day despite no AC.... You and your wife are such CUTIES..... Love all of our 'poses' and cute photographs.....

    Hubby has been to Hong Kong --but not ME..... It looks awesome.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. I hope that George had a great time in Hong Kong as it has always been an eye opener for the Americans to visit Shocking Asia. Hugs to you and stay healthy always!

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  9. You are posing like super model! Thumbs up!
    Interesting place and delicious looking foods too.

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    1. Oh thank you! I should sign up as a model for old man's Haute Couture fashions! Hong Kong is always famous for delicious Chinese cuisine.

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  10. You are posing like super model! Thumbs up!
    Interesting place and delicious looking foods too.

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  11. You and your poses...so funny lah! It wouldn't be TM if there are no poses, right? Wah, your icy treat got heart shape one...did you give that to your wifey and profess your love?...hehe! ;) You're trying to make us believe you were naked in the beach photo. Luckily, the forbidden parts were hidden....wuahahahaha! :D

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    1. I am surprised that some readers thought I was naked. If I had done that, I would be all over the HKG news! LOLOL
      That heart shape was saved for the last bite. Try to freeze the watermelons at home and eat. Good!

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  12. Your photos say all, how fun and enjoyable was the trip to the island! The frozen watermelon looks really cool and yummy, and the dragon boat festival looked very similar to our snake boat race held in our neighbourhood state Kerala. The coloful street collage is a treat to eyes and the beach snaps are fun to check

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    1. It is interesting to hear about the snake boat race in Kerala. They have very colourful culture there.
      Colourful street murals are getting popular and too crazy in many countries now.

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  13. My two girls have pestered me to take them to Hong Kong, we are still not able to make a trip there. This year, again already plan to go elsewhere. Hopefully 2019, we can make it.

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    1. I am very sure they would love going to HKG for the first time. There is a smaller Disneyland and Ocean Park plus lots of night shopping and eating everywhere.

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  14. Wah! SO syiok lah Anay & Letchumi having fun on the island.

    Your photos were all so cute and fun!

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    1. It was fun! Just 2 of us and makes the world go round.

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  15. Hi! It's nice that you had nice days in the island. Have nice days!

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    1. Yes. It is always fun when both of us go anywhere. We look forward to visit Japan again.

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  16. Waaa.. such fun, TM! Aiyaa, that Malaysian 'aunty' with the fan is so sweetlah. No surprise he is blessed with good weather.

    You don't have to describe the food - for me, your photos speak for it itself. I have made frozen watermelon before. The easiest and better than ice cream especially on super hot afternoons! Can't wait to read your next post.

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    1. Where did you learn to make frozen watermelons? I am so jakun. LOL

      I was blessed with good weather when their news forecast said whole week would rain heavily.

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  17. Replies
    1. That's what I as wondering as so many shops sold this. Can makan?

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  18. My first time see those frozen fruits sell like this LOL
    Yalor, I also 1 2 know how to eat dried star fish, I guess it is for boiled soup as HK ppl like Cantonese boiled soup~
    OMG, u swam naked? O.O

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    1. I must google more about how they make soups with starfish and what is the goodness effects.

      You would know if I swam naked. The news all over the world would be reporting lah.

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  19. Frozen fruits look interesting. I wonder how that frozen watermelon tastes like.

    You are wifey are so cute in pictures esp with your dab pose.

    Do you have extra dry pants to wear after your swim?

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    1. You could ask your son to freeze all the fruits and eat. So easy to make! My wife is always cute in my eyes. LOLOL

      I brought swimming trunk and towel along that day.

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  20. I’m happy for you that you had such a pleasant trip. Even without your words, your photos show it. The talk of your commute by ferry from the island to Hong Kong reminded me of the people of Awaji-shima island who took small ferry boats daily to work in Kobe. As to the frozen fruits, watermelon is first to me. I’d like to try it.

    Yoko

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. I remember this place Awaji-shima island which appeared in our TV documentary as a popular place. Hope you will try to freeze the watermelons! So yummy to eat.

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  21. Do the hawkers there practice double standard? Like in Thailand, if they sense that you're not foreigner, they may charge you 50% higher?

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    1. In Hong Kong they are very honest and don't have double standard menus or hotel rates like Thailand. That's why I need to boycott them. 555555

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  22. Hi! It's nice you could enjoy an island life in Hong Kong. Did you catch big fishes? I envy you that you could get a lot ofdelicious meals in your trip. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I think you are very humble. I am the one who envies and admire all your holidays and exotic hotel rooms.

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  23. I’ve only been to Tai-O & I love it! Shall make Cheung Chau my next destination when I visit HK again. xoxo

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    1. This is funny. My next visit will be Tai-O islands.

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  24. i also want the sun-dried starfish - wonder if they're salty and sweet? :) the area looks really picturesque and perfect for outdoor fun - thankfully the weather reports were wrong! :D

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    1. I should have bought the dried star fish as decorations. Eat them slowly one by one. Ha ha...

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