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| Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong |
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| The Big Buddha at Po Lin Monastery |
On a fresh lovely morning , on the fourth day of our tour, after having our complimentary breakfast in the hotel, we , our group kick started our journey to visit the Buddhist monastery in Hong kong ,as per our tour itinerary. At that time , little did we know that a great surprise of a thrilling and amazing journey was in fact awaiting us . The van arranged by the local travel agency dropped us at the Tung Chung station from where we picked up a cable car to the Ngong Ping station . Ngong Ping is a plateau in the Lantau island .
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| Ngong Ping 360 Cable car ride |
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Ngong Ping 360 is also the longest bi-cable rope-way in Asia, The view , while sitting inside the cable car and watching the scenery outside on all sides was unbelievably breath taking . There is also an option to select the fully transparent cable car called as the crystal cabin , where even the bottom floor is transparent , which adopts a full-width single piece of glass for the cabin bottom . Travelling in this type of cable car is little bit scary because it looks as though we are hanging around in the open space. However we missed that experience for we came to know about it later only.
The cable car just hangs and swiftly passes over the seas.We had a feeling of actually floating in air.
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| Passing over the seas -Floating experience. |
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| Flights taking off seen at Honk Kong Airport (inset ) |
The Cable car journey also gives a spectacular panoramic view of the Hong Kong airport region. Being one of the busiest and best airport in the world and having a very high air traffic of about one thousand airplanes moving in and out per day , the airplanes landing and taking off , one behind the other at multiple terminals in the airport could be captured from a short distance. The landing and taking off of the planes looked so much similar to the high flying birds like vultures landing on a prey and flying away grabbing its preys in a matter of no time..
Also we could spot the recently opened Macau bridge connecting Hong Kong and Macau ,which was in the constructing stage and the sea traffic in the surrounding area at a little far off distance . The cable car then took a downward journey and gradually climbed up on a mountainous terrain of the beautiful Lantau island , which looked as though it was wearing a thick dark green colored carpet of trees and plants. From the top view , the thick clusters of trees looked like giant sized fresh broccoli bloomed together , so fresh to be cut and consumed. We have to accept the fact that nature never fails to amaze us with her stunning beauty in whichever part of the world , we travel .
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| Walking track seen on Lantau forest below the cable car track |
We could also spot hiking tracks or footpaths made of stones or concrete on the mountain terrain below the cable car route, which leads to the monastery .Though intended to provide access for maintenance and emergency rescue operations of the cable car , it's also open to public to do hiking. Just a little distance parallel to the walking track in the valley was flowing , a stream of water in between the two mountain ranges and in its due course had turned into a waterfall. Looked like the waterfall would proceed and join the ocean down the lane , as the sea was just right at the foot of the mountain. This brought to my mind , how a seeker in the path of spiritual journey , proceeds , undergoes various ups and down and ultimately reaches the divine destination down the lane at one point of time and merges with Him.
One more view which was spectacular was the sequential alignment of the elegantly designed cable cars which move swiftly in their designated cable or rope-way both in front and behind our car in perfect sync . This reminded the action of a saint, who keeps scrolling the bead of the japa-mala one by one in synchronous with the chants he utters in his mind or lips , so meticulously.
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| Cable cars like scrolling beads |
In fact , there are two cable lines or rope-ways , each carrying the cable cars in two different directions. Watching the cable cars moving to and fro in both the rope-ways at a momentary glance appeared exactly like the multi-colored beads in the strings of a necklace . Also it reminded me of the movable color beads in the olden days slate , which enabled the kids to make the counting of numerals easily.
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| Inside view of the moving cable car -standard cabin type |
Each cable car could accomodate 6 people .With seats on either side , there is a a rod in the middle so that we can catch hold of it ,stand up and have a much better view of the scenery around , enhancing our astonishment. On standing inside the cable car and watching the cable car moving down the mountain swiftly , the experience was similar to the thrilling roller coaster rides we had experienced in Ocean park and Disney land theme park , wearing a 3D glass to view the simulated scenery .
We also had the birds eye view of the harbour and could take a glance of the ships, boats, cargo boats and also the vehicular traffic on the nearby roads . Literally we were flying at a lower height,just above the land .
The cable car after crossing the mountains and seas , reached the Ngong Pong village after a breathtaking journey for about 25 minutes.
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| Alighting the slowed down cable car at Ngong Ping |
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Cable car station at Ngong Ping village |
Some peculiar structures similar to big drums with the assigned names as Health, wealth, Success, Prosperity gave us a warm welcome and was very new and different. We took a group photo over there and also individual family photos. The climate was little cloudy ,without any bright sun , hazy look and was not hot . But the location was appearing very colourful with a cluster of decorated stalls for gift items, jewelleries , restaurants etc.
We proceeded further after refreshing ourselves in the extremely well maintained rest rooms .
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| The sign board showing the layout |
A Huge tree like our banyan tree of Hindu temples was present there with many hangings believed to have been tied by the people to fulfill their wish, much similar to our south Indian style of tying yellow threads,cradles ,wish chits on the trees in temples. On either side of the tree , drum like structures reading Health and Bliss was placed.
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| Bodhi wishing shrine |
Within a few steps , we could spot a big statute of Budhdha from a far off distance in that hazy surrounding .
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| Entrance to monastery |
We entered through a huge gateway structure and soon reached the place where the Big Buddha statue was consecrated on a small hillock . It was so huge , referred popularly as Giant Buddha or Tian Tan Buddha statue .It was erected in 1993. The statue is made of bronze and 34 meters high , Buddha is seen in sitting position , with the right hand in blessing posture and head inclined downward towards the people .It has taken 12 years to complete it seems.
The first sight of the massive Budhdha seated in the hillock was resembling that of our very own Lord Murugan /Subramanya or Lord Hanuman of Hindu temples which normally would be seen in the hillocks or small mountain tops. Here we had to climb about 268 steps to take a closer look at the astonishingly big statue.The steps land straight right in front of the statue and Buddhas vision seem to fall directly on the people climbing the steps. Any Hindu climbing the steps would have the feeling of entering a Hindu temple, just like as I had strongly felt . To be more specific , I felt as though , I was approaching a Master or Guru or and was chanting my Guru Puja chants on the whole way up the stairs till I reached Buddha .Buddha being an enlightened Master , caused a unique vibration to be felt in the near vicinity of Him.
There were provisions to circumambulate the Budhda idol in the top. Just beneath the Buddha statue , is a 3 storey building , which houses a small hall ,where we can see small pictures or paintings on the walls depicting the story of Buddha in various stages right from his birth, through his childhood and till his enlightened stage . The pictures portray the enlightned Buddha and the numerous angels surrounding Him , seeking His blessings ,a typical scene of the devotees surrounding an enlightement Master . Also noticed a strange custom . People after their family member's death and cremation , write their names and inscribe on a designated place exclusively reserved for this specific purose. They seem to have belief that the souls would take a safe and peaceful place in Buddha after death by following this custom.
A shop selling items like Chinse laughing Buddha dolls , beads , bracelets , the profit of which would go towards the monastery was seen in the same place. And couldn't resist myself buying a braclet made of pink crystal beads . 
There were beads of different colours and a corresponding peculiar name for each color was mentioned in the tag tied to it, one meant for health, one for wealth , one for prosperity , one for love etc.I opted the one for spreading love.
There is a Hundi placed in front of the statue where we can do our offerings as part of custom. From the top of the hillock , the view was amazing .
While alighting down the stairs, had a contented feeling of fullness , which Buddha points as a sense of emptiness .
Then , we proceeded further inside, the cattles were roaming in the campus, some shops inside the big campus selling crockery items made of porcelain, gift items, toys etc apart from the Agarbathies or incense sticks ,which people buy and light them inside the monastery in a place designated for lighting it and offer their prayers.
The monastery is very neatly maintained . The history says it was founded in 1906 by three Chinese monks . Though the monastery is similar to construction and appearance of any other Buddhist monasteries, it has some unique features.
The main temple houses three bronze idols of Buddha , one representing his past lives , the second representing the present and third for the future lives and Buddhist scriptures .
Behind the main building ,is another building or temple called as the Grand hall of Ten thousand Buddhas where ten thousand miniature Buddhas are installed on the inner walls of the temple. One more interesting feature is there are five statues of Buddhas called as Dhyani Buddhas namely Amoghasiddhi , Amitabha , Vairocona , Ratnasambhava and Aksobhya.
Most of the things in the middle monastery are similar to a Hindu temple like the magnificence of the architecture , the idols made of metals such as Bronze , the belief of bowing down and worshiping, the chants similar to Hindu vedic chants though different in the way being chanted ,the rosary beads, the priests or monks wearing a saffron dress typical to Buddhist custom, the burning of incense sticks and making offerings etc.
And there are some cushion seats placed in the front of Buddhas, to kneel down on them , bow down and offer prayers to Dhyani Buddhas. One custom which is obviously missing from Hindu temples is the Arati for the idols have not noticed
atleast in the time of our visit. No doubt , whatever may be the religion, the place of worship is sacred and gives a divine
feeling and positive vibrations in the atmosphere surrounding it , no one can deny, meaning there is only one divinity all ove, no duality!!
We can a feel a depth of calmness , the Presence in a subtle manner.
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| Chinese kid posing for photo |
It was nice to see tourists from all over the world visiting this place and many westerners were spotted. The Chinese also had come along with their families.
After that , we returned to the cable car journey ,the very same journey which excited us so much earlier does not interest so much in the return journey comparatively . We can attribute this to the game of our mind , perhaps. The sunlight had started dimming with the thick clouds blanketing all over .We did say a big bye to Ngong Ping village which delighted us greatly . We also got to see some scenes which we failed to take note in the morning on our return journey .
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| Bridge seen from Cable car |
Our travel agency van was waiting for us to ride us back to the Hotel .The day ended with some nice biryanis, Roti ,Sabjis ordered in a nearby North Indian restaurant , located near the Hotel at Kowloon walled city.
Buddham saranam Gacchami.
Sangam saranam Gacchami.
Dharmam saranam Gacchami.
