Secret Walk :: Redhill to Stanley

Redhill Peninsula and Turtle Cove

As it turns out - you can WALK from Redhill (our home) to Stanley! You just scramble into the bushes along a partially hidden (gov't waterworks) stairway and follow the water catchment all the way there.

There are no sidewalks along the roadway - so we've never tried walking even though Stanley is fairly close. This zigzaggy pathway through the forest took us a bit more than an hour with the kids. And they both walked uncomplaining the whole way! Huh - so that's what's up in those hills!

*heart* these Banyan trees!

Pleased with our adventure - we hopped a city bus (50 cents in USD) into Causeway Bay for dim sum!

yum yum DIM SUM! ABear devoured pretty much alllll 3 orders of chicken soup dumpings!

To finish - a walk around the corner for McDonald's soft serve while sitting on the steps of PCCW (another growing tradition).

hike, views, dim sum, and concrete jungle all in an afternoon - check!

Ain't No Mountain High Enough....

Someday, when I look back on these years lived in Hong Kong, I imagine that the gift of ROCK CLIMBING will top the list of treasures gained here. I cannot describe the delight, pride, and awe I feel every time I watch my girl scale these cliffs.

monkey-princess-toddler turns fashion-conscious-climber

strength  ::  determination

that part of the wall is SHEER!

Third climb at ShekO and ABear did it like a champ. She started off the morning on the "gold" level climb, and didn't stop till she'd reached the top of all 3 ropes. I am tingling again just remembering it.

ha!

Watching her in action is something else. Carefully assessing each crevice and stone for the best hand-hold, the best toe-hold. Shifting her weight. Stretching out for the grab. Stumbling a bit at times, then regaining composure immediately in order to reach again. The focus and skill of coming back down without bumping her knees on the rocks... pulling her body-weight into the center of the rope for her lead to lower her by. Oh - all while the sea swirls relentlessly on the rocks below.

climb 2:

There is nothing like this.

Coach Andy has been "height proofing kids" through his Rockstars program here in HK for awhile now. He is giving these kids more than a kick-booty-skill. He's giving them courage. Confidence. Resilience. Grit.

This is what it's about.

Kam Shan Country Park :: aka Monkey Hill

A glimpse beyond the shiny urban jungle of Hong Kong - lies the real jungle of The New Territories.

Monkey Hill

Protected areas near water reservoirs where groups of monkeys (mostly macaques) live free and wild.

Hundreds of wild macaques hanging from trees, scrambling down embankments, meandering down the trail, and frankly staring at the curious human trespassers. Macaques are the type of monkey I used to work with at the UW Primate Research Lab. What a different experience to see them like this.

The walking is fairly easy and very doable with children. Granted, we didn't do the entire trail. We just walked till it was time to turn around. The macaques are clearly used to people.

Welcoming Committee?

 

The park is easy to get to from anywhere by MTR and then bus 81 (from Nathan Rd / Jordan Rd). Or short taxi from Tsim Tsa Shui. The journey itself is adventure for little ones.

 

 

Apparently the HK government brought a bunch of monkeys to the area to eat some toxic plants that were growing too near the water supply. Toxic to humans, not to monkeys, I guess. The colony grew rapidly despite problems with hunting (yes, people ate monkey. so sad!). Some people say that others may have been pets in the 1920s and were released to fend for themselves. In any case, there are plenty now.

don't mess with me