After all that eating I’ve been doing, I had to get rid of some of the calories – though it’s not quite enough to help me lose some weight. Right now I feel like a bear going into hibernation during winter. It’s getting cold in HK and I’m eating more. My body also seems to be going into hibernation mode by storing layers and layers of fat, a large majority of which centres at my tummy. Gosh, I look like I have a baby bump. It’s embarrassing … a baby bump with no baby inside. Eeeks. But as long as I’m living in HK, this baby bump is unlikely to go away. I think the only way I’m ever going to be thin is if I lived in somewhere in Africa where good food is scarce.
Anyway, in my bid to expand some energy, I went hiking on Sunday. This time it was up Tai Mo Shan (大帽山) the highest peak in Hong Kong at 957m. Its name translates literally to ‘Big Hat Mountain’.


This picture was taken on my way to the meet-up point at Tai Po Market MTR station. I’m quite pleased with this shot taken with the Colour Accent function in my camera. I got on at Yau Ma Tai, the first stop of the Kwun Tong line (green line on the MTR map) hence it was rather empty.


The hike of the day was to hike long Stage 8 of the Maclehose Trail which is the route for the Oxfam Trailwalker charity run that takes place in Hong Kong every November. The Trailwalker route is 100km long that runs across the New Territories from Sai Kung to Tsuen Wan. The charity run requires people to be in teams of four. You have a maximum of 48 hours to finish the run as a team. Most people do it overnight. The tough Gurkhas from Nepal hold the record for doing it in 11+ hours. If insanity does strike, I’ll do it next year … am kinda considering it.


Way down below is the hustle and bustle of the busy suburbs. It’s so therapeutic for the soul to be up here with a nice view, fresh cool air and tranquility. I find that I need to get away from all the crowds and small spaces every weekend to recharge myself. It’s the only way to stay sane in this city.


Once again, I’m awestruck by Hong Kong’s natural beauty. While climbing up I’m mentally cursing myself for subjecting myself to such torture, but once up there, all that effort is rewarded by lovely views. The scene is made all that much sweeter ‘cos of all that effort put into getting there.


My fellow hikers and I passed through Lead Mine Pass enroute to Tai Mo Shan and we ended up in some place called Tsuen Kam. While hiking, we came across numerous mounds of cow dung. Later, we spotted wild buffaloes grazing in the grassland.


The Hong Kong weather Observatory sits at the top of Tai Mo Shan, and is closed to the public. Hence there is no way going right to the summit. But anyway, we were close enough – probably just about 25m shy of the peak. It was hard work getting up as there were many steep slopes and stairs to climb. Do this every other day and you’re guaranteed buns of steel!