Friday, February 17, 2017

On High West and Lung Fu Shan (Photo-essay)

Despite its name making it sound otherwise, Hong Kong Island's High West isn't as high as a number of other Hong Kong.  Topping out at 494 meters above sea level, it's only the 53rd highest peak in the Big Lychee (with number one ranked Tai Mo Shan standing quite a bit higher at 957 meters).  

Still, I reckon you can get some of the most stupendous views in Hong Kong from the top of High West.  And on one of my hikes up it (that also ended up including a stop at 253-meter-high Lung Fu Shan on the way down to a bus stop just above the upper reaches of Kennedy Town), I couldn't resist taking panoramic as well as regular photos from up there (all of which can be enlarged -- and their views consequently better appreciated -- by clicking on them)... ;) 

On this hike, bugs like this colorful true bug,
were eye-catching along with scenic views ;)
 
The top of High West on a beautiful blue sky day :)
 
Looking north and east-wards from the top of
this western Hong Kong Island hill

Looking west from High West (with Lamma Island, Hei Ling Chau
Peng Chau and Lantau Island visible in the distance)
 
 Another bug spotted along the way -- 
this one with pretty wings and hairy legs!
 
The view from some 250 meters lower down is considered 
interesting enough to merit an explanatory view compass 
 
A view of Pok Fu Lam -- with its large Christian cemeteries
-- and still largely green Mount Davis
 
 Red flowers abound on Lung Fu Shan
(also known as Hill Above Belcher's) :)

2 comments:

Bill said...

Hi YTSL,

Between the endearing colorful bugs and the panoramic views, this is another example of how you so well combine words and images to capture the hiking experience to share with others. I recently came across a quote I made about 25 years ago in my personal journal which I feel recalls some of the things you touch upon in your blog. It is from The Unexpected Universe by Loren Eisely:

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an eye other than human...Both the light we seek and the shadows that we fear are projected from within...Man lies at the heart of a web...extending through sidereal space, as well as backward into the dark realm of pre-history..."

Bill



YTSL said...

Hi Bill --

Thanks for your appreciative comments and wow re your bringing up Loren Eiseley. Hadn't thought about him in years but loved the sculpture screen O. Verne Shaffer that hung in the lounge of my alma mater's anthropology building and -- here's the connection -- had been inspired by Eiseley's "The Immense Journey"! :)