Cheung Chau Island

9-August-2005

Cheung Chau (長洲, Long Island) is a small outlying island, located 13 km southwest of Hong Kong Island. It has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong. Today, the population there : approx. 30,000.

The good thing and the bad thing about this island is no cars are allowed to enter the island. We only saw a small patrol car there. Maybe that is the only vehicle in the island? The good thing about when there is no car, it will be less polluted and virtually no car accident would be occured. However, the bad thing is, there will be no public bus or taxi or what-so-ever to take us to round the island. The travellers have to walk or rent a bicycle for sight seeing.

Ever since we had bought a car, we seldom took public transportation anymore. Ironically, the kids prefer big bus than private car though it's more comfortably to the adults.

Taking the first ferry to Cheung Chou Island. The ride takes about 50 min from the HK-Macau public pier.

The waves at the open sea was quite a big one. My mom felt a little bit dizzy on the ferry.

Finally we reached Cheung Chou Island.

it was a very sunny day. William was almost all wet from sweating.

This is the main street...

This store sells all sort of shells, but I have no intention to buy. Furthermore, I have to keep an eye on the boys to ensure they won't break anything.

One of the many seafood restaurants along the main street. The customer can select the fresh seafood by themselves before the chef cooked it. The price is a little bit cheaper. However, it is adviced to check the price carefully beforehead to avoid being bloody slashed.

Vincent was getting very nervous whenever William reached out his spider hands to touch anything. Maybe he was trying hard to protect him from getting hurt by the fishes. For the very 1st time, I felt that he is quite a big brother.

We decided to rent a bicycle instead of walking under the hot sun. By then,William was too exhausted that he fell asleep halfway.

Actually Vincent is my passenger. It's not easy at all to control this bicyle on the right track. I was sweating all over the body after 10 min cycling. Boy, it was the most stressful bicycle ride I have ever had in my whole life.

The coastal line is not bad, I can see that the sand is fine and clean. Unfortunately, it was too hot to let Vincent playing sand there. I just fear that he would have get heat stroke. If he did, would there be any ambulance to take him to the emergency ward fast enough?

On the way back to the town center, we were more relax. Vincent wanted to try out this bicycle, and he was pretty frustrated that his feet are not long enough to touch the paddles...

Even KS was damn so exhausted at this point...

Cheung Chau Island is a typical fishery island.

After returning the rented bicycle to its shop, we took a rest in one of the mini store to have some cold drinks and desserts. William was getting fussy. So, we decided to go home at 3pm.

The trip was not fruitfull enough, mainly because of the weather was too hot (33C). After the cycling, we all were too tired to continue the venture to the other parts of the island. Maybe we will go there again during the winter time to have another look.

Actually, this small island offer nothing too special except the most colorful events on every April or May : Big Bun Festival. The residents hold this week long celebration in honour of Pak Tai. The most exciting part about this festival is when the contestants are invited to climb up a 16-metre tall bamboo tower, which is covered with thousands of steamed buns.

But with small kids tagging along, I prefer to watch this event broadcasted by TV news lo...