I met my friend J in Sha Tin again (as I did last Saturday), but this time we took the KCR train a couple stops north to the University Station. Sha Tin is on the Shi Mung River, which runs into Tolo Bay, and I wanted to see the bay. According to the map we could walk to the bay from University Station, and so we did. It was about a 2 km walk, with a nicely designed walkway over the bayside expressway. When we got onto the other side of the expressway there was a nice walkway and bike path, and many people rode by on their bikes. We walked northwest, with the bay on our right. For awhile our view was blocked by a metal fence around a landfill area, but the fence ended and we were at a ferry pier. The ferry had sounded its horn and was about to leave. I asked where did it go and how much did it cost. I still don't know where it went, but the cost was $80HK per person, and it was a 3 hour ride. This was more than we were interested in and so we let the ferry go. Just as it pulled away a man came running onto the pier calling for the boat to stop. And, suprisingly, the boat did return to the pier and the man boarded. Very courteous.
We walked a bit further northwest along the bay but there was not much to see. The actual university was in the hills to our left, and up ahead were some office buildings, but no waterfront businesses, no boats, no people. So we turned back, now walking southeast with the bay on our left. We walked past the ferry pier, past where we entered the walkway, and continued towards where the river empties into the bay. We could not actually see the mouth of the river--it was obstructed from our view by some buildings and structures up ahead. We both thought that the walkway would reach the river-side and then there would be some life, some restaurants, something to do. Hah! Were we mistaken!
We kept walking. Eventually there was a police station along the waterfront, and sometime after that a sewerage treatment plant. After the plant the walkway finally reached the rivers' side, but now we were adjacent to the XXX Race Track, one of the two horse racing venues in HK. It was not in operation today and so all was quiet. We walked generally south along the river's edge. To our right was the race track property. There was lots of activity on the walkway, with many bicyclists, walkers, and some joggers. It was a really nice day to be engaged in outdoor exercise. We kept walking hoping to find a place for lunch, but no luck. After the race track there was just park land to our right. No businesses, no regular city streets. So we kept walking, and walking, and walking. Geeez, I sure wish I was on a bike! We ended up walking all the way back to Sha Tin, and we had lunch at the New Town Plaza mall. Whew! It was nice to sit for awhile and eat! After eating it was time for me to go, and so we said goodbye and I got back on the KCR train.
I called my friend P, my internet friend for over 3 years, and we agreed to meet in Sai Kung (where I was yesterday). So I took the MTR and minibus to Sai Kung, and we met at the bus terminus. P has lived in HK for 12 years. She has two grown children who live with her, and after walking around some of Sai Kung we had dinner at a Thai restaurant where her daughter works. I know, I just had lunch, but I found room for some really good Thai food! P is considering buying the restaurant. We then took a minibus to her apartment where I met her son and we watched some TV. It was nice to visit someone in a real home, and I really liked her place. The apartment is in a quiet neighborhood a short distance from the bay and away from traffic and noise. She even has a rooftop patio! But it was soon time to catch the minibus back to the MTR, and go home.
and snack shop boat.
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Go to HK Part 4, pg 18