I meet my friend W at Central MTR at about 10:45. We are going to take the ferry boat to Cheng Chau, a small island southwest of central HK. If we have time we may also go to Peng Chau, a smaller island a few miles north of Cheng Chau. Today the weathr is quite cool and breezy, about 15C, but at least it is sunny. We walk to the ferry terminals a few blocks away. There are 6 terminal buildings, and each houses ferries to different destinations, such as Lamma Island, Discovery Bay, Peng Chau, Cheng Chau, and Park Island. The Cheng Chau ferry leaves from Terminal 5. The Star Ferry terminal is about 1 km east, and the Macau Ferry terminal is about 1 km west. There are two different kinds of ferries to Cheng Chau: a slower regular ferry, and a so-called fast ferry. The regular ferry costs $10.50HK, and the fast ferry is $21.00HK. They alternate--one or the other every 30 minutes. The next ferry is a fast ferry. We can use our Octopus cards (the MTR stored value cards) for the fare (these cards can be used many places, including all trains, buses, trams, most ferries, and even McDonalds). We board the 11:15 ferry, and about 30 minutes later we are docking in Cheng Chau.
The ride over had taken us west from HK island a few miles, and then around the north side of Cheng Chau and south to the Cheng Chau harbor in the middle of the island. Cheng Chau is in a squiggly figure 8 shape, with the harbor area in the skinny middle. Behind the breakwater are hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes. The village curves along the waterfront with the usual and numerous shops and restaurants. I do not see any cars! Just in front of the ferry terminal are 3 booths each trying to sell rooms are various local motels. I am curious so I get some info from a couple of them. We then walk north along the waterfront, and soon find a place for lunch. I have a very tasty fish in white sauce and rice meal, and W has some curry chicken and rice. Together with tea the total cost is $64HK.
We then walk east and find one of the motels. It is in a long line of 3 story concrete buildings that run along the eastern shore of the island. The rooms in the first motel cost about $200HK per night and have a nice view of the beach, but they are rather old and dingy. Another motel in a nearby building has much nicer rooms which have recently been completely renovated, and so they cost about $300 per night. We walk south along the beach to the Warwick Hotel, which has regular nice hotel rooms for about $400HK per night.
We slowly make our way north and west back towards the ferry terminal, walking down the quiet narrow streets. Cheng Chau is a very charming town. There are small grocery shops, fish and seafood shops, produce shops, tea houses, etc. Life here is definitely on a smaller scale and slower pace than town center! Maybe I should move out here for a few days just to get a feel of something different. When we get back to the terminal I ask about the ferry to Peng Chau, but the next ferry is not until 4:50PM, which means it would be almost dark by the time we arrive. So we decide to head back to Central, and take the 3:15 regular slow ferry. We pay an additional $6.50 each for "deluxe" upper level seats, so that we can sit on the rear deck. Although it is rather cool and brisk it is quite comfortable in the sun. We have a very relaxing and enjoyable ride and arrive back in Central at about 4:15. I am home before 6:00.
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