CNY 2010 Shek O beach

Saturday was Shek O day. We awoke to windows covered in humidity and waited for clearing before we headed to Shek O. We first stopped at South Horizons mall and visited Toys Club where we bought some Star Wars toys and a stuffie for Shea and some great books on China for Jan's collection.

The trip to Shek O constituted two double decker bus rides to Northpoint and around past Stanley on the eastern part of HK island. The road was very windy and wavy and often we were sure that we wouldn't make the corner! Once around the final turn, the view of Shek O from above is amazing! Chamois caramel coloured sand overlooked by peach coloured bluffs and green green vegetation. The water is so green, it's feels very mediteranean. We all commented that it was just like Cadeques, Spain.

We got off the bus in the little village and wandered around the tiny streets. No room for cars, we walk past houses and people having lunch, their homes open to the street. The doorways and buildings are very colourful and everywhere are beautiful fragrant plants and flowers. And laundry hanging to dry! Jen showed us her favorite houses and we delighted in the charm of this little place. It feels so relaxed compared to the busyness of Hong Kong, it was like being on holiday.

Shea Ro and Bob climbed up to see the view from the hilltop pagoda. Then we meandered to the beach where two ladies set up our chairs in a good spot. Overheated from their climb, Shea and Ro immediately jumped into the South China Sea. It's cold! But they soon got accustomed to the cold, and spent two wonderful hours gamboling in the water and on the sand. The air is filled with accents - french, chinese, australian, american and others. The wind was soft, the temperature just perfect - 25 degrees. We had a beer and watched the kiddies play in between the wake board surfers.

After Shea and Ro had a beachside shower, we walked to the Thai Chinese Seafood Restaurant, a favorite of Jen and Bob's. We had a wonderful meal: Thai appetizers including spring rolls, banana leaf wrapped chicken, fish cakes and prawns with sweet chili sauce, beef and broccoli, green seafood curry, young asparagus, egg fried rice and chicken and cashews. We all loved the meal, it was so delicious!

A long bus ride home along the bluffs overlooking Stanley and we were dropped off just up the street from Sham Wan Towers. Another marvelous day in Hong Kong.