On the First Day of the Lunar New Year, we went to pay our respects to my aunts and their families. As per Chinese custom. On the second day, we went hiking with friends.
Starting in Tai Wai, we hiked up Amah Rock (望夫石). The hike was not particularly hazardous. But the ascent is fairly steep, and some steps are high. With my poor balance, it was a challenge, particularly coming down. Decades ago, when I was much younger, the Rock was considered quite an attraction, a popular destination for hiking. Nowadays it seems less so. Many young people might not even know what and where it is.
At the rock, one gets a panoramic view of the western part of Shatin. In the distance, once can see Taipo Road snaking down from the gap between mountains, to come to Tai Wai / Shatin. Before the opening of Taipo Road, people who wanted to travel between Shatin and Kowloon have to come through the area around Amah Rock.
The weather was great for hiking. Sunny but cool. We got to see a bit of nature. Such as the eggs of a moth forming a neat lattice on a green leaf. And early flowers such as polyspora axillaris (大頭茶). It kind of resembles a fried egg, sunny side up, with its yellow centre surrounded by white petals.
Coming down, we decided to check out the crowd worshipping at Che Kung Temple (車公廟). The third day of the Lunar New Year is the most popular day for coming to the temple. But on the second day, it was crowded enough.
The incense was so thick that the attendants at the temple had to wear gas masks. We were choked pretty badly. At one point, a man poked his incense sticks into the back of mu left hand. It burned off a piece of skin and left an small wound. I yelled but was too stunned to say anything to the man, beyond “Wah!”. An older man scolded the younger culprit. It couldn’t undo the burn in my hand. But I did feel better that he spoke up for me.
Then we strolled over to Tsang Walled Village (曾大屋). It is perhaps one of best preserved Hakka walled villages in Hong Kong. It has not changed much since my last visit about 20 years ago. A lot of distinctive features: the layout of the walls, the style of the rooftops, the colouring scheme, the tiles, the gateways, the ancestor hall, the wells inside, … It is a whole story by itself. Many of the residents these days, however, are renters from the outside.
We ended up watching the fireworks at home,.
Over good food, with a couple of very good friends. A very enjoyable day to begin the New Year.
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