SImon D

[SImon D]

I’ve been swimming rockpools here since I was a kid in school, and am learning that I know next to nothing. I’m off to a rockpool in Sai Kung this weekend seen by a friend who went deep-sea fishing. He says it’s easy to get to and the best he’s ever seen.
I don’t get to swimming in Lantau much since school (no more summer holidays) and I hate Lantau summer weekends.

Use http://www.centamap.com for placename location finding.
Use http://hkwaterfall.net/ for waterfall location finding.

My first ever Lantau swim was on the main southern beach, Cheung Sha. Which runs between Tong Fuk and Cheung Sha village. Halfway along this beach (where the Tung Chung Road comes down the hill to meet the Lantau Road) there is a stream which sometimes flows over the beach, sometimes under it. Walking under the bridge from the beach or taking the path beside the junction next to the bridge you come to a set of pools 10mins walk upstream. They are not spectacular, but very enjoyable especially a few weeks after the summer monsoon (like now dude).
This is my third favourite pool for the simple reason that it incorporates a wonderful beach, a good rockpool, a nice pub, and a good restuarant all within a 10min of each other (the pubs at Tong Fuk and I highly recommend it – does good food too on the weekends. The restuarant in Cheung Sha village at the other end – it’s my favourite HK restuarant).

Use the websites I mentioned to find other pools, they give good descriptions, photos and how to get there.

Post edited by: SImon D, at: 2007/06/25 15:54

Post edited by: SImon D, at: 2007/06/25 15:55

[SImon D]

Agree that it’s the season for bad visibility with all this rain. Might be lost in translation as the University overlooks the bay.
I would however take this sighting seriously.
It is the area that Tigers have attacked in the past.
I have been expecting an early summer, yearly migratory return of at least one 20ft tigershark to this area for over a decade.
My fears were groundless but with this sighting within a few hundred metres of a previous attack, I wouldn’t be taking any early morning swims at Silverstrand for a while.

I’m not saying these sharks are neccesarily dangerous, but I believe a particular shark visits this area. And it has killed before in successive summers.

[SImon D]

Like most rural projects, I think some distinction is required.
3 distinctions actually.
1. Works on private land.
2. Works in country parks.
3. Concrete footpaths in country parks.

1. The first is the one that most often reduces me to tears. Literally.
Many is the time I have walked a favourite path and found only a construction site dump. The most recent is at my home of Tung Tze. A place I consider to be potentially HK’s best wetland outside of Mai Po (and environs). During my 5 yrs there I witnessed a 30/40% reduction in wetland, with damage reaching up to 50%. One 3 storey house (in progress) has effectively (through an access road, relocated twice) dammed a large area and created an unsightly blight. I often walk through with damp eyes, knowing that unless the government is prepared to buy ecologically valuable land, there is nothing we can do. Government works here come under the heading of ‘why bother’ if any preservation they do is undermined by the landowners themselves.

2. Works in country parks however is most likely to result in fury. There is a small group within AFCD and the Country Parks Authority who are world class in their skill and thinking. Far, far too small a group. Here is an area which we (as the public) must get a grip of. We cannot continue to allow the kinds of practices that are undertaken by locally organised contractors within our reserves. As a construction engineer myself I know the reasons but not the reasoning.
Strangely it is WSD that does a better job of preservation than the AFCD. Put that down to short-term ‘people first’ mentality.

3. The third distinction is more difficult. As it comes under public access, safety and use. I am not an elitist and consider certain projects valuable not only for public safety but also as an encouragement to people to appreciate nature. There must be a good policy and implementation however. I hear the dissent against concreting and appreciate it. But I have my reservations (sacrilage?). I see more damage done in unconcreted areas to the environment. The practice of leaving a mess behind after the works are completed is however unacceptable.

[SImon D]

Thanks, I’m pretty sure it was a Cobra. But I didn’t think the white markings were normal in the Chinese Cobra or King Cobra.
It was probably far too fat for a Mangrove Snake, but I thought this species grew quite big.
You’re right about the colour. I have great difficulty with snake colour. I get an impression quickly and then remember it that way. And my mind just doesn’t think in terms of chocolate or expresso, but shades of olive. I remember calling a snake olive once only later to have it return to the house (it had been evicted once) and discover that it was a sandy-brown with red and blue flecks.

[SImon D]

I cycle and I know High Island well. Indeed I live near Plover Cove and often cycle this route. They have recently barred access to the last winding part.
Many people have covetted the High Island road for many different purposes. Rally cars, cyclists, motorbike racing. I have heard how the course is perfect for almost everyones favourite activity.
I consider them all suicidal.
The road would need to be closed off. Probably at weekends, when these activities take place. Restricting access to a large section of Hong Kongs best country park. Car and Bike racing is unsuitable at the level that exists in asia. just too dangerous on this road.
Currently the road allows public transport, any cyclist on this winding route is a dead man. Anyone without cycling expererience wouldn’t last 10mins.
Taxi’s love the long route, and most love their cars. they race this route for fun, especially at night. Hikers see and hear them coming, cyclists may be concentrating on something else.
If we stop the public transport and go back to what we had previously, then the delivery truck for villagers would still need access. Much safer. Instead of hundreds of deaths a year, we would have one or two.
Plover Cove is a straight and open road which is barred to all forms of traffic. Government vehicles only.

Believe me I covet that High Island road more than most. It is spectacular, and I would love to ride it. But I just cannot see a way of making access freely available safely.

[SImon D]

Hah, reminds me of something that does.

I’m sure you do the same. As hikers we often read the land rather than signposts even in urban areas.
I was going to a party once and not knowing the road or buses found myself overlooking Happy Valley rather than at the back of it. I could see the road down taking me ways out of my way, but fortunately there was a path down that was going in the right direction. Through the bushes always apeals more to me anyway, so I didn’t need much coaxing.
Of course the path ended at the top of a 10m sheer retaining wall with no way round. At the bottom of which was a construction site.
The walk back was a long way up, and then a long walk down and out of my way.
Fortunately someone had dumped a pile of sand at the bottom of the retaining wall, so I went for it.
Walked out the gate of the construction site waving at the guard. He walked forward and demanded where I came from. I pointed up the hill – he just looked at me and shook his head.

[SImon D]

The times for minibuses were read off the bus-stop at Wu Kau Tang. They represent the arrival time at that end. I wrote what I could remember and take no responsibility. Sorry. Next time I’ll know I’ll post and take notes (I’ve been a lone walker for 23yrs. old habits die hard)
The notice did say that the bus schedule gets better on the weekends and public holidays, buts that all it said.

[SImon D]

I’m in complete agreement with the way you think. I think exactly the same way.
But it is worth remembering that for those areas already blighted, and with no future prospects of returning to a wild state. Would a town planner that made us happy, be applauded by the wider community.
Is it our job to push for green sustainability, and clean-up within a concrete framework. Or do we insist on an asthetic as well as a practical approach?

OK when a change has an effect on the environment, no contest.

When we tell people to grass the roof, plant trees and reduce waste. Should we be telling them about a green asthetic? A certain look and use a building must have?

These questions are not rhetorical. I would like to hear some opinions on the matter.

[SImon D]

http://www.hktrampers.com
They organise stuff mainly in the cooler months. If you want the summer stuff I would look in their links sections. There are a few sites with members who hike year-round.

[SImon D]

There are two similar to your description. And another that overlooks the reservoir, which might have an outside chance of being the one.
One of the two is situated along the access road between Shek Pik and Fan Lau. I haven’t been their in years due to it’s isolation even for Lantau residents. So I’m assuming the one you mean is the river at the junction of Tung Chung and Lantau roads (on Cheung Sha Beach).
You can access these popular falls either from the beach, the junction (path through the bushes) or the first bridge up Tung Chung Road and walk downstream.
Either way will get you and your indoor orientated girlfriend at the falls in around 10mins. Without breaking a sweat.
(quick point – Someone usually judges my route by how easily they can get their better half to the location, this location is the easiest. Although the pools themselves are good, for a bit more work you can get better)
As kids we used to jump off the large boulder at the NE (and called this location ‘Black Rock’ – until we discovered Ma On Shan’s huge black cliff-face).
We used to love this one for it’s convience to one of HK’s best beaches, (a party could easily split between the two all day), and great eating and drinking afterwards at either end of Chung Sha Beach. Many of my schoolfriends will never forget this location (wink,wink)
I don’t go there as often these days, no longer being a student means Lantau is restricted to weekends (uugghgh! – especially after we enjoyed mid-weeks there). And becoming a rock-pool affecianado means I know of better pools that are closer.

[SImon D]

As far as fishnets and generally discarded rubbish goes. HK has improved in the last 20yrs. Yes, I know that is astounding when considered with many overseas spots. HK is filthy but still cleaner than it was. Air pollution excluded. As far as visibility goes, there was a time when even in areas like Clearwaterbay you could expect no more than 3-4m as a year-round average. I know I virtually lived on a beach there in my teens. When I go back today, I get similar conditions on a bad day. But often it’s surprisingly clear (up to 10m).
I’m not denying anyones observations, far from it I’m agreeing with them. But looking back, I can see improvement. Probably more due to overfishing and losing our manufacturing, rather than any positive action.
I will say that I have seen some bad water quality in my time, and the worst ones seem clearer in my memory. Perhaps because though local pollution has decreased, the surrounding areas have gotten much worse. And if we get a whiff of it now and again water visibility goes down to virtually zero in some places.
Generally though my recent forays back to the ocean were pleasanter than in my youth. The ocean (and you afterwards) doesn’t smell like an ocean, but it doesn’t smell like a factory anymore either.

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