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T H E S H O E S T R I N G D I A R I E S
Day 3
For a change in pace, visit Sai
Kung
(Sai Kung Town, Sai Kung
District, New Territories; www.saikung-
hk.com)
, also known as Hong Kong’s
“back garden”. From the hotel, take
the purple MTR line to Hang Hau,
Exit B1; then take the green mini bus
101M to Sai Kung (MTR and bus,
HK$20/PHP108). Located at the New
Territories, this charming seaside town
offers spectacular scenery and boasts a
vibrant local community.
Once there, you can check out
the awesome rock formations at the
Geological Park
(www.geopark.gov.hk)
.
If you want to see more, book a half-day
tour to Sharp Island (HK$148–198/
PHP800–1,070 per person), which is
2km east of Sai Kung Pier. Walk along
the beach and check out the rugged
landscape or just sunbathe and get a
tan. You can also go hiking and check
out the white-bellied sea eagle, which
breeds along the coastline.
Hungry? Treat yourself to a seafood
feast at Hoi Pong Square, where
restaurants like Cheun Kee
(96 Man
Nin Street, Sai Kung; tel: +852 2792
1348)
serve fresh ocean catch for
HK$100/PHP540.
If you have time to spare, light up
some incense at the Ten Thousand
Buddha Monastery
(220 Pai Tai Village,
Sha Tin, New Territories; tel: +852
2691 1067)
. Located along the verdant
hillside of Sha Tin, this attraction is
often ignored and left out of the city
map. You might work up a sweat
climbing more than 400 steps to get
there, but you’ll be amply rewarded at
the top. There you’ll see a display of
more than 10,000 Buddha statues in
varying sizes. The monastery also has
a nine-story pagoda and two pavilions.
The MTR trip back to your hostel
from Sai Kung/Sha Tin, New Territories
will cost HK$20/PHP108, while the
E11 bus to the airport will set you back
HK$21/PHP113. Apart from these,
TOTAL
SHOESTRING
BUDGET:
HK$1,949
*Budget excludes round-trip economy air tickets.
you won’t need to fish out your wallet
anymore. It just goes to show how a
small budget, with imagination, can
take you practically everywhere.
Shoestring budget for
Day 3:
HK$359
Cebu Pacific flies to Hong Kong
from Manila, Kalibo, Clark and Cebu.
The Ten Thousand
Buddha Monastery
and its many faces;
(left) just one of the
spectacular views at
Sai Kung
PHOTO
GETTY IMAGES (TEN THOUSAND BUDDHA MONASTERY)