One Buddha Good,
SUE BRATTLE
10,000 Buddhas Monastery, Sha Tin
3/5
YOU may think of Buddha as a jolly, fat figure that brings peace and joy to the world. Visit this monastery and you’ll think again.
Some of the golden statues of Buddhas on the 430-plus step uphill climb to the monastery are the stuff of nightmares. One has eyebrows that are so long he holds them in his hands; another has arms sticking out of his eyes. Others are of the jolly and fun variety, but I kept looking over my shoulder all the way up.
I visited on a weekday and almost had the place to myself, which probably added to the spooky atmosphere that stayed with me for days after. I loved this place. It was built in the 1950s by the Venerable Yuet Kai, is funded by public donation, and there’s no entry fee.
Just to get a few things straight: no monks live here, and the place is run by lay people. And the main hall, with thousands of niches for funeral urns, can’t be photographed. It’s a place of worship and quiet contemplation and I choose to adhere to rules like that, but there were a few people snapping away.
Take a stroll around and make the most of the peaceful, if eccentric, nature of the place. There’s a pagoda, great views of Sha Tin and surrounding countryside, a rather lovely abandoned house, and a vegetarian restaurant that’s so clean, it sparkles. The peace was disrupted in the 1970s while Sha Tin new town was built.
You will see two warning signs around the site. One is to beware of fake monks, who apparently ask for alms; the other is to beware of the macaque monkeys that live in the hills and come down to scavenge for food. I didn’t see either, but it’s probably not a good idea to take a picnic with you.
This visit is more of a long walk with lots to delight you along the way, including golden figures scattered through a forest on a hillside, and a beautiful Guan Yin (Goddess of Compassion, a personal favourite of mine).
You then make your way back to the main halls and the pagoda, before the much easier walk back down into Sha Tin. Believe it or not, you’re only about 10 minutes from the MTR (metro) station.
Top tip: slather yourself in insect repellent when you get off the MTR in Sha Tin, because before the steps you walk along a path through fields that are buzzing with things that bite.
Verdict: A delightful visit, and a photographer’s dream. But you need to be reasonably fit for the initial climb, and it would be difficult taking a baby buggy along.
Updated April 2020
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hong kong
One Buddha Good,
10,000 Much Better
Peace and Tranquillity Minutes From a Town Centre
SUE BRATTLE
10,000 Buddhas Monastery, Sha Tin
3/5
YOU may think of Buddha as a jolly, fat figure that brings peace and joy to the world. Visit this monastery and you’ll think again.
Some of the golden statues of Buddhas on the 430-plus step uphill climb to the monastery are the stuff of nightmares. One has eyebrows that are so long he holds them in his hands; another has arms sticking out of his eyes. Others are of the jolly and fun variety, but I kept looking over my shoulder all the way up.
I visited on a weekday and almost had the place to myself, which probably added to the spooky atmosphere that stayed with me for days after. I loved this place. It was built in the 1950s by the Venerable Yuet Kai, is funded by public donation, and there’s no entry fee.
Just to get a few things straight: no monks live here, and the place is run by lay people. And the main hall, with thousands of niches for funeral urns, can’t be photographed. It’s a place of worship and quiet contemplation and I choose to adhere to rules like that, but there were a few people snapping away.
Take a stroll around and make the most of the peaceful, if eccentric, nature of the place. There’s a pagoda, great views of Sha Tin and surrounding countryside, a rather lovely abandoned house, and a vegetarian restaurant that’s so clean, it sparkles. The peace was disrupted in the 1970s while Sha Tin new town was built.
You will see two warning signs around the site. One is to beware of fake monks, who apparently ask for alms; the other is to beware of the macaque monkeys that live in the hills and come down to scavenge for food. I didn’t see either, but it’s probably not a good idea to take a picnic with you.
This visit is more of a long walk with lots to delight you along the way, including golden figures scattered through a forest on a hillside, and a beautiful Guan Yin (Goddess of Compassion, a personal favourite of mine).
You then make your way back to the main halls and the pagoda, before the much easier walk back down into Sha Tin. Believe it or not, you’re only about 10 minutes from the MTR (metro) station.
Top tip: slather yourself in insect repellent when you get off the MTR in Sha Tin, because before the steps you walk along a path through fields that are buzzing with things that bite.
Verdict: A delightful visit, and a photographer’s dream. But you need to be reasonably fit for the initial climb, and it would be difficult taking a baby buggy along.
Updated April 2020
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SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
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LET'S KEEP IN TOUCH!
One Buddha Good, 10,000 Much Better
Peace and Tranquillity Minutes From a Town Centre
SUE BRATTLE
10,000 Buddhas Monastery, Sha Tin, Hong Kong
3/5
YOU may think of Buddha as a jolly, fat figure that brings peace and joy to the world. Visit this monastery and you’ll think again.
Some of the golden statues of Buddhas on the 430-plus step uphill climb to the monastery are the stuff of nightmares. One has eyebrows that are so long he holds them in his hands; another has arms sticking out of his eyes. Others are of the jolly and fun variety, but I kept looking over my shoulder all the way up.
I visited on a weekday and almost had the place to myself, which probably added to the spooky atmosphere that stayed with me for days after. I loved this place. It was built in the 1950s by the Venerable Yuet Kai, is funded by public donation, and there’s no entry fee.
Just to get a few things straight: no monks live here, and the place is run by lay people. And the main hall, with thousands of niches for funeral urns, can’t be photographed. It’s a place of worship and quiet contemplation and I choose to adhere to rules like that, but there were a few people snapping away.
Take a stroll around and make the most of the peaceful, if eccentric, nature of the place. There’s a pagoda, great views of Sha Tin and surrounding countryside, a rather lovely abandoned house, and a vegetarian restaurant that’s so clean, it sparkles. The peace was disrupted in the 1970s while Sha Tin new town was built.
You will see two warning signs around the site. One is to beware of fake monks, who apparently ask for alms; the other is to beware of the macaque monkeys that live in the hills and come down to scavenge for food. I didn’t see either, but it’s probably not a good idea to take a picnic with you.
This visit is more of a long walk with lots to delight you along the way, including golden figures scattered through a forest on a hillside, and a beautiful Guan Yin (Goddess of Compassion, a personal favourite of mine).
You then make your way back to the main halls and the pagoda, before the much easier walk back down into Sha Tin. Believe it or not, you’re only about 10 minutes from the MTR (metro) station.
Top tip: slather yourself in insect repellent when you get off the MTR in Sha Tin, because before the steps you walk along a path through fields that are buzzing with things that bite.
Verdict: A delightful visit, and a photographer’s dream. But you need to be reasonably fit for the initial climb, and it would be difficult taking a baby buggy along.
Updated April 2020
RELATED
STUNNING NEW OPERA HOUSE: Cantonese opera is reckoned to date back to the 13th century, but in December 2018 it arrived in the 21st century with a bang. That’s when the HK$2.7 billion ($255 million) Xiqu Centre, an ultra-modern venue… READ MORE
THE MUCH-LOVED HONG KONG MUSEUM OF ART has finally reopened after a massive four-year refurbishment – and it’s a triumph. READ MORE
WATCHING PINK DOLPHINS: Yes, there really are pink dolphins in the waters around Hong Kong, and regular boat trips mean you can watch them frolicking… READ MORE
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WELCOME TO OUR WORLD! Afaranwide’s home page – this is where you can find out about our latest posts and other highlights. READ MORE
TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS: Many of the world’s most popular tourists sites are closed because of the coronavirus crisis, but you can still visit them virtually while you’re self-isolating. READ MORE
SHIMLA, QUEEN OF THE HILLS: Government officials once retreated to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas to escape India’s blazing hot summers. Now tourists make the same journey. READ MORE
TEN THINGS WE LEARNED: Our up-to-the-minute guide to creating a website, one step at a time. The costs, the mistakes – it’s what we wish we’d known when we started blogging. READ MORE
TROUBLED TIMES FOR EXPATS: Moving abroad can seem an idyllic prospect, but what happens when sudden upheavals or the inescapable realities of life intrude? READ MORE