Tian Tan Buddha • 4 comments • When the aerial tramway dropped us off at the Ngong Ping Village, the area was entirely shrouded in fog. A local restaurateur/hawker enticed us into his establishment with promises of a dry seat, air conditioning, and “authentic cuisine”. While the baked rice spaghetti in tomato sauce is allegedly a Hong Kong dish, it was pretty unappealing to me. I’m not sure if it always tastes like someone who has never eaten pasta describing it to a chef who has also never eaten pasta, but it wasn’t the most enriching cultural experience. With renewed vigor, we made the short walk from the village to the base of the Buddha. Up to this point, the fog had mostly obscured the statue, robbing it of it’s grandeur. Standing at the base, looking up the stairs towards the Buddha, we could still clearly appreciate that it is one of the largest Buddhas in all of China and hoped that we didn't come all this way only to see a misty silhouette. We made a pilgrimage up the stairs, admiring the detail in the stonework and assorted smaller statues. The visibility didn’t change much on our walk, but shortly after reaching the summit the clouds broke and the sun was shining across the valley. The statue is meant to symbolize the “harmonious relationship between man and nature”, and seeing it in the sun, surrounded by green valleys, dotted with the monastery buildings, really brought the symbolism to life. The Buddha sits atop a lotus, and is surrounded below by “Six Devas”, bronze statues posed offering flowers, incense, lamp, fruit, music and ointment for the Buddha. Even though there was no special religious significance for us specifically, we marveled at the ambition, craftsmanship, and views. - Alex
Above & Beyond Restaurant at Hotel Icon • 2 comments • The Tsim Sha Tsui district of Kowloon has a dizzying array of museums, malls, and tourist traps. A huge attraction of the area is that it offers great opportunities to watch the Victoria Harbour light show. We were fortunate enough to be able to view it from the 28th floor of Hotel Icon while enjoying dinner at the Above & Beyond Restaurant. The lobby sets the tone for the rest of the hotel; high quality, well designed, and making thoughtful use of greenery to balance the modernity. The Cantonese restaurant pairs amazing views with a delicious mix of classic and contemporary dishes. Each of the restaurant staff we interacted with were warm and welcoming. It made the dining experience feel very personalized, and having a corner window seat facing the harbour didn’t hurt either. If you're looking for a special way to view the light show, I'd recommend calling early to reserve the best spot. We were treated to a tasting menu that began with a crispy crab claw and shrimp mousse appetizer. While I’m generally not a fan of crab, the preparation won me over and we were soon presented with the second dish, which was probably my favorite. The steamed "garoupa" with egg white and yellow broth was one of those dishes I may never have ordered on my own, but was thankful it was included in the tasting menu because of it’s mix of flavors, textures, and presentation. The menu was a journey through inspired local favorites, including prawns with tangerine peel, wagyu beef with soy marinated goose liver, minced pork with salted fish, marinated chicken in shaoxing wine, Northern Chinese crispy potatoes, and a trio of satisfying desserts. Right at 8pm, our window lit up with a countdown for the Victoria Harbour light show: A Symphony of Lights. More than 40 buildings on either side of the harbour participate to put on the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. When the countdown hits zero, the harbour is filled with a choreographed, and a times chaotic, display of neon, light animations, and lasers over the water. A big thanks to Above & Beyond for having us and for being so kind. - Alex
