A tour to the Hong Kong Geopark (2012-02-12)
Never would I have imagined there is a national Geopark for a small place like Hong Kong. Thanks to my colleagues who organized this tour. Otherwise, I would have missed the world-class rock formations and geological features that are just within a close reach from home. For such precious opportunity, immediately I thought of taking Ching Ho to this trip.
The boat ride started at around 1:50p.m. and set off from Sai Kung pier. Around 30 people boarded the boat including 5 tourists, 2 from Shanghai and 3 from South Africa. The guide, Tony, who is a retired social worker, introduced about the formation of the volcanic and sedimentary rocks in the area. He highly recommended the High Island where we can see the spectacular hexagonal columns formed by contraction of cooling rocks. However, in his closing remark, Tony reminded us, “We are not going to the High Island today because it is not the right season”. How disappointing!
Two main focuses of the day were Ung Kong Islands and Sharp Island. Ching Ho was quite excited to see the sea caves and sea stacks near Ung Kong Islands. There was not much hiking as I expected. Instead, we stayed in the boat for two-third of the trip. The sea was quite rough because of the strong wind. Luckily, we arrived at Sharp Island and got off the boat before anyone got sea sick. With the professional arrangement, the timing was
carefully calculated such that we could walk on the tombolo which was only emerged at low tide. Ching Ho had strong curiosity and enjoyed himself picking up strange stones, leaves, etc., along the way. At one point, he showed me a flat dark gray "stone" and asked what it was. Of course I had no idea. Then he asked Tony, who plainly replied, "It is part of the broken outsole of a shoe." I could not help laughing!!!
