thericechronicles: Bowen Road

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Bowen Road

Dear Most Amazing Ones,

Last week Celia and I journeyed to Hong Kong island to wander Bowen Road, which at one time was Hong Kong's "third road" because it was the third road built on the island that ran from east to west. These days it is a lovely jogging/exercise/walking trail through a lovely mountain side park offering splendid views of Hong Kong island's urban jungle.

One way to get to Bowen Road is going through the madness of a Wan Chai market.

The walk to the road should include a gander at this rather expensive shopping/residential area with an amazing display of Chinese lanterns.

Then its up the mountain and the amount of people thins out noticeably.

This incline is excellent for the butt and lungs and one must languish in agony on this beaut for about 15 minutes before one...

...arrives at the mid-point station of Bowen Road. At this point one can go left or right for about a kilometer and half. We chose left. Handy benches and signs, plus a....

...a park with facilities is at the midpoint section of Bowen Road.

Banyan trees growing on the side of walls are always interesting even on Bowen Road.

The views of a real jungle with an urban jungle are excellent from Bowen Road.

The road is quite narrow. Back in colonial days transportation was pretty limited.

Sweet views.

Below is Happy Valley, famous for a horse racing track and luxurious stands where millions are bet and lost. Happy Valley was once a swamp full of deadly mosquitoes and the Brits inexplicably build a garrison nearby. When hundreds/thousands of soldiers lost their lives due to illness brought on by the mosquitoes, someone in a sad twist of logic or reason called the garrison Happy Valley. The name has stuck ever since.

Along Bowen Road is Lover's Rock. Give an offering to one of the Buddhist shrines at the rock and your marriage will be blessed. Hmm. Think I will just give flowers to my one and only instead.