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In 1906, three monks visiting from Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland founded a monastery located on the Ngong Ping Plateau on Lantau Island.
Named Tai Mao Pung, or “The Big Hut”, it was renamed eighteen years later to it’s current appellation.
Today, Po Lin Monastery, as it is presently known, attracts thousands of visitors each year, in conjunction with the Tian Tan Buddha, an extension of the monastery.
After completing our visit to the Tian Tan Buddha, we languished in the plaza and admired the massive entrance gate for the monastery. Approaching the compound, the first thing we noticed was that it is not just a tourist attraction, but a frequented temple, still maintaining its original character and traditions. Many people were observed paying their respects, praying and lighting incense offerings in the front courtyard of the temple.
Making our way around the complex, we noticed the pristine condition of the grounds and buildings and the artistry of the colorful architecture. There are many pronounced structures, including the Main Hall of Buddha and the Hall of Bodhisattva Skanda, with the older buildings at the rear of the property.
As we approached the main courtyard, we first encountered a smaller temple leading to the main courtyard that faces the Temple Gateway. Inside the temple there are deities and guards safeguarding the entrance.
The Great Hall of Treasure is truly a magnificent structure with breathtaking, high ceilings decorated with paintings, hangings and lamps. Holding court in the center of the Great Hall are three Great Golden Buddhas, which represent Buddha’s past, present and future lives (Sakyamuni, Dipamkarara and Maitreya). Also housed here are a number of Buddhist scriptures. Even the exterior is astonishing with carvings and beautiful architectural details. Take note of the Chinese characters on top of the main temple which spell out Po Lin Monastery or Precious Lotus (a special symbol in Buddhism meaning purity).
In the Hall of Bodhisattva Skanda, we observed a bronze statue of weighing approximately 441 pounds in addition to a 2,200 pound bronze bell.
The most recent structure to be added to the complex is the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, which includes, of course, an impressive number of Buddhas, a shrine hall, a Meditation Hall, an abbot’s chamber, a Scripture Library and other multi-functional facilities for a wide variety of events. An Exhibition Hall for Buddhist relics is also located within which houses many precious items including the Longcang Sutra and the Monk Huayan Preaching Buddhist Sutras (a painting).
The entire complex is awe-inspiring and one should take the proper amount of time to inspect each of the buildings within, discovering minute details at each venue. Photography is not allowed in the main buildings, though we were able to take a few quick photos.
There are a few eateries located near to the monastery’s main buildings as well as reasonably-priced souvenir shops. One thing I learned later, however, was that the monastery is known for making wooden bracelets. They are only sold near the Tian Tan Buddha. I wish I had been privy to this information as we would have purchased a few, to not only subsidize the monastery, but to remember the tranquility experienced here.
You can continue your path to wisdom and enlightenment by taking the Wisdom Path, a short walk from the monastery. Here, is a sort of a colonnade where a series of wooden posts forming a figure eight are engraved with the Heart Sutra, a revered prayer by Buddhists, Taoists and Confucians, which is generally chanted during the morning services or other occasions such a funerals. The path is well-marked and can be accessed from either the monastery or the Big Buddha.
No matter what your religious affiliation, you will certainly appreciate why the Jiangsu Province monks chose this site.
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Po Lin Monastery
- http://www.plm.org.hk/
- Address: Ngong Ping Lantau Island, Hong Kong
- Hours: 1000-1730, daily
- Admission: free
- Getting There: Option 1: Take Lantau Bus No. 23 at the bus station outside Tung Chung MTR Station to Ngong Ping Bus Terminus (travel time: about 45 minutes). Option 2: Take Ngong Ping Cable Car at the Cable Car Station outside Tung Chung MTR Station (travel time: about 25 minutes); take an additional 10-minute walk to the Monastery. Option 3: Take First Ferry from Central Pier to Mui Wo, and take Lantau Bus No.2 to Ngong Ping Bus Terminus (travel time from Mui Wo to Ngong Ping: about 35 minutes). Option 4: Take Lantau Bus No. 21 at the bus stop in Tai O to Ngong Ping Bus Terminus (travel time: about 15 minutes). Option 5: Take a Lantau Island taxi.
After arriving at the Tung Chung station, we made our way out to the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car station across the street. Taking our place in the line that had already begun to form, we eventually purchased a combo ticket offering round-trip transportation in the cable car, entrance to the Ngong Ping village and bus transportation from Ngong Ping to the Tai O fishing village.
Although we enjoyed the village and all that it had to offer, I must admit, after many years of taking my children to theme parks, I decided that Ngong Ping village exhibited a too much of a theme-park atmosphere. Glad that this was not all that we had come for, we were anxious to experience the Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha, both a short walk from the village.
The Big Buddha can be spied from the cable car while approaching Ngong Ping village as well as during your walk from the village. Nothing prepares you, however, for its magnitude, especially while gazing up at the effigy from the base of the hill.
Climbing the 268 steps up the hill to reach the Buddha is definitely a test of one’s physical fitness. Though I work out a couple of times a week, I found myself stopping occasionally to rest, reminding myself of the reward waiting at the top. As I languished in the shade of one of the many urns on the stairway, I found myself wondering what those who were unable to climb would do in order to appreciate the statue from a closer perspective. I later learned that the site also features a small winding road for vehicles to accommodate the handicapped.
Since we did not purchase an offering for the Buddha, we were not allowed to see the Buddha’s most esteemed element, the relic of Gautama Buddha, which consists of some of his alleged cremated remains. There are also three floors beneath the statue, the halls of the Universe, of Benevolent Merit and of Remembrance, which we were under the impression that we were not allowed to visit since we did not purchase admission at the base of the stairway. We did peek inside, however, pictures were strictly forbidden. The thought crossed my mind to make the long climb down and back up again, in order to have admission, but as time was limited, we decided against it.
Another amazing feature under the Buddha is a huge bell inscribed with images of Buddhas and is designed to ring every seven minutes, 108 times a day, symbolizing the release of 108 kinds of human vexations. I must admit, however, I did not know this fact during our visit and do not remember hearing the bell ring.
After admiring the view one more time (and taking a peek at my watch to make sure we were still on schedule), I prepared myself for the long climb down.
Of course, heading to the Pike Place Market was a must and we admired the many unique things for sale and watched the famous fish slingers toss the slippery, aquatic vertebrates from one to the other. These are the things that typical tourists, like us, just have to do. I had, however, uncovered something very fascinating located in an alleyway underneath the market.
The attraction draws thousands of tourists every year and has been featured in a scene for the movie, Love Happens (2009), starring Jennifer Aniston. The venue is also popular with photographers for modeling shoots as well as wedding shoots.
The church’s interior offers three aisles, vaulted ceilings, vibrant stained glass windows and an assemblage of emblematic statuary. Be sure to visit the moneybox to make an offering to one of thirty-six saints and take a walk up the center aisle to admire the intricately carved altar.
This thrilling experience is like no other and one of the many things to do in the Arenal area. Daredevils can reserve their ride on the Mistico website, however, if you find yourself outside of Costa Rica, never fear! Zorbing is offered in ten other action-loving countries!
Leaving the gardens, we made our way on to the main trail, winding our way steadily up the mountainside, crossing a few fixed bridges along the way. A short time later, we found our way to the first hanging bridge. A bit of a back log had us waiting a while to pass over…workers monitor the bridge and allow a limited number to cross the bridge at one time. Unfortunately, there are those who are not as considerate of other’s time and paused one to many times to take selfies and pictures of the surrounding area.
Finally, we made our way as steadily as possible across the shaky span, marveling at the clouds swirling around the treetops. From the bridges and the higher parts of the trails, epiphyte plants, birds, mammals and butterflies can be observed up close. Some of the high altitude birds include the bell bird and the Emerald Toucanette, while at lower elevations, toucans and turkey hens can be spied along with migratory birds of prey during the months from November to February. High altitude trees include Yema Huevo, Cirri and Pilon trees and in the lower regions, Caobilla, Fruta Dorada and Maquenque trees. Keep an eye out for frogs, snakes, lizards and mammels such as kinkajous, raccoons, margays, ocelots, pumas, jaguars and tapirs.
The trail spans almost two miles and can be covered in about two hours. Six more hanging bridges are spaced out on the trail, along with a waterfall and viewing area and a tunnel. Each of the bridges vary in length and believe it or not, after the first bridge, the crowds thin. Maybe visitors decide that one is enough. Maybe they think they are too shaky or they run out of time, but at the end of the trail, the last few bridges have no one on them, allowing ample time to enjoy the views from the center of the bridge.
Paying the admission, I joined my tour guide, Jason, as we made our way to the front of the property where all of the people were standing and pointing. High in the treetops, was a mother sloth holding her baby against her. Jason explained that this mother usually remains in that area, however, a couple of days before, she had made her way, with her baby, to the front of the property near the hut, to urinate and defecate (the only reason they leave the trees, once a week). Needless to say everyone present was quite excited!
Using the spotting scope that Jason had brought along, we watched the mother as she moved languidly, eating the leaves in her proximity.
Though the area was quite limited, I learned that there were many other things to discover within that small thicket. I really enjoyed finding both blue jeans poison dart frogs and a red-eyed tree frog, however, we were especially careful as fer de lance vipers are constantly spotted in the area. My favorite thing though, was a plant that appears to die when you touch it…the Mimosa Pudica is also known as the Sensitive Plant, Touch-Me-Not, Tickle Me Plant, Shame Plant or Humble Plant. A creeping annual or perennial flowering plant of the pea/legume family, it usually grows in shady areas under trees or shrubs. Found in Central and South America, in some Asian countries, and in the southern part of the United States, its compound leaves fold inward and droop when touched or shaken, defending itself from harm. Its leaves open a few minutes later.
Even though I had done a short rafting trip (5 km) in Thailand in the Phang Nga province a few years ago, I felt a different dynamic here and was a bit nervous, especially when we were instructed on what to do within the raft…besides paddle. There was so much to remember, depending on what the conditions were in the river. If there were many rocks…“Get Down”…and we had to slide down to the floor of the raft and hold our paddles upright. “Paddle Forward” and “Paddle Back” were the easiest. Then, the scariest of the instructions…What To Do If You Fall Out of the Raft! Surely that wasn’t going to happen?
Finally, with mid-afternoon approaching, we decided to head toward our hotel, which would be our base of operations for the next couple of days, the Arenal Lodge.
The Arenal Lodge is located on 2,000 acres and is known for its stunning views of the Arenal volcano and Lake Arenal. The rainforest surrounding it is home to exotic birds, butterflies, frogs, small animals, tropical flowers and native trees which can be viewed from the walking trails leading from the lodge or from horseback rides led on the trails throughout the day.
If braving the steep, jagged road back to town in the dark isn’t appealing, especially after a few drinks, the lodge offers a full service bar and restaurant, serving international and casual Costa Rican cuisine with views of the volcano and a large outdoor seating area on the deck. An extensive complimentary breakfast is also offered and rooms contain microwaves and refrigerators.
Life is good.
As we ventured into the well-manicured, but jungle-like landscape, we first encountered the aviary which contains some of the most exciting and colorful birds of Costa Rica. The birds that reside here have been illegally captured by hunters and confiscated by the government or donated by their owners. Unfortunately, they all lack the basic skills to survive in the wild on their own, but are well cared for by the staff of the park. Inside the aviary, we entered the toucan enclosure where we were assisted with feeding the toucans by holding food in our mouths. Once we moved our hands and exposed the food, the friendly birds took the food straight from our lips!
One of the knowledgeable guides continued to walk with my son and I through the aviary, pointing our different species, including macaws, tanagers, parrots and finches. Leading us to a caged enclosure, we discovered two sloths hanging from their wooden perches. This amazing guide not only took my camera into the enclosure to take some pictures for me, he then invited us into the cage after a group of onlookers had departed. What a treat! We were able to stand just below the sloths for great photo opportunities…one even reached down in an attempt to comb my hair with his long claws!
Thanking the guide, we continued on into the insect exhibit and the butterfly observatory where many of the 25 species of butterfly continually landed on our arms, heads and even my face. My favorite part of the observatory was the laboratory area where we could observe the butterflies emerging from their chrysalis or in larva stages of their growth.
Exiting the observatory, we walked through Monkey Pass inspecting the spider and white-faced monkeys climbing and swinging through their exhibit. These monkeys 
Walking through the hummingbird garden, we then watched the diminutive feathered creatures flitting around amongst the trees and bushes while making our way to the serpentarium which showcases 30 of the most beautiful, yet deadly snakes of Costa Rica. Here, we were able to view, up close and personal, boa constrictors, bushmasters, vipers and even the colorful yet venomous sea snake found off the Pacific Coast of the country.
The next exhibit displayed most of the six species of endangered Central American cats, including jaguars, pumas and ocelots which were placed in the care of the park after the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment lost funding and the animals were unable to be released into the wild. These animals reside in glass enclosures and can be viewed at close range. Though beautiful to see at such a close distance, both my son and I were dismayed to see the jaguars pacing the cage continually…very sad to be in such close range to an area where they should be able to live free.
After departing the cat enclosures, we made our way to the orchid and frog exhibits. The orchids were quite beautiful, but the frogs definitely stole the show. In the humid ranarium, there are many species of native frogs that are allowed to roam (or hop) freely. Here, you can find the Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frog, Caribbean Striped Poison Dart Frog, the Bullfrog and everyone’s favorite, the Red-Eyed Leaf Frog which looks very different while at rest. When sleeping, the frog looks like a fat, green lump. When awake, it is one of the most intriguing amphibians with its bright red, bulging eyes and red palms and soles.
Before moving on, make sure to visit Casita de la Paz, a farmhouse reproduction built using tools available to the average farmer a century ago. See how water was collected and heated within the home, how the farmer would have lived within the home and two oxcarts, colorful vehicles used to transport coffee beans from Costa Rica’s central valley over the mountains to the Pacific coast. Keep an eye out for the friendly mapaches, Costa Rica’s raccoon, that run around, and sometimes through, the cabin.
Finally, we were ready to hit the trails and make our way to the five waterfalls located in the park. Well constructed viewing platforms allow for amazing photo opportunities and a cooling, mist shower whether you need it or not! The Trail of Falls allows visitors to see five different cascades via trails and metal staircases following the Rio La Paz as it flows almost 5,000 feet down the slopes of the Poas Volcano. The first waterfall, El Templo, plunges 104 feet into a pool of clear water surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Magia Blanca (White Magic), the tallest of the five, descends 131 feet and you can observe it from above and below the drop-off. Continuing downriver, you can gaze upon Escantada (65 feet) and the much smaller, Escondido Falls. The final deluge can be seen from the park, however, to get the full effect, it is best viewed from the end of the trail, walking along the highway (or drive the short distance upon departure from the park). After all that climbing, if you are not up to returning the way you came (and my shaky legs were not), you can descend 400 steps to the gift shop and bus stop where a free shuttle bus is provided by the Gardens that takes you back to the reception area.
These caba
This part of Costa Rica is very beautiful and offers mountainous views, rolling hillsides and a major tourist attraction, Poas Volcano. Though still closed since its eruption last year, the government is hoping for a re-opening (with some implemented restrictions) later this year.