Tuesday, April 22, 2008

風暴過後賞花瓶

浣熊一走,帶來黑雨,但星期天居然有少許放晴。再往大嶼山,目的地是花瓶石,雖已於N年前遊過,但印象模糊。從青馬管制站朝大橋方向下走,踏上水泥路,由大轉前往草灣。由草灣過花瓶灣,除綑邊外,另一途是穿越密林,風暴及大雨過後,吃了不少“棉花糖”,下走花瓶灣,據說是新地購下的私人泳灘,供柏麗灣居民使用,但已人去樓空。於灘後覓路上至花瓶石,約10分鐘便到,雖然風暴過後,仍可清晰看見中環一帶。續上花瓶頂,路徑隱約可辨,亦偶有綁帶,不易迷路。30分鐘到頂,頂可能為氣象設施,有完整的樓梯下降收費廣場,不消20分鐘便到終點。
從花瓶灣看花瓶石

從花瓶石看花瓶灣

從花瓶石看青馬大橋

花瓶石

從花瓶頂遠觀迪士尼樂園及坪洲

Monday, April 21, 2008

捐血 Pt. II

轉眼又過了4個月,趁星期日行完山時間尚早,便往捐血站一趟,表格上繼續要填寫過往一年曾外遊的地方,剛前往的中美洲Belize+Guatemala,當然是位於瘧疾區內,所以所捐的血只會抽取血漿使用。只是用了8分鐘便捐了450cc血,仲要入針位沒有出現瘀青情況。

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

My footprint







Blog

Blog網誌這東西已流行了數年,互聯網的興起,從十數年前在大學時代只有Unix,發展至今沒可能有一天不上網的日子,至你要找的東西都能找網上輕易找到。至網誌的興起,就像把個人的日記置於網上,當然有幾多東西你希望公開,決定權仍在你手。部分朋友沒有網誌,說不想於網上過份公開私人資料,部分朋友則有網誌,“隱私”程度則不一,從一些朋友的網誌中,我對她加深了解,因為平時的交談,她不會提及網誌上所述的東西。我的網誌,也許會採取中庸之道吧。

Monday, April 14, 2008

綁帶

不經不覺已行了十年山,已不滿足於行各長途遠足徑,即有明確路路標的路徑。佔佔愛上從網上行山網站參照別人所走的路線行走,但那些路線當然不會有漁護署的清晰指牌。有時甚至是漁護署會於入口標示“此路不通”,正好告訴行友入口在那兒。前人留下的綁帶是非常重要,雖然帶不會說話,不會告訴你將引領你到那處去,但起碼你知所踏著的路是有人行過。印象中重要的綁帶路線,當然要數從環湖徑往紅石門的路,及由吊登籠落蛤塘一段。數月前,我行經老虎笏,由於路徑較亂,而欠缺綁帶,我亦第一次嘗試“造福”後人。

老虎頭上釘虱乸?

上星期外遊,已有兩星期沒有行山,又是出外走走的時間。今次選擇了從愉景灣出發,上老虎頭,400多米的山峰。上午下了一陣雨,差不多到頂一段較“跣”及斜,霧鎖老虎頭。但到標高柱後,路徑明顯,只是一個行人也沒有,沿大路行至疊石,選擇往右走,直下大壕。其實由老虎頭開始,整個山頭被山火洗禮,很多本應是密林的地方也變得開揚。離開山上小徑,入田寮村,已由一隻非常惡的中型唐狗“招呼”我,那村民更是豈有此理,完全沒有喝止那狗,好彩那狗對行山杖也有多少忌諱,但我已嚇個半死,往白芒的路上又遇上攔路的惡犬,又被狗跟。沿海濱石屎路行至東涌已七時多。

下瞰愉景灣

往老虎頭的路

近觀老虎頭,亂石群中的路較跣

跳板石?

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Guatemala and Belize Itinerary

8.3.08
HKG -> LAX, stopover for 16 hours, LAX -> Belize City (BZE)

9.3.08 (Flores)
Arrived BZE in the morning. Took local bus to Benque Viejo del Carmen and then taxi to the border. Entered Guatemala. Shared a van with some foreigners and went to Flores. Joined a sunrise tour to Tikal.

10.3.08 (Bus)
TIkal sunrise tour departed at 3.00 a.m. Walked up to Temple IV under the dark. Rained rained and could not see sunrise of course. Left Tikal at 11:00 a.m. and returned to Flores. Rent a car in the afternoon to Yaxha. Stayed there till 6:00 p.m. and watched sunset after heavy rain there. Night bus to Guatemala City (advised by many ppl, don't take night bus in Guatemala except this one).

11.3.08 (Antigua)
Bus arrived at 6:00 a.m. Changed shuttle to Antigua. Plenty of guesthouse in this old colonial town. Relaxed atmosphere. Looked for guesthouse and arranged local tours occupied whole morning. City tour in the afternoon.

12.3.08 (Antigua)
Cont' city tour and went up to Cerro de la Cruz with a good view over the town (warned by LP, this was a hot spot of robbery and mugging in the past. you may ask the tourist police to accompany you. i saw some foreigners did but i dunno how to arrange). I joined a local tour (departed at 2:00 p.m.) to Volcan Pacaya in the afternoon. Hiked for 2 hrs to see the lava flow. Hot but great! Returned to town at around 9:00 p.m. Most of the restaurants have closed already

13.3.08 (Thu) (Antigua)
Took tourist shuttle bus to Chichicastenango (Thursday and Sunday Market). Should go on Sunday as more religious activities. Very disappointed. A tourist oriented rather than authentic market. If u look for authentic market, Solola at Lago de Atitlan may be a good choice.

14.3.08 (Antigua)
Bought a transport package to Lago de Atitlan. You may go to Panajachel after Chichi market. Then took the tourist boat at Lago de Atitlan (departure time 8:30 a.m.). We took same boat which would stop at 3 villages including San Pedro, Santiago and San Antonio. If you have time, stay in one of the villages and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. My friend told me it was very cheap also. The day I went was cloudy and affected my impression of Lago de Atitlan. It should be one of the most beautiful volcanoe lakes in the world.

15.3.08 (Antigua)
Took tourist shuttle bus to Monterrico. Had a paddle boat trip in the mangrove area. Visited turtle sanctuary there and enjoyed black sand beach.

16.3.08 (Antigua) (Sun)
Day of procession. A couple of days before Good Friday. Now it was Semana Santa (Easter Week). Though I can't stay till Sunday, I can still enjoy the rich religous atmosphere. Hundreds of ppl in deep purple robes, revered church sculptures, clouds of incense, cobble streets covered with colored sawdust and flower petals. I saw processions in both Antigua and Guatemala City. Morning in Antgua and afternoon in Guatemala City. Beware of your wallets.

17.3.08 (Coban)
Joined a 3d2n tour to Semuc Champey. First took 5 hours bus to Coban. Visited Biotopo del Quetzal in the afternoon. I saw Quetzal (national bird of Guate) in the exhibition hall . However, the cloudy forest air is fresh. Coban is just a small town and not many restaurants.

18.3.08 (Coban)
The view of Semuc Champey is great. Many turquoise lagoons form natural swimming pools. I had a great time in the pools also after tiresome climb to the mirador. Visited Grutas de Lanquin. I think Guilin stalactites caves are much better.

19.3.08 (Flores)
5 hours bus to Flores. Returned to the same guesthouse as we first arrived Flores. However, the room price increased by 40% because of Easter. City tour in this tiny town.

20.3.08 (Belize City)
Early morning bus to BZE. Heavy rain at the border. Took chicken bus to the capital of Belize -- Belmopan (perhaps smallest capital in the world), just a few blocks government buildings.

21.3.08 (Belize City) (Good Friday)
Dead city. All shops were closed, so did public transport. Rented a taxi to Altun Ha. Very expensive of course. Altun Ha is a tiny Mayan site. Returned to BZE in the afternoon. City tour in the dead city. Only Chinese ppl shops were open.

Safety of BZE is not good. Don't walk after dark esp near the local bus station (though we did). Many many Chinese in BZE. You can't imagine so many chinese restaurants there.

22.3.08 (LAX airport)
Rented the same taxi to Belize zoo. Many exotic animals there. National cycling race and many roads were blocked. Went to airport 5 hours before because of road block. Left BZE in the evening. BZE -> LAX. Slept in LAX airport.

23.3.08
LAX -> HKG

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

沒有期待反而精彩的台南旅程

趁清明的長週末及港龍的飛撲精選,買了一張香港高雄機票。N年前於書展用$10買了一本Mook的大台南旅遊書,見到台南的七股鹽山都幾正,便坐火車北上台南。在台南過了頗愉快的3天,去了鹽山(其實是經已停產的鹽田)、漫遊台南的老建築、瘋狂掃街(大吃特吃),剛巧有媽祖巡遊,日光白白放煙花都是首次見識。

去七股時,進住了一間民宿“藍色招潮謝”老板娘很好人,用車載我們沒車的香港人去不同景點,當然免費。
藍色招潮謝

這三天很多”免費”的事,包括觀光巴士、捷運免費試坐、博物館免費、去鹽山免費等等,所以三天只用了800港元(不計機票),平!