Pictures of a heavily pregnant Lisa Haydon holidaying at Lantau Island have caused a minor storm on Instagram. She is expecting her third child and has shared throwback pictures of her in a bikini, enjoying the sea. Recently Lisa had appeared with her son in a video revealing her third pregnancy with husband Dino. June is her due date. Lisa Haydon-Dino Lalwani who married in 2016 has two boys.
Where is Lantau Island?
It is the largest of Hong Kong’s outlying islands.
What are the things you can do on the island?
Visit Po Lin Monastery: One of the star draws in Lantau Island, you are sure to experience peace and tranquillity after a nice walk through one of their many beautiful gardens. Look out for their charmingly meticulous architecture, with three large Buddhas enveloped by colour and lotus petal lights everywhere. Almost like you are walking into a floating dream! Do not miss the Great Hall of the Ten Thousand Buddhas!
Marvel at the Big Buddha / Tian Tan Buddha: Also dubbed as Tian Tan Buddha, the Big Buddha with its bronze majesty draws devotees from all over the world. It is a massive 112 feet tall bronze statue of Lord Buddha and to reach the podium where the statue is erected, one has to climb 268 steps. Offering a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the island, its valleys, and the sea around it, the podium has three levels. The first level houses six statues of Bodhisattvas; the second, a small museum with religious paintings; and the third level is a wreath of lotus leaves. For those who do not mind taking a long hike up, it is worth the effort! It is indeed a jaw-dropping sight to watch one of the biggest seated Buddhas in the world.
Take a tour of Tai O Fishing Village: It is a photographer’s paradise. Their charming toy houses, a good bargain for fresh and dried seafood and the picture-postcard view of the harbour is sure to make this trip an unforgettable experience.
Go to Hong Kong Disneyland: A blend of magic and adventure awaits you near Lantau Island and is extremely popular with families. Be it the fireworks show over Sleeping Beauty’s castle, their various fun rides, clicking a picture with Mickey and friends or just browsing through their souvenir shops, absolute fun awaits you!
Go pink dolphin watching: Have you ever heard of the Pink dolphins? The Amazon river dolphin, also known as the pink river dolphin or boto, lives only in freshwater. And according to the WWF, there are only an estimated 2,000 pink dolphins left in the Pearl River Delta—the minimum number that conservationists believe are needed to sustain the species. That is why we think a visit to Hong Kong’s Dolphin watch is so important. There are regularly scheduled dolphin watch cruises all year which will not disturb them and will allow tourists to admire them in their natural habitat. By the way, they can turn their heads 180 degrees.
Walk along the Wisdom Path: A few kilometres away from the Big Buddha, the Wisdom Path is a series of 38 wooden upright monuments containing verses from the centuries-old Heart Sutra. They showcase the Chinese version of the prayers and the text is based on the calligraphy of scholar Professor Jao Tsung-I, and are arranged in a pattern, to represent infinity. And to signify the concept of 'emptiness' from the Heart Sutra, the column at the highest point of the hill is left blank. Buddhists believe that once an individual achieves the Wisdom of 'Emptiness', they will realise that nothing ever remains constant and will therefore learn to adapt. The prayers on the poles are revered by Confucians, Buddhists, and Taoists and are well known around the world. A walk through this wisdom path is a peaceful experience.
Ride the Ngong Ping cable car: We think in case you do not feel like taking that long hike to the Big Buddha, try this cable car. In that 25-minute ride, you will get an amazing view of the ocean and some of Lantau Island’s most beautiful attractions. If you aren’t too scared of heights, try that “crystal” cabin, which has a transparent bottom. The Ngong Ping Cable Car connects downtown Tung Chung and Ngong Ping on Lantau. It is 5.7 kilometres long.
Watch the sunset at Cheung Sha Beach: Who does not love beaches? And this one is quiet and secluded and is great for a quick, cooling dip in the calming waters. There are also a few restaurants offering local cuisine. Said to be the prettiest beach in Hong Kong, this is a must-visit.
Visit the Silvermine Waterfalls: Great for a quick uphill stroll, this site is known for its charming waterfalls, which will provide you with a refreshing dip in its pools or a nice place to have a barbecue or picnic with your fellow travellers. If you are up for it, you can also peep into the nearby abandoned Silvermine Cave—a rather eerie place.
Stop by Inspiration Lake: If you are tired of the whirlwind energy of Disneyland, this site is only a 15-minute walk away from the main park. You can ride a bike in peace or rent a pedal boat or visit the soothing arboretum. Its artificial lake is the largest in Hong Kong!
Enjoy Noah’s ark: Noah’s Ark is an expansive park containing numerous engaging experiences for all age groups. It features the world’s first full-size replica of Noah’s Ark, and offers both some historical education tour as well as a lot of fun and games. There is the multimedia theatre at Ark Expo, Treasure House where you can play brainy games and they also have fabulous resorts.
