Lennon Walls and a Day in Cheung Chau Island

There are many faces of Hong Kong:

East and West. 

Opium wars,

A trading post.

British Empire.

People’s Republic of China.

A fishing village.

Perhaps the earliest  image we have of Hong Kong is as such a space.

Monday, we made our way to Cheung Chau Island,

Taking a ferry from Pier Five in Central.

A one-hour ride to the island.

Watching boats ebb to and from, playing cards,

As our slow ferry made its way.

Arriving we could have been at Isla Mujeres

Or Sicily.

Anywhere old fisherman and kids still make their way on the water. 

Old restaurants and trees,

A square with  shops, bikes, people, hotels.

Kids to and fro.

“Cheung Chau is beautiful. Cherish the environment.  Help Take care of this island,” someone wrote.

We swim all afternoon,

Enjoying a beer at the azul bar.

Reading the messages on  the Lennon Wall.

Hong Kong is not China, read the post its.

“Be like water. My friend.”

“You  are not  alone.”

This is  its own place.

The whole world is looking to it.

This beautiful little space feels outside of it all,

And a part of it.

Lisa of The Wandering Lens writes:

“On every visit without fail I catch a ferry from Hong Kong to Cheung Chau Island. Rich in pirate tales, the island is a quiet escape where fishing boats bob in the harbour and beach sports are a popular pastime… you’ll find life is lived at a much slower pace... The ferry to Cheung Chau leaves from Central Pier 5 and the journey takes about 30 minutes if you hop on a fast ferry, and an hour if you get on a slow one.”

We spent hours there, swimming, making friends, playing  cards, looking at their Lennon  Wall,  before  making our way back for a nightcap on the 18^th floor of our hotel.

A drink with our favorite view of the majestic old city on  the sea.