Hong Kong II - AKL

The view from the window on the 23rd floor suggests a beautiful day. After checking out, I take the hotel shuttle to Central Station and look for connections to Lantau Island. The ticket machine only accepts cash, but after checking at the counter, I find out that my credit card also works at the access barrier. Upon departure, I again need to use the card, and the fare of 115 HK$ is charged directly. Not too bad. In Tung Chung, I purchase a ticket for the cable car to the Big Buddha (270 HK$), similar to the Alps, it goes over several intermediate stations to the final stop. The Buddha statue was planned and built in the early 90s, and in the base, one can experience the development of the monastery and the construction process. On the way back, many more people are already streaming towards the monastery, so on Sundays, it's always good to start early.

In the huge mall at the valley station, I grab a snack, retrieve the backpack from the luggage compartment, and take the bus (3 HK$) to the nearby airport. The display board lists many tempting destinations again, but first, I'm heading to Auckland. Checking in and making my way to Gate 45 is straightforward; I would have taken a bit longer to get to Gate 530 in this vast area.