I was taking the commuter train from Kowloon to Hong Kong’s border with mainland China for a business meeting I had schedule later on in the day, when I ran into some of my old highschool buddies. They were carrying backpacks full of water, sunscreen and snacks. They were going hiking.
I always have known Hong Kong to be the financial center of the world and a mecca for high-end shoppers like me who frequents the Boutique Hotel Hong Kong has plenty of for the tourist and locals. But, my buddies tell me Hong Kong is also a haven of pristine natural beauty. The peaks of it’s mountains beckons them to walk and climb all of them. They said there are countless islands and coves that when ascended will give a spectacular view of the South China Sea.
Since it’s winter here, they don’t have to worry about rain, but sadly, they don’t have to really worry about the sun beating down on them due to the ever-present haze created by the factories located on the mainland. They told me they started hiking basically to have something to do after being in the office, usually on Saturdays while their wife’s went shopping. But, now they regularly schedule personal days off of work to explore more of Hong Kongs beauty.
We arrive at our stop and step out on the platform at Fanling station. Just two stops from the border. My friends give me a look that says ‘drop everything and join us’. I give them a look of ‘maybe someday, maybe someday’, as they are greeted by their guide which whisks them off to where I can only guess. I head off to my scheduled appointment with clients that will keep me in the confines of business buildings with only a glimpse of the outside, and that’s usually more buildings. One day, I will join them. I will.
