Sai Kung is a place like no other it’s as if time has stood still. There is an old village with a network of alleyways and lanes, a town square and a harbour front. It is located in the New Territories in Kowloon and can be reached by public transport from Hong Kong Island. You can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and while away an afternoon in this oasis of peace and tranquility.
Most people when they visit Hong Kong don’t get the chance to leave the city as it’s usually just a two or three day stopover. They leave thinking Hong Kong is just made up of high rises and skyscrapers, whereas in fact there are so many country parks and beaches.
During our week in December we spent the afternoon in Sai Kung, showing our friends the village where we used to live.
We walked through the old village first, where you’ll find small grocery and hardware stores amongst private residences.
Tin Hau Temple
Walking through the old village
Along the waterfront there are many small boats and sampans waiting to ferry you over to the islands surrounding Sai Kung. Here you will also find many seafood restaurants with huge tanks with live fish.
An old man tending to his pots held up by ramshackle planks
Customers can buy any type of seafood and take it along to the local restaurants to be cooked how they like
There is a small square where there are many European restaurants, which is why Sai Kung is so popular at the weekend. There are huge traffic jams on a Sunday evening when all the islanders drive back.
We had dinner at a place called Big Fish, as you can see there were other things on the menu besides fish!
A sculpture on the waterfront
Getting here
There are several ways to get to Sai Kung. On the MTR from Central you can either alight at Tseung Kwan O MTR and take a mini bus or from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon to Choi Hung MTR and also take a mini bus.
We had a wonderful time living in Sai Kung for many years. I love going back to visit to see how time has stood still with many of the restaurants and shops we visited still going strong. Obviously some things have changed but not as much as so many other places in the world.
During our stay in Edinburgh we hired a car for two days to explore outside of the city.
Day 1 – Pittenweem, St. Andrew’s and Perth
We walked over to the Hertz Rental office and picked up a car after a very long wait! It seems in this office if they see you are foreign or speak with an accent they go over every minute detail at least four times, I found it insulting and time-wasting and it did not give a very good impression of Scotland being tourist friendly.
So we got off to a bit of a late start but finally got on our way. Our first step was going to be Anstruther, just over an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. By the time lunchtime came though we were passing through Pittenweem. It’s a tiny fishing village in Fife on the East coast of Scotland. We found a cosy restaurant for lunch right on the harbour.
Crossing over the Queen’s Ferry BridgeLeven Beach
Pittenweem HarbourThe Promenade, PittenweemA memorial dedicated to the men and women who made their living from the sea and also to those who lost it at seaGetting colder as the day wore on!
John Dory Bistro – where we had a delicious fish lunch
We ended up driving through Anstruther and went onto St. Andrew’s, the home of the famous golf course. It really was only a short stop here as the weather was becoming worse.
The ruins of St. Andrew’s Cathedral
Back in the car and then it was off to our sister city Perth! Just to see if there were any similarities really. It sits on the River Tay and is a big university town. We saw many students that day walking around with gowns and mortar boards, obviously having just graduated. The architecture was impressive but could do with a good wash down with a power hose.
On our way we passed through Dundee and saw the RSS Discovery
River Tay BridgeLooking towards the Court HouseRiver TayThe River Tay
End of Day One
Day Two – Loch Lomond and The Trossachs
After another hearty breakfast at the Apex we set off again this time in the other direction. The weather was not looking good but dressed appropriately we hoped for the best!
Our first stop was Doune Castle, now famous again for being Winterfell in Game of Thrones. Being a big fan I really wanted to take a look. It was also used for the castles in Outlander and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
On the way we passed by these 30 metre high steel horses on our way to Doune Castle. They just appeared seemingly out of nowhere so I took the best photo I could in a moving car!
Back in the car it was off to Callander, a small town near the River Leith and on the edge of The Trossachs National Park.
Callander
Eas Gobhain – Gaelic for The Smith’s Cascade
Had to have a coffee here, being a big Peaky fan!
After a quick look on Google maps I saw there was a waterfall with an old bridge nearby. It was just a five minute drive away. When we got there I realised we would have to do a bit of a hike! But determined to see it we trudged on. It was called Bracklinn Falls and was actually a series of waterfalls with a wooden bridge crossing them.
Sunrays peeping through the clouds
Overlooking The Trossachs
Bracklinn Falls
On the Bracklinn Bridge
Bracklinn Bridge
Lunchtime
Lake Menteith was our next stop and we found a beautiful spot for lunch right on the shores of the lake.
Fishing on the Lake of Monteith
Monteith Parish Church
From Lake Menteith we drove onto Loch Lomond with a quick stop at Balloch Castle. This castle dates back to 1238 and was the home for hundreds of years to the Earls of Lennox. Now it is on the Buildings at Risk Register and the grounds officially became a national park in 1980.
Balloch Castle
Beautiful views over Loch Lomond
Sadly derelict and boarded up!
Loch Lomond
Maid of the Loch
Climbing out of the Loch!
After many attempts by my dear hubby at taking my photo, I settled for the above photo which looks as if I’m climbing out of the Loch fully clothed.
Stirling Castle
Much to my disappointment by the time we arrived at Stirling Castle it was closing. But the surrounding areas including the graveyard was full of interesting graves, monuments and statues.
Stirling Castle
The Royal Chapel
John Knox – Leader of the Scottish Reformation – 1513 – 1572
Robert the Bruce
The Star Pyramid commemorates all who were martyred while seeking religious freedom.
Mars Wark- a wall left from the original house built by John Erskine Earl of Mar , 1570. He was a regent for James I of Scotland
The Holy Rood
Views from the battlements
Views of the Trussochs
Margaret and Agnes Wilson’s monument – Scottish Martyrs
Margaret Wilson 1667 – 11 May 1685, along with her 15 year old sister Agnes were both drowned to death for refusing to swear an oath declaring James VII of Scotland and II of England head of the Church. They were tied to stakes in the sand to await the incoming tide to flow over them. They were certainly cruel times back then!
We certainly enjoyed our week in Scotland. It wasn’t long enough to get everywhere but I think we did our best!
