Stream Hiking/Cliff Jumping in Fanling

10/14 ---- This past Sunday, a group of us went stream hiking in Fanling.  A local from the snorkeling invited us.  Little did I know that this would be the most intense hike i've ever done.   This is probably one of most beautiful places i've been to in Hong Kong, or anywhere for that matter, so I've posted many pictures. 

Fanling is in the Northern Territories, right next to the Chinese border.  Cole, Ben, and I,  set out from campus at 7:45 and met up with CP and Jennifer at Fanling station.  CP, the local, was our guide, having done the hike before, and the four of us were American.  We then took a bus to the Ping Nam stream.  We passed through a small village on our way to the trail.  There didn't seem to be anybody around besides chinese dogs.  It was as if the dogs ran the village, there were so many of them.  Some were friendly, and others weren't. 

Chinese Tomb in the mountainside

 

 

 

We began our hike at the beginning of the Ping Nam stream.  It was very rocky somewhat difficult to traverse.  We also had to figure out the best way across certain areas without getting our backpacks soaked.

 We eventually reached our first stop, a natural pool with a smooth rock water slide.   There was also these neat mini pools within the side of the rock where you could swim underwater from one to the other.  Note:  Not for the claustrophobic.

 CP (Hong Kong), Cole (Texas), Jennifer (Massachusetts), Ben (Maryland)

                                                                           This is Paradise

Looking back down the stream

We continued onward, and eventually reached a part of the stream that we couldn't climb.  So we had to find our way through the woods, getting a bit lost.

            Somehow we gotta get up to that bridge

                    If you weren't hiking along the stream, much of the path was unmarked and like this.

                      Thank God CP knew the way.

 Back to civilization for a bit

 Chinese Pear

These berries are edible according to CP, but I'm not willing to chance it

We eventually hit the highlight of the trip.  A 20 foot drop into a natural pool.  It didn't seem that scary, until I looked down and saw how far 20 feet is.  Pretty nerve racking, but definitely worth it.  All of us did the jump a few times.

...and miss out on all the fun?

 Ben's, Reeve's (me), and Cole's Jumps

 Up past the cliff, we reached the biggest waterfall.  Ben also found a newt hanging to the side of the rocks under the water fall.

  Cole's shampoo commercial   lol

 Our friend the newt...it was probably terrified of us.

 

 

We were then about 2/3 of the way done the hike.  We got a bit lost again, trying to find our way through the brush, but eventually we found our way to the path again which took us back to the street.  By this time it was about 4:30.  So I'd say it was about a 6+ hour hike with the stops.  Definitely a must do for anyone in Hong Kong, who doesn't mind getting a little bit of climbing.

 

 

 My mom is a fan of cranes

 Across the water, we could see Mainland China

I leave for Mainland China on Friday, Beijing and Shanghai specifically.  Really excited to go, but also really nervous.  Going by myself, but I'll be meeting a friend of a friend in both cities who will show me around, so i should make it back in one piece.