| In today's world, it seems that almost
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| | Inside the temple, it isn't necessary to
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| any topic is open for debate. While I was
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| | remove your shoes, nor to wear long pants
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| gathering facts for this article, I was
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| | as required by Buddhist temples
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| quite surprised to find some of the
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| | elsewhere. Simply acquire an incense
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| issues I thought were settled are
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| | stick and offer three bows to the
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| actually still being openly discussed.
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| | ancestors who watch over the monks and
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| It's really a good idea to probe a little
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| | their sacred building. Place your incense
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| deeper into the subject of Po Lin
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| | sticks in the holder and then enjoy the
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| Monastery. What you learn may give you
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| | many colorful and intricate carvings and
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| the confidence you need to venture into
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| | decorations.
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| new areas.
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| | Visitors can even stay overnight and see
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| Sited atop Lantau Island on the Ngong
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| | the rising sun the next morning. The view
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| Ping plateau, lies one of the most
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| | of the light spilling onto Fong Wong Shan
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| frequently visited sights in Hong Kong -
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| | Mountain, twice the height of Victoria
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| the Po Lin Monastery.
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| | Peak, has inspired the monks for decades
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| There's enough to see and do in and
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| | in their peaceful retreat.
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| around the monastery to consume a
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| | From the temple gate, look out toward the
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| vacation day or more, so plan ahead.
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| | top of Muyushan Mountain. You'll be able
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| The trip there is an adventure in itself.
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| | to clearly make out a large copper statue
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| Take the MTR (the excellent Hong Kong
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| | of the seated Sakyamuni, reaching 26
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| subway system) to Tung Chung. Outside at
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| | meters (85 feet) high. Sakyamuni was the
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| the bus terminal, board the No. 23. The
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| | sage of the Sakyas, a Buddhist-Lamaist
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| ride can take an hour or longer and
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| | (Tibet) god and the historical Buddha.
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| winding your way up the mountainside
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| | Here known as Tian Tan or The Big Buddha,
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| provides a pair of delights. Riders get
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| | the statue was constructed over a steel
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| to see some of the superb countryside and
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| | frame and completed in 1993 after a
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| seaside near Hong Kong and at the same
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| | 10-year construction effort. It sits atop
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| time experience the harrowing joy of a
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| | the plateau, reached by climbing 268
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| typical Chinese rollercoaster bus ride.
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| | steps.
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| Founded in 1924 as a sanctuary for
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| | Stand at the base and take in the setting
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| Buddhist monks, the Po Lin Monastery
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| | first. Around the pedestal is a
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| offers superb sights both inside and out.
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| | three-story exhibition hall containing a
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| The view from the top looking out over
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| | large bell. Rung 108 times per day, it is
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| the sea and mountainside is breathtaking.
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| | said to relieve the 108 vexations. As you
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| You'll be free to look around at the
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| | listen to the chimes, you can take in the
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| exterior, which provides a superior
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| | many finely carved Buddhist figures.
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| example of the architecture and art of
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| | Then walk up and glance around to take in
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| the period and style. The monastery is
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| | the view the Buddha has, from an island
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| festooned with small statues and
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| | twice the size of Hong Kong itself.
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| inscriptions. The surrounding grounds
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| | You'll begin to feel, perhaps, as the
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| make it easy to imagine the tranquility
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| | monks do about Lantau Island and the Po
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| that motivated the monks to make it their
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| | Lin Monastery.
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| home.
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| | Now you can be a confident expert on Po
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| You can experience a small taste of that
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| | Lin Monastery. OK, maybe not an expert.
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| lifestyle for yourself by purchasing a
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| | But you should have something to bring to
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| meal ticket and enjoying the vegetarian
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| | the table next time you join a discussion
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| lunch prepared by the monks in the dining
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| | on Po Lin Monastery.
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| hall.
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