Geological Trip at 荔枝莊 & Crooked Island (吉 æ¾³) – 29 Mar 2014

I thought it would be fun to bring the kids to see some volcanic rocks and some remote island for a short getaway within HK. So i purchased some Groupon for a visit to Lai Chi Chong (荔枝莊) and Crooked Island (吉澳).

We headed off from Tung Chung at 645AM as the meeting point was pretty far, at University Station (Hung Hom Line). We arrived there 15mins early, hence I quickly bought some bread, drinks and snacks in case they get hungry between breakfast and lunch.

We waited till 0815AM and finally made the move to the Ma Liu Shui Pier near University Station and boarded the boat. There were 20 odd of us and the day was rather gloomy. Praying hard that it won’t rain, else we will end up sitting in the boat instead.

While we were on our way to 荔枝莊, we saw this huge Kuan Yin Statue. Apparently build by Li Ka Shing and spent millions on it. It took us about 30mins when we  finally arrive at 荔枝莊. We took a walk along the rocky beach side. The tour guide busy yakking and yakking, but we didn’t bother. We took our take taking photos and enjoying those green mossy rocks. The moss were amazing, like carpet!!!

The rocks were awesome too. Volcaniclastic sedimentary rock formed millions of years ago. Research has shown that this region has rather complicated geological setting and rock types, with Mesozoic volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, tuff, rhyolite and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks occurring locally. The uneven stratum on the foreshore near the Lai Chi Chong pier is volcanic ash sedimentary rock. Displaying very distinctive foldings, faults and bedding structure, it is an ideal location for geological study.

seaweed that looks like zombie brain LOL.

Major outcropped sections of Lai Chi Chong Formation can be found on the beach west of Lai Chi Chong pier. Although less than 200m wide, these sections manifest extremely complicated rock properties that include tuffite ,tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone, coarse ash crystal tuff, eutaxitic fine ash tuff and porphyritic rhyolite in current bedding. Bedding development is excellent with a wealth of visible sedimentary structures, such as current bedding, graded bedding, convolute bedding and subaquatic slump. Signs occurring from folding, fault and discordance of strike directions are also clearly noticeable.

There were a group of students that came by too. Probably geologist students. It’s great stuff since I love Geography and I used to learn about Volcanoes. But just wondering how did these rocks end up in Hong Kong, since it’s not like there’s Volcano here.

There was this part of rocks that was black (like burnt) and it looks as if they were scraped by something. The tour guide called it the the dragon’s mouth or something. It forms a U shape, like the dragon’s mouth.

After finish “cerita” and snapping photos, we head back to the Pier and went to another side of the island, just for a walk. But it started to drizzle, so we all went back to the boat. The boat started to head for 吉 æ¾³ and the rain got heavier. At one point it was so foggy, we couldn’t see those rocks formation that we were supposed to stop by. The tour guide quickly did some shuffling of schedule due to the poor weather condition.

Porridge. Faythe had 2 bowls of porridge. Vyktore opt for Rice instead.

We got off at 吉 æ¾³ and headed to the restaurant for lunch. Nothing to shout about, but nice home cook food. They are known for the handmade cuttlefish ball. So yummy, and was lucky that I could have 2 since Vyktore wasn’t too interested LOL.

After lunch, it was still drizzling a bit but we took our chance and started walking towards the Tin Hau Temple at 吉 澳. It was a short walk and by the time we reach there the rain had stopped.

The tourist did his story telling thing again before we were given opportunity to take some photos around the temple.

On our way out, we stopped by a stall selling some local desserts. For once, I manage to convince my two banana kids to try Chinese Desert. Bought the Loh Mai Chi for them. The ones sold here comes with red bean stuffing apart from the normal peanuts stuffing.

We hang around at the Pier while we wait for everyone to be ready to board the boat. After the rain had stopped, the sky was so clear and what beautiful scenery we witnessed in 吉 æ¾³. You couldn’t imagine that’s HK.

We continue our boat trip to look out for more rock formation since the sky was clear now. And we finally made it to witness the oldest rock formation in Hong Kong. Found around Pak Sha Tau and Wong Chuk Kok Tsui on the northern shore are called Wong Chuk Kok Tsui Formation.

A buddha face.

The rock formation was given all sorts of name due to it’s shape and how it’s formed. Some look pretty obvious by their name. Some you really have to squint your eyes and look at only a particular angle to get the meaning of it.

The monster fist.

The monster face.

Good thing is that we didn’t have to get off and walk. Else the kids might be complaining. They were busy eating the snack i bought and having some self entertainment on the boat.

Right after we finish all the sightseeing, it started pouring again. What a day!!! As it takes about 1.5 hours to get back, we all fell asleep in the boat while it sway along the border of China and back to Ma Liu Shui Pier. Yes we went right up to the China border!!!

We were all so tired, when we arrived at home, we were like jelly. Well, I did enjoy myself, seeing something different. As for the kids, they say no more rocks LOL.