Ode to the Wetlands

March 14, 2009

Today I decided that I needed to start exploring the New Territories (Northern HK, not part of the Island). I decided to go to the famed Hong Kong Wetland Park (aka the Mai Po Marsh). Apparently there is a separate way to go into the marsh, but I just went to the Wetland This marsh, and protected offshoot of very polluted Deep Bay separates Hong Kong from Mainland China. When at the Marsh you can see Shenzhen in the distance.

While a great idea this trip definitely suffered from poor planning. I went to work in the morning and planned on leaving for the Park between 1 & 2pm. I finally left at 2:30 for the park, not realizing it would take me 90 minutes to reach the park. I did, however, get to experience some new train lines & the light rail - which is fun to ride in the Northern Territories. I will definitely go back up and ride the light rail around/sight see at some point. The beauty if the Northern Territories is that they are much less urban that the Island/Kowloon. So I arrived at the park at no less than 5 before 4pm. I read a sign that said they stop selling tickets at 4pm. Needless to say, I was the last person who bought a ticket & was admitted into the Wetland Park. The other kicker is that the Reserve closes at 5pm - so I made a rushed walk around most of the Reserve and watched some birds briefly on the Marsh. I will definitely go back on some other warm & lazy day. Good thing admission was only HK$30 - about $3.50 USD. I did manage to snap some photos though. Check them out at: http://picasaweb.google.com/roberra/MaiPoMarshHKWetlandParkMarch82009?authkey=Gv1sRgCJHj4dibyJ7FVw&feat=directlink