A Deep Slumber

While I call it meditation, folks around me say I went into a four-month-long slumber. Perceptions being subjective, I brush off such remarks as trivial and the first thing I do is go to my Lord's abode.

"O Great Buddha," I say, "I, your humble servant, bow down at your lotus feet in anticipation of your divine blessings."

"Ha ha ha," the Giant Buddha laughs, "it sure has been a while... Wanker!" he says. "But I am having fun." He smiles. And then, gazing towards the empty cable cars rocking back and forth from the lifeless Ngong Ping 360 cables dangling in midair, the Giant Buddha chuckles, then cackles, and then bursts out in hysterical laughter.

"Wanker, my devoted pilgrim..." he says, "told you that Skyrail and Ngong Ping Village won't survive if they irritate me. You were unnecessarily worried and concerned. Now see? They have come to a standstill. And unless they appease me and apologize to me, they will become history." Once again, the Giant Buddha chuckles. I smile too.

Who wouldn't? And consider how embarrassing it must have been for the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Hong Kong administration when right before the 10^th anniversary of Hong Kong handover, the cable car system said its (almost) final goodbye to the Mainland China tourists eager to sit in From-Here-to-Hell cabins dangling on dangerous ropes.

Meanwhile, the New Lantao Bus Company established in 1973 is reaping huge profits out of cable-car-less and stranded tourists trying to reach the Giant (Tian Tan) Buddha. A quick look at Ngong Ping 360's website confirms this fact:



And sadly, from the unconfirmed reports I hear from fellow pilgrims, owners of businesses or enterprises in Ngong Ping Village are contemplating selling their businesses for peanuts as not enough visitors go there.

Well, one of Tung's (First Chief Executive of Hong Kong - His Highness Mr. Tung Chee-hwa) time bomb, as dear friend Ron's friend Hemlock says.

Peace.