Discovery Bay

This trail is one that is quite important to me. While I was growing up in Discovery Bay my family made a tradition of hiking to Mui Wo, or at least the Trappist Monastery every Boxing Day. During that time of the year the weather is ideal for hiking but it sucked because it was the day after opening all my cool presents... like a Playstation. That being said I'm really glad I spent those days outdoors rather than stuck behind a screen i.e. nowadays when working! The hike starts from Nim Shu Wan beach near the Discovery Bay Marina Club. You need to walk though a small village before actually beginning the up hill part. For some reason or another I always think the hike is only 40 minutes. It's double that, at least, so be prepared with trainers and water! After the village there's an upward walk, that seems like it never stops, all the way to the top of the mountain between the two communities. Somewhere in the middle lies a small monastery that used to bring in Dutch cows, a patriotic Dutchie told me, don't ask me why they brought them in from Holland. Anyway, the monastery is a nice place for a break, a sandwich, or just a small visit to catch one's breath. From the monastery to the top is tough. Mainly because it's a steep incline but also the fact that you can never actually see further than fifty meters because of the turns and bushes it keeps you guessing "Am I there yet? Evidently not!" But once you get to the top there's a welcoming pagoda that offers views of Mui Wo to one side and rolling hills to the other, it's really something. The rest of the way is downhill, great you'd think. Nope. After walking for so long uphill my muscles find the change to walking down extremely difficult. If I had to chose between them I'd pick downhill, for sure, just not when my legs feel like jelly. Another thirty minutes later of walking and you should be bang in the middle of Mui Wo. 7 11 for a quick top up on water then to one of the restaurants for a pizza. And that's how it's done.