Deep Water Bay - Hong Kong Island
Written and illustrated by Anne, Soo Jung and Bridgette
Background Information
Deep Water Bay, located on the southern shore of Hong Kong Island, is a bay with residential areas and beautiful sceneries of Deep Water Bay beach and natural plants growing on it. Surrounded by Shouson Hill, Brick Hill, Violet Hill and Middle Hill, this bay is known as one of the 'wealthiest neighborhood on earth', as 19 of Hong Kong's richest billionaires living on or near it. Deep Water Bay is also mentioned on an early colonial map of 1845 Hong Kong.
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Things to do and see
There are many things to see and do in Deep Water Bay, and a few examples of it are going swimming in the beach, sitting on the beach enjoying the sun, barbecuing in the barbecue area, going for a walk on the pathway, feeling pleasure from being in the nature...
Since Deep Water Bay has a beach, tourists and visitors tend to go to the beach for a dip in the natural pool and then spend the whole day on the shore having fun with sand, running freely on the beach, or sitting on the sand, tanning themselves. This is a great place for families and friends to go playing volleyball on the beach, or even just sitting down comfortably and chatting together casually. Also, people can buy tents in a nearby shop, so that if the sun is too strong, but they don't want to leave, they can retire into the tent. It is also common for people to bring picnics and eat on the beach. The water in the Deep Water Bay beach very clear and you can roughly see what is below it. It looks absolutely fantastic, almost like it was paradise, feeling the wind caressing your face in a motherly manner.
Furthermore, fishing is also an option to do on the bay. Residents like to sit on one of the rocks near the water and throw their fishing rod in, sitting there for hours, having great fun and a pleasurable time trying to fish, although it takes a good deal of patience. If you can't get any fish, it will still be enjoyable to look at the water, because the water in Deep Water Bay is extremely clear, as I stated above. Under the water, you can also see splendid moss woven onto the rocks. It was like a rich emerald blanket covering and caressing the strong sharp rocks.
Another thing to do in Deep Water Bay is bringing food to the barbecue area and barbecue there. Most people also take music with them to sing with friends, socializing while eating, and looking out at the beach, enjoying the wind.
In addition to those things, there is a wide pathway near the water for people who want to walk and appreciate various kinds of plants planted on the bay. You can cherish the flowers, trees and plants on Deep Water Bay while observing the water that is sometimes rough and sometimes calm, just like humans are. It is funny to see how nature's mood resembles ours.
There are also majestic mountains and hills opposite the bay. That is another aspect of nature that visitors and tourists can look and take photos of. Not to mention the clouds at Deep Water Bay has simply magnificent clouds above the island. The clouds makes people feel like they are in a fairytale, where clouds are candy floss that carries fairies or humans.
Since Deep Water Bay has a beach, tourists and visitors tend to go to the beach for a dip in the natural pool and then spend the whole day on the shore having fun with sand, running freely on the beach, or sitting on the sand, tanning themselves. This is a great place for families and friends to go playing volleyball on the beach, or even just sitting down comfortably and chatting together casually. Also, people can buy tents in a nearby shop, so that if the sun is too strong, but they don't want to leave, they can retire into the tent. It is also common for people to bring picnics and eat on the beach. The water in the Deep Water Bay beach very clear and you can roughly see what is below it. It looks absolutely fantastic, almost like it was paradise, feeling the wind caressing your face in a motherly manner.
Furthermore, fishing is also an option to do on the bay. Residents like to sit on one of the rocks near the water and throw their fishing rod in, sitting there for hours, having great fun and a pleasurable time trying to fish, although it takes a good deal of patience. If you can't get any fish, it will still be enjoyable to look at the water, because the water in Deep Water Bay is extremely clear, as I stated above. Under the water, you can also see splendid moss woven onto the rocks. It was like a rich emerald blanket covering and caressing the strong sharp rocks.
Another thing to do in Deep Water Bay is bringing food to the barbecue area and barbecue there. Most people also take music with them to sing with friends, socializing while eating, and looking out at the beach, enjoying the wind.
In addition to those things, there is a wide pathway near the water for people who want to walk and appreciate various kinds of plants planted on the bay. You can cherish the flowers, trees and plants on Deep Water Bay while observing the water that is sometimes rough and sometimes calm, just like humans are. It is funny to see how nature's mood resembles ours.
There are also majestic mountains and hills opposite the bay. That is another aspect of nature that visitors and tourists can look and take photos of. Not to mention the clouds at Deep Water Bay has simply magnificent clouds above the island. The clouds makes people feel like they are in a fairytale, where clouds are candy floss that carries fairies or humans.
Activities and Challanges
CLOSE UP
Materials : Camera or phone In Deep Water Bay, there are a large collection of intriguing flowers and plants, therefore bringing a camera or phone with good photo quality is very important. Being able to capture marvelous close up photos can be rather rare here in Hong Kong, but Deep Water Bay gives you the opportunity to do so. It is fascinating, and more people should be able to have the chance to do such a thing, as everything is already neatly laid in front of them. All they have to do is to open their eyes and heart to nature. At first, the plants may seem normal and boring, but when you take time and observe it carefully, not missing a single detail, and also take some close up photos, you will see the world in a whole new aspect, just like the song says in 'A Whole New World' from Disney's Jasmine and Aladdin. Photos is not only a still image. It can be used to convey feelings and deep thoughts. A technique for close up photos is having a focus point by focusing on the main things you want people to see in a swift glance, leaving the background blurry. SMELL A FLOWER Materials : Blindfold or scarf Nowadays, teenagers or even toddlers look at their tablets and phones, spending all their free time online, scrolling through social media and watching YouTube. This is not only bad for their eyes, but their health can be affected as well, because when you sit down for a long time and neglect doing any exercises, your back starts curving inwards, so why not go to the nature? After all, nature is the best cure! Smell different kinds of flowers along the pathway. See if you can recognize any if them! That's a challenge. Also, putting on a blindfold or scarf to cover your eyes would help you, because when one of your senses (in this case, it is your eyes) stops working, it enhances your other senses, for example, hearing, smelling and touch. Refreshments and restaurantsDon't worry! It is not only you that might get tired on the walk. At the end and beginning of the walk in Deep Water Bay, there are many restaurants to eat and choose from. There are coffee shops, Italian shops, Chinese shops, shops with burgers and pizzas and much more. Of course, there are many types of drinks there too, varying from hot to cold and coca cola to juices.
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Your Personal Secret Collection
Materials : an egg carton/s
People, especially children, love having their own personal secret collections of things. This is a good chance for them get their own collection for free and easily, simply by collecting interesting flower petals, flowers and leaves on the pathway. In Deep Water Bay, there are many wonderful things that people can collect along the pathway. There are fallen leaves everywhere on the ground, so people wouldn't need to pluck one from a tree, harming nature. Instead, they can casually pick a few up from the floor.
That could be a way of having fun and collecting things for themselves, but another way to do it is with their friends and families. Depending on how many people going, they can split into a few groups and then accordingly, get a few egg cartons of different color and try to fill it with plants of that color. This may seem very easy, but when you actually try doing it, you will soon realize that it can be rather challenging yet exciting and entertaining as well.
People, especially children, love having their own personal secret collections of things. This is a good chance for them get their own collection for free and easily, simply by collecting interesting flower petals, flowers and leaves on the pathway. In Deep Water Bay, there are many wonderful things that people can collect along the pathway. There are fallen leaves everywhere on the ground, so people wouldn't need to pluck one from a tree, harming nature. Instead, they can casually pick a few up from the floor.
That could be a way of having fun and collecting things for themselves, but another way to do it is with their friends and families. Depending on how many people going, they can split into a few groups and then accordingly, get a few egg cartons of different color and try to fill it with plants of that color. This may seem very easy, but when you actually try doing it, you will soon realize that it can be rather challenging yet exciting and entertaining as well.
Birds on the bay
This bird is called a 'Little Egret'. Little Egret is a species of small heron in the family of Ardeidae. The genus name of this 'Little Egret' comes from the Provençal French Aigrette, "egret", and a diminutive of Aigron," heron". Little Egret lives in tropical parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, which are places with relatively warm temperature.
A grown Little Egret is 55–65 cm (22–26 in) long, while its wingspan is 88–106 cm (35–42 in), and weighs about 350–550 g (12–19 oz).
A grown Little Egret is 55–65 cm (22–26 in) long, while its wingspan is 88–106 cm (35–42 in), and weighs about 350–550 g (12–19 oz).
Black kites are one of the most common birds in Hong Kong and although they are named Black kites, they are actually a shade of dark brown. They appear to be effortlessly soaring through the sky, in air currents, with their metre-and-a-half wingspans and pronged tails. At times, they would scoop down to snatch dead fishes from the water. Despite being related to eagles, the black kites are mainly scavengers. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, black kites are by far one of the most common birds in Hong Kong and their numbers increase a large amount in winter, as described by naturalists.
In 1870, native to the Old World, Eurasian Tree Sparrow was released into the St. Louis, Missouri, area, where it was slowly established. Unlike the bird's close relative, House Sparrow, it has never broadened its kind very far away from the original point of introduction.
You can easily identify an adult Eurasian Tree Sparrow by it has a thick bill, short legs, bars and pattern on its wings, white cheeks, and last but not least, its black throat and ear patch.
You can easily identify an adult Eurasian Tree Sparrow by it has a thick bill, short legs, bars and pattern on its wings, white cheeks, and last but not least, its black throat and ear patch.
Getting there
Going to Deep Water Bay is not a hard mission at all, especially now that there is a new MTR line called the South Line. If you take the South Line to the Ocean Park station, then walk for about 20-30 minutes, you will arrive at Deep Water Bay.
All you need are a water bottle to keep you hydrated, and closed sports shoes to make sure you don't scratch your foot on the way. Don't forget to bring your phone or camera. That's all you have to bring!
This trip is meant for you, your friends or families to connect with nature, to understand and to observe it, so if you like, you can download a few apps. For example, Strava, which records your route and time for the walk, or Reforge, which is specially made to record nature sounds, like birds chirping, wind hitting trees and so on. Another great app for you to download is HKcBirds. This app, although do uses a little more storage than other apps, is opperated to identify different birds around Hong Kong, and would be a wonderful app to have on the walk in Deep Water Bay.
All you need are a water bottle to keep you hydrated, and closed sports shoes to make sure you don't scratch your foot on the way. Don't forget to bring your phone or camera. That's all you have to bring!
This trip is meant for you, your friends or families to connect with nature, to understand and to observe it, so if you like, you can download a few apps. For example, Strava, which records your route and time for the walk, or Reforge, which is specially made to record nature sounds, like birds chirping, wind hitting trees and so on. Another great app for you to download is HKcBirds. This app, although do uses a little more storage than other apps, is opperated to identify different birds around Hong Kong, and would be a wonderful app to have on the walk in Deep Water Bay.
When it opens and best time to go there
Deep Water Bay opens everyday at 9:00am, but if you want to go early, there are some shops around, in fact, very near the beach, that opens for 24 hours, so you could go there for breakfast. Eat for a while, listen to music. There, you can have a place for you to relax, then when 9:00 strikes, you can go to the beach to have fun.
The best time to go to the beach is in the morning. At that time, you can see the skyline very clearly and take many good photos while having fun, but it is also great to go 5:30-6:00pm, to see the sunset. The sun is very magnificent when it retires into its house behind mountains. The golden ball that is being thrown around by the gods above. Also, 5:30-600pm is a wonderful time to walk the promenade. You can see the glorious flowers glowing all around you, with the normally sparkling water now shining like a star, inviting you to take photos of it. It is like you were in a fairytale, being the princess or prince walking through their gardens, especially during that time, the sky is really spectacular. It is like the sky painted purple, yellow, orange, and then someone put beautiful cotton in it.
The best time to go to the beach is in the morning. At that time, you can see the skyline very clearly and take many good photos while having fun, but it is also great to go 5:30-6:00pm, to see the sunset. The sun is very magnificent when it retires into its house behind mountains. The golden ball that is being thrown around by the gods above. Also, 5:30-600pm is a wonderful time to walk the promenade. You can see the glorious flowers glowing all around you, with the normally sparkling water now shining like a star, inviting you to take photos of it. It is like you were in a fairytale, being the princess or prince walking through their gardens, especially during that time, the sky is really spectacular. It is like the sky painted purple, yellow, orange, and then someone put beautiful cotton in it.
Hazards and Dangers
HARARD : There are some people cycling on the walk.
RISK : If you aren't careful, you might get ran over by a bicycle.
CONTROL MEASURE : Look around no matter what, be cautious, and try to walk in single files.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN : If a person unfortunately gets run over by a bicycle, the best thing to do at that moment is to call a life guard to see what they can do for the hurt person, while another should call the ambulance. Also, please ensure that the first aid kit is carried in your bag.
HAZARD : If you go fishing, then there is a possibility for you to trip and fall into the water.
RISK : If you do not know, even the basics, of how to swim, then some might drown if not brought to safety soon.
CONTROL MEASURE : Try not to stay too close to the edge of the rocks, so that even if you trip, you won't fall into the water.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN : Wave your hands wildly in the air if you do happen to drown, and try to gesture the life guards towards you. If the life guards can't see you, or for whatever reason couldn't come over, try to signal the walkers around to help by keep on waving your hands in the air.
RISK : If you aren't careful, you might get ran over by a bicycle.
CONTROL MEASURE : Look around no matter what, be cautious, and try to walk in single files.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN : If a person unfortunately gets run over by a bicycle, the best thing to do at that moment is to call a life guard to see what they can do for the hurt person, while another should call the ambulance. Also, please ensure that the first aid kit is carried in your bag.
HAZARD : If you go fishing, then there is a possibility for you to trip and fall into the water.
RISK : If you do not know, even the basics, of how to swim, then some might drown if not brought to safety soon.
CONTROL MEASURE : Try not to stay too close to the edge of the rocks, so that even if you trip, you won't fall into the water.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN : Wave your hands wildly in the air if you do happen to drown, and try to gesture the life guards towards you. If the life guards can't see you, or for whatever reason couldn't come over, try to signal the walkers around to help by keep on waving your hands in the air.
Protect it!
This is our nature, and we have every right to explore it, but we should not disturb it in any way. If you want to have a closer look at a bird or animal, don't throw anything at it. This might harm it and frighten it. After all, we are just taking a look at their living space. Would you like someone to visit your house and throw things at you? You probably would feel quite indignant and annoyed, and I wouldn't blame you, so don't do the same to the animals.
Also, it is common for people to leave rubbish on the beach or just throw them on the streets, but you can make a difference by throwing your rubbish in a bin, or hold it in your hands for a while if you don't see a nearby bin.
Also, it is common for people to leave rubbish on the beach or just throw them on the streets, but you can make a difference by throwing your rubbish in a bin, or hold it in your hands for a while if you don't see a nearby bin.
Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Water_Bay
http://www.trover.com/d/SCOP-deep-water-bay-hong-kong-hong-kong
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/pda/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=1&routenumber=6X&route=6X&routetype=D&company=5
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/pda/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=1&routenumber=260&route=260&routetype=D&company=
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/pda/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=1&routenumber=65&route=65&routetype=D&company=7
http://www.i-busnet.com/english/info/hk/6a.htm
http://www.trover.com/d/SCOP-deep-water-bay-hong-kong-hong-kong
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/pda/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=1&routenumber=6X&route=6X&routetype=D&company=5
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/pda/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=1&routenumber=260&route=260&routetype=D&company=
http://www.nwstbus.com.hk/pda/routeinfo.aspx?intLangID=1&searchtype=1&routenumber=65&route=65&routetype=D&company=7
http://www.i-busnet.com/english/info/hk/6a.htm