#flathal #flatstanleyproject #hongkong
The Flat Friends have had a lot of fun on cable cars and sky rails this trip, so when we saw there was one in Hong Kong we had to sign up! Another chance at a bird’s eye view! This ride had several added bits of fun—like the car transitioning (moving) between cables at two stations along the way. On other cable cars we had to get out and move to a different car, here the car was moved with us in it! Instead of just going along a straight line, this cable car was able to turn corners!
As we boarded the cable car we were joking about flying up towards the clouds, we had no idea how right we were!
Our cable car would glide into the clouds, and we were surrounded by a bright white void out of which cable cars would appear out of thin air from the other direction.
As Flat Halena said, “it’s the brightest place I have ever been that I can’t see anything more than 10 feet away!”
The Giant Buddha on top of the mountain would occasionally peek out from between the clouds. We caught our first glimpse from the cable cars, and saw him several more times as we walked around. We also saw Buddhists who had come to offer prayers.
As much as we want to take pictures, and enjoy being tourists, when we visit a place with spiritual and religious significance to others we remember to be quiet and respectful, just as we would want them to be when visiting places that are meaningful to us.
The walk from the cable car station to Po Lin Monastery had something for everyone in our group!
The 12 Divine Generals each had a statue along the path. We stopped to read the plaque, and learn what they are identified with—then looked at the statues to admire their weapons.
We were most intrigued by the conch shell General Sandira holds. It represents someone who fights evil with truth and wisdom. A person who has the fearlessness to proclaim the truth, even when it is easier to remain silent, or go along with the lies others are telling. It can be hard to stand tall, and clearly speak the truth, but Sandira understood it is
important to.
The conch shell was used to call the warriors together for battle, and the monks together to pray.
It reminded us of when people say, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” Words have power!
Words can hurt others, and words can make others feel better! This was a general who could bring people together and valued truth… it was easy for us to understand how General Sandira became one of the “Divine Generals.”
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