[WeLuvDodgeball]

We are wanting to visit the wishing tree in Tai Po...

Does anyone know how to get there from the KCR East line? Is it easy to find from the Tai Po Markets stop? -Brad

[Pekkerhead]

from Tai Po market station, head down the subway to the busstop and find the bus 64K. This takes you all the way past Tai Wo and up into Lam Tsuen (actually the bus keeps going to Yuen Long) and the Wishing Tree stop is about the 2nd or 3rd along Lam Kam Road.

If you get to San Tsuen you have gone a stop too far and will need to go back down the road.

the tree itself is unmistakeble as it needs props to keep it upright.;-)

i should say the stop is announced on the loudspeaker.

conversely (and quicker) is to stay on until tai wo kcr and catch the bus from there instead as it is about a mile closer.

[Pekkerhead]

The 64K is also the same route needed to get to Ng Tung Chai (nice waterfalls) and Kadoorie botanical gardens, they are just a bbit further up the road and worth a visit if you ever get the chance.

[greenietea]

Just a suggestion to add to the wishing tree trip, there's a really good garden restaurant right nearby the tree. the place is called lotus garden restaurant, i think. and they have the best steak i've ever had my life.

[Pekkerhead]

OK, so I have been a on/off visitor to Tai Po for the past 11 years and only just recently actually moved here full time.

I am sure I remember that the tree used to hang right over the Lam Kam Road and cause no end of hassle when people were trying to throw stuff up there. Currently the site looks a bit depelted and I can't rmember if it is because a) there was another tree that has now been removed or b) the tree that is there has just seen a lot of action and isn't as big as it used to be.

can someone answer my query? My memory isn't quite what it used to be.

[greenietea]

actually, the tree is still there. it's the one with all the ropes and metals supporting it.

the story went like this. the wishing tree became really popular a few years ago amongst the locals. not only did it cause crazy traffic jams, many people kept throwing chinese lucky charms over the tree. so the tree began falling apart, branches breaking and all that stuff.

so the government has prohibited people from doing that. since then, the popularity died down.

[Pekkerhead]

OK, the clapped out one I see now is the one that was formerly glorious one that I used to walk under on the way into town.

Aaah, sometimes I miss the past.

thanks greenietea.