上星期六陪朋友去看濱崎步在亞洲博覽館舉行的演唱會。一場去到大嶼山，我們決定順道試坐「Ngong Ping衫碌鈴」同遊覽寶蓮寺。我們在中環草草吃過拉麵便出發。
演唱會後最便捷的交通是機場快線，即日來回又有優惠，於是我們選擇坐機場快線到大嶼無山去。
Last Saturday, I accompanied my friend to see Japanese pop diva Ayumi’s concert in Asia World-Expo. I suggested that since we had to go to Lantau Island anyway, we could take the opportunity to try the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car and visit the Po Lin Monastery before the concert. Having stuffed ourselves with some ramen in Central, we set off our journey.
We planned ahead. Airport Express would be the quickest and most comfortable means of transportation for our home-bound journey after the concert. Since there is a discount for same-day return on Airport Express, we went to Asia World-Expo Station by this fast train.
機鐵博覽館站有點「精神分列」：演唱會散場時擠得水涉不通，需施人潮管制，但平時就烏蠅飛過都聽到 Asia World-Expo is a "schizophrenic" train station. When crowds leave the arena after pop concerts, it is absolutely packed. Extra staff have to be deployed to control the frenzied crowds. But otherwise, it is a desolate place.
站內通道的亮滑牆身反映站外的海景 The sleek blue walls on the walkway reflect the seaside location of the station.
博覽館站東入口 An entrance to Asia World-Expo Station.
站外排列整齊的燈柱 Orderly line-up of lamp posts outside Asia World-Expo.
「昂坪360」 運作初期頻頻發生機械故障，曾發生一部回廠空車墜落地面的意外，儘管如此，我們一於「以身試坐」。結果發現比此吊車旅程十分過癮。
Ngong Ping 360 was beleagured with technical problems in its early days of operation. Finding ourselves at the Cable Car Station, we had no choice but to put behind ourselves the accident where an empty car fell off as it was returning to the station. The 25-minute journey turned out to be very pleasant and enjoyable.
昂坪纜車東涌站 The Cable Car Station in Tung Chung.
是否令你想起海洋公園的吊車？This view is reminiscent of the Ocean Park Cable Car, isn't it?
攀山前，吊車在行車橋上越過 Before the Cable Car ascends to the mountains, it travels above a bridge over the sea.
昔日的東涌交通不便，發展後幸存小數村落。
Tung Chung was once a remote district dotted with small villages. Some age-old villages have survived drastic redevelopment.
今天的東涌市中心，滿是高樓大廈 At the background are residential skyscrapers in the newly developed town Tung Chung.
在吊車上，我們看到一座建在海邊的戲棚。巡回戲班在此類戲棚為村民演出，遇著是七月節，也為遊魂野鬼。
From the cable car, we spot a temporary stage in the middle of a small seaside village. This kind of semi-open stage is built for traditional Chinese opera performances staged by touring troupes. Such performances are especially popular in the month of the Hungry Ghost Festival when both the living and the dead are treated with opera performances as part of the customs. The stage is built with bamboos and zinc plates.
金字塔形建築便是我們看到的戲棚 The pyramid-shaped structure is the temporary stage.
建在人工島上的香港機場 At the background is the airport compound built on a reclaimed island attached to Lantau Island.
海岸邊長滿灌木 Shrubs growing on the coastline.
一名維修人員獨享「無遮無掩號」特別吊車，我看著他看著我 A maintenance worker stares back at us as we look at him enjoying a private special cable car ride.
不坐吊車可取道山徑，但天氣酷熱，遊人罕見 An alternative to the cable car ride is the long and winding hiking track. Few people take this route on a boiling hot day like this.
當年興建吊車計劃一出，寶蓮寺住持極力反對，因恐怕佛門清靜不保。最終好像是政府在纜車選址上作出讓步，在大佛與車站之間建個仿古市集，起緩衝作用。
When Government proposed to build the Cable Car to take tourists all the way from the heart of the new town to the doorsteps of the Po Lin Monastery, the Monastery strongly objected to the proposal. They feared that the Cable Car would upset the quiet and peace of the Monastery. Some sort of concession was made by Government in terms of the location of the station – there is now an old-themed marketplace acting as a buffer between the Monastery and the Cable Car Station.
天壇大佛隨隨從山背後出現 The Big Budda emerges from behind the mountains.
市集 The marketplace.
大佛無量 The big presence of the Buddha fills the air with peace and tranquility.
不論老少貧富，為表誠心，人們都需要一步步爬上石級，才能登上大佛下的蓮花座 To demonstrate faithfulness, no matter you are old or young, rich or poor, you must take the long stone staircase on your own foot to get up to the lotus seat of the Big Buddha.
六尊圍著蓮花座的天母像，手持聖物，奉獻佛祖 Two of the six statues surrounding the lotus seat of the Big Buddha. These sacred women are offering symoblic objects to Buddha.
大雄寶殿 The main temple of the Monastery.
寶殿外鏘牆掃上斑斕的油彩，石圍欄雕刻精致 Sumptuously painted walls of the main temple surrounded by beautifully crafted stone railing.
吃齋的地方看來很商業化，有點俗不可耐 The very commercial and tacky looking eating place where people sample the vegetarian meals from the kitchen of the Monastery.
淺嘗豆腐花 We try the tofu dessert.
流浪牛選在寶蓮寺外曬太陽真聰明，佛門之地嚴禁殺牲，非常安全 Three stray cows leisurely soak up the sun on the grounds of the Monastery. They are clever. They choose the Monastery where meat eating is strictly prohibited.
回到東涌我們即時走進冷氣商場避暑。
Back in Tung Chung, we desperately retreat to the air-conditioned factory outlets shopping mall to escape the sun.
小朋友寧願在戶外戲水解暑 This little kid obviously prefers to cool himself down by playing with the spurts of the water fountain.
吃過晚飯便去看演唱會。濱崎步演唱會嚴禁攝影，有人一舉起電話即被保安喊止，所以演唱會照片欠奉。
我不懂步姐的歌，但卻十分享受當晚她的投入演出、悅目的舞台製作。最正是現場氣氛，所有入場觀眾站足全場，跟著音樂揮動螢光棒和唱。
最後不能不提坐在我身邊的一位觀眾。他是個二十多的男子，單刀赴會，剛坐下時我已留意到他穿上了步姐的記念版T-shirt，背了個bling-bling金色的步姐記念版大袋。趁演唱會未開始，他從大金袋內取出其他裝備：先是一對步姐記念版護腕，戴上後就拿出一把步姐記念版電動閃燈紙扇，，演唱會一開始，他便揮動紙扇，高聲和唱，high足全場。這步姐迷堂堂男子，卻把男兒應有的尊嚴完全放下，在沒友人相伴下也全副武裝上陣，那份全情投入和專注，我真心佩服尊敬。
After a quick meal, we head to Asia World-Expo for Ayumi’s Concert. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the arena. Hence, no photos of the concert.
亞洲博覽館 Asia World-Expo at night.
濱崎步演唱會海報 An Ayumi Concert poster.
即場售賣的步姐記念品一覽。雖然每件都不便宜，但步姐迷都通宵排隊，只求買得心頭好在所不計 Billboard displaying photos of the Ayumi souvenirs on offer. Fans queue overnight outside the arena to make sure that they get what they want.
