Hiking (and Yoga) in Hong Kong: Nam Long Shan, Brick Hill

Just outside this frame, to my right, two women were seated huddled under an umbrella singing a song. A hundred metres in front of them, a couple was taking selfies with the view of Repulse Bay in the background. Further off to the left, a group of eight hikers we had passed by made it up and were letting off the adrenaline from their achievement.

For my hiking partner and I, the goal-cum-reward was to be able to practice yoga to this view. So we rolled out our mats, plugged in our earphones, put on our individual playlists and got to taking in the moments and movements.

View of Nam Long Shan’s helicopter pad from above on a cloudy day

Hiking and yoga have been my bright sides of this COVID-19 period. To be able to do them both, and at a time when Hong Kong seems to be recovering and gearing up to a new normal is not something to be taken lightly. My subconscious, I now realize, was also more freely accepting of today’s situation.

Whereas practicing yoga while people were abuzz around us would have been a frustrating affair before, we welcomed it today.

It might have been the magnificence of the view, or the magnitude we felt facing the vast ocean. It was definitely the collective joy everyone on the platform felt, and the gratitude each of us (strangers) exuded being able to be there, together, in person. I could feel the acceptance — of each other’s presence and of the ways we individually chose to celebrate this little moment of being out, up and about.

I can’t say this is something we will continue to embrace in the long run, but at this present moment, it felt right, and needed.

What you will see on your way down Nam Long Shan