In Search Of Inspiration.

Flame tree and shelter.

Once again I decided not to go too far while Peter is still on quite a lot of meds, so I took the bus to Sunny Bay. I then boarded the special train with the Mickey Mouse ears which would take me to Disneyland.

Boarding the train.

And through the Mickey window....

Inside the train.

I have been to Hong Kong Disneyland once, years ago. It is the only Disneyland I have ever been to and it was fun, but I have absolutely no desire to go back or ever visit another Disneyland. I'm sure I would feel differently if I had kids. The real reason I was heading towards Disneyland was not to go there, but to go to Inspiration Lake. This is a lovely lake set in a large park and it is free to enter. In fact, I intended to do only the things around Disneyland that I could do for free.

When I arrived at Disneyland, I knew that the fastest way to the lake was to follow Fantasy Road, but I headed in the opposite direction as I wanted to photograph the fountain outside Disneyland.

Fountain outside Disneyland.

Fountain outside Disneyland.

From the fountain, I could clearly see the entrance to Disneyland where most people were heading. Nowadays you must scan your leave home safe app to get in. I'm not sure if there are other requirements or not.

Entrance to Disneyland.

Entrance to Disneyland.

I had originally intended just to look at the fountain and then head to the lake, but I noticed a sign for the pier. I think we went there before, but our last visit here was so long ago, I can't actually remember. I think the original idea was that there would be lots of boats to Disneyland. There may be some, but I don't think the pier took off in the way it was intended to. On the walk to the pier, I passed many sign posts with pictures of Disney characters and several hedges cut into animal shapes. Best of all, there were lots more flame trees in full bloom.

Welcome to Disneyland Resort Hong Kong.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

The Fairies from Sleeping Beauty.

Topiary Dragon.

Fountain and Flame Trees.

Flame Tree.

Flame Tree.

Flame Tree.

It was quiet and peaceful at the pier. Most of the people around were sitting peacefully fishing. They had also come here without any intention of visiting Disneyland.

Disneyland Pier.

Disneyland Pier.

Disneyland Pier.

Looking back at the pier.

I had intended to walk straight back and head to the lake, but once again I was waylaid. This time it was because I noticed a waterfront promenade which passed directly in front of the Disneyland Hotels. I don't think this was built on my first visit. There are now three hotels next to Disneyland. Pretty sure on our first visit there was just one. The waterfront promenade provided great views of the hotels, but it also afforded wonderful views over Peng Chau and Discovery Bay.

The three hotels are: the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney Explorers Lodge and Hotel Hollywood. I had a quick look and they get mainly good reviews online, though some people complain about the food and wait times for things. I noticed that each hotel has very beautiful, spacious gardens with lots of wide green lawns and flowering trees.

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is supposed to look like a Victorian palace and has four hundred rooms. Apparently it has a garden maze in the shape of Mickey Mouse and an outdoor pool. It was the first hotel built here. It is closest to Disneyland and I think it is the most expensive of the three.

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel.

Disney Explorers Lodge is an explorer themed hotel. It has seven hundred and fifty rooms, four different styles of gardens and an outdoor swimming pool. Apparently the hotel rooms are in four different blocks and each one is based on a different tropical climate, so there's an Asian area, an Oceanian area, a South American area and an African area.

Disney Explorers Lodge.

Disney Explorers Lodge.

Disney Explorers Lodge.

Disney Explorers Lodge.

Disney Explorers Lodge.

Hollywood Hotel is a glitzy and glamorous Hollywood themed hotel with six hundred rooms. It has a piano-shaped pool and a garden courtyard of vintage cars and famous landmarks.

Hollywood Hotel from Magic Road.

In addition to the hotels, the promenade was lined by a wide variety of flowering trees. Most of them were frangipani trees. They were absolutely beautiful and they came in a wide variety of colours.

Screw pines.

Screw pines.

Cerbera manghas, also known as the sea mango.

It looks beautiful, but apparently it is highly toxic. The leaves and fruits contain the potent cardiac glycoside cerberin, which is extremely poisonous if ingested.

Frangipani.

Frangipani.

Frangipani.

Frangipani.

I walked right to the end of the promenade which ended in a locked gate. I didn't mind as I was enjoying the views over Peng Chau and Discovery Bay where I live, though they were not especially clear views as it was a bit hazy. There was a little boat nearby with some local fishermen in it.

Looking towards Discovery Bay.

Close-up of small boat.

Looking towards Discovery Bay.

Looking towards Discovery Bay.

Instead of walking all the way back to the MTR station and then following Fantasy Road, I decided to follow Magic Road to Inspiration Lake. This was a walk of about two kilometres. It was well signposted. Close to the park entrance I found a beautiful tulip tree.

Magic Road.

Tulip Tree.

The Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre occupies around thirty hectares of land. It was opened in 2005 and is free to enter. In its centre is the twelve hectare Inspiration Lake. This is an artificial lake, which was built in conjunction with Disneyland. As well as being a leisure facility, the lake is apparently also used for irrigation. Near the lake there is also an arboretum with lots of wide green lawns. This is a good place for a picnic.

Sign for Inspiration Lake.

There are pedalos for hire at Inspiration Lake, though no-one was on them during my visit. They are probably more popular at weekends. It's also possible to hire a Surrey bike and cycle around the lake.

Pedalos on the lake.

This park has toilets, a convenience store, a children's playground and a 1,500 metre jogging track. If I had gone the short route along Fantasy Road, Inspiration Lake is a fifteen minute walk from Disneyland Station. If you don't feel like walking, there is also a bus.

I noticed straight away that the waters of the lake were absolutely teeming with fish and turtles. This was especially true near the end where the Pedalos were. The water was very clean and clear.

Fish and Turtles.

Fish and Turtles.

Turtles.

Fish and Turtles.

Fish and Turtles.

I decided I would stroll all the way around the lake. It was a Friday afternoon, so not the busiest of times. There were some people having picnics, others enjoying the fresh air. Some people had hired Surrey bikes and were cycling around. The lake has a water spout which wasn't on during my visit. There is a little island in the centre of the lake.

Boat Hire on Inspiration Lake.

Pedalos on Inspiration Lake.

Inspiration Lake.

Inspiration Lake.

Inspiration Lake.

Inspiration Lake with flowers.

Flowers and Inspiration Lake.

Inspiration Lake.

Inspiration Lake.

Selfie at Inspiration Lake.

Dragon Boats on the Lake.

I'm not sure if you are supposed to walk along this, but I did.

I walked to the arboretum which always has lots of beautiful flowers. There were some unusual Golden Lotus Banana Plants and beautiful white flowers along the borders of the arboretum. In the centre there was a very ornate shelter nestling under a flowering flame tree. At the far end of the arboretum I found a lovely crepe myrtle tree. There were also lots of irises.

Golden Lotus Banana.

White flowers in the arboretum.

King's-mantle.

Shelter with flame trees in the arboretum.

Shelter with flame trees.

Shelter with flame trees.

Walking Iris. They are called this as they self-propagate and so spread or 'walk' all over your garden.

Spanish Iris.

Walking Irises.

Crepe Myrtle Tree.

When I returned to the lake from the arboretum, I reached a pretty little jetty sticking out into the lake and passed a small island.There were two jetties on the lake. The second one was being used for a wedding photoshoot. This was a traditional western style white wedding. Nearby there was a second photoshoot going on. This was for an Indian wedding. I can honestly say I have never seen such colourful clothes. They were quite stunning.

Little Jetty.

Jetty and Island.

Island in Inspiration Lake.

Island in Inspiration Lake.

Bride posing on the jetty.

White Wedding.

Colourful Indian Wedding.

Colourful Indian Wedding.

It was a very hot day and although I had enjoyed my walk, I was pleased to return to the park entrance so I could return to the MTR as I was getting sunburnt. I took the short way back along Fantasy Road.

Fantasy Road Sign.

Mickey Mouse fence on Fantasy Road.

Colourful Plants on Fantasy Road.

Azalea on Fantasy Road.

Eventually I reached the Disneyland Station and caught the train back to Sunny Bay. I was glad I came in the early afternoon as the train coming in was heaving, while my train back had lots of room.

Thank you for visiting.

Disneyland Station.